Mold

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the world became familiar with a dreaded syndrome of chronic illness: long COVID. Long COVID is a systemic condition associated with fatigue and brain fog, among dozens of other possible symptoms. Having received institutional validation this year, in the form of its own ICD-10 code (U09.9),

In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a position paper about the dangers of indoor dampness and mold. At over two hundred pages, this summary is inaccessible for all but the most committed reader. To begin to bridge this gap, I will list seven notable quotes from the article

Room air sampling is the most common and perhaps most misunderstood form of mold testing. Room air sampling works by using devices that collect air from a specific area. The air sampler draw air through an inlet and direct that air into a collector. A filter screen out larger particles

In a damp building, it’s not just dangerous molds that grow. Water-loving bacteria will spread as well. And that’s a big deal because these household bacteria can also cause toxic and inflammatory injury. Wet Building, Hot Mess One study by Andersson et al. performed a microbiology analysis of wet building

Brain fog is one of the most devastating effects of mold-related neurological injury. It is a syndrome caused by a range of medical problems, as well as more mundane stressors such as sleep deprivation. The symptoms of brain fog include difficulty concentrating, confusion, slowed thinking, poor decision making, forgetfulness, and

Sarcoidosis is an immune lung condition involving the formation of granulomas, clusters of inflammation surrounded by immune cells and other tissues. Immune Dysfunction and Environmental Risk At heart, sarcoidosis is an immune condition triggered by a breakdown in regulatory T cells, also known as Tregs. The granuloma forms when a

Respiratory exposure to indoor biological contamination—such as mold, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds—exerts toxic and inflammatory effects. A common question in mold litigation is what constitutes a “safe level” of toxic mold contamination. This question cannot be answered with a hard cut-off without being in error. The Centers for Disease

A common misconception is mold toxins are the most dangerous indoor biological air pollutant. As the name suggests, fungal mycotoxins are indeed toxic. But the health hazard from indoor mold is caused by multiple mold elements. Many fall into a class of compounds called inflammagens—inflammation-inducing particles. According to the World

Mold-exposure causes allergy, infection, and toxicity. But in my clinical practice, I observe a far more common problem—a form of massive inflammation called innate immune activation. In the medical-legal arena, the inflammatory potential of indoor air pollution is hotly contested. But a closer look at the immune system reveals that

The CDC has a webpage entitled Basic Facts about Mold and Dampness. This brief page provides information about managing a damp building and mold growth, along with potential health risks caused by indoor air pollution. In this article, I provide commentary on seven statements. For reference, the CDC page is

One of the major risk factors of mold susceptibility is the Human Leukocyte Antigen, or HLA. The HLA is a family of genes located on chromosome 6, which regulates immune responses. The HLA has associations to over one hundred immune-related diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease. The association