I have been consulted on a number of lawsuits claiming that fewer than one hundred spores have caused ‘toxic’ injury to a client. A medical doctor who testified in one of these cases stated that he could pinpoint the exact date in years past when his client was exposed to the toxic mold. He never published his findings. As it grows, mold produces millions, if not billions, of spores. These spores become airborne and are inhaled. (Spores are so small that they remain suspended in the air for a long period of time, as long as there are air currents to keep them aloft.) If there are enough of them, the results can be an allergic reaction. However, under normal circumstances, airborne mold may represent only onemillionth of 1 percent of the total particle load that we inhale on a daily basis. 

As it grows, the mold produces a lot of chemical byproducts. Some of these byproducts have odors because they are chemically lightweight and become airborne very easily. We say that they are volatile, like nail polish remover. Fungal toxins are also byproducts of growth; however, mycotoxins are not considered volatile and are not airborne to any significant extent. 

What is the difference between a fungal toxin and an antibiotic? Unlike fungal toxins, antibiotics are more active against bacteria and other fungi than they are against humans and animals. One byproduct of the mold Penicillium is penicillin, and it is produced by varying amounts of the same mold that might grow on grapefruit, cheese, or bread. However, Penicillium mold can also produce a variety of mycotoxins under the same circumstances. 

I have researched published peer-reviewed papers on mycotoxins in the medical literature, crystallized a trichothecene, the major fungal toxin produced by Stachybotrys, and conducted DNA studies with it. To my regret, experimental mice were also used in the studies. 

The subject matter of mycotoxins rivals that of antibiotics, yet may lay claim to more frivolous lawsuits. Similar to asbestos and radon, it is a current health hazard of some merit. Unlike the others, it has the mystique of being biological in origin. 

Mycotoxins have been discovered in a variety of waterdamaged building materials, and in the dust of a waterdamaged home. The presence or absence of specific molds cannot be used to predict mycotoxin presence. Even the presence of the “toxic” mold, Stachybotrys (stachy), that has received so much media attention, does not mean that there are a lot of spores in the air, or that any toxins produced by this mold are present in the wallboard, air, or dust of the home. Much depends on the “strain” of mold that is present, as exemplified by Penicillium, mentioned above. 

A strain is an identical mold that has been isolated from a different location. In the laboratory, as in nature, ten different strains can be grown. Some may produce no mycotoxin at all, some may produce a little, and some may produce a lot. 

Over the past decade a number of studies have found that Stachy has toxin attached to its spores.i,ii,iii This is a new discovery; prior to that, it was not believed that this could occur. The percentage of homes that have Stachy growing on water-damaged materials may differ in different parts of the country. For example, according to my personal observation of more than six thousand homes, it will grow in 80 to 90 percent of such homes in the desert southwest. The type of building materials used play a big role in the ability of this mold to grow indoors. The most frequently identified molds found in these instances include members of the small spored Aspergillus and Penicillium grouping, Also, expect to find the allergens Cladosporium, Stachybotrys, Alternaria and Chaetomium molds. Secondary species are also found. 

Nobody knows how many spores of any mold it takes to make a person ill, or how long one has to inhale them for illness to occur. A lot depends on the state of health of the individual. Infants, the elderly, and those on steroids or chemotherapy are most susceptible because their immune systems are either immature or impaired. 

One estimate has it that fourteen million toxic Stachybotrys spores per cubic meter of air would have to be inhaled each hour over a twenty-four-hour period for a person to become poisoned.

Concerned citizens and the EPA are at odds regarding the use of chloramines.in our water supplies. (Reduction in the level of chlorine and its gases can be reduced if the shower water is cooler to prevent outgassing of the chemical, and the shower times are reduced in length. Operation of the bathroom fan can also help in the escape of the  gases.)  

