Re: Ted Nugent's run in with Black Mold

[Guest guest]

,

This is good and I like the quote, especially how they determined

there was a problem.

But we must be careful with how we label things. You indicate

that very well by saying " the " cheap test " for mold (SBS) - you

feel better when away. "

That is not the cheap test for mold or any other specific exposure.

It is the cheap test for " something in the building is making me

feel worse than when I'm gone. " Mold and SBS are not the same

thing. SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) can be many things, one of

which may be mold.

Then, the next step is to determine is it mold or is it pesticides or

is it pet dander, or roaches, or dust mites or cleaning products,

something from the neighbors, etc etc.

The obsessive, singular focus on mold - even though that is the

most common issue - can easily blind us to the other real issues.

Many, many of my clients struggle to get better by " getting rid of

mold " when there is no growth, only some colonies on a settling

plate. Or a remediatior does an assessment (conflict of interest)

and over-reaches on the conclusions. (because he'll make more

money).

IF it is mold, then there has been ample discussion on various

ways to remediate. The possibility that it is NOT mold is

inadequately discussed. I find that about half the time mold is

claimed it is not mold. When mold IS the issue, it is one of

several issues, not just mold, about a third of the time. If ALL

exposure sources aren't addressed then we end up like a dog

chasing its tail, much activity with no improvement because we

are focused too specifically.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

This one excerpt details many posts I have read on this list.

And anyone suffering from mold has to understand these tidbits, imho.

Especially, the " cheap test " for mold (SBS) - you feel better when away.

http://www.musicpix.net/home/content/ted-nugent-interview -depth-

interview-nuge

About half way down the page, there are two questions. A quote from the

second one:

But as soon as we left, we could sleep. Her headaches went away and we

started to put one and one together and even though the scientific and

medical community couldn´t help us one bit...through her diligent

research and just the cause and effect calculations based upon our

personal experiences, we determined that that bedroom was toxic. Even

the first environmental test didn´t prove anything but we had a specialist

come in and we opened up the framework and saw the black goo

everywhere. The poor girl was exposed to it for twelve years as it grew

behind there. So she did a certain flushing and cleansing system done in

a special clinic to revitalize her immune system

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[Guest guest]

At 11:43 AM 9/10/2009, you wrote:

> ,

>This is good and I like the quote, especially how they determined

>there was a problem.

>But we must be careful with how we label things. You indicate

>that very well by saying " the " cheap test " for mold (SBS) - you

>feel better when away. "

>That is not the cheap test for mold or any other specific exposure.

I agree. It's for a " general " exposure, and the reason I had (SBS) there.

>The obsessive, singular focus on mold - even though that is the

>most common issue - can easily blind us to the other real issues.

In helping others, I first find out if they are open to other issues, or not.

Sometimes they are not. Like you said, it can blind and prolong suffering.

>Many, many of my clients struggle to get better by " getting rid of

>mold " when there is no growth, only some colonies on a settling

>plate. Or a remediatior does an assessment (conflict of interest)

>and over-reaches on the conclusions. (because he'll make more

>money).

I had that done to me last year. Told to my face " no " mold,

and then the written report was " mold " , so the entire ceiling

was torn down. I was sick for 3 weeks from three exposures,

not related to the remediation, but the painting and noise of

industrial HEPA fan.

>IF it is mold, then there has been ample discussion on various

>ways to remediate. The possibility that it is NOT mold is

>inadequately discussed.

I agree. There are a lot of business men on this list who make

a lot of money with remediation, ignoring the customer's health

and their needs, or budget constraints.

>I find that about half the time mold is

>claimed it is not mold. When mold IS the issue, it is one of

>several issues, not just mold, about a third of the time. If ALL

>exposure sources aren't addressed then we end up like a dog

>chasing its tail, much activity with no improvement because we

>are focused too specifically.

Asking a mold remediator if it's mold... is like asking a surgeon if you

need surgery. The answer is likely to be yes, way too often.

Getting other experts involved is always a good thing to have budget

left over for those 2nd and 3rd types of external exposures.