| Mold is a fungus growth, which begins with a | | | | headaches, disorientation and bloody noses. |
| minute spore. Toxic black molds can be found | | | | Severe exposure can lead to internal bleeding, |
| anywhere a dark and damp environment allows | | | | kidney and liver failure and pulmonary |
| them to grow. Spores can be breathed in, | | | | emphysema. There are numerous reasons for |
| absorbed through the skin or ingested on our | | | | the rising occurrence of mold and mildew in our |
| food. Young children, senior citizens and anyone | | | | homes, one of which is the federal regulations |
| with immune deficiencies caused by disease, | | | | pertaining to energy conservation call for new |
| chemotherapy, etc are particularly vulnerable to | | | | construction methods and materials, meaning that |
| grave illness following exposure to microbial | | | | homes don’t “breathe” as freely as |
| contamination. | | | | before, trapping moisture vapors inside the |
| Laboratory studies in animals and at the cellular | | | | building. As a result, mold remediation and |
| level offer supporting data for the direct toxicity | | | | prevention have become hot topics in both the |
| of fungal spores and mycotoxins in mammalian | | | | health and building industries. |
| lungs (University of Connecticut Health Center | | | | What are we supposed to believe and what |
| Report in 2004). A health study by the Finnish | | | | should our next move be to defend our families, |
| Institute of Occupational Health links adult-onset | | | | and ourselves with all the media exposure to toxic |
| asthma to workplace mold exposure. And in 1997, | | | | mold in the last year or so? First, we must take |
| the Centers for Disease Control announced an | | | | this threat seriously. If you see mold in your |
| apparent link between mold contamination in | | | | home, get it tested as soon as you can. Get your |
| homes and cases of infant pulmonary | | | | home tested if you have a family member with |
| hemorrhage. | | | | an unexplained illness, respiratory irritation, rash, |
| Other common effects from molds are | | | | etc that seems to get better when they are |
| pneumonitis, upper respiratory problems, sinusitis, | | | | away from home. |
| dry cough, skin rashes, stomach upset, | | | | |