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TABLE OF CONTENTS

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICES .....................................................2

LIMITS OF LIABILITY & DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTY ..................................2

AFFILIATE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE ....................................................3

INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................6

SIGNS OF MOLD INFESTATION INSIDE YOUR HOME....................................8

WARNING SIGNS OF MOLD INFECTION INSIDE YOUR BODY......................12

THE BIG 4 WARNING SIGNS OF MOLD INFECTION.....................................14

REFERENCES & RESOURCES......................................................................18


INTRODUCTION

There are over 10,000 species of fungal molds worldwide.

Toxic black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, is just one of many fungi that can produce mycotoxins – chemicals that cause illness in people and pets.

Outdoors, mold helps decompose decaying organic matter. It’s found growing in soil, foods, and on plants.

Molds, as many other types of fungi, spread by producing spores that are dispersed through the air. When molds spread indoors, however, problems start to appear, even severe ones like these.

Indoors, mold can damage building materials and can cause


health problems if it’s allowed to flourish.


What’s worse, if the mold spores are disturbed, they turn into aerosols, meaning that they will be dispersed through the air and then inhaled by a building’s occupant(s).

While you may not be familiar with the words “toxic mold”, you have probably heard of the term “sick building syndrome”, which describes health problems that appear to be linked to the time you spend in a particular building, although no specific cause can be identified.

But whether we call it sick building syndrome or mold exposure, the question remains: why has the incidence of illness associated with mold risen so sharply in recent years?

Environmental specialists came with a logical answer: our modern building materials contain a higher degree of cellulose, an organic material that can foster rapid mold growth under the right conditions, including high temperatures and humidity.

Moreover, experts also say that our modern buildings are more airtight, and inadequate ventilation contributes to mold infestation.


SIGNS OF MOLD INFESTATION INSIDE YOUR HOME

There’s mold inside house. It’s just not always easy to tell where it is or if it’s causing you or your loves ones problems.

The blackish growth on your shower curtain is mold, but it’s probably not toxic. Still, you need to clean it up anyway because even non-toxic mold can cause an increase of allergic symptoms.

According to a 1994 Harvard University School of Public Health study of 10,000 homes in the United States and Canada, more than half had water damage that contributed to mold growth and an increase in respiratory symptoms.

Undetected leaks can cause hidden mold infestations deep within the walls of your home. So how can you truly tell if mold is growing and spreading in your home? Should you have your home tested?

Testing should not be your first course of action. These tests


are expensive, and it’s unlikely that your home insurer will pay for them.


You can investigate on your own, because it’s more important to remove the mold and fix any underlying water problem than to spend a truckload of money trying to find out exactly which of the 10,000 species lives in your home.

If an earthy or musty odor permeates your home, it may indeed have mold.

In addition, your suspicions should be strengthened if the allergy symptoms of your family members worsen when they’re in your home but disappear when they leave it.

Additionally, if you see any evidence of water damage, such as staining of the wallboard underneath a window after it rains, then your home most probably has mold.

Contributing factors to mold infestations are moderate temperatures and high humidity.

The optimal temperature for mold growth is between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why homes in the South and West are particularly susceptible.

So where should you look for mold?

Anywhere there is cellulose, one of mold’s favorite food sources, which is also vulnerable to leaking water, condensation, or high humidity.

Common mold-infested places include:


Underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks Underneath or behind refrigerators Basement or cellars that have been flooded Behind walls that have house plumbing Around air-conditioning units Wallboard around windows that leak Under carpeting that may have become wet

According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are several warning signs of mold that home owners should be on the lookout for, including:

Sunken area in baseboards. These notches appear when mold has consumed the wood behind the paint. The paint itself is often cracked or peeling.

Separation of the baseboard from the wall or floor. White spots under carpet or even behind furniture. Mushroom-like growths on rotten wood on the underside

of flooring or a cabinet. Staining, swelling, or crumbling of plaster. Discoloration around air conditioning vents. Vinelike branches from the soil to the foundation,

framing, or underside of flooring. The vines are usually


white, brown, or black.


Science clearly tells us that mold has long been with us.

Microbiologists of the 19th century have even suggested that toxic mold spores and not some “Curse of the Mummies” actually sickened ancient Egyptian tomb raiders and archaeologists seeking the secrets of the Pyramids.

The experts have identified several kinds of potentially toxic mold spores on each of the 40 mummies, concluding that it’s possible when the tombs were first unsealed, a rush of fresh air stirred the mold spores into the air, where they were inhaled by the tomb’s trespassers.


WARNING SIGNS OF MOLD INFECTION INSIDE YOUR BODY

The health problems linked to mold, in particular black mold, first came to light in Russia in the early 20th century, when horses that had been eating moldy hay fell ill.

Those that had eaten more of the mold-infested straw were more likely to die from weakened immune systems, infection, and bleeding.

The first recorder human victims were agricultural workers who handled this moldy hay and suffered rashes and itching, as well as coughing, headaches, and fatigue.

Everyone comes in contact with many kinds of mold each day, usually without any harmful side effects.

However, exposure to mold can provoke allergic symptoms in


some people similar to hay fever, including:


Nasal and sinus congestion Coughing Breathing difficulties Skin and eye irritation Upper respiratory infections

According to the CDC, less common and less well-documented are cases where mold exposure may lead to unusual health conditions, such as memory loss.

Although there are more common indoor molds, such as Aspergillus and Cladosporium, Stachybotrys has received the lion’s share of intense media attention because the mycotoxins it is capable of producing are very powerful.

Detecting Stachybotrys is often difficult because the wet conditions these molds favor, such as those caused by a plumbing or roof leak, may be hidden from view and can go undetected for quite some time.

The problem of identification is also compounded by the fact that several kinds of mold or bacteria may be found in conjunction with the toxic black mold.


