Heightened Awareness

Pathogens are anything capable of producing disease - like fungi, bacteria, virus and other microbials. The popular cause of disease in the last few decades have been the viral and bacterial diseases, but like anything, the tables are turning more and more towards extensive fungal disease. According to Dr. Brian Shaw, Texas AgriLife Research plant pathologist, "some 70 percent of the major disease-causing organisms are fungi."

In the past few years focus has increased toward understanding fungi and their relationship to disease in humans, agriculture and the environment. Fungal disease is prevalent in humans either in a minor form, such as a toenail infection, or can become a potentially life-threatening, systemic infection. Our nations farmers have fought for hundreds of years to eradicate fungal disease and it's effects from their crops. In some areas of the world crop destruction by fungal disease has caused huge economic devastation.

This topic has warranted enough attention for the American Academy of Microbiology to suggest reports on the following:

"Evaluate the Impacts of Mold in Homes and Businesses

There is a serious lack of scientific data to support any stance with respect to indoor mold toxicity or remediation. More effort should be devoted to testing and long-term monitoring of mold contamination and human health in New Orleans and other areas flooded by Hurricane Katrina. Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina provide natural laboratories for understanding how fungi respond to disturbance and the subsequent impacts they have on human health.

Create a Fungal Genomes Database

Researchers involved with fungi must focus efforts on developing a comprehensive fungal genomics database in order to make the vast quantities of sequence data more available and to enable the field to fully capitalize on the promise of genomics.

Report and Track Fungal Infections

Public health agencies should implement formal programs to report cases, track disease progress, and design interventions in outbreaks of fungal disease. The lack of reporting and tracking systems has made it difficult to control the spread of fungal pathogens, because good epidemiological data on the scope of infection is usually not available."

American Society for Microbiology (2008, July 3). Fungi The Cause Of Many Outbreaks Of Disease, But Mostly Ignored. ScienceDaily.

Moist Living

In general, moisture in the home, office or public building should be balanced like many other areas in life. There are living and working environments that should be checked for oversaturation - bathrooms, basements, dark corners, laundry rooms, kitchens. These are the most obvious. Moisture can also accumulate where a structure is weakest or creates an unusual juncture, such as where two sections of the roof meet, creating leaf or ice buildup, harboring moisture. A crack in the external or internal part of the home may also be a magnet for water to settle without notice until someone becomes sick or the discoloration of mold develops.

Environmental conditions play a huge role in whether a building ranks high for moisture. Questions to ask yourself are: Do I live or work in a humid climate? Has there been a flood, hurricane or other storm that has affected the building? Has there been a plumbing leak anywhere in the building? Does the building receive adequate ventilation? Is the measured humidity between 30 and 60 percent?

These are all concerns. Look in susceptible areas for moisture and mold. If there is mold, a percentage of it has affected the air quality and has been inhaled. Wear a face mask if mold is significant before cleaning these areas thoroughly with detergent and water, then dry completely. Extreme moisture and mold may require expert removal so concentration of airborne particulates don't increase and cause health problems.

Some of the health problems from mold are from mycotoxins produced, and appear as lack of energy and appetite, changes in sleep patterns, and changes in the senses. These minor health problems may lead to larger conditions if the mold is not taken care of properly. The immune system becomes weaker as more mold and mycotoxins build in the body.

There will never be an answer to how much mold contributes to our health, but there has been enough evidence to say mold attacks healthy human beings according to the amount of mold present in a building. A number of episodes of 'House', a medical television show, ended with a patient's diagnosis of ill health due to exposure to moldy conditions. Even mainstream t.v. can see that 'moist living' is detrimental to human health.

Red Flags

Lets talk about food. Some people are avid label readers, choosing those food products that list good-for-you ingredients and are the freshest, and some people have the 'its a free-for-all' attitude and put whatever they want in their shopping cart. Here are a few thoughts on what foods to avoid to help the already conscientous shopper and create hesitation in those who aren't.

Choosing the right foods to eat can be a time consuming and costly process. The most obvious steps to take are to read food labels, check for organically, locally grown foods, and the least obvious steps - think about a food's origin and look closely at all foods for any signs of mold or deterioration.

There are food products in this country, and elsewhere, that should raise a red flag for mold content or any contamination. Remember Mad Cow Disease? But, it isn't just meat that can be tainted. Grains are a breeding ground for molds and mycotoxins (the waste product of molds) that may not necessarily be seen in the final product. They are stored in silos for periods of time, and if exposed to moisture, initiate mold very quickly. Once the mold is present, it should not be eaten, by livestock or humans. Mold contamination easily affects feed for livestock, which then potentially gets passed on to humans through the meat and dairy products.

Also, fruits and vegetables have high moisture content. They need breathing room to stay dry and inhibit mold. Purchase the dryest, freshest fruits and vegetables possible that are stored in packages adequately vented. Organic foods are best but can still become wet and lay compacted in the vegetable case. Always store fruits and vegetables in a clean, breathable area in the refrigerator to not pass on mold from previous foods stored. Noticably contaminated food is hard to throw when there are hungry people in the world, but for safety and health reasons, it should be a given.

This topic is not meant to be frightening, just as a hint of caution. Maybe it will help make the next trip to the grocery store a little easier knowing about these red flags.