The myth that mold clustering and mycotoxins entering the human body through inhalation �are not� hazardous to health is absolutely absurd! Let�s evaluate this statement first, with common sense and without any conflicting science to clog our minds.
Given this, our initial question is most appropriate. What primary purpose do microbes, animals, and plants have on earth? The answer is that they all contribute to activate a process called �dust-to-dust,� or if we want to add the scientific term to this it is it is called the, �carbon cycle.�
What is the �carbon cycle� and what does it accomplish? The carbon cycle consists of steps by which carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, a gas produced by the oxidation (depletion of electron production) in carbon (one of the original building blocks of life) is released and recycled into the Earth�s atmosphere and is reused in the creation of life. Having become a living product of cell respiration (or, a process of the molecular exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body�s tissues) the carbon dioxide is extracted from and returned to the atmosphere by living, breathing and excreting organisms. This cascade of events begins with photosynthetic productivity (or, an event by which green plants containing chlorophyll create chemicals such as carbohydrates out of water and carbon dioxide that float through the atmosphere using light as an energy source to release their byproduct oxygen, into the air. Animals and humans then again eat carbohydrates (sugars), which become fuel for every living cell in their biological systems. This process ends with the exhalation of carbon dioxide by these same beings.
This same release of carbon dioxide also occurs during the decomposition (rotting) process that takes place after a plant or animal dies. While in a living state several other chemical processes interact with the ingestion of carbohydrates and the subsequent release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and many of these same chemical processes inside the human body (i.e., enzymes, acids, and pH, etc.) actually protect against molds and other flora (i.e., bacteria, parasites, viruses) from starting to decompose the animal or human body before its time. This process works remarkably well as long as everything that is designed to function well continues to process according to its symbiotic state (or meaning, function and live in harmony).
What on earth does all of this have to do with our opening statement? Well, molds according to genetic and molecular structure are quite similar to human cells in both function and physical characteristics. In fact, their composition offers more in similarity to their animal and human counterparts (even though they a far simpler form of life), than they do in comparison with any form of plant life. Molds also have one very complex and disturbing characteristic that sets them aside from bacteria, viruses, and many other microbes. They consist of a number of nuclear structures within their cells called �nuclei.�
In fact some mold species have over 100 nuclei within their cell structure compared to the animal and human �single nucleus� cell. They also are able to withstand, and in fact frolic best in higher temperate and more humid climates than their animal �hosts.� Let�s face it, when our human body is measurably healthy with an immune system that is functioning well, molds and other flora throughout our biological system are very harmonious symbiotically, thrilled to live and flourish in a 98.6oF (370C) temperature, with an approximate 70 percent relative humidity rate throughout most of our human lifespan. Why would any mold species want to disturb something so comfortable? Well, the truth is, �once a pathogen, always a pathogen!� This is why they are called �opportunistic� pathogens. They do not want their comfortable animal or human environment to change, but when they �biologically sense� that metabolism is starting to lose its grip on agility, chemistry, or immunity through major invasion by other pathogens, especially other mold species that are not suppose to be traveling through or stopping by, they begin their natural �survival� process. Molds then become true pathogens in defending their territorial areas and often aggressively �cluster� into other areas once controlled by human chemistry that is now weakened or failing. Humans then also become their �prey!�
Did we say �prey?� Why yes we did, and it was not a �slip of the tongue!� Almost every living thing and even things that are not living eventually become �prey� to molds- even bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. That�s right! In the ecological sub-world of microbes, molds are primarily designed to process the initial decomposition of a �deceased� entity, be it a plant or an animal species. That is what composts of rotting fruits and vegetation are made of, decaying rot initiated by none other than molds. And what do we extract from rotting fruits and vegetables? Alcohol, of course, is a byproduct of none other than some of these very molds! In fact, some of these molds are dangerous to animals and humans in high enough concentrations. This is why many constraints are placed on the agricultural production and commercial processing of beverages, tobacco, and food products we as humans consume.
In some cases within even highly controlled hospital environments, some molds (again that are designed to destroy life to recreate new forms of life) can invade in much lower numbers, be inhaled by unsuspecting hospital staff, visitors, and patients alike, because molds cannot distinguish between these entities and have been known to cause �nosocomial� (or hospital related/caused) illnesses and sometimes death. In all fairness however, some species of bacterium can also cause similar diseases and death in a nosocomial or hospital setting. But if this is this true, could this be much more of a concern to healthy people who have much more air intake capacity than the often critically-ill patients we are speaking of in nosocomial situations?
