Recently, a newspaper article was published to explain the potential health concerns caused by your Christmas tree: “How CHRISTMAS TREES can cause hay fever hell: Pollen grains, dust and mould can trigger sneezing, coughing and a runny nose”
The article dubbed the illness, Christmas Tree Syndrome, because 1 in 3 (approximately 35 percent) people get sick, suffering from hay fever like symptoms, soon after the Christmas tree is set up in the home.
This article explains what causes Christmas Tree Syndrome and provides recommendations on how you can minimize the potential health issues caused by this indoor air quality issue.
What Are The Health Symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome?
Typical signs that your tree is making you ill include the following:
Asthma attacks, usually triggered by cladosporium mold
Cold like symptoms, that subside when away from the home or the room with the tree in it.
Mold Is The Cause Of Christmas Tree Syndrome!
Prior to the studies documented below, it was thought that tree pollen or even weed killer applied to Christmas trees made people ill.
However, as the studies below conclude, the core cause of Christmas Tree Syndrome is mold, which releases spores and causes allergic reactions:
“Researchers at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut, found that a room containing a fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level. Other studies have shown that levels this high can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms, says the study’s coauthor, allergist and immunologist Philip Hemmers.” (A fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level)
In another study Dr. John Santilli, compared the level of mold spores in the home before and after the tree was placed in the home. The normal level of mold spores is 800 per cubic meter, but within 14 days of the Christmas tree being in the home, the level of mold spores increased to 5,000 spores per cubic meter.
Another scientific study by allergy specialist, Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky at Upstate Medical University in New York set out to determine why respiratory illnesses peak around Christmas. The study found 53 different kinds of mold, including, aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporium and alternaria, which can trigger asthma attacks, sneezing and a runny nose. One of the key conclusions made by this study was 70 percent of the molds found triggered allergies and asthma.
What Can I Do To Minimize Mold Exposure From My Christmas Tree?
Mold spores are found naturally on Christmas trees, which will flourish once they are in a centrally heated home.
With this in mind, if you can manage Christmas with an artificial tree, that is the best solution. Please note, artificial trees can accumulate a layer of dust and even mold if not stored properly. Be sure to store your artificial tree in a dry area and preferably in plastic tubs to minimize exposure to moisture and dust.
However, if you must use a live Christmas tree, here are some tips to minimize the health impact:
Thoroughly hose down your tree and let it dry before bringing it into the house. If you bought your tree at a nursery, ask if they have tree washing services.
Clean all ornaments and lights before putting on the tree; they can harbor dust and molds. Store all decorations in plastic containers that can be easily wiped down since cardboard can potentially attract dust and mold.
Minimize exposure. If you’re sensitive to molds, keep a live Christmas tree no more than four to seven days.
Run an air purifier in the same room as the Christmas tree. This may help alleviate symptoms.
Allergy medication may also help alleviate some symptoms as well.
Since mold spores may accumulate the longer your tree is in the house, consider getting rid of it first thing on the 26th.
Happy holidays from your friends at Mold B Gone. If you have questions, we are here to help! If you think you have mold, call us, 678-697-6267 or contact us via e-mail for further assistance.
Is #Mold In Your Christmas Tree Making You Sick?: One in Three people get sick from their Christmas tree. This article explains why and what you can do to feel better. Learn more.
Why Do Some People Get Sick From Mold And Others Do Not?
Why Do Some People Get Sick From Mold And Others Do Not?
One of the biggest challenges faced by people sick from mold is the fact that doctors, friends, and other family members dismiss their symptoms simply because they, personally, do not get sick when exposed to mold.
Many victims of mold sickness are labelled as hypochondriacs and are accused of not being sick at all.
This is tragic because many people that get sick have no control over their sickness because their bodies have a genetic pre-disposition to mold illness.
The purpose of this article is to explain why.
Legal Challenges Faced By Mold Sensitized Individuals
Sickness from mold has been around for decades.
Victims of mold have tried to plea their cases in the courts seeking compensation for the health damages caused by poorly maintained homes and buildings that had water damage and mold.
Unfortunately, many of the plaintiffs lost their battle because the courts did not believe that mold actually makes people sick.
Despite this, data from thousands of contractors working with occupants of water-damaged buildings documented the health challenges that many mold sensitized individuals faced.
According to Erik Johnson, a mold expert and survivor, it was not until the 1990s, that the World Health Organization, acknowledged that “Sick Building Syndrome” could be caused by toxic mold.
Moving forward, finally, it seems that there is greater recognition that mold is in fact the cause of sickness for many. Earlier this year, the MOLDY documentary featured health professionals and people who have suffered mental and physical health issues after living in moldy homes. This was a ground breaking documentary because it brought the issue of mold and sickness to a much broader audience, thereby creating significant awareness of this issue.
