Mold Education
Which Molds Make You Sick
Which species of mold happens to grow in a home or workplace also determines whether a person becomes ill. Many outdoor molds, either by their inherent nature or their environmental milieu, produce minimal impact on human health. Yes, poisonous mushrooms do grow in the forest which intoxicate or poison the foolish adventurer, but our primary concern lies with molds that grow on water damaged buildings and release volatile toxins into the indoor air. The outdoor molds garner more of a reputation for their ability to trigger allergic symptoms.
The water damaged building associated molds are more likely to produce toxins which harm both microscopic neighbors and other larger organisms like humans. Not only do they make toxic chemicals, they also inhabit closed environments – our homes, our offices, and other buildings – where their toxins can accumulate. If outdoors, even these molds may never concentrate enough airborne toxin due to winds and the sheer volume of space. Indoors, especially if ventilation is poor, they can accumulate to create a toxic punch for the unsuspecting and genetically vulnerable.
​
The indoor molds produce various classes of mold toxins based on their species. The classes vary immensely in their structure and complexity. Chemically, some are simple structures while others are quite complex. Some target mitochondria while others target hormonal systems. Some primarily dysregulate the immune system. While a few aflatoxins, like those from peanuts, even increase cancer risks.
​
Stress Can Amplify Molds Effects
Another amplifier of mold illness includes stress. Stress, in many forms, may work in concert with mold toxicity. Our patients tell life stories of emotional and physical abuse or traumatic events. The physical stress of a head trauma is one such example. We know that head trauma may trigger leaky brain or a chronic inflammatory state in the brain. This may allow mycotoxins or other toxins to reach deeper into the brain, triggering more damage than it could have done alone. Emotionally stressful events, between the surge in cortisol and the firing up of the fight or flight system, can also augment mold’s effects. Adding the direct chemical effects of mold toxins on the limbic system’s fight or flight response together with the emotional stressor sets the stage for chronic neurologic and emotional symptoms.
​​
​
The Exposure Matters
In addition to genetic variations causing differing toxin sensitivities, different combinations of toxins often synergize. Chronic infections and life stressors can also amplify or modify the intensity of the toxin’s effects on a person. Even with unfavorable mold detoxification genetics, some may not manifest symptoms if amplifying factors remain absent. The exposome, or the collective set of toxins in a person’s environment, may trigger mold illness when organic compounds or heavy metals tip over the immune system. It is basically a “1+1=3” situation. Either toxin alone might not trigger illness, but the two together pack a devastating punch.
​
Water Damaged Buildings are Mold Gardens
The water damaged building associated molds are more likely to produce toxins which harm both microscopic neighbors and other larger organisms like humans. Not only do they make toxic chemicals, they also inhabit closed environments – our homes, our offices, and other buildings – where their toxins can accumulate. If outdoors, even these molds may never concentrate enough airborne toxin due to winds and the sheer volume of space. Indoors, especially if ventilation is poor, they can accumulate to create a toxic punch for the unsuspecting and genetically vulnerable.
​
Genetics Plays a Big Role with Mold
Confirming a diagnosis of mold toxicity begins with a good history, but laboratory testing is required for diagnostic confidence. We look at markers of biotoxin reactivity like Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1, C3a, and C4a among others. We also look at urine mycotoxin levels to confirm exposures and to which molds someone was exposed to. These labs confirm our clinical suspicions that someone is affected by mold toxins, but still do not explain why they are affected.
​
Beyond these tests, we could look at human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, a genetic test that tells how the immune system handles biotoxins, including the mold biotoxin. These HLA markers affect how antigens (biotoxins in this case) are processed. The differences in processing play a large role in influencing the patient’s ability to get rid of mycotoxins. The markers also tell about the expected intensity of a person’s response to these ubiquitous mycotoxins. Due to these HLA differences, biotoxins make some people sick even at levels which do not affect others.
While we looked at these genetic markers in the past, we no longer test these unless requested. If someone is demonstrating biotoxin reactivity by the other tests and have mycotoxins in their urine, we do not really need to speed a few hundred more dollars to tell them that they are sensitive to mold toxins. That is a foregone conclusion. We can move on and treat them without spending that money on tests which do not change how we treat them. We will need to do other tests down the road on their home and repeat blood work on them later. The money for genetic testing will be better spent on these other tests which do impact on how we treat patients.
​
Besides HLA differences, other genetic differences may magnify or diminish a patient’s sensitivity to mold. The glutathione pathway, given its role in detoxifying some mycotoxins, may play a role. It is likely that many other pathways interact as significant factors in a person’s ability to clear mold toxins. I would not be surprised if genetic variants in Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1, the inflammatory pathways, as well as other detoxification pathways are one day found to affect a person’s sensitivity to mycotoxins. Some of the information on these pathways is still being studied. Again, there is little need to test these in detail. Our protocol does not need that information in order to help patients recover their health and their lives.