Living with Mold - Health Concerns and Problems

Several have asked me if I've had any health problems related to the mold in my home, or the clean-up of it, especially in light of my most recent health problems.
It's hard to say for sure. But I will attempt an answer after I share a little about mold and health-related problems.
Mold has been linked to a myriad of health conditions. Some of these are well-documented. Others are still unproven, and not accepted by many medical authorities. Most everyone has some of the symptoms attributed to mold some of the time.
Several state government agencies list conditions that can be caused or made worse by mold exposure. Some experts say more research is needed before it can be detmined for sure if some of the conditions listed below are linked to mold. Conditions attributed to mold include:

• Allergy to mold -- Mold allergy has been well documented. We test for it in our office, as do most allergists. Symptoms can include runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, and skin rashes. Allergic fungal sinusitis is also a form of mold allergy.
  
• Infections - Usually infection from mold occurs only in persons on chemotherapy or with diseases which may make them more susceptible to infection. Skin, eyes, and lungs are often affected. Aspergillus is the most notable fungus to cause infection (aspergillosis), but others have been associated with infections also.
  
• Mold can irritate mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory system.
  
• Trigeminal nerve effects have been associated with mold, and have been reported to cause decreased attention, disorientation, diminished reflex time, and dizziness.
  
• Volatile compounds (VOCS) produced by mold are thought to cause headache, attention deficit, inability to concentrate, and dizziness.
  
• It is uncertain whether exposure over time to moldy odors can desensitize an individual so they have less perception of all odors, or cause them to be more highly irritated by odors.
  
• Some molds (fungi) produce toxins or poisons. Toxic molds can suppress the immune system, or damage intestines, skin, or lungs. They can increase susceptibility to cancer. They can cause blood vessels in the skin or lungs to rupture.
  Toxic molds are reported to cause nausea and diarrhea, depression, headaches, tremors, kidney problems, and infertility.
  Penicillium is a toxic mold which has been linked with kidney damage and has been shown to be carcinogenic (cancer-producing) in laboratory animals.
  Aspergillis is the most toxic mold according to some sources. Some of the toxins produced by aspergillis are reported to cause liver cancer and damage other vital organs.
  Stachybotrys is the mold usually thought of in "sick building syndrome." It is being investigated as a cause of hemorrhage in the lungs of infants (acute pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis). It has been associated with runny nose, cough, flu-like symptoms, skin irritation in areas of heavy perspiration such as the armpits, headaches, hair loss, malaise, chronic fatigue, depression, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections.
  Stachybotrys is particularly difficult to test for, so is not usually available in commercial mold test kits.
  Fusarium is another mold known to produce toxins.
  As you can see, some of the symptoms above are quite common.
  I had been experiencing decreased attention span and increasing fatigue for some time before I began the mold project. But I hadn't been sleeping well, and felt that was the underlying cause. I've not seen insomnia reported as being related to mold.
  Several weeks after the mold-cleanup was finished I was able to get back to better sleep patterns, but it was only temporary. When I slept better my restlessness and fatigue were much improved. So probably the fatigue and attention span problems were related to insomnia rather than mold. (See update below.)
  When I went to the doctor for a checkup because of the insomnia and fatigue, another health problem was discovered. At first it was thought I might have an incurable form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. But the final diagnosis was Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS).
  MGUS is an over growth of one of the immunoglobulins produced in the bone marrow and circulated through the blood. In itself it causes no problems, but it must be monitored because in some cases it does lead to Multiple Myeloma.
  Is any of this related to mold? Perhaps. It could also be related to any number of toxins that are in our environment, to food additives, or to causes not yet understood. Scientists are working on answers for questions about cancer as well as about mold.
  But experts do agree on one thing: Indoor mold can lead to health problems. It needs to be controlled or eliminated.
  [Update June 2, 2008: Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Treatment is working well. I've also learned the cause of my insomnia and fatigue. It was not related to mold, but rather to a compromised airway due to an old jaw injury. I had surgery to fix that in May of 2008, and saw immediate improvement.]
  
  References:
  
  1. Got mold? Frequently asked questions about mold, Washington State Department of Health.
  2. Mold in my home: What do I do?, California Department of Health Services, Department of Human Services, United States Government..
  3. Health Effects of Toxin-Producing Indoor Molds in California, California Environmental Health Investigations Branch.
  4. Mold Mini Course, Texas Cooperative Extention, Texas A&M University System.