Let�s see what medical and laboratory students are told as they begin their studies in their class, Introduction to Diagnostic Microbiology, taught by Associate Professor and Director of Medial Laboratory Programs, Maria Dannessa Delost, M.S., M.T. (ASCP) of the Department of Allied Health, College of Health and Human Services, Youngstown State University. Professor Delost offers the following health and safety policies and procedures:
�Conidia and spores may remain dormant in the air or environment or may be transported through the air to other locations. The spores of pathogenic molds can be inhaled and enter the respiratory tract. This is a common rout of infection, and because of this, it is imperative to practice good laboratory safety when working in mycology. All work, including the preparation of slides, plating and transferring cultures, and nay biochemical work, must be performed in a biological safety cabinet. Because airborne conidia and spores are readily released from a fungal culture, one should never smell a fungal culture. Screw-cap test tubes should be used in place of test tubes with a cotton, metal, or plastic lid. In addition, Petri plates must be sealed tightly with either an oxygen-impermeable tape or Parafilm. As always, gloves should be worn and any breaks or cuts in the skin covered to prevent the transmission of fungal infection. Now, why would an actively practicing and teaching scientist say this?
Mycology, or the scientific study of the �Kingdom Fungi� is revealing many of the dark secrets that molds, members of the fungal kingdom, are giving up after thousands of years of literally living in complete silence. And, it is not very pleasant news! For instance, molds are far older than animals and humans and therefore have adapted genetically and metabolically to practically every illness, climatic change, and adverse situation known to life along the way. Animals and humans are in their early stages of existence compared to the Kingdom Fungi, and molds provide documented proof throughout history as to their ability to cause illness and death. Yet, because we are an �intellectual� human race I suppose, we continue to believe that we are much stronger than mold microbes that have �sensitized� to �read us like a book,� and can adjust rapidly to any environmental and metabolic change we as animals and humans encounter. Let�s see what medical doctors are telling other doctors about molds and what they are capable of when they become pathogenic to humans.
According to research offered by the Medical Mycology Research Center, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, there are several known diseases and/or infections caused by human exposure to mycotoxins produced by some dangerous mold species. Some of these are:
�Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis, Candidiasis, Chromoblastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis, Lobomycosis, Mycetoma, Otomycosis, Paracoccidioidomycosis, Penicilliosis marneffeii, Phaeohypomycosis, Rhinosporidioisis, Sporotrichosis, Zygomycosis.� Also, �eye infections, hair, nail, and skin diseases.�
This is not isolated research, but what does it all mean? Compelling research offered from reputable laboratories throughout the world strongly supports the fact that fungi exposures can be cause conditions dangerous to human health, which can lead to death.
Due to advanced medical research capabilities, fungal infections have emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in persons with cancer, AIDS, or disorders of the human immune system. There are certain immune disorders to be concerned with characterized by fungal ailments, these are: Autoimmune disease, an Immune Compromised or Suppressed system, and/or an Immune Deficient or Depressed system.
Autoimmune disease is a medical condition characterized by the subversion or alteration of the function of the immune system of the body, resulting in the production of antibodies against the body�s own cells treating them as if they were external intruders (pathogens) attempting to invade the body. Some recognized autoimmune diseases include:
Addison�s disease (affecting the adrenal gland) Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (affecting red blood cell membrane proteins), Chron�s disease (gut), Graves disease (a toxic nodule goiter associated with hyperthyroidism), Hashimoto�s disease (goiter associated with hypothyroidism), Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (platelets), Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus I (pancreatic beta cells), Multiple sclerosis (affecting brain and spinal cord neural systems), Myasthenia gravis (affecting nerve and muscle synapses), Pemphigus vulgaris (affecting skin), Pernicious anemia (gastric parietal cells), Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (kidney function), Psoriasis (skin rashes), Rheumatoid arthritis (connective tissue), Scleroderma (affecting heart, lungs, gut, and kidneys), Sj�gren�s syndrome (affecting liver, kidneys, brain, thyroid, and salivary gland), Spontaneous infertility (Sperm), and Systematic lupus erythematosus (affecting DNA, platelets and other tissues).