One of the most notable trends he cites is a “A Tighter Connection Between Medicine and Environment“.
Pinto cites new diagnosing techniques to identify the illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) (detailed below), which legitimizes the tie between Water Damaged Buildings (WDB) and sickness. Research has identified a genetic component to this condition (explained below), a screening test (VCS), and most importantly, a treatment regimen.
Other trends Pinto believes demonstrate the important ties between medicine and the environment include the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) which is a scientific test that analyzes dust samples for 36 mold species. This test provides base information to identify CIRS because 26 of the mold species are considered to be water damage indicators.
This test is important because one sample can be analyzed to identify the extent of water damage in the building that could make someone susceptible to CIRS sick. Importantly, this test will provide an ERMI score, ie. a HERTSMI-2 score that can be given to physicians and will help them assess whether a building will make their patient sick.
Because of the growing medical awareness and the fact that there are now medical tests and drugs to diagnose and treat mold illness, Pinto believes that one of the other consequences of this acknowledgement will be a “More Active Justice System” where plaintiffs will now be able to get compensation because they now have science to back up their claims.
1 in 4 People Has A Genetic Predisposition to Mold Illnes
The most interesting aspect of the research on the effect that Sick Building Syndrome has on patients pertains to genetics. One of the biggest problems with mold sickness is that it impacts everyone differently. Some may experience minor allergies, and other health conditions like asthma and chronic sinusitis, while other mold sensitized patients may suffer severe illnesses.
One physician documented the health symptoms of 227 patients that lived in water damaged buildings during a three year period. What this doctor found was that 98% of his patients had one of the gene types where their immune systems were not able to effectively deal with contaminants from water damaged buildings.
“In layman’s terms, two different genes have been isolated, which keep some people’s immune systems from functioning properly when they have been exposed to contaminants from water-damaged buildings. Instead of properly identifying and eliminating the foreign invader, those body defense mechanisms increase the problem. When viewed with a basic understanding of genetic distributions, this research made it clear that up to a quarter of the population (25%) is at increased risk from exposure to water-damaged buildings.“
This research is very significant because it demonstrates that up to 25% of the population has a genetic pre-disposition that makes them more susceptible to mold illness and the condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
Because of this research, the scientific community and legal system is now taking much greater notice because diagnostic tests, lab tests and treatment tools are being developed to help these patients.
What Is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)?
Listed below are the 37 symptoms associated with CIRS.
“an accute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans, c-type lectins and possibly spirocyclic drimanes, plus volatile ogranic compounds.“
For 75% of the population, when exposed to biotoxins caused by mold, the individuals immune system responds by binding with the invading poison that allows its cells to filter the biotoxins through the liver, kidneys, and other organs. In contrast, 25% of the population that have the genetic susceptibility to mold illness get sick because their bodies immune system does not bind to the biotoxin, meaning it is not eliminated and therefore continues to circulate, causing the many symptoms, documented below.
The “C” in CIRS refers to the term “Chronic” because individuals that are exposed to poisons from mold are unable to eliminate the toxins from their body, resulting in on-going and escalating sickness, particularly if the person is continually exposed to mold. This is the primary reason that the first priority of medical practitioners treating mold sensitized patients is to begin the detox process which also must coincide with movement away from the building that is constantly exposing the person to the toxins.
The “I” in CIRS refers to the term “Inflammatory” because the constant exposure to the toxins creates a cycle of sickness, meaning the individual’s immune system is constantly trying to fight the toxins, leading to inflammation.
The “R” in CIRS refers to “Response” because the human body is designed to respond to invading toxins. In the case of patients suffering from mold sickness, the immune system is constantly trying to fight the toxins causing a stress on the complete immune system of the individual, which in turn leads to other health conditions.
As stated by Pinto, the “S” in CIRS refers to “Syndrome” because:
“The symptoms are a result of many factors, including external exposures and internal responses. The contaminants from water-damaged buildings should trigger the activation of an immune response, but some people’s genetic structure does not allow the proper recognition of the biotoxin. Since this combination of circumstances inhibits the clearance of the poison from the body, these harmful substances continue to circulate and create continual damage. With such individuals there is no linear dose/response relationship, meaning that even trivial exposures can create severe problems.“
Is CIRS Life Threatening?
The major problem that individuals with CIRS face is their bodies immune systems become severely compromised and weakened from the vicious cycle of invading poison, immune response, and inflammation.
The end result is many of their bodies systems are damaged leading to a wide range of health conditions, some life threatening.
