Re: The final bit of proof I needed to prove the mold nearly killed me

[Guest guest]

Pete,

I'm familiar with MoldWorks and Dr Carroll. I've talked with him a

number of times. But I do not use him for my lab work.

No lab should interpret the data because they definitely cannot

determine conditions in the building, without actually being in

the building to observe building type, materials, use, history,

climate, equipments and occupant susceptibility. The tape lift

(which is not a reliable way to culture mold) could have sampled a

small area of a whole house of mold or the entire colony, for

example. It may or may not be representative of the fungal ecology

of the house or what you were exposed to.

I agree the information provided you is exciting and supportive

but it is a description of what is possible - not necessarily

actual - in your situation. Additional information which provides

the meaning to the numbers is needed for proof. Also, with your

extensive education including science, I'm sure you know there are

different types and levels of proof. So when you say proof, which

one do you mean?

That said, I have no doubt about your exposure as I can plainly

see from the video on your Web site. The AIHA publication

" Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold " supports a

public health criteria rather than an academic or industrial

hygiene compliance protocol.

I don't think any of us on this group doubt you were exposed and

harmed. I certainly don't.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Date sent: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:24:48 -0700 (PDT)

From: Pete Helfrich <petehelfrich2000@...>

Subject: The final bit of proof I needed to prove the mold nearly

killed me

, grimes@...

Copies to: Carstens <tigerpaw2c@...>, Barb Ohio

<barb1283@...>

Hi Carl,

I just thought you might like to know that I have more evidence.

Mold Works seems to do the best testing. They caught things the

place I spent $500 + for missed, for only $45!!

So if anyone needs testing, I just thought you might like to

know.

REPORT COMPLETE: October 12, 2009

DATE OF ANALYSIS:

Helfrich

35 Clinton St., Apt #10

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

REPORT ID:1118

SAMPLES RECEIVED: 1

Dear ,

This is a final report from MouldWorks for the single bulk sample

we received October 5th, 2009, taken from your home at 35 Clinton

St., Apt. #10, Plattsburgh, NY. Here are your results.

1118-1 tape (Bathroom - Behind Shower)

Microscope:

Penicillium sp./Aspergillus sp.

Stachybotrys sp.

Cultured

Aspergillus sydowii

Aspergillus versicolor

Oedocephalum glomerulosum

Stachybotrys sp.

Trichoderma harzianum

Actinomycetes

Dry-spored Acremonium sp.

General Comments

Our analysis of the above set of samples found abundant evidence

of a mold infestation in the bathroom sampled in this home. The

sample contained viable spores, vegetative cells and/or

reproductive structures from a variety of fungal species,

including many molds which require moderately high to extremely

high levels of available moisture before they can colonize an

indoor site. The presence of these microorganisms can be directly

attributed to elevated levels of available moisture locally.

Specifically, Stachybotrys requires a water activity of at least

0.94 before it can germinate and colonize indoor sites. Water

activity is a measure of the proportion of moisture available to

organisms growing on a semi-solid substrate. Finding molds indoors

that require such high levels of moisture is a strong indication

that this site has experienced flooding, leaks or other water

intrusion events. I gather from the chain of custody form that the

shower stall had been leaking for some time and this is almost

certainly the source of the moisture that supports these colonies.

Without first addressing the moisture problems behind the mold

growth, molds will undoubtedly continue to plague this site.

Due to the presence of several toxigenic mold species, I'd

strongly recommend having a professional come in and clean up the

infestation properly to avoid stirring up spores and risking

further personal exposure. A professional mold remediator will

have the equipment and expertise needed to remove the colony

safely, under containment, ensuring that any spores released

during the work are removed from the building. It is important

that any remediation job is guaranteed with third-party air

sampling for mold spores following completion. Without this step,

you have no way of knowing whether the project succeeds in

improving the indoor air quality

Health Effects

Some of the molds found in this sample have the potential to

adversely affect your health. In the paragraphs below, I'll detail

some of the risks thought to be associated with exposure to each

of the concerning molds that were identified. Let's start by

looking at the most concerning mold found in this sample,

Stachybotrys.

The whole issue of stachybotryosis and trichothecene mycotoxins is

reviewed in a recent book by Money (Carpet Monsters and

Killer Spores, Oxford University Press). He concludes that

Stachybotrys should be taken very seriously indeed. Here is what

the findings of the last 5 years suggest:

Stachybotrys toxins include a very potent trichothecene,

Satratoxin G, which may seriously damage lungs and internal

organs. It is probably the agent responsible for the burning

sensation when active strains are inhaled (not advised). In a

study published just a little over a year ago, researchers at

Michigan State University established a link between Satratoxin G

and the death of nerve cells in the part of the brain responsible

for the sense of smell in mice. Researchers allowed mice to sniff

a single dose of Satratoxin G equivalent to that which a person

without respiratory protection would be exposed to in a room

contaminated with Stachybotrys chartarum. They then tracked the

damage to the neurons lining the nasal passages of the mice at

time intervals after exposure. Every mouse exposed to Satratoxin G

developed a significant loss of these nerve cells through a

process known as apoptosis within a day of exposure. In apoptosis,

a type of programmed cell death, cells essentially commit suicide,

in this case in response to exposure to Satratoxin G.

Additionally, each exposed mouse developed inflammation of the

nasal lining and the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that

relays sensory information from the nose to other parts of the

brain. Significantly, this inflammation and loss of nerve cells

were also triggered by exposing the mice to smaller doses over

five consecutive days indicating a cumulative effect.