Much has been said and written about the �Black Mold,� or a fungus called �Stachybotrys chartarum (atra), and how dangerous it can be in a contaminated environment. According to research conducted at the University of Minnesota, as follows:
�The [multiple] potent �mycotoxins� [trichothecenes and atranones] produced by the fungus [Stachybotrys chartarum] will suppress the immune system affecting the lymphoid tissue and bone marrow. Animals injected with the mycotoxin from this fungus exhibited the following symptoms: necrosis (localized tissue death that occurs in groups of cells response to tissue disease or injury) and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus, spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymphnode, liver, and kidney.�
Research data compiled by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine attained at a medical symposium held on January 29, 2000 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and information now certified for continuing education of physicians by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), indicates the following alert to medical professionals in its training curriculum:
�Mortality is higher when the diagnosis of fungal infection is not made early. In one study, patients with lymphoma were housed in a protective environment — single-patient rooms under positive pressure with high-efficiency particulate air filtration– while undergoing bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation.
Despite these protective measures, 5.2% of patients developed nosocomial [hospitalization-related] aspergillosis. Although mortality rates among the patients with localized or pulmonary disease were substantial (42%), they were better than those of the patients who began treatment after the disease was already disseminated [spread to specific organs and/or tissues of the body). In fact, none of the patients with documented disseminated disease survived.�
Immunosuppressed persons, persons with known autoimmune disease(s), and/or immune compromised persons who develop new or progressive pulmonary infiltrates while receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, present major problems for differential diagnosis. These people are prime candidates for combined �opportunistic� fungal, bacterial, and viral infections and diseases with multiple medical complications. But, some evidence has surfaced recently that non-immune impaired individuals could also be at risk.
Finally, if esteemed medical doctors at some of our country�s finest medical centers are telling their colleagues that certain environmental mold related illnesses are extremely hard to diagnose completely before treating, why do people in professional fields such as government, industrial hygiene, insurance, litigation, and others, who are not scientists by any stretch of the imagine in most cases still continuing to believe that this �mold� problem will fade with the wind.
�Let me be perfectly clear,� to quote former president Richard M. Nixon, we are in the daring new frontier of molecular science! This is the 21st century, where advanced technology and the international Internet are bringing research and the world community closer together than ever before. This is a new era where �old politics� can no longer hide for long under the dark veil of secrecy! In this new advanced 21st century world science and medicine, two completely separate professions must accept greater responsibility in our safety and welfare. We are in a world at constant war against microbes that are all around us, that we live with, and live within us, and each and every human in order to live longer and healthier must also meet this educational demand by taking heed as to how to prevent these microbial beasts from silently stalking us as their prey, while we are still living.
Exposed? Having health symptoms? What tests or health concerns do we suggest you discuss with your medical doctor?
If you or a loved one suspects that he or she has been exposed we suggest that you seek out a medical professional certified in Environmental or Occupational Health Medicine. Not always will you find a medical doctor that will agree with our suggested testing and medical evaluation information. We of course are not medical doctors, nor do we want to suggest in any way, that we propose to be authorities in the medical detection and treatment of mycotic diseases (mold related infections and other ailments). However, we will stand by the fact that the information we include in this next segment has helped many of the people whom have participated in the research behind this book obtain proper medical treatment for mold-related illnesses. We admit readily, that not all diseases are related to mold exposures and not all mold-related exposures are dangerous to animal or human health. The last thing anyone, especially we want to do, is cause fear to engulf anyone. Mold exposures to the CDC-38s mentioned herein can be dangerous to health, and can cause severe health problems in some susceptible individuals. Neither we nor the medical profession can accurately predict that you and your family members, if exposed to long-term, high-levels of exposures to dangerous �toxic molds,� have strong enough genetic and immune protection systems to keep you safe from mold �secondary chemicals� (mycotoxins) when disturbed. You are the first line of defense in protecting yourself and your living environment from mold contamination and infestation, but you do not have to be afraid of molds.
If you have been exposed and are showing signs of chronic fatigue, having respiratory difficulties, and seem to get very sick when entering your home where mold has been discovered the following tests and physicians are �suggestive only� for initial health investigation as to the cause of your medical problems and/or health issues for subsequent discussion with your own medical doctor.
