The Hidden Threat: Understanding the Dangers of Mould and Mycotoxin Exposure

Mould and Mycotoxins

Mould exposure is a common, yet often misunderstood, health hazard. While many people live alongside mould in a seemingly symbiotic relationship, certain species are poisonous and can cause significant harm to human health. Identifying these threats and taking appropriate action is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment.

What is Mould?

Mould is a type of filamentous fungi that is ubiquitous, found both outdoors and indoors worldwide. For mould to grow, it requires three key elements: moisture, food, and oxygen. Given that oxygen is always available, moisture becomes the pivotal factor. Once the right conditions are met, mould growth can begin rapidly, often within 24 to 48 hours.

Mould is not selective about its food source; it can thrive on almost any organic material, including wood, plaster, carpet, and household dust. Common genera of mould include Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, which are among the most common indoor airborne fungi.

Mould reproduces via tiny reproductive cells called spores. These spores can become airborne and travel via air, water, and insects, entering a dwelling through windows, doorways, vents, and HVAC systems. Once settled in a moist, cellulose-rich environment, such as areas affected by leaks or condensation, the spores can germinate.

Understanding Mycotoxins

The primary danger associated with mould is the production of mycotoxins, which are highly toxic secondary metabolites synthesized by toxigenic fungi strains.

Toxins produced by mould include:

• Aflatoxins (AFs)

• Ochratoxin A (OTA)

• Citrinin (CIT)

• Trichothecenes (e.g., T2 Toxin, HT2 Toxin, Roridin A, Verrucarin A, Satratoxins)

• Fumonisins (FBs)

• Deoxynivalenol (DON)

• Zearalenone

Mycotoxins are incredibly insidious because they are small, odourless, and invisible. For example, they can be as tiny as 0.2 microns. While mould spores are larger and tend to lodge in the upper respiratory tract, causing allergic symptoms (often referred to as mould allergy), mycotoxins are the "gas" that are much smaller. Their small size allows them to penetrate deeper into the lower parts of the lungs, reaching the alveoli, and ultimately entering the bloodstream and other organs, leading to systemic inflammatory symptoms.

Exposure to mycotoxins, often referred to as mycotoxin toxicity or mould illness, is a condition caused by exposure to mould and its toxins.

Dangers to Human Health of Mycotoxins

The health effects of mould and mycotoxin exposure can vary significantly from person to person, ranging from mild to severe, and may be immediate or delayed. The severity depends on:

• the type of mycotoxin,

• the level/duration of exposure, and

• the individual’s detoxification capacity and

• genetic predisposition.

Symptoms are often nonspecific and frequently overlap with other chronic conditions.

Mycotoxins can cause major toxicity in any or all organ systems and are categorized as immunotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, neurotoxic, dermatotoxic, and teratogenic.

Adverse Effects of Mould and Mycotoxins on Health

1.     Systemic and Chronic Conditions

• Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome: Long-term or chronic exposure, particularly to toxic mycotoxins such as trichothecenes (produced by black mould like Stachybotrys chartarum), can lead to a condition called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). CIRS involves a persistent inflammatory response triggered by biotoxins, affecting many different systems of the body.

• Immune Suppression: Mycotoxins are known to cause immune suppression by directly impacting immune cells. They are a major obstacle to the body's ability to heal and may be a primary reason why patients with chronic illnesses fail to recover from treatment.

2.     Respiratory and Allergic Effects

• Mould spores and fragments :  These can cause allergic reactions, leading to hay fever-like symptoms:

  • Nasal congestion and runny nose.

  • Sneezing, coughing, and wheezing.

  • Irritated, watery, or itchy eyes.

  • Skin rashes and dry, scaly skin.

• Mould sensitisation:  This is a significant risk factor for developing respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma. Aspergillus fumigatus can colonize the bronchial tracts of asthmatics, resulting in severe asthma and low lung function, sometimes progressing to severe conditions like Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). Sustained exposure can also cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis (chronic lung inflammation, potentially leading to irreversible lung damage).

