Mold

Mold is a fungus that can be found indoors and outdoors. It grows best in warm, damp conditions.

Some species of molds produce mycotoxins that cause a variety of harmful effects in humans and animals.

Mycotoxins typically associated with the molds Stachybotrys, Penicillium, or Aspergillus can be present in water-damaged buildings and cause a variety of harmful effects in humans and animals.

The production of mycotoxins by mold colonies varies based on environmental factors. Molds may interact with human pollution, especially nanoparticulate pollution, in ways that are not yet well characterized but that may increase the inflammatory response to mold.

Allergy
Mold affects some people who are sensitive to it. Reactions can be mild causing nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some who have severe reactions to mold and who may be in certain occupational settings, such as farming, moldy hay could cause more of a severe reaction. Others can be more sensitive or impacted due to mold in their home, workplace or school leading to Mold illness.

Connective tissue
Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) release proteinases that can hydrolyze gelatin and collagen I and IV. Three mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and T-2 toxin, were study in an the context of an experimental cartilage model. They were found to increase the expression of MMPs and result in the loss of aggrecan and type II collagen. Selenium partially inhibited the effects of these mycotoxins.

Genetic Predisposition
Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs), are found on the surface of nearly every cell in the human body. They help the immune system tell the difference between body tissue and foreign substances.

The immune response genes are found on chromosome six. Patients could have two alleles, copies of genes (for each gene, one allele is inherited from a person's father, and the other is inherited from a person's mother), out of approximately 10 possible, as part of their genotype. Based on Dr. Shoemaker's data, in normal populations compared to international registries of gene frequencies of HLA DR, we know the frequency of mold illness-susceptible patients approximates 24% of the normally distributed population. Almost 25% of the normal population is genetically susceptible to chronic mold illness.

Treatment
An Allergist can treat allergies to mold while an Infectious Disease Specialist will treat mold infections.

There are also functional medicine practitioners like members of the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI) who specialize in the field of environmentally acquired illness (EAI) with expertise treating mold illness, Lyme disease, etc, using a systems biology approach.