Suggested Preliminary Medical Testing For High-Level Mold Exposures
To better understand and aid in identifying or �ruling out� the potential for Systemic Fungal Disease (Mycotic Disease) as a diagnosis the following resources and blood serum testing processes are offered/suggested only. We are not physicians nor offer any position other in our capacity as Environmental Health Researchers:
� Primary Consultation: Merck Manual, 17th Edition, Chapter 158, Pg. 1209 (Other Chapters 76, 80, 113, 151, and157)
� Professional Consultation/Referral: Dr. Vincent A. Marinkovich, M.D. (Diplomate, Am. Board of Allergy and Clinical Immunology), Graduate: CA Institute of Technology, Physics (1955), Harvard Medical School (1955), Pediatrics training John�s Hopkins Hospital (1959-61), Oxford University and King�s College London, Immunogenetics (1961-62), CA Institute of Technology, Specialized Immunology (1962-66), Brompton Research Hospital London, Fungal Hypersensitivity (1972-73), Founder and Chairman Allergy Testing Services (Owned currently by Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Inc. (1985-Present), Scientist/Clinical Associate Professor Stanford Medical School (1985-Present); 801 Brewster Avenue, Suite 220 Redwood City, CA 94063; Office: (650) 482-2800 or Fax: (650) 482-2802
� Coordinate a blood serum test for Environmental MAST IgG Panel #16 with Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Inc., MAST Allergy Testing Service, 630 Clyde Court, Mountain View, CA 94043 Phone: (650) 961-5501 or 1-(800) 233-6278 and Fax (650) 969-2745. Test for 13 fungi species, dust mites, cockroach, etc.
� Coordinate a blood serum test for Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) with IBT Reference Laboratory 10453 West 84th Terrace, Lenexa, KS 66214. Phone 1-(800) 637-0370. Testing and ID Numbers are as follows: #1704 HSP Panel IgG, #1712 Stachybotrys Panel, and #2409 BRI Panel.
� Coordinate Polymerase Chain Reaction (Genetic blood serum and saliva testing) with Immunosciences Lab, Inc., 8693 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Phone: (310) 657-1077 or 1-(800) 950-4686, Fax: (310) 657-1053. They provide over 175 Molecular Medicine tests for detecting environmentally induced diseases relating to chemical-DNA adducts, specific gene mutation, and abnormal cell growth. You can also find their website on the Internet at: http://www.immuno-sci-lab.com for more information.

� Standard: CMV, EBV, IgG sub1-4 and normal RBC/WBC. For general guide in diagnosis consult Merck Manual, Coccidioidomycosis, Section: Diagnosis Pg. 1215
Contaminated Homes And Health
The myth that smaller and more confined spaces created by construction changes in building design are at fault for the sudden increase in construction defect cases involving water intrusion and mold infestation is just that, myth! Or at least generally stated as a myth. Mold problems involving private homes and public buildings have been an ongoing plague since man began living under covered shelter first recorded in biblical times. However in all fairness to this myth, newer construction with more confined spacing and building material changes designed to keep warm insulated air contained in the fall and winter months and cooler airflow inside in the spring and summer months has contributed to greater retention of condensation moisture, faster microbial infestation, increased levels and types of volatile organic compounds produced by microbes and other inorganic materials, and as such offers a greater potential for rapid deterioration of plumbing and household materials.
In the mid-1980s, during double-digit inflation construction of new homes and commercial buildings called for less airflow per cubic feet per person, reducing the breathing space within a dwelling from about 20 cubic feet to approximately 5 cubic feet. It is also true that even though breathing space decreased the number of people sharing a smaller, more confined living or working quarters actually increased as building and maintenance costs escalated and the cost of living increased tremendously affecting in many venues of living and lifestyle. What is factual, is that private homes and commercial buildings constructed with building materials that molds use as nutrient sources when higher temperatures mix with higher indoor moisture certainly light a fire under the �Construction Defects� controversy leading to the present myth at hand. But, closer scrutiny into the background of molds and ecology reveals that many illnesses were caused by indoor mold contamination down throughout the ages, and this is problem of the ages and not strictly confined to one specific era in the evolution of mankind as we know it.
In ecology, molds are perhaps the most dominate microbes to rule the earth. Nearly every species of life falls prey to molds, including bacteria and viruses. This is what the �Carbon Cycle,� or �Dust-to-Dust� in �layman�s� terms is all about. In the world of ecology it is the duty of molds to preserve their own species and to create life from the decay of life. Certain mold species are perhaps as old as the earliest stages of life formation and were genetically adapted to the dynamic physical and climatic rigors of environmental changes on earth long before animals, including man, ever stepped foot on living soil. In fact, nearly every living facet of man involves living, breathing microbes. Living cells are microbes in man that compose the immune system and every bodily organ and tissue belonging to man. It is therefore only natural that man would attract molds, bacteria, viruses and other microbial entities because animals and man have emerged as walking incubators for such inhabitation.

