Toxicology, Mycotoxins, and Mold Investigations
Clean Air Sciences, Inc. works closely with allergists, medical doctors, and medical toxicologists to aid our clients with investigating sources of exposure for their health issues and medical conditions. Many of our clients are in the tri-state area and task us to conduct field investigations based upon their current medical diagnosis and suspected sources of exposure.
Many clients have suffered from mold-related symptoms for years from heightened sensitivity caused by Lyme Disease and Lyme toxins, a genetic predisposition to mold sensitivity caused by the HLA-DR (Human Leukocyte Antigen – antigen D Related) gene, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), and been unable to identify the source of the problem using a “mold inspector”. Biotoxins are produced from microbial proliferation from the presence of water and a food source in the indoor environment and pose many more health concerns than most people realize.
According to the Psychology Today website article Mold Toxicity: A Common Cause of Psychiatric Symptoms “Mold toxicity can manifest with so many different and diverse symptoms, that it is frequently misdiagnosed. It is likely that some cases of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mast cell activation disorder, histamine intolerance, irritable bowel, and leaky gut, multiple sclerosis, and post-treatment Lyme syndrome, which do not respond to treatment, are due to a chronic inflammatory response caused by toxic mold.
Mold Toxicity
Unfortunately, mold toxicity is not on the radar of many practitioners, and thus they do not include it as part of the differential diagnosis.” The Psychology Today article lists recognized cognitive effects of exposure such as issues with memory, focus/concentration, word recollection, decreased learning of new information, confusion, and disorientation (and a total of 37 symptoms). Very few healthcare providers are familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of mold toxins, however, an emergence of practices specializing in biotoxins has occurred in the Chicago area that is based upon the Ritchie Schumaker system. If Clean Air Sciences, Inc. determines you have toxigenic mold levels that warrant concern we can refer you to a physician.
Our scientist utilizes the latest in building forensic investigative technology with sample analysis developed by the U.S. E.P. A. and began collecting ERMI samples since their beginning in 2006, but has expanded to a comprehensive sampling strategy for the determination of occupancy issues caused by trace species levels of mold in the air and on personal contents and living spaces. Our investigations are tailored specifically to your health conditions and the possible issues or cause of problems in your home and the analysis goes far beyond spore detection as it counts every particle in the air from each specific species on the panel.
Mycotoxins & Mold Specie Detection
Many people call us asking for an “Air Quality Test” or “Air Quality Testing” when they want to have “mold testing” or mold inspection and sampling performed. Others don’t really know what to sample for, but based upon the symptoms they describe or the situation in their home or business, we can gather the information we need by carefully asking the right questions. In fact, we ask a lot of questions so that we don’t waste your money by sampling for things that won’t help to solve your problem.
Clean Air Sciences, Inc. specializes in independent mold investigations for people experiencing unexplained health symptoms possibly linked to indoor mold exposure. We focus on health outcomes, not just cosmetic mold since the hidden mold is more frequently the cause of mycotoxin exposure. Many of our clients are referred to us from doctors (pulmonologist, internal medicine, toxicologist), allergists, health and life coaches, or former clients that have gone through their own mold recovery journey. Most of our clients come from the many doctors of Chicago-land practices that specialize in biotoxin & mycotoxin exposure who refer their patients because they know the data we produce helps them to understand the occupancy and exposure to mold in the home. This may aid in treatment paths utilized based upon the mold species detected and the mycotoxins they produce.
Our clients often call and tell us the mycotoxins they have in their lab results which gives us an indication of where the mold growth is located and dispersing toxigenic fungal components and spores. We estimate that of the clients that call us from a doctor’s referral, because of confirmed mold exposure to their body, that likely 90% of the time we find a hidden mold problem in their homes and there is a very high and direct correlation between mycotoxin levels and mold species present in the air and on their contents in the living spaces.
When mycotoxin exposure is confirmed by a doctor with urine or blood specimen testing, a novice mold inspector approach will not find the mold due to the limitations of the sampling devices and laboratory analyses because the, almost exclusively used, spore trap air samples only count actual spores and cannot differentiate between Aspergillus, Penicillium, Acremonium, and Paecilomyces individual genera. This is a real problem if you need to find out if you are being exposed to a specific mold such as Aspergillus ochraceus that produces the mycotoxin ochratoxin A. We utilize the most cost-effective samples that detect mold the best, therefore we will not recommend to do actual mycotoxin analysis or EMMA as they are too limited in their capabilities. In some instances, mycotoxin sampling may be performed as part of post-remediation and re-occupancy sampling if the cost is feasible to the client and requested.
We find mold that is practically invisible, nearly non-visible to the naked eye, and you can be looking directly at this mold and not be able to see that it is there, because it is not black or green, or any other color that stands out, especially when it is a specie of Aspergillus. Many times, we are the 2nd, 3rd, and a record 4th company to come to a person’s home to find expansive mold that no one saw. Only a scientist with decades of experience using the proper tools and techniques will be able to find this type of mold in your home or business. In some cases where mold is not visible, using the proper air samples and living space contamination assessment samples is the only way to determine that there in fact is a mold problem. These samples identify the mycotoxin-producing mold species present in the air and on furniture and other possessions and this often indicates the type of environment necessary for specific species to grow so we know where we should look next when nothing is visible and hidden fungal reservoirs are indicated by the data.
Once we identify a mold exposure problem inside the home and the source of mold growth, we provide a comprehensive mold remediation plan to remove it and decontaminate the home and impacted living spaces and routes of exposure. Removal of the mold and eliminating the exposure is how we achieve the best health outcome for our clients with mold-related exposure symptoms and health effects. Getting rid of the mold exposure is the only way they can start to get better because even with the right treatment, continued exposure will prevent the elimination of mycotoxins from their bodies. Even after successful mold remediation and sample confirmed re-occupancy for their homes, doctors and previous clients say that it can take a year or longer before they are able to excrete the mycotoxins from their bodies and begin to get better and have noticeable improvement. That is why getting the ball rolling as soon as possible with the right trajectory and guidance is imperative.
Investigate Your Concerns by Calling Us Today at 847-344-0607
Blood Test Results
Toxicologist reports aid in focusing investigations to probable sources.
