MOLD IS LIKE RELIGION AND POLITICS

By
Charles and Danielle Dobbs,
Mold Inspectors

The subject of mold is a controversial subject to say the least. It’s like politics and religion. People either believe one way or another, and there is nothing you can do to change their minds. Our advice to skeptics is to “try” keeping an open mind. We know it’s hard, but do try. Read about mold, or fungi (singular: fungus), which is its scientific name. Check groups on the Internet such as: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sickbuildings/. And, sooner or later you might hear of someone close to you that got very sick with mold, or it might even be you! Only then will it ring a bell. If you tell me you have a headache. I could say you’re faking it because you look ok to me. So, if you have a rash on your body, I could say you are having an allergic reaction to something you’ve eaten. Did you know that exposure to mold can give some people a rash? It can in some people, but not to you, of course.

Have you heard about Aspergillosis (fungus lung)? And, about mold dogs that develop cancer of the nose? How about the Irish potato famine of the 1840s? And . . . the Xhosa people who have a high incidence of esophageal cancer. And what about the research of John S. Marr and Curtis Malloy, both epidemiologists, who seemed to have explained scientifically the10th plague of the Bible - due to mycotoxin poisoning, according to them. Much information can be found on the Internet, but, only if you want to look.

Here are some excerpts and statistics from our book MOLD MATTERS - Solutions and Prevention:
“The Mayo Clinic, a renowned research institution has pioneered several studies on chronic sinusitis to determine whether mold spore exposure and inhalation played a part in the disease. A research project conducted in 1999 indicated a link between chronic sinusitis infections and fungus (mold) in 93% of the subjects.10

In 2005 researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that fungi plays a large role in chronic rhinosinusitis. In fact, the findings indicates that chronic rhinosinusitis is a result of a fungal driven inflammation rather than a bacterial infection.

Indoor air quality problems in schools affect both students and teachers. The following statistics were published on February 2, 2005 by the IEQ Review:

• One in five schools in America has indoor air quality problems.

• Asthma accounts for 14 million missed school days each year.

• The rate of asthma in young children has risen by 160 percent in the past 15 years.

• 1 out of every 13 school-age children has asthma.

The Center for Indoor Environments and Health at the University of Connecticut states “the most common types of illnesses directly related to mold are type I responses of allergic rhinitis and asthma.” They go on to say “… allergic inflammation can trigger bronchospasm, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, leading to either new onset of asthma or asthma exacerbation in sensitized individuals.”

Research on mold exposure on humans (and animals) is very much in its infancy. Medical school students are taught about fungi mostly from the standpoint of ingestion like eating moldy bread, fungi growing in you, like Aspergillosis, or growing on you, like Athlete’s foot. They are taught very little about the inhalation effects of fungi on humans. Most reactions to mold are due to inhaling spores that are floating in the air, says Dr. Burge, who warns that nonviable (dead) spores retain their allergenic properties.

People react differently to mold exposure, and in addition, the young, the elderly, and people with depressed immune systems are even more affected by it. This makes researching the subject even more difficult. Nevertheless research centers, like the Mayo Clinic, has pioneered research on mold exposure, and much research is needed to bring the truth about mold. It’s a four-letter word that bring a lot of grief in some people, and for them it’s real. People who change political parties or religion do so following an awakening. Changing your mind about mold will be the same thing - when you or someone you know experiences its harmful effects.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Charles and Danielle Dobbs are owners of Dobbs Enterprises, DBA A+ Mold Detectives, a water/moisture intrusion and mold detection experts company based in Maitland, Florida. They are authors of MOLD MATTERS – Solutions and Prevention, and together have written many articles. Following the publication of their book, they added an educational division to their company - the International Institute of Professional Mold Inspectors, www.iipmi.com. A unique telephone consulting service, a first in the nation, provides homeowners and building owners with an unbiased expert opinion or guidance about their particular mold problem.

Mold Matters - Solutions and Prevention is available at your favorite bookstore and at www.BookOnMold.com