<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Mold Misery - Moisture and Temperature - Mold Gases and Toxins



 

 

 

 

Mold 102
 

 

All mold needs in order to become active is opportunity . . .

To understand mold, it is important to keep in mind a few keys facts.

  1. Mold is vegetative, meaning it seeks nutrients upon which it can feed.  It is alive, a living life-form with all the propensities to survive that other living entities have.  It is estimated that a quarter of the bio-mass of the Earth consists of mold.  Mold decomposes dead and decaying matter . . . and sometimes tissues that are critical to the life of other beings, such as plants, animals, and people.
  2. Mold can be dormant for centuries and become active when the right conditions present themselves.  Moisture and temperature are the primary conditions necessary for spores to germinate.  Once active, some molds are capable of providing their own moisture, either by radiating hyphae great distances where there is moisture or by taking moisture out of the air.
  3. Mold lives on decaying matter and whatever else can be found, including wallpaper paste, drywall, and paint.  Because it digests, it has biological processes similar to animals.  It therefore emits metabolic wastes in the form of noxious odors that can be musty or acrid.  Some of these gases are toxic.
  4. Molds are sometimes classified into toxic and non-toxic varieties, but all molds decompose organic materials and are dangerous to the extent that they reduce the structural integrity of buildings and affect infected humans in ways that are seldom associated with mold.  Anyone can be allergic to any species of mold, but even if there are no symptoms of allergies, there are risks due to the toxins.

Mold Nutrition

Mold will eat almost anything.  When it becomes active, there can be a staggering increase in the population of spores, easily a million-fold soar in airborne spores as well as those that are less mobile because they are feeding on a stationary object.

Moisture

What mold needs is moisture. High humidity, condensation, plumbing leaks, improperly sealed walls or foundations, or flooding can activate spores that are dormant. These spores are intrinsic in the organic materials used in construction, but they require moisture in order to become active. When they become active, they behave like other living organisms that eat, digest, and excrete. This means that in addition to the particulate matter generated by mold, there is also a potential for allergic reactions to the mold and mold spores as well as irritation from mold fragments and toxic volatile organic compounds arising from metabolic emissions.

Mold Gas

These mold gases can cause everything from unpleasant odors to sick building syndrome to very serious health problems.  Worse, some molds are inhaled or ingested.  They can cause a host of symptoms, ranging from respiratory complications to serious damage to the central nervous system. Mold can merge with genetic material, cause organ damage and/or cancer, and even death.

Death and Denial

Despite mountains of evidence to this effect, there is either ignorance or official denial in many parts of the medical community . . . and insurance companies have lobbied hard to exclude mold contamination from coverage.

Based on my experience, one can anticipate that those who hope to make claims against insurance companies should expect to find themselves pitted as David against deep pocket Goliaths represented by huge law firms. The insurance companies are prepared to spend practically any amount of time and money to obstruct truth and limit or deny outlays to claimants. The payments to lawyers come out of different funds and seem to be generously disbursed.


Ingrid Naiman
1 November 2005

 

Sacred Medicine Sanctuary

 

 

Notice:  The material on this site is based on the personal experiences and research of Ingrid Naiman, the site owner.  While every effort has been made to present accurate information, neither the site owner or web service provider claim the material will prevent or cure any medical condition, and no responsibility for the application of the information on this site is assumed by the any of the parties providing the content on this site.  None of the statements made on the site are intended to replace the services of health care or mold professionals.

Disclaimer: The information on this site has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The products described are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.