I first spoke with Dr. Jack Thrasher on a Saturday morning in October of 2008. He told me to call his office after seeing our family’s timeline of events I sent to him on the recommendation of an online friend.
I knew he was a toxicologist and a leader in the field of toxic mold, but had no idea how deeply he cared about those who were suffering its effects.
“This is a very serious situation,” he said as he addressed our continued illnesses and our recently remediated home.
Dr. Thrasher could have been engaging in any number of leisurely activities that Saturday morning. Instead, he spent time explaining the gravity of a home contaminated with toxic mold. “Do you follow?” he kept asking. (This was a trademark phrase of his, as I would later learn.)
We left our home that night. The following morning he arranged a conference call with Dr. Michael Gray, Chris, and myself. Two hours of their time graciously given on a Sunday morning.
As advised, we treated the home like a fire and never looked back. Like Dr. Thrasher, I became passionate about helping others sort through the hazards of toxic mold. I founded momsAWARE, relying heavily on the knowledge of Dr. Thrasher. He patiently answered my questions, granted interviews, and reviewed my work.
Dr. Thrasher received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1959 from California State University, Long Beach, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy in 1964. He taught medical students at both the University of Colorado and UCLA in cell biology, human anatomy, physiology, and embryology.
Image taken from www.drthrasher.org
In 1966, Dr. Thrasher narrowed his focus to toxicology and then immunotoxicology in 1986. He published peer-reviewed research papers on the toxic effects of formaldehyde, organophosphate insecticides, chlorinated insecticides, solvents, isocyanates, hydrogen sulfide, and molds and bacteria in water-damaged homes and buildings.
Dr. Thrasher, along with Dr. Irene Grant, worked to compile an extensive list of scientific research connecting water-damaged buildings with adverse health effects. Dr. Thrasher allowed us to edit and publish the list at the momsAWARE website (see Mold Illness Studies).
Dr. Thrasher leaves a gaping hole in the environmental health community. I’ll never forget our conversation in 2008 when he said, “I’m 70 years old and I can’t retire. Too many people are suffering.”
Indeed, many are suffering and countless are without knowledge. Dr. Thrasher was dedicated to changing that reality. His personal motto as stated on his website says it best:
A clean environment and good health
are the most precious resources to leave our children.
I emailed Dr. Thrasher eleven days before he died about the tragic pesticide poisoning of a family in Texas from aluminum phosphide. He hadn’t heard about it, replying, “All I know is it is highly toxic.” When I told him four children had died, he responded with one word: “Horrible.”
I will deeply miss Dr. Thrasher and will forever be grateful for his willingness to invest in families like ours. When I started a podcast in the spring of 2016, Dr. Thrasher was the first person I wanted to interview. I will cherish our conversation. I asked him to reiterate what he told me in 2008 about his unwillingness to retire when so many people are suffering.
“I’ll be 80 years old coming up in August and I would like to retire someday. But I’m not going to retire until this issue is brought forth to the public and the public fully understands what is going on.”
I am confident many of us will continue Dr. Thrasher’s vision for educating the public.
Listen to “Dr. Jack Thrasher Talks about Mold and Mycotoxins” on Spreaker.
Thank you, Andrea. Well said.
Thank you Andrea. I also am someone who relied on his kindness and knowledge. He was always there for me even calling back with new information when it came to him. We reminisced about the undergraduate school we both attended. Like so many I will miss him dearly.
I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Jack Thrasher. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Thrasher for helping me with my mold/mycotoxin occupational work case. He was very informative and educational, but more so very honest about my health issues. I worked in a trailer located at the local landfill and the air conditioner developed black mold. It turns out the a/c wasn’t serviced for almost two years. I retained Dr. Thrasher for my works compensation case. also did other testing, such as Home Depot mold test kit, air sampling tests, and mycotoxin test through Real Time Labs. All tests should high levels of several species of mold (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, etc.) It’s been little over 5 years, my case is still ongoing with no compensation whatsoever, even though Dept. of Labor ruled in my favor. Dr. Thrasher wrote an incredible draft of how the mold and mycotoxins affected my health and caused asthma, inflammations, and major respiratory issues. My inflammation markers are always off the charts on my monthly blood test. Thank you for posting information and references. Would love to get more information as I have a hearing coming up this year to address the validity of my workers compensation doctor that I am seeing. My employer (County government) has been blocking and dragging my case out, hoping that I give up, I guess. I have done much research, but I need to get updated with the latest findings. Been out of touch for about a year, as I have been busy trying to keep healthy and keep working. Thank you again, hope to hear from you soon.
I’m sorry to hear this, Michael. Dr. Thrasher worked with Dr. Irene Grant on those mold illness studies. She might have some suggestions on how to proceed. Feel free to email me andrea@it-takes-time.com
I had been calling jack for few days while in citrus heights and trying to say hello
He was a great lunch pal when i could get to distract him from work even though we both new how sick i was
Yes, he will be very sadly missed for his humor on a personal level and for his great diligence over so many years in trying to help others.
i fear it will be a while before another picks up the baton with such lucidity and focus of Jack Thrasher.
I am sure that his work will prove of historical significance in the years to come
goodnight jack
I emailed Dr. Trasher for a mold sick friend. I was shocked that he acutally answered me! Who was I? Nobody. Just a seeking friend. He was patient with my ignorance and did help my dear friend with some advice and direction. It may have saved her. What a generous, humble and brilliant man. Always helping everyone he could until the end. I was blessed to have the little bit of contact I did have with him. A great loss. Well done good and faithful servant. RIP
Thank you for sharing this, Deanne.
How to subscribe to your website postings?
I’m on a bit of sabbatical right now so there is no subscription available at this point. Thanks for the question, Debra.