For this reason, many mold survivors have reported that they have abandoned the primary residence that initially made them sick; instead, seeking shelter in trailer parks, and very dry areas, with desert like conditions where moisture is limited. These drastic measures were taken by these individuals because their bodies have become so sensitized to mold that even minor exposure triggers severe reactions.
Fortunately, the continued research on mold sickness is creating hope because treatments have developed that help individuals detox and eliminate the poisons, followed by rebuilding the immune system so that it regains strength.
Do You Suspect You Have A Mold Illness?
The core problem with CIRS is the fact that there are so many symptoms associated with the condition.
Are you constantly seeking medical attention?
Have you been feeling sick for an extended period of time?
If you think you may be sick because of mold, review the mold sensitized interviews to gather more information.
The next step is to verify that you actually have a bio-toxin illness caused by mold, meaning you should get your home tested for mold.
Then seek out an environmental physician who can properly diagnose, determine if you have a genetic pre-disposition to mold illness, and most importantly begin treatment so your body can properly detox.
If you are diagnosed with mold illness, your physician may request that you leave your home for awhile during the detox process.
During this period, we advise that you get all the mold removed from your home, your contents cleaned, and a thorough cleaning of your HVAC system to prevent the spread of mold spores after the remediation is complete.
Questions? Need help? Mold B Gone looks forward to serving you, with the added benefit that we understand the needs of mold sensitized individuals. Call, (470) 545-4467, or send us an e-mail.
Are You Sick From #Mold Because Of Your Genes?: Why Do Some People Get Sick From Mold And Others Do Not? This article explains why!
The purpose of this article is to provide you with information pertaining to research on the link between mold and sinus infections.
If you have asthma, sinusitis, or other respiratory conditions, please explore the possibility that mold may be the cause.
Medications and treatment can only be effective if it deals with the cause of the health condition.
In short, if the root cause of your health problems are mold, then the only way to get healthy is to do something about the mold concern.
10 Key Stats and Facts About Sinusitis!
Acute sinusitis is caused by bacterial infections that usually last a month or less.
Chronic sinusitis lasts three months or longer.
Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sinus cavity.
Small growths, referred to as polyps, often develop in the nasal passages of chronic sinusitis patients causing significant breathing challenges.
Signs of sinusitis include the following: facial and/or teeth pain; tenderness and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose, and forehead; sinus pressure or congestion; difficulty breathing through the nose; loss of the sense of smell or taste; sinus headache.
Approximately 37 million Americans or 12% of the population suffer from chronic sinusitis.
Every week there are about 308,000 doctor visits or 16 million per year by sinusitis patients.
Over $150 million is spent each year on prescription medications to treat sinusitis patients.
Over $1 billion is spent each year on over-the-counter medications by sinusitis patients.
Direct healthcare expenditures due to sinusitis cost are well over $8 billion each year.
Sinusitis Treatments
Antibiotics, over-the-counter medications, and balloon sinuplasty (BSP) are the mainstream treatments currently offered to patients that suffer from sinusitis.
Antibiotics may help acute sinusitis patients because these drugs are able to target the bacterial cause. Such drugs, however, are not effective for chronic sinusitis patients because it likely does not address the actual cause of the problem (explained below).
There are many over-the-counter drugs also available which do provide some temporary relief, but are not long term solutions because they do not reduce the inflammation which is causing the discomfort.
A medical procedure, Balloon Sinuplasty (BSP), is performed in outpatient surgical facilities under local anesthetic. This procedure widens the sinus cavity to allow for better sinus drainage and function.
MAYO Clinic Researchers Believe That MOLD Is The Primary Cause Of Chronic Sinusitis
Mayo Clinic Doctors: David Sherris; Eugene Kern; and Jens Ponikau, believe chronic sinusitis is caused by a fungus that causes an immune reaction:
“Medications haven’t worked for chronic sinusitis because we didn’t know what the cause of the problem was. Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases. Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction. This is a potential breakthrough that offers great hope for the millions of people who suffer from this problem. We can now begin to treat the cause of the problem instead of the symptoms. Finally we are on the trail of a treatment that may actually work.”
The researchers studied 210 patients with chronic sinusitis, collecting mucus samples from the noses of the patients. They discovered fungus in 96 percent and identified 40 different kinds of fungi, each patient averaging 2.7 kinds.
Nasal polyps were also removed from 101 of these patients. The researchers found eosiniphils, which are a type of white blood cell activated by the body’s immune system, in the nasal tissue and mucus of the patients.
This discovery shows that in sensitive individuals, the body’s immune system is sending the eosinophils to attack the fungi, which in turn irritates the membranes of the nose. Consequently, traditional treatments do not work because they do not rid the body of the fungi that is irritating the membranes and causing the inflammation.
