3 REASONS WHY MOLD EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT
1. Conventional Medicine has failed us.
Has a doctor ever brushed off your health concerns saying, “it’s all in your head” and that “you’re fine”, but your gut tells you there’s something seriously wrong? This is medical gaslighting at its finest, and seems to be common occurring theme with anyone who has suffered from mold illness. This is because the topic of mold illness (aka mold toxicity or CIRS) is not taught in Western medicine - nor is getting to the root cause of any illnesses for that matter. Mold illness, in some doctors’ eyes, is taboo.
None of this is surprising and we can think of so many other red flags in regards to modern day medicine that makes our blood boil. For example, the main ingredient given to ICU patients on a feeding tube in the United States is CORN SYRUP, and most conventional doctors don’t even question it! Do you see how contradictory this is?
Did you know that signs of mold toxicity can show up in so many different ways? There aren’t just a few signs to look out for, which makes it even more difficult to diagnose mold illness, especially when a doctor isn’t open to the concept of mold illness.
Contrary to popular belief, toxic mold isn’t the only type of mold that can impair one’s health. Different species of mold, whether they are allergenic, pathogenic, or toxigenic, can cause an array of health symptoms. Allergenic and pathogenic molds can be dangerous when the levels are exceptionally high in a building too. They become even more dangerous when someone is immunocompromised.
When we’re dealing with toxigenic molds, it’s also important to note that some toxigenic molds produce mycotoxins, which is what makes them even more dangerous than allergenic and pathogenic molds. The species of toxigenic mold will dictate the type of mycotoxin it releases, and some are definitely more dangerous than others. To further elaborate, certain mycotoxins are notorious for targeting specific organs of the body. For instance, the mold species Aspergillus versicolor can produce two different mycotoxins, Sterigmatocystin and Citrinin, and they often target the liver and kidneys.
The health symptoms associated with mold illness are pretty limitless and will vary from person to person depending on the type of mold they’re exposed to, the level and length of mold exposure, genetics, diet & lifestyle, the current toxic load in their body and other stressors.
To give you a general idea of how vast mold illness symptoms can be, here is a list of common health symptoms mold can cause.
We also want to emphasize that we are very well aware that mold is a natural part of life and it’s perfectly okay if there is “some” degree of mold in a building. The problem arises when the level of mold in a building or home becomes so high, that it’s inferring with one’s ability to detox because the body is overburdened with mold and mycotoxins.
2. Mold Inspectors have failed us.
We’ve had countless clients who have had hire 2, 3, or even 4 mold inspectors because the previous inspector (or even IEP - Indoor Environmental Professional) they hired did not receive adequate training on inspecting a building for mold. These clients trusted their gut and didn’t give up when the previous mold inspector/s said they didn’t have a mold problem in their home. Talk about a waste of time, money, and added stress.
The mold inspector you hire really does matter; not all of them are created equally!
Do you know what a thorough mold inspection of a building truly looks like?
Hint - it’s not just doing air samples in a building and calling it a day. Ambient, or middle of the room, air samples (aka mold spore trap samples) are HIGHLY flawed, and do not accurately depict the true mold situation in a building. In fact, we think ambient air samples are generally a waste of time and money.
Why is this, you ask?
Well, first of all, air samples depict data from a measly snapshot in time, and in no way can this accurately show mold spore activity that occurs during other parts of day. For example, if the fan is on, or people are moving around the home frequently this can impact what results show up on an air sample test.
Second of all, when air samples are done in the middle of the room, this is often away from the actual mold sources in the home. The actual mold sources are often found hiding in wall cavities! The further away the air pump is from the mold source, the lower the spore count results will show on the report.
Third of all, denser molds like Stachybotrys and Chaetomium rarely show up on spore trap samples due to their dense and sticky nature. Because of Stachybotrys’ and Chaetomium’s unique properties, they are rarely airborne unless there is an alarmingly high amount of it in a home. But the thing is, you don’t need much Stachy or Chaetomium in a building to make you sick. Ironically enough, Stachybotrys and Chaetomium are two of the more dangerous toxigenic molds, so it is extremely vital to get accurate data for these mold species…and spore traps generally won’t cut it!
The role of a mold inspector is to INSPECT - not just do ambient air samples for 20 minutes and leave! Yet there is a disturbingly high number of mold inspectors who do air samples and only that. They don’t actually inspect building, and if they do, they may not be looking in vital areas such as crawlspaces, basements, attics, attached garages, exterior perimeters of the home and HVACs. There are some mold inspectors who will flat out tell you they don’t inspect those areas and that’s a huge red flag!
Another thing that mold “inspectors” fail to do is ask about the water damage history of the home. It is imperative that they know the history of the home so they know which areas to give special attention. The more information you provide, the more thorough and accurate a mold assessment report should be.
And if the mold inspector is not using tools such as a borescope (to look inside walls), an infrared camera (to look for temperature anomalies), a moisture meter (to check for dampness in walls), and a hydrometer (to check humidity levels in a building), you’re hiring the wrong inspector.
3. Mold Remediation Companies have failed us.
If you haven’t heard any horror stories about a failed or botched mold remediation job, it’s about time you did. Just like mold inspectors, mold remediation companies are not created equally, and they often have different standards of what a “proper” mold remediation should entail.
Failed or botched mold remediation jobs can happen for various reason, but often it’s due to lack of education or proper training.
Note - We can determine if a mold remediation job has failed simply by basing it on how we “feel” in the home, or by a mold inspector doing their post-remediation inspection.
Some reasons for a botched mold remediation job (completely at fault of the remediation company) include:
Failing to use containment and negative air pressure in the areas being remediated or Failing to set it up properly; As a result, the mold remediation company cross contaminates the rest of the home.
Failing to remove mold properly; Instead of removing moldy drywall, insulation, and wood, the mold remediation company just fogs or sprays with a biocide, OR paints over the mold with an encapsulation paint.
Using dirty equipment (air scrubbers and dehumidifiers); As a result, this further contaminates the home making it worse than it originally was.
Failing to do a small particulate cleaning of the entire home from top to bottom to remove leftover mold spores and mycotoxins that have accumulated in the home over time.
Failing to remediate an HVAC and ductwork properly
Some other reasons for a failed remediation job include:
Failing to locate all sources of hidden mold in the home. Frequently this is because the mold inspector neglected to inspect the HVAC or nonliving spaces like the basement, crawlspace, attic, and attached garage, which can without a doubt have an impact on your health if the areas are contaminated with mold.
Failing to rectify the cause of the mold growth (whether it’s a pipe leak, humidity issue in the home, air penetration leak, etc.). As a result, the mold grows back.
Failing to discard contaminated porous belongings in the home (such as mattresses, couches, pillows, etc.), and Failing to properly clean the remaining possessions in the home.
Check out our affordable mold remediation guidebook to help you choose a reputable mold remediation company.
Summing it Up
So there you have it. Now you know why we are so passionate about spreading awareness about mold illness, what a proper inspection entails, and what a successful mold remediation should look like.
There is a lot of corruption, lack of education, and misinformation in the mold industry, so that’s why it’s so vital that you educate yourself - because no one is going to look out for yourself better than YOU!
This is why we started Minimizing Mold - to educate and empower you to to make informed decisions to address mold in your home with the least amount of stress possible. We also want to save you from making all the costly mistakes that the founder of Minimizing Mold did. And most importantly, we want you to have a healthy home with minimal mold so you can heal and optimize your health!
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