THE BIG 4 WARNING SIGNS OF MOLD INFECTION

1. Headaches

The first warning sign of mold toxicity is frequent headaches.

Exposure to an area with black mold for several hours can trigger a headache as a result of an allergic reaction to mold spores in the air.

The headache can also be caused by an inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal cavities. When working or sitting around black mold and inhaling the air, your head will slowly start throbbing.

This is a sign that your body is trying to fight off the spores that are entering your system. The headache will get better once you leave the area and go into an open area and start breathing fresh air.

If you are spending time in a mold-affected home or office


and you get frequent headaches, it’s time to take the matter seriously before your headaches take a toll on your health, happiness, and productivity.


2. Excessive Coughing

The second big warning sign of mold exposure is excessive coughing and mucus. Not everyone exposed to mold develops a cough, but many people do, especially prolonged exposure. Infants, small children, elderly people and those with respiratory or immune disorders are at an increased risk of developing a cough due to mold. What’s worse, even a small patch of mold produces several mold spores, which can easily become airborne.

Once inhaled, these spores can irritate the sensitive lining of the throat, causing a cough.

In the long run, heavy exposure to mold can also lead to bronchitis and pneumonia, which also cause coughing.

As coughing can be caused by a cold or other respiratory viruses, flue, seasonal allergies, bronchitis and pneumonia, you must see a doctor to find out what exactly is making you


cough.


3. Watery and Itchy Eyes

Another warning sign of mold exposure is watery and itchy eyes.

Mycotoxins present in the air due to mold can easily enter your eyes. When the mycotoxins come into contact with the cells in your eyes, they cause your eyes to water and become itchy.

You may also notice your throat becoming itchy. This is a common issue related to mold toxicity, especially black mold.

Other eye problems include inflammation in the eyes, soreness, bloodshot eyes and blurry vision, to name a few.

4. Constant Tiredness


Low energy is the fourth big warning sign of mold exposure.


There are several explanations why mold toxicity can cause symptoms that make you feel very tired.

For example, constant coughing as well as asthma can limit the amount of oxygen you take in, which in turn makes you feel tired.

Moreover, if coughing and a headache keeps you awake at night, you’ll obviously feel tired the next day.

Low energy is a common symptom of many illnesses and infections, so it is best to see a doctor to find out exactly what’s making you so tired.


References & Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16493149 - Fungal infections; Kauffman CA; University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 2006https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8125/ - Medical Microbiology, 4th edition; Michael R. McGinnis, Stephen K. Tyring; University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3122495/ - Histopathologic Diagnosis of Fungal Infections in the 21st Century –Jeannette Guarner; Mary E. Brandt; Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;Atlanta; Georgia; 2011https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11757845 - Overview of systemic fungal infections – Rolston K.; Section of Infectious Disease; The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; 2001https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2589037/ - Systemic Candida Infections – L.A. Grohskpf, V.T. Andriole; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connectictut, USA; 1996https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11219546 - An overview of fungal infections – Garber G; Infectious Diseases Division, Ottawa Hospital, Ontario,Canada; 2001https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27383889 - Olive leaf extract activity against Candida albicans; Zoric N, Kopjar N, Kraljic K, Orsolic N, Tomic S; 2016https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4001330/ - Opportunistic invasive fungal infections: diagnosis & clinical


management – Parisa Badiee, Zahra Hashemizadeh; Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz; Iran; 2014https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708393/ - Candida Infections, Causes, Targets, and Resistance Mechanisms: Traditional and Alternative Antifungal


Agents – Claudia Spampinato, Dario Leonardi – Department of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Biochemical; Universidad Nacional de Rosario; Rosario; Argentina; 2013https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2486/ - Polymicrobial Diseases; Interactions between Candida Species and Bacteria in Mixed Infections; Howard F. Jenkinson, L. Julia Douglas; Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 2002https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761/ - Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects; Herbal Treatment for Dermatologic Disorders; 2011https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9055360 - Antifungal activity of the essential oil of tea tree against pathogenic fungi in vitro – Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W; Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig; 1999https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/ - Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties; C.F. Carson, K.A. Hammer, T. Riley; Discipline of Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences; The University of Western Australia; 2006https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15078424 - Herbal medicines for treatment of fungal infections: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials: Martin KW, Ernst E.; Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, United Kingdom; 2004https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3459460/ - Efficacy of some natural compounds as antifungal agents; Sudha Vengurlekar; Rajesh Sharma; Piyush Trivedi; School of Pharmacy Devi Ahilya Vishwadyalaya, Khandwa Road, Indorel India; 2012https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3481189/ -

Alternative


approaches to antifungal therapies – T. Mehra, M. Koberle, C. Braunsdorf, D. Mailander-Sanchez, C. Borelli, M. Schaller; Department of Dermatology, Eberhard- Karls-University, Tubingen, Germany; 2012https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16355848 - Antifungal activity of Mexican oregano; Portillo-Ruiz MC, Viramontes-Ramos S, Munoz-Castellanos LN, Gastelum-


Franco MG, Nevarez-Moorillon GV; Faculty of Chemical Sciences; Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico; 2015https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18998051 - Occupation, lifestyle, diet, and invasive fungal infections – Sipsas NV, Kontoyiannis DP; Infectious Diseases Unit, Dept. of Pathophysiology, Laikon General Hospital and Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; 2008https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4840461/ - Mold Infections of the Central Nervous System – Matthew McCarthy, Axel Rosengart, Audrey N. Schuetz; Dimitrios Knotoyannis, Thomas J. Walsh, M.D, 2014https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC145304/ - Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, and Stachybotrys charthrum: Infectious Disease Perspective – D.M. Kuhn, M.A Ghannoum – Center for Medical Mycology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; 2003

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