Could It Be Mold?

About Mold Exposure in the Home

Mold exposure, as with all environmental toxins, has a cumulative effect. It all adds up until it’s too much for the body to handle.
Some people are affected more than others and exhibit symptoms differently than others. One family member can be the “canary in the coalmine” with symptoms, and other members exhibit no symptoms.
Mold damage can be hidden in difficult places to detect normally, like inside duct work and walls. Professional inspectors are your best bet to locate a potential issue.
“Black mold” is a misnomer, a slang term. It can be all kinds of colors. You don’t know by looking if something is toxic or not – you must test it.
Some molds produce chemicals called mycotoxins, which are easily inhaled or absorbed through the skin or GI tract. Mycotoxins are poisons in the same arena as, or worse than, toxins like arsenic, lead, mercury, asbestos, tobacco, pesticides, herbicides, PCBs, formaldehyde, dioxins and more. Some are even used for biological warfare.
Microbial Voltaile Organic Compounds (MVOCs) are metabolites emitted by molds and are often responsible for “musty” odors in damp areas. MVOCs fall into the categoires of alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, esters, ketones, terpenes, and thiols, which easily enter the body through your lungs and skin.
Living in a dry area of the country may not matter — it depends on the structure. Buildings are now built very air-tight, which encourages mold growth.

If you have a leak and it’s been longer than 24-48 hours, you have very high likelihood of having mold. Get fans and dehumidifiers on it and get it fixed immediately!
Always use professional to do mold remediation. If a remediation company does not use protective clothing, RUN! They are not doing it right.
Some mold strains are not able to be remediated, and some types of dwellings are particularly challenging, like pier and beam foundations, crawl spaces, basements, or homes built into the side of a hill.
You may need to dispose of some or all of your belongings, because some items are impossible to clean adequately.

You may not want to stay in a different location, but it is best to get out of the house during remediation and live with friends or family or even lease a short term space.
Reduce your overall toxic load. We are being exposed to environmental toxins day-in and day-out, so minimize what you can. Be careful of what you’re putting on your skin, what you’re eating, avoid fragrances, etc. There are so many things we can’t control, so control the things we can! Naysayers argue these exposures are in small amounts, but we can’t ignore the accumulation factor.
Supplements assist the body in detoxing itself. Liposomal glutathione helps detox, along with binders like modified citrus pectin, charcoal, and clay. Phosphatidylcholine helps to heal cell membranes, and CoQ10 helps mitochondria function better.
Regular infrared sauna use is a great way to detoxify. Heavy metals and many toxins come out in your sweat. The data is compelling about how much it helps!
Meditation is very beneficial. A biofeedback device called the Muse measures brain waves and helps you train yourself out of “Limbic Loop” response.

MicrobiologyDX.com -Marcons (nasal swab)
Shoemaker Labs – hormone and inflammation markers (blood tests)
VCS – VCStest.com – mycotoxins (blood)
DoctorsDAta.com – Genetics – DNA Methylation and Methylation test (looks at detox pathways – blood test)
Neuroquant MRI of the brain (radiology)
Genova – GDX.net – DetoxiGenomic Profile

(can make mold more potent or people more susceptible)