Although it isn't yet known how Satratoxin G affects human noses,

it is known that the nerve cells damaged in the mouse study are

similar in both species. Studies in the past have focused on the

role very small mold spores or pieces of spores might play in

irritating the lungs. However, this study conclusively shows that

the nasal passages may be damaged as well. The nose acts as a

" scrubber " removing significant amounts of both very large (>5

microns) and very small (nanoparticle-sized) constituents of

aerosols. More work needs to be carried out on the effect these

particles have once deposited.

In addition there are several other categories of nasty substances

made by the fungus, including several which are immune system

depressants and may account for vulnerability of people who are

chronically exposed to the toxin to respiratory illness - colds,

etc. The fungus also makes stachylysin, which causes leakage of

blood from the small capillaries and breakdown of the red blood

cells.

There are two species of Stachybotrys commonly recovered from

interior habitats, S. chartarum and S. chlorohalonata (formally

described just a few years ago). These two species can be

distinguished on a special culture medium, and I did this

routinely in the past. However, after discovering several

instances in which both species were present in the same sample, I

thought it prudent to consider any Stachybotrys infestation as

potentially hazardous. Only about half of S. chartarum strains

make trichothecenes, but they may make the other kinds of toxins

mentioned above. S. chlorohalonata does not make trichothecenes,

but it does make other mycotoxins known to be mutagenic.

It has been claimed that the spores of Stachybotrys are too large

to get far into the respiratory passages. However, it is now known

that the trichothecenes in Stachybotrys chartarum are localized in

the spores and that tiny fragments of the spores (sub-micron

sized) can become airborne. These observations suggest in turn

that aerosols containing mycotoxins can be generated in

environments where Stachybotrys infestations occur even if no

spores are seen in air samples. Indeed, pure mycotoxins have been

filtered from the air in buildings where Stachybotrys infestations

are severe. Given this information, it would be prudent to regard

any Stachybotrys infestation as a potential danger and treat the

site with respect.

The two Aspergillus species observed in the cultures prepared from

your sample are also of some concern. These molds can produce huge

numbers of dry spores which are easily lofted into the air and are

slow to settle. Spores from any species of Aspergillus should

therefore be presumed allergenic. In addition, each of the species

identified in this sample may present additional health risks

worth discussing:

Aspergillus versicolor produces the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin.

This compound is a chemical cousin to aflatoxin, one of the most

mutagenic substances known. Fortunately, sterigmatocystin is much

less mutagenic than aflatoxin, but sources I consult advise

caution when dealing with this mold. Beyond this, it is now known

that A. versicolor also produces aerosols of sub-micron

particulates that could easily penetrate deep into the respiratory

tract; these tiny particles can be mycotoxin-laden, creating a

dangerous situation. Very recent work has shown that mycotoxin

production in these fungi occurs only at relative humidities in

excess of 90% when growing on wallboard and other building

materials. The author (Kristian Nielson) concludes that sites

which have experienced alternate cycles of wetting and drying are

at most risk for mycotoxin contamination. Sites such as this, in

which Aspergillus versicolor is mixed in with Trichoderma,

Actinomycetes or other wet wall microorganisms, are at maximum

risk for contamination by sterigmatocystin. Having said all of

that, I must mention that sterigmatocystin does not become really

mutagenic until it has been acted on by enzymes in the liver, and

it is an open question whether inhaled mycotoxins ever get to the

liver.

Aspergillus sydowii is a frequent agent of invasive aspergillosis.

The fungus is able to enter the body through the epithelial cells

of the lung and disseminate through the blood resulting in acute

pneumonia. Although this sounds quite frightening, this condition

requires the patient to have a previously existing severe loss of

immunocompetence for the fungus to gain hold. Cases in otherwise

healthy patients haven't been reported.

Lastly, the Actinomycetes found in this sample are not molds at

all, but filamentous bacteria. They produce huge numbers of really

minute dry spores which are probably allergenic, since their small

size would allow them to penetrate respiratory passages

efficiently. Actinomycetes typically grow in wet sites and are

part of the wet wall syndrome. These bacteria are typically

ignored in mold reports - but they should not be. Workers in

Finland have reported that some Actinomycete spores, unlike most

toxic mold spores, may actually trigger inflammatory responses in

the lungs.

All samples have been processed and analyzed using MouldWorks SOP

1, SOP 2 and SOP 7.

All samples were inspected prior to processing to ascertain their

condition. Unless expressly stated in the report, all samples were

in adequate condition for analysis.

Sincerely,

Matt Visser

Mycologist and Lab Manager

MouldWorks, LLC

3190 Lakeview Drive

Beulah, MI 49617

541-844-6236

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Subject: Re: Closing up the shop [] 69Re: From Dean's

List To Death Bed.. A Students Mold Nightmare

, " Pete Helfrich "

<petehelfrich2000@...>

Cc: " Carstens " <tigerpaw2c@...>, " Barb Ohio "

<barb1283@...>, toxicologist1@...

Date: Friday, October 9, 2009, 12:32 PM

Pete,

It's your decision but I agree you're probably better off in

another group. But I'm somewhat baffled as to your reasons why.

Your characterization of this group is way off and I don't

understand the rejection of my invitation to participate or my

suggestions of how you can help and be helped.

That said, I wish you the best with getting well and finding a

safe place to live.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

[snip]