Health Effects

Q. I often feel “sick” at home with headaches, sneezing and coughing, but when I go outside, the symptoms seem to dissipate. Could my condition be related to molds?

 A. Yes, this condition may be mold-related. Spores found in a normal indoor setting are typically those from outdoor sources. The spores are often present in indoor air and settled dust due to tracking from outside or from outside air infiltration.

Q. What are mycotoxins, and exactly how can they affect my health?

 A. Mycotoxins are chemicals that many molds produce as a natural part of their life cycle. The chemicals are primarily the by-products of the digestion of the mold’s food source but are also thought to be released as a defense mechanism against other molds and micro-organisms such as bacteria. Many factors affect when and what type of mycotoxins is released, including the species, the daily and seasonal cycles for the mold, temperature and its food source.

In laboratory tests, mycotoxins have been shown to have adverse health effects on the major bodily systems including vascular, digestive, repiratory, nervous, urinary, reproductive, as well as skin. People having chronic immuno-suppressive conditions appear to have an increased risk of developing advesr health conditions related to mycotoxins.