The peculiar bedfellows that man and microbes have become is intriguing at best, because herein we have species cohabitating in what scientists refer to as a �symbiotic� (or mutually beneficial and harmonious) state, but yet will ultimately end up in a bitter internal war in which molds always emerge as the victor. You see, molds do not die really; they just die until moisture is added to the right temperature and then they miraculously come back to life! Even if they are burned in a fire, they end up as minute particles that suspend in space until they are revived. Human ashes spread at sea reemerge as eventual mold and bacterial microbes to graze once again upon the earth.
We realize that this seems like an awful lot of bad news to absorb! But transversely, the good news is that molds along with other microbes that are collectively known as �flora� actually orchestrate a harmonious life process that does not intentionally desire to wreak havoc on its animal and human hosts (as we are known in science). No…, what we as humans do is create certain external and internal environmental conditions out of lifestyle behavior and conditioning that weakens our body functioning to a point where molds begin to sense that their compatible environment is no longer safe and secure.

This might occur through consumption of microbial infested food, beverage, and organic products that serve as unhealthy nutrients which accumulatively signal the weakening and eventual death of body cells as our bodies start the aging process or gradually become ill. Additionally, changes to our external environment that allow mold species that normally do not adapt to or invade animal or human habitats might start to invade and take up temporary residence thereby disturbing the biological balance or as science states it, the �equilibrium� of nature that animal or man has adapted to and been regulated by throughout life.

So as we can surmise from all of this is that building construction modifications over the past two decades have contributed somewhat to the overall scope of increased incidents of illnesses referred to as �sick building syndrome� whereby the causes of various symptoms and ailments are not readily identified or known, or �building related illnesses� whereby the cause has been established and verified, but such modifications are not wholly responsible for the crisis that is emerging. So the question remains (to dispel the myth), what is causing us to suddenly realize the deadly health potential of molds that have been in and out of our bodies in large numbers for years. And, we do mean large numbers! It is estimated that we take in and release more than 16,000 quarts of air per day. Each quart averages approximately 70,000 visible and non-visible particles. In multiplying 16, 000 quarts times 70,000 particles in a 24 hour period, that sums to an astronomical figure of over 11, 200,000 billion particles consumed or absorbed daily.

What is even more remarkable is that the human body is in contact with over 3,000 pathogenic microbe species daily that potentially could kill a person swiftly, and yet the human immune system (which we have coined as the animal and human�s internal version of mold species) handles all of this with relative ease. That is, when biological harmony is synchronized and working according to plan. Another little tidbit of information is that the most harmful forms of microbes or microbial particles are three microns or less in size. The human eye cannot even see a microbe that size. In fact, the minimal visually adaptive size at which a microbe can be seen without the use of a microscope is at least 10 microns in diameter. To put all of this into prospective, the size of a general US postage stamp is 25,400 microns in size, and depending on the size of various microbes placed on it would be capable of holding from 1 million to a billion microbes within its borders. According to scientists studying such factors, approximately 98-99 percent of all microbial particles fall in the range of 5 microns in diameter or less. These particles tend to remain in suspension or settle so slowly that only high quality air cleaners are effective in removing them. Very small particles can remain in the air we breathe virtually until they are absorbed or inhaled by animals or humans.

So why is it that the legal system is overburdened with �mold litigation,� more so than ever before if it is not solely based on building products and materials and more confined construction?

It is because science over the last 16 years has literally advanced in coalition with advanced technology to literally a threshold equated to that of the �speed of light� in scientific terms. With the advent of highly advanced scientific instrumentation and testing devices scientists are now observing physically the genetic, metabolic and physical properties that less than two decades ago was unobtainable. Researchers are advancing and communicating around the globe �broad-based� through the use of the Internet and other communication entities on a moment-to-moment basis as opposed to annual conventions and symposiums of yesteryear. College and university students are being highly trained more in tune with this expansion and professors that once followed a strict outdated curriculum practice are now being forced to keep abreast of the latest scientific advancements in relating factually-based data academically, or face extinction in a world that is advancing with or without them. We are entering the 21st century of science of shared global information, and it is in and of itself bringing us closer to our own reality in dispelling the myths between microbes and our earthly environment.