3.     Neurological and Cognitive Symptoms

• Central Nervous System: Mould exposure has profound effects on the central nervous system, often presenting with symptoms such as:

  • Severe brain fog or memory issues.

  • Difficulty concentrating.

  • Dementia-like symptoms or neurotoxicity.

  • Psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, mood swings, and depersonalization.

  • A subjective sense of impending doom.

Certain neurological symptoms are often described as unique or pathognomonic to mould illness, including vibrations (internal, pulsing, or tremor sensations), ice pick pains in the head, and electrical shock sensations or "zapping".

4.     Other Systemic Symptoms

Mould exposure can trigger or contribute to a variety of other health issues, including:

• Severe exhaustion and chronic fatigue.

• Joint pains (often described as constant, non-wandering pain).

• GI issues, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and the development of food sensitivities and leaky gut.

• Skin conditions like rosacea, jock itch, fungal infections, and athlete’s foot.

• Sensitivities to light and sound.

Mycotoxins, such as Citrinin, are highly nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidneys) and genotoxic. Aflatoxin B1 is classified as a Group I carcinogen associated with hepatic toxicity.

What To Do About Mould

This is a three-pronged approach if the problem is to be addressed successfully: 

• REMOVE exposure to stop the problem building up

• DETOXIFY to remove the mould, spores and mycotoxins that have already become lodged internally. 

• REPAIR by supplying the nutrients needed to heal the damage

1. Environmental Control and Remediation

The first principle of environmental medicine is to remove exposure to the toxicant. Clients cannot truly heal if they are still living in the heart of mould contamination.

• Moisture Management: Mould requires moisture. Immediately fix any plumbing leaks, roof leaks, or sources of dampness, and ensure rainwater drains away from the dwelling. In the UK, approximately 80% of moisture issues are due to condensation.

• Humidity and Ventilation: Use dehumidifiers to lower indoor humidity levels to less than 45–60 percent. Promote good airflow by opening doors between spaces and moving furniture away from walls. Operate extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms during and after moisture-producing activities.

• Air Quality: Invest in high-quality air purification systems. HEPA filters are essential for capturing fine particles, including mould spores and the smaller mycotoxins. Activated carbon filters are useful for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odours.

• Cleaning: Regularly and thoroughly clean to remove settled spores and mycotoxins. This includes using a HEPA vacuum on all horizontal surfaces, carpets, and soft furnishings. Wipe surfaces with a damp microfibre cloth soaked in sterilant.

• Professional Remediation: Buildings with significant water damage and persistent mould often require professional remediation.  Even a new property could be water damaged due to the plasterboard having become damp pre installation.

2. Detoxification and Internal Healing

For individuals suffering from mould illness, treatment typically prioritizes detoxifying the mycotoxins before addressing other underlying infections.

• Binders: Binders are non-absorbed substances (either natural or pharmaceutical) that travel through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to adsorb (collect toxins on their outer surface) toxins already in the gut. This is crucial because bile, which contains processed toxins from the liver, is reabsorbed in the enterohepatic recirculation (the body typically reabsorbs 95% of bile), bringing the toxins back to the liver. Binders disrupt this cycle by collecting the toxins for excretion via stool.

  • Charcoal is considered the single best broad-spectrum binder and is efficacious against mycotoxins.

  • Bentonite clay is often preferred over zeolite clay for mycotoxin binding due to its structure.

  • Chlorella and certain yeast species (like Saccharomyces) are effective due to the peptidoglycans and mannoproteins in their cell walls, which facilitate toxin absorption.

• Bowel Regularity: Binders will not work if a patient is constipated, as they must be "pooped out". Ensuring regular bowel movements is a pre-treatment necessity.

• Probiotics: Probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus strains and yeast like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are effective at eliminating or decreasing the toxic effect of heavy metals and fungi.

• Medical Guidance: Due to the complexity and overlapping symptoms, it is recommended to seek professional help from a practitioner literate in mould and biotoxin illness who can create a personalised detoxification plan.

Finally, for more support on the journey of reducing internal toxicity please reach out and book a call.

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