The Mold Dichotomy
There is a definite Dichotomy or difference of opinions between
those of our legislative and general medical establishment from
the insights and evidence of those involved in research of Fungalbionics.
For the sake of time and space, this section is focused primarily
on Stachybotrys Chartarum, although similar dichotomies seems to
exist for other toxic molds as well, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Epicoccum,
Gliocladium, Penicillium, and more.
The CDC says:
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm#Q8
Does Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) cause acute idiopathic
pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?
To date, a possible association between acute idiopathic pulmonary
hemorrhage among infants and Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra) has not been proved. Further studies are needed to determine
what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage.
Dr.Michael R. Gray, M. D., M. P. H., C. I. M. E.
Molds, Mycotoxins,
and Human Health
There is allegedly "disagreement within the scientific community
as to whether the relatively large size of Stachybotrys spores prevents
it from penetrating to the deepest areas of the lung." However,
this controversy was resolved by the documented presence of Stachybotrus
spores in the alveoli and small airways of the lung of an infant
suffering and dying from mold-induced hemorrhagic pneumonitis a
rare lung disease, found to have occurred in a series of nine infants
in Cleveland, Ohio by Dr. Dore Dearborn, who confirmed the presence
of Stachybotrus mold in each of the infants' homes. These cases
were reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in their
1998 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR). There has been
some controversy raised by some researchers claiming that they cultured
the organism from these homes, and were unable to detect mycotoxins
in the resultant cultures. The problem is that they are not acknowledging
that molds in general do not produce mycotoxins when they are growing
under "ideal" conditions, such as those that usually obtain
in laboratory settings. They generally produce their toxins when
austere living conditions bring about sporulation, for example when
nutrients are depleted, or when arid conditions prevail.
( let me interject here, there are several different strains
of Stachy, and the strains in their case studies may not have been
identical to the strains found the the children in Cleveland)
The CDC:
Summary:
In summary, Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) and
other molds may cause health symptoms that are nonspecific. At
present there is no test that proves an association between Stachybotrys
chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) and particular health symptoms. Individuals
with persistent symptoms should see their physician. However, if Stachybotrys
chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) or other molds are found in a building,
prudent practice recommends that they be removed.
Dan -
I find it interesting they include other molds with Stachy here, and
specify health symptoms that are non-specific, in light of the Anthrax
threat and the deaths that occurred as a result of, What was it? Oh
yeah, Mold Spores.... Perhaps the CDC considers death a nonspecific
symptom?
Dr Gray:
(same document referred to above)
A wealth of literature in the field of Occupational Medicine has appeared
over a more than a century confirming the significance of molds in
both residential and workplace environments. Molds have long been
known to lead to the development of a severe debilitating lung disease
known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. If not treated aggressively,
hypersensitivity pneumonitis will lead to the progressive development
of emphysema. In the case of structural mold-exposed individuals,
treatment with antifungal medication, such as ketaconazole, itraconazole,
and/or fluconazole-each produced or derived from mold mycotoxins themselves-may
be appropriate and necessary.
In addition, pulmonary function testing (PFTs) confirmed
excessive small airways obstruction, the hallmark of mold induced
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and a review of the neuropsychological
evaluations, and QEEGs performed on the mold exposed individuals confirmed
the presence of central nervous system impairments consistent with
what is expected based on numerous animal and human toxicological
studies found in the many peer reviewed articles readily available
in the extensive world literature on the toxic effects of mycotoxins.
Berlin D. Nelson, Professor, Department of
Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo
http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/stachybotrys/
In the late 1930s, stachybotryotoxicosis was reported in humans working
on collective farms in Russia (10,14,17,29). People affected were
those who handled hay or feed grain infested with S. chartarum or
were exposed to the aerosols of dust and debris from the contaminated
materials. Some of these individuals had burned the straw or even
slept on straw-filled mattresses. The infested straw was often black
from growth of the fungus. Common symptoms in humans were rash, especially
in areas subject to perspiration, dermatitis, pain and inflammation
of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, conjunctivitis, a
burning sensation of the eyes and nasal passages, tightness of the
chest, cough, bloody rhinitis, fever, headache, and fatigue. Workers
developed symptoms within two to three days of exposure to the fungus.
Some members of the Russian teams investigating this disease rubbed
the fungus onto their skin to determine its direct toxicity. The fungus
induced local and systemic symptoms similar to those observed in naturally
occurring cases. The article by Drobotko (10) is a good source of
information on the Russian experience with this problem.
Interesting note by Dr Gray:
The spores from Stachybotrus chartarum (a.k.a. atra), a mold capable
of producing some of the most toxic substances known to human-kind,
can survive temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as
acid, caustics, and bleach without being destroyed. Spores from molds
have been removed from 2,000,000-year-old sedimentary rock and grown
when placed on appropriate media. And, every nation that has developed
biological warfare capability, has harvested mycotoxins from molds,
some of which are so toxic that microgram quantities are capable of
killing within twenty-four hours, while being so completely metabolized
that they are undetectable at autopsy.
Sounds pretty innocuous huh??
There are further studies which get into comparison
of different strains of Stachybotrys to find the different abilities
of different strains of Strachybotrys' to break down red blood cells.
Out of some 28 strains observed in different parts of the country,
8 strains were found to have this ability.
See University of Minnisota Environmental and Occupational Health:
Stachybotrys: A
risk factor for pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis?
In My honest opinion:
There is more to this Dichotomy than just a difference of opinion,
Molds are not treated by the medical comunity as normal viral and
bacterial illnesses are, because molds are not considered to be contageous,
i.e. person to person, they do not fit into the mold,
(pun intended), of typical disease or illness, which is somewhat understandable.
However, this ignorance to mycotoxicity results in what may be more
harmful than helpful. If you read the many studies done on molds,
it seems apparent that many conditions can actually be worsened by
the use of antibiotics and steroids which are often the first line
of defense to what appears to be an otherwise known ailment. For example
a bacterial eye infection may be treated with antibiotics and/or steroids,
but if the infection is fungal, (hard to tell the difference), these
treatments can actually make the problem worse. By the sheer ignorance
due to the sweeping of mycotoxicity under the rug, people are treated
for a problem they APPEAR to have due to the symptoms of mycotoxins
mimicking other ailments.
From all I've read, it is my opinion also that perhaps
there is some level of downplaying the mycotoxicity of molds and the
possible dangers of their presence. Why is this? Is it because there
have already been multimillion dollar litigations over sick-building
syndrome, (buildings that have high levels of mold contamination)?
Is it because if the alertness to this possible problem were made
general information to the public, the cost of cleaning up possibly
millions of buildings, (including homes), could cripple businesses,
insurance companies, and more? If the dangers and signals to mold
problems were made typical information to the general public and people
were aware and therefore handled careless situations, which yield
mold growth, properly, how much would it impact the medical and pharmacuetical
industries economic backbone? Is there a significant reason why an
antifungal medication has been recently found to be effective in the
treatment of some cancers? If it is scientifically proven that mold
spores and their mycotoxins are dangerous to physical and mental health,
and even in some cases deadly and the dangers have been known or suspected
to exist, should there be criminal charges on those involved in protecting
the integrity of the rich industries at the cost of the health and
lives of the common people?