Do people fall ill from exposure to water-damaged buildings? Yes. Exposure to water damaged buildings (WDB) can cause illness, including illness that lingers for years. Commonly known as mold illness, the condition has been recognized for years. It is not an allergy. Rather, it is an inflammation within the body caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The term “mold illness” falls into a subcategory of biotoxin illness called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
The correct definition of CIRS is:
“An acute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans and possibly spirocyclic drimanes; as well as volatile organic compounds.”
An overview of a mold illness diagnosis
Mold illness occurs after being exposed to mold within the interior of a WDB. A toxic mix of microbes and harmful chemicals find their way into buildings in myriad ways. This mix includes bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria, and actinomycetes, which accumulate as a result of construction defects such as faulty construction of crawl spaces, poor ventilation, flat roofs, faulty building design, fake stucco cladding with inadequate caulking, water leaks that remain undetected, basements exposed to saturated groundwater conditions, and more.
By some estimates, nearly 50% of all buildings fall into the WDB category. The likelihood of being exposed to mold is relatively high. Mold illness reflects a growing problem in modern society: dangerous buildings. People are falling ill by inhaling these dangerous inflammagens.
The body’s reaction
Mold illness directly impacts a person’s quality of life, although they may appear healthy. These individuals have a genetic susceptibility to develop mold illness based on their immune response genes, HLA-DR. The inflammation results from their own unregulated immune system responses. They will experience a series of abnormalities that do not self-heal or decline in severity. In fact, the symptoms may increase. The illness will continue to occur from blood- and tissue-based inflammation and changes in the regulation of genomic activity.
Why does one person fall ill while another does not from exposure to mold? The answer lies in gene susceptibility. It is built into their DNA. Each individual’s immune system is unique with its own personal genetic code.
When the body is faced with a foreign substance, it begins the process: recognize it, determine if it’s good or bad, and deliver it to the antigen producing system for an effective antibody response. If the body determines that the foreign substance is bad, it will develop antibodies to bind these substances known as antigens. When a non-susceptible person encounters a WDB for a second time, his antibodies target the antigen and remove it quickly. This efficient protection from antigens does not occur with susceptible patients.
The occurrence of specific HLA types that are susceptible to mold is about 25% of the general population. These are the individuals who become sick. The antigens stay in the body, and the immune system defenses attack the body in response to those antigens. Now that individual is defenseless against new exposures and suffers daily from inflammation.
It is a vicious cycle. The antigens stay in the body, which prompts the immune system to continually fight back. This results in inflammation that leads to chronic illness and many unpleasant symptoms. The entire body suffers from attacks from its own immune system.
Mold illness symptoms typically range from low levels that feel like the flu to debilitating fatigue that can derail a person’s daily activities. Therefore, it is very important to know how to detect mold and eliminate it to stay healthy.
Addressing the underlying cause of mold
Mold thrives in warm, moist environments. When these conditions exist along with a food source, mold will spread rapidly, frequently in hidden spaces. Mold can thrive on paper, wood, cardboard, drywall, carpeting, fabric, and many other common building materials.
The underlying causes of mold include:
- Moisture. Ensure that any roof or water pipe leak is remedied. If the property has flooding issues, evaluate the risk. Moving to a new home may be the right thing to do. Extensive flooding significantly increases the risk of mold contamination. Remove wet carpet to discourage the growth of mold and bacteria.
- Holes and gaps in the walls. Investigate for cracks in walls and windows that may let mold in through the external walls.
- Condensation. When warm air inside hits a colder surface, it creates interior condensation. This leads to mold damage on wooden window frames. Moisture elimination products can help. However, if mold exists in other areas, their effectiveness may be diminished.
- Air conditioning units. Your HVAC units need regular maintenance and cleaning to prevent and/or eliminate mold. Once mold starts to grow, the units can circulate fungus spores throughout the residence. A HEPA air scrubber can help clean the air.
- Humidity. A dehumidifier helps to ensure that interior humidity remains around the 50% level, which will discourage mold.
- Hire a professional. A professional remediation company can assess, contain, and eliminate mold. The company should be certified in mold remediation.
Eliminating mold from carpet
Mold thrives in fabric, which makes most furniture a potential target for mold. After a large leak or flood, remove the carpet completely. In mold infestation cases in which the carpet has not gotten wet, a high efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) vacuum cleaner is best for cleaning the carpet.
Search for an authentic HEPA vacuum. Some have labels that say “HEPA like.” True HEPA vacuums use a strong motor and fine filter to capture everything including mold spores that regular vacuums typically allow them to escape back into the air.
