Saturday, March 23, 2024

How Can You Test For Mold Exposure

Visual Contrast Sensitivity Testing

How You Can Test Yourself for Mold Poisoning RIGHT NOW!

How it works: Visual Contrast Sensitivity testing aims to measure a component of neurological function that may be affected by exposure to mycotoxins and other biotoxins. This method looks at your ability to see details in varying contrasts of black, white, and grey on a computer screen.

Pros: VCS testing is inexpensive, fast, and simple. It can also be easily repeated throughout treatment. One study found that VCS scores were lower among employees of a school that had been exposed to water damage than employees at an unaffected school .

Cons: VCS testing is limited in the sense that it cant tell you how much mold youve been exposed to, how much you are excreting, or how exposure may be affecting other areas beyond neurological function.

Who its best for: VCS testing may be best for those who suspect or know theyve been exposed to mold or mycotoxins, have neurological symptoms, and are on a budget.

What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Sickness

If your Total Body Burden is high, or you are genetically predisposed to recycling toxins, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:

  • Wheezing/shortness of breath
  • Long standing or frequent sinusitis

And, serious pain and neurological symptoms, such as:

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Muscle cramping, aches and pains
  • Persistent nerve pain
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Poor memory, brain fog, difficulty with focus

In some cases, the spores from mold take root and grow in specific parts of the body, such as the lungs and sinuses. This can cause serious respiratory illnesses and infections.

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Is All Mold Toxic

Mold is not the only pathogen that grows from water damage. Fungal fragments, spores, mycotoxins, bacteria, mycobacteria, actinomycetes, VOCs, and other biotoxins can also form in damp buildings. These pathogens combine to produce a toxic soup that can lead to a multi-systemic and multi-symptomatic illness.

Not all mold is toxic, but many mold species from water-damaged buildings produce mycotoxins. It is the indoor concentration of mycotoxins and the rest of the toxic soup that can contribute to chronic debilitating symptoms.

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Black Mold Exposure Mold Poisoning:

These are molds that are green or black in appearance. The most common species of the black mold isStachybotrys chartarum. It has been speculated that many black molds are toxigenic, which means they release mycotoxins that are particularly harmful to people with preexisting conditions.

When these mycotoxins begin to accumulate in the body, it may lead to a condition known as mold poisoning which affects the upper respiratory system adversely.

Common mold poisoning symptoms are the same as that of mold allergies. People who are suffering from asthma or any other chronic lung disease, these mycotoxins will make their condition miserable. They will exhibit severe symptoms such as:

  • Headache or migraine
  • Hand and feet numbness
  • After becoming conversant with the health issues caused by molds, its high time to discuss how doctors test for mold exposure.

    Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure

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    You may wonder if you are experiencing symptoms of black mold exposure or if youre dealing with ordinary environmental allergies such as hay fever or something else. We cant diagnose you or offer medical advice, but we can tell you about the typical black mold health risks and what to do if you think black mold is making you sick.

    But lets start at the beginning.

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    I Found Mold Growing In My Home How Do I Test The Mold

    If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.

    When Should I Visit My Doctor

    You should visit your doctor if mild symptoms persist and resist regular treatment.

    For example, if your allergies are worsening and you dont find relief with your favorite, time-tested allergy medicine, then you should call your doctor.

    If you are experiencing any moderate to severe symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

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    How Quickly Can Mold Make You Sick

    There are several types of fungi that can be found in your house, down in the basement, or in the attic. Mold develops when the perfect environment is created, which is usually a combination of moisture, humidity, and organic material. Spores can migrate away from thriving colonies through the air, landing on shoes, blankets, showerheads, or your HVAC ductwork. As it spreads, it releases toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. These are the molecules that lead to illness.

    Mold toxicity is considered a biotoxin illness, also called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. In this severe condition, there is a systemic inflammatory response that occurs after an individual has had intense exposure to toxigenic organisms. These organisms can include bacteria, mycobacterium, fungi, actinomycetes, and other inflammagens. It is common for people to suffer from an illness brought on by living conditions where water damage has occurred, and many of these individuals are unable to develop an antibody or immune response to mold toxins.

    Almost everyone will experience some form of illness or response when their bodies are exposed to high enough levels of biotoxins, though each individual has a unique threshold or tolerance. There is no exact timeline for how soon a person will develop symptoms of mold exposure, but as mold spores rapidly multiply, individuals may experience certain discomforts within just a few hours of entering a mold-laden environment.

    Is Mycotoxin Testing Worth It

    How To Test For Black Mold In 5 Minutes

    Mycotoxin testing can be helpful in some cases, but there are a number of points to consider before jumping in.

