What's the big hype around mold? Is it bad for our health? One of the biggest misconceptions we hear regarding mold is that it's everywhere, so it can't be that bad for us.

Well, mold is everywhere, in every climate across the world. Its nature's composter. BUT, molds that are commonly found growing in a water-damaged building are different than the molds found outdoors.

Molds that grow in homes are opportunistic, taking advantage of the "free range" they have in the space to grow without threat from other molds, bacterial, and organisms that would otherwise keep them in check in the natural outdoor environment. When they do feel threatened or stressed, molds like Stachybotrys chartarum (a common indoor mold often referred to as "black mold"), will produce mycotoxins, toxic compounds that are used as defense mechanisms (1).

Mycotoxins can enter the body through inhalation, direct skin contact, or by ingestion (2). For some people, mycotoxins can lead to chronic inflammatory response syndrome, or CIRS, which is a multi-system, multi-symptom condition that leaves individuals with seemingly unrelated symptoms like cognitive impairment, heart palpitations, digestion issues, hormonal imbalances, headaches and dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, and other changes in mood, to name a few (3).

What makes CIRS even more frustrating is that it doesn't affect everyone the same. Some folks, say a spouse for example, can be exposed to toxic molds without severe or acute symptoms. This could potentially put stress on the relationship. 

Although CIRS is a miserable condition, there is hope for recovery! The first step is getting out of the contaminated home and into a clean one, whether that means remediating and cleaning the existing home or moving into a new/different home altogether. Without a clean environment, a person will continue to be exposed and unfortunately, symptoms can go unresolved.

E3 can help people and families in Nashville, TN create healthy indoor environments that address microbial growth. It all starts with a healthy home diagnostic assessment to look for the underlying root cause of the unheahty home. Learn more how E3 INNOVATE can help you achieve a healthier home for the whole family! 

Sources:
(1) Moldhelpforyou.com: https://moldhelpforyou.com/mycotoxins/ 
(2) Mycotoxins: Clinical Microbiology Reviews (2003). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164220/
(3) TOXIC: Heal Your Body, Dr. Neal Nathan (2018). Available at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toxic-neil-nathan/1128995902?ean=9781628603118

Other resources:

• ISEAI.org
• SurvivingMold.com