How to properly use a true HEPA vacuum cleaner
Vacuum the carpet from every angle rather than only from one direction. Today’s vacuum cleaners have flexible designs making it easier to get underneath furniture and into difficult corners. Use the vacuum from every direction possible to capture as many mold spores as possible.
Empty the vacuum cleaner outside. If the vacuum is bagless, use a disinfecting wipe to clean out the canister completely. Avoid inhaling the dust by wearing an N-95 respirator. If the vacuum uses bags, wear protective gloves, respirator, and protective clothing to prevent carrying spores back into the residence.
Because the mold spores, dirt, and dust may have accumulated for a considerable time, it may take diligence and consistency over a period of time to reap the benefits.
Eliminating mold from clothing and soft furnishings
Eliminating mold from clothing and soft furnishings takes a little effort. Biocides like diluted bleach and vinegar will kill the mold on the fabric. However, the mycotoxins may continue to be an allergen that will need to be removed.
Obviously, using chemicals like bleach is inappropriate on most fabrics, and wiping upholstery won’t eliminate mold on the stuffing. Dry cleaning may cause cross contamination.
Borax, which is sodium borate, is a natural solution for cleaning mold. In addition, borax combats bacteria.
Pre-soak the laundry for 30 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of borax per gallon of warm water or add 1/2 cup of borax to a pre-soak cycle. The alkaline pH of borax helps to break down acidic stains, such as tomato or mustard.
Borax works well on mold because it’s alkaline, making an inhospitable environment for the mold, which prefers a lower pH environment. Take care when using it by washing hands after handling clothes that have been treated with it. Avoid getting borax near eyes or mouth.
Eliminating mold from walls, wood furniture, and other surfaces
Mold thrives on hard surfaces, especially wood or plaster.Borax is suitable for most furniture.
Be wary of the claims made by most household cleaners. A sparkling surface may look clean but still host mold spores. Try the following procedure for a surface that may have been contaminated:
- Use two rounds of disposable wipes to clean the surface.
- Then use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe up excess moisture and mold spores.
- Throw the disposable wipes in the garbage avoiding cross contamination with other surfaces.
- The microfiber cloths may be washed in hot water and reused.
- Some surfaces are more difficult to clean.. Mold spores stick easily to surfaces in the kitchen that tend to collect greasy layers. Cut through the grease first with a simple soap or detergent prior to applying borax solution.
Eliminating mold from other possessions
When a person is diagnosed with a mold-related illness, their physician may recommend the removal of all items that are likely to have been contaminated. This can mean removing family treasures. This is a difficult choice, but one that is best for overall well-being. Consider the items listed below:
Items to clean and keep:
- Non-porous items, e.g metals, glass
- Jewelry
- Pottery
- Glassware
- Plates and dishes
- Cutlery
- Leather
- Framed artwork (remove from frame, dust and reframe)
Possessions to consider removing, replacing, or storing elsewhere:
- Paper
- Paperwork & important documents
- Books
- Photos
- Old letters
- Yearbooks
- Rugs and furnishings
- Antique rugs
- Bed, mattress, pillows, bedding
- Indoor plants
- Holiday decorations
- Non-washable clothes and accessories
- Shoes
- Bags
- Dry clean only items
- Non-waterproof watches
- Toys
- Stuffed animals
- Plastic toys that are difficult to clean adequately
- Refrigerator
- Washer and dryer
- Air conditioner or purifier
- Home computer or laptop
- Televisions and stereos
- Open Consumables
Avoiding mold cross-contamination
It’s important to avoid cross contamination especially when making significant efforts to eliminate mold. Some of the below action items may seem extreme, but not in consideration of optimum health:
- Reintroduce cleaned possessions into the residence slowly to ensure that each item is mold free.
- Domestic pets should be boarded, shampooed with antifungal wash before coming home. Or, rehoming them in a loving home may be an option.
- When cleaning possessions, surfaces, or removing the contents of your vacuum cleaner, do so outside, wearing protective gloves, a N-95 respirator and protective clothing. Remove and store the protective gear outside.
- Wrap everything to be removed from the residence in plastic bags.
- Certain items can survive mold spray decontamination better than others – avoid bringing papers, books, used computers, and soft furnishings that may be contaminated into the home.
Final thoughts
While mold illness needs to be addressed with swift action, it’s always best to consult with a physician who specializes in mold illness. Prioritize the actions and follow through consistently and thoroughly.
REFERENCES
- https://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm#Q3
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16760892
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22590846
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11242604
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11242604
- https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26073734