    • Mycotoxicity is not well defined. Research on mycotoxin testing is still in its infancy. This means that even those who study mycotoxins or mold for a living dont know exactly how to interpret mycotoxin test results. This doesnt necessarily mean that test results cant be useful they should always be taken with a grain of salt.
    • Choosing the best test is challenging. There are many different kinds of mycotoxin and mold tests available, using not only different methods but different reference ranges, and even looking at different kinds of mold species and mycotoxins. This makes an area that is already lacking in research even more confusing.
    • Mold can be a red herring. Mold or mycotoxins may show up in small quantities on tests, even if the levels are likely not problematic. This can be a distraction from true underlying health issues that need to be addressed.
    • Mold-related illnesses are complex. Even as we begin to untangle the nuances in testing, there is a lack of consensus when it comes to the treatment of mold-related illnesses and mycotoxicity. In other words, mycotoxin testing might provide clues to treatments, but it does not provide a road map.

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    How To Remove Mold On Your Own

    All you need to remove mold:

    • A commercial mold removal product
    • Undiluted white vinegar
    • A mixture of 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water
    • Use an even mix of clear ammonia and water to remove mold spores spay a moldy area with this mix, wait a few hours and then rinse and dry
    • Make sure to get rid of porous materials with mold such as carpets

    Note: When cleaning the mold on your own, its important to use mask, gloves, and goggles for your safety.

    Can Mold Poisoning Go Away By Itself

    Chances are that your symptoms from mold exposure will not simply go away without additional treatment.

    This is especially the case if you continue to stay in mold-ridden environments.

    The good news is that mold-related illnesses will oftentimes resolve with simple treatments.

    While there can be lasting effects, the sooner you treat your sickness and symptoms the sooner you will begin to feel like yourself, again.

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    Other Exposures & Infections

    • Chlamydophilia Pneumoniae

    A history of exposure is essential for the diagnosis of CIRS, however it can be difficult to pinpoint at times, especially if a person does not recall being bit by a tick or contracting food poisoning for example. Some markers can also be difficult to diagnose via bloodwork as most labs do not use the gold standard lab test methodologies for work up.

    References

    Wu Y, Yan Y, Su Z, Bie Q, Chen X, Barnie PA, Guo Q, Wang S, Xu H. Enhanced circulating ILC2s and MDSCs may contribute to ensure maintenance of Th2 predominant in patients with lung cancer. Mol Med Rep. 2017 Jun 15:4374-4381. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2017.6537. Epub 2017 May 2. PMID: 28487978.

    Gabrilovich, D. I., & Nagaraj, S. . Myeloid-derived suppressor cells as regulators of the immune system. Nature reviews. Immunology, 9, 162174.

    Liu RM, Gaston Pravia KA. Oxidative stress and glutathione in TGF-beta-mediated fibrogenesis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2010 Jan 1 48:1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.09.026. Epub 2009 Oct 2. PMID: 19800967 PMCID: PMC2818240.

    Derynck R, Budi EH. Specificity, versatility, and control of TGF- family signaling. Sci Signal. 2019 Feb 26 12:eaav5183. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aav5183. PMID: 30808818 PMCID: PMC6800142.

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    Helpful Tips For Reducing A Stuffy Nose

    Surviving Toxic Mold

    Nasal decongestants in the form of sprays and tablets can help relieve a stuffy nose. However, these are only temporary fixes and should not be used too often as they can become addictive. In fact, nasal sprays can actually damage your nasal passages if used in excess.

    A humidifier can also help reduce stuffiness by adding moisture to the air and promoting mucous production.

    If you are still having persistent stuffy nose, you should contact your doctor or another medical professional.

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    Should I Go To The Hospital

    Although the majority of mold exposures are not an emergency, there are a few cases where you should seek immediate medical help.

    If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, go directly to the hospital:

    • You have significant, prolonged trouble breathing
    • You have an asthma attack that wont respond to usual treatment
    • Your fever is above 102 degrees Fahrenheit
    • You are coughing up blood
    • There is a frothy or bloody discharge from your nose
    • You are confused or disoriented

    Limitations Of Mold Testing

    There are many testing methods that can detect molds. They can be used to find mold particles suspended in air, in settled dust, or growing on surfaces of building materials and furnishings. Some methods can identify a portion of the types of live molds in a sampled environment, but these may also miss or undercount those are not live or wont grow well on the nutrients used to incubate the sample. Other methods are better able to characterize the total amount of molds in a sample , but not very good for identifying the specific types of molds. Even tests that are done well only give a partial estimate of the amount and types of molds actually collected in a sample or in the sampled environment.

    Despite these limitations, there are situations where mold testing by skilled investigators may be valuable for example, to justify remediation expenses or to document that cleanup has met expectations. In some cases, tests can also provide clues that may help find hidden mold, but the growth still has to be found by looking for it so that it can be removed. Experienced investigators should evaluate whether testing is warranted and if they are ethical, they should advise against testing whenever the problem can be corrected without it. Testing may be useful as part of an investigation, but it is never a substitute for a thorough visual inspection.