I believe that there is a tradeoff. Politics and cost are always involved, but the risk of the public at large being exposed to cholera, E. coli, or Salmonella in our water supply must be minimized. Until we can find a better solution or a compromise, what is in place is what gives us a safe water supply—pesticides not withstanding. A popular shampoo for women has twenty-two chemicals plus fragrance. Another brand contains as many as forty ingredients. The male version has somewhat fewer ingredients, plus fragrance. Hair conditioner for men has around twelve ingredients plus fragrance.The typical bar soap will have as many as eighteen ingredients plus fragrance. The fragrances in bar soap and shampoo become volatile (airborne), which means we inhale  them in the shower. The effect is enhanced by the chloroform and smell of chlorine that comes from the warm water tap. 

We dry our heads and bodies with towels that have been washed in laundry detergent with fragrance and a little chlorine bleach, then placed in the dryer with an antistatic product plus fragrance. Skin care lotion has twenty-four ingredients plus perfume. A popular self-action tanning lotion has thirtyfour ingredients. 

After showering, most people use deodorant containing about ten ingredients plus fragrance. Hairspray has eighteen ingredients plus a fragrance and a propellant. Hairspray also has acrylate copolymer thickening agent which is a form of plastic. Isobutane is a common propellant in hair sprays and spray mouth fresheners, non stick cooking sprays, and numerous other products. It is a small hydrocarbon molecule that is liquefied under pressure and becomes a gas when the pressure is released. Isobutane is considered innocuous in terms of causing any health effects when it is used as a carrier propellant for products used in the home. Unless carbon dioxide is used, propellants `should be considered flammable and should not be used near an open flame. 

Many people use body lotion or body talc after the shower. Men use aftershave. Virtually all of these are scented. Makeup frequently contains formaldehyde, and the allergic reactions it causes are well documented. Toothpaste may contain ten ingredients and a “flavor enhancer.” Mouthwash can have twelve ingredients plus “flavor.” 

It’s easy to see how our lungs, hair, skin, and clothing come in contact with an ocean of solvents, dyes, and chelating agents to bind the ingredients, perfumes, emulsifiers, and various enhancers. We can be exposed to as many as a hundred or more chemicals and a half-dozen fragrances, and we’re not even out of the bathroom yet.

 Are we involved in something that is bigger than we are in terms of our exposure to chemical compounds? Are we losing the war for better respiratory health because somebody else is telling us what is good for us and selling us something we don’t need? Are we blaming pollen for our breathing problems when the answer is in our bathroom? 

Not all chemicals or scented products are bad. In many cases there might even be an improvement over products of past years. If you have concerns about the issue, it might not hurt to stop using certain products altogether. After all, if you don’t like what’s on TV, you do have a choice—you can turn it off. In today’s world, many products are available that are fragrance free. These include laundry detergents and soaps, skin lotions, and deodorants. The purposeful use of fragrance should be avoided.

There is an interesting effect called “ghosting,” in which the fine soot particles are attracted to some areas of the home and not to others. For example, while sheetrock (or drywall, or gypsum board) may darken, the nail heads that hold it to the studs do not. Areas behind pictures may remain clear of smoke, while shapes appear on the walls and ceiling. The association of soot particles with electromagnetic lines of force in the home may be the reason for the shapes. 

Some homeowners report that they have removed carbon with simple soap and water. Others state that they had to completely repaint to restore the interior. Partially opening a window should alleviate the problem of carbon soot buildup. Many of those recommend burning herbs for treatment of asthma also recommend the burning of candles or incense containing extracts of cajeput, hyssop, cypress, myrrh, eucalyptus, lavender, frankincense, lime, juniper, spearmint, ragweed, and spruce. For thousands of ears, different types of therapy have revolved around using these plants. However, inhalation of these vapors or fumes is not healthy for persons with allergies and lung disorders, as they are not only allergenic but also asthmagenic. Any scented candle can trigger an asthma attack.

Susceptibility to a cold is high if the body is fatigued, distressed, or suffering from allergies due to a lowered immune system response. There is no cure for the cold, but there are many ways to prevent infection. Handwashing is the most important, along with keeping hands away from the nose and mouth. Thinking about others in the family helps to prevent spread of the disease. Obviously, if it does spread, it is not an allergy, which is not communicable. Using common sense and maintaining clean habits, along with aerobic exercise and drinking plenty of fluids, are the best preventative measures. The best thing to do is relax and let your body fight the infection.