Molds, Mycotoxins, and Human Health
Gray, M. R.
2002
http://www.mold-help.org/molds.htm
Gray, M. R., (2002), "Molds, Mycotoxins, and Human Health", http://www.mold-help.org/molds.htm.
| Abstract: |
| "... From 1987 through the present Dr. Gray has developed a reasonably uniform database on 350 patients with exposures to a variety of haptogenic (immunologically reactive), xenobiotic (toxic) compounds, including 75 patients with confirmed exposure to toxigenic structural molds. These patients have been evaluated in the context of individual clinical encounters, with the workup including standardized comprehensive Internal Medicine Database questionnaires with an extensive Occupational History gathering component, Environmental History gathering questionnaires, kindly provided by Grace Ziem, M.D., Dr.P.H., direct interviews, physical examinations, extensive laboratory testing including complete blood counts with differentials (CBCs), comprehensive metabolic profiles (CMPs), arthritis and thyroid profiles, lymphocyte phenotype studies including total white cell counts, total lymphocyte counts, T-cell and B-cell counts, T-cell subsets, T-cell activation levels using both CD26 and HLA-DR markers, evaluation of natural killer cell counts and functional status, audits for auto antibody production, anti herpes viral titers, anti volatile organic compound (VOC) antibody titers, evaluation of stimulated lymphocyte mitogen response, and pulmonary function testing when indicated, electrocardiograms and chest x-rays as indicated, neuropsychological evaluations, quantitative electroencephalograms (QEEGs), and in the cases in which excessive mold exposure was confirmed by environmental hygiene evaluations with quantification and identification of the specific molds present, appropriate audits were conducted for specific anti mold antibody levels. Excel spreadsheets were prepared including the laboratory data of the confirmed mold exposed patients evaluated between 1994 and February 2001. This exercise revealed patterns of abnormalities consistent with what has been reported in the literature in the last several centuries relating to the adverse health effects of toxigenic molds and fungi in man and other species. These include, but are not limited to, Alimentary toxic aleukia, Dendrodochiotoxicosis, Kashin Beck disease, 'Usov's disease,' Stachybotryotoxicosis, Cardiac beriberi, Ergotism, Balkan nephropathy, Reye's syndrome, hepatocellular carcinoma, Pink Rot, and Onyalai.
Mycotoxins produced by structural molds-meaning molds imported into the residences, workplaces, and public buildings on the paper covering the drywall, and other wood based composite materials-- often represent some of the most toxic substances known to humankind. The molds imported on building materials are not the same as molds commonly encountered in outdoor environments. The wood chips, and wood pulp imported from the Amazon rain forests bring with them their own varieties of mold spores. ..."
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Related Concepts
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Related Resources:
 Laboratory of Building Physics, Leuven, Belgium
"...research and educational activities in the field of heat and mass transfer in building materials, building parts and buildings, the energy use in buildings, building installations and building acoustics. Also research in urban physics is part of our activities.
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