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    How To Test For Mold Toxicity In Your Body

    Mold workup in the body is a bit more complex than running a throat swab to see if you have strep throat. It entails putting together a complete picture with various specialty labs along with clinical evaluation of symptoms and health history.

    The top tests I run in clinical practice include:

    • Mycotoxin urine test
    • Specialty bloodwork for biotoxin markers MARCoNs testing
    • Other exposures and infections

    Most conventional doctors are not trained or aware of the workup for toxic mold exposure. This is where working with a functional medicine practitioner comes into play.

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    Testing for Mold Toxicity

    If you’re concerned about mold in your home, you’re not alone. Mold can cause many health problems and is one of the most common home-related issues.

    Luckily, there are ways to test for mold in your house so that you know what needs fixing before it gets worse. We’ll show you how to test for mold in your home and what to do if you find it.

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    Mold Exposure And Inflammatory Markers

    In conclusion, the following associations between mold exposure, sensitization, and asthma can be derived from our study . Patients who complained of respiratory symptoms related to mold exposure were more likely to report asthma, more likely to be mold sensitized, and more likely to have significantly lower CC16 levels. In mold-sensitized patients, lower respiratory tract symptoms were particularly emphasized. Furthermore, 82% of mold-sensitized patients were poly-sensitized and atopic. Atopic patients in turn had increased upper respiratory tract problems, which could subsequently lead to asthma due to the allergic march. Asthmatics were significantly more likely to have elevated levels of tIgE and sIgE-mediated sensitization to molds, but significantly lower CC16 levels. Furthermore, patients with asthma were more frequently exposed to molds.

    Association of mold exposure, asthma, atopy, and mold sensitization. : more frequently and/or higher concentration less frequently and/or lower concentration.

    How Do Mycotoxins Affect Individuals With Neurological Diseases Like Parkinsons Disease

    Ochratoxin A is the most common mycotoxin produced by both Aspergillus and Penicillium species. It causes acute depletion of brain striatal dopamine and its metabolites, accompanying evidence of neuronal cell apoptosis in the substantia nigra, striatum and hippocampus. Depletion of dopamine in these areas of the brain are commonly associated with Parkinsons disease which is frequently treated with L-DOPA to replace dopamine in the areas of the brain depleted of dopamine.

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    How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed

    There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold.

    But your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:

    • Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
    • Skin prick test. Your doctor takes a small amount of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.

    Can You Test Mold Exposure With A Blood Test

    Mold Toxicity Test

    Does Mold Exposure Show Up on Blood Tests?

    Black mold could be lurking in your home without you even being aware that its there. Maybe youre showing some of the signs of black mold exposure, but you want to know for sure. There are several ways you can find out, including taking a blood test. Your Manhattan mold removal specialists want to make sure you take good care of your health, so if youre having a reaction to black mold, you can find out for certain.

    Taking a Blood Test for Mold Exposure

    This test is minimally invasive but very informative. Your doctor will need to take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab for testing. They will check to see how the antibodies in your system react to various mold species, black mold included. When they test your blood, they will also look for toxins that indicate mold poisoning.

    Getting a Skin Prick Test

    Skin prick tests are another way for your doctor to tell if youre allergic to certain types of mold. They take various types and apply them to the skin using small needles. If youre allergic to that type of mold, your skin will react by forming a rash or other reaction.

    Talk With Your Manhattan Mold Removal Experts

    Getting exposed to black mold can lead to all kinds of health issues, including asthma, hair loss, confusion, memory loss, and more. Contact us, your Manhattan mold removal professionals, for assistance with your mold problem. We offer free inspections!

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    Top Home Mold Test Recommendations

    My favorite home mold tests include:

    • ERMI Dust Sampling
    • Indoor Environmental Professional Inspection

    I help my patients figure out the best companies and professionals to connect with for home testing as we work together.

    ERMI Dust Sampling

    To date, the best initial screening that you can do at home for mold is surface or air PCR testingalso referred to as ERMI testing.

    The ERMI test was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a means of determining the relative moldiness of a home compared to a group of reference homes that do not have mold. This type of testing involves collecting possible mold samples with a dust cloth kit on surfaces where you suspect mold may be present. The cloth is able to pick up mold DNA on the surfaces of walls, furniture and places it may be, as well as the air. After collection, you or the mold inspector send it back to the lab for testing and mold identification under a microscope.

    Some people claim that mold plate testing can work too, but keep in mind, it is not very sensitive. Mold spores differ in weight, density, and air flow characteristics, so some types are more likely to settle on the plates than others. Sticky molds that often appear near water damage, like black mold, may end up evading the plates completely.

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