Since mold is found everywhere, the doctors believe that fungal spores, which become airborne and then are breathed in by the sufferers of chronic sinusitis, perpetuates their condition caused by the immune response. Further research is underway to set up trials to test medications to control the fungus.
Tips To Alleviate Your Sinusitis Condition
Chronic sinusitis patients should try to limit their exposure to mold spores, which can be challenging when you are outside. Monitor the weather for air quality alerts that report high levels of spores and pollen, and limit your outdoor activities.
You have greater control over your indoor environment where you can take some proactive actions to limit exposure to mold.
The number one question you need to answer is whether or not you have a mold problem in your home?
This can be determined with a mold inspection or air quality test.
In addition, here are some tips to optimize your indoor air quality for long term health:
Maintain healthy humidity levels between 30% to 50% to minimize moisture and prevent mold growth.
If you do find mold in your home, fix the moisture source which is the key ingredient mold needs to grow and then hire a professional to remove the mold.
Maintain your HVAC system so that it is operating efficiently and circulating clean, healthy air. This is particular important in hotter climates where residents rely on air conditioning to reduce humidity and stay cool. You want to ensure that your air conditioner is not a source of mold contamination in your home, so yearly maintenance and professional inspections are highly recommended.
If you suffer from asthma, sinusitis, or other respiratory ailments, call Mold B Gone to determine if you have a mold problem. If you do, the short term cost to remove the mold will be minor compared to the long term health benefits you will gain. Questions? We are here to help you with mold removal in Atlanta. Call, (470) 545-4467, or send us an e-mail.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory inflammatory disease of the airways that makes it difficult to breathe and is caused by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs. The exact causes of asthma are not known, though research believes that the most common triggers are mold, allergies, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, genetics, and other factors.
The goal of this article is to explore the relationship between asthma and mold, citing recent research on the mold trigger and is divided up into the following sections:
Asthma Statistics
Asthma Statistics in Georgia
Legal Evidence Citing Link Between Mold and Asthma
Research Studies on Mold and Asthma
The Impact of Mold Removal on Alleviating Asthma
Asthma Statistics
Asthma Statistics
Asthma affects 300 million people in the world and more than 22 million Americans. According to Michael Pinto, CEO, of Wonder Makers Environmental:
Not surprisingly, six million American children suffer from asthma.
According to research by Crown Preservation, if the building has mold, respiratory conditions and asthma increased by up to 50%. Further, it is believed that 21% of the asthma cases or 4.6 million Americans suffer from asthma caused by dampness and mold. The health care costs for asthma in the United States are $3.5 billion each year.
The infographic below provides a macro view of asthma statistics in the United States and the rest of the world.
Asthma Statistics
Asthma Statistics in Georgia
Asthma Statistics in Georgia
According to the CDC, about 10% (more than 900,000 people) of the residents of Georgia suffer from asthma.
The average number of adults in the United States that have asthma is 13.5%; in Georgia, the percentage of adults that have asthma is below the national average and only 12.7%.
Statistically, however, asthma rates among children in Georgia are about 3% higher than the national average of 13.3%, sitting at around 16.1%.
Simply put, compared to the national average, more children in Georgia suffer from asthma.
Legal Evidence Citing Link Between Mold and Asthma
Legal Evidence Citing Link Between Mold and Asthma
In 2013, NBC Dateline produced a documentary called Breathless.
The key conclusion made by the documentary: rates of asthma in public housing managed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) was much higher among children then it was in private housing.
This revealing documentary furthered the cause of frustrated tentants, who sued NYCHA for violating the Americans With Disabilities Act.
The tenants core argument was that NYCHA was not respecting their health because they were not properly fixing moisture problems that was causing respiratory ailments and asthma. In short, NYCHA’s lack of action to address moisture problems was perpetuating the disability caused by asthma, particularly for children.
NYCHA eventually settled out of court and agreed that mold and moisture was a health threat. This recognition is very important because a public housing authority, that housed more than 400,000 tenants, finally agreed that mold causes respiratory ailments and asthma, demonstrating that they understood that moisture was the root cause of the problem.
Research Studies on Mold and Asthma
Research Studies on Mold and Asthma
Finish Mold and Asthma Study
In 2001, Dr. Maritta Kilpelainen, based out of the University of Turku in Finland, surveyed 10,000 students about the dampness of their homes. The students were asked to report back on the frequency of colds and other respiratory ailments.
Her survey study revealed the following:
Students were twice as likely to have asthma if they found visible mold in their homes.
The odds of having at least four colds per year increased by 50% if there was visible mold.
There was a higher risk of lung infections, bronchitis and pneumonia, in students’ homes that had visible mold and water damage.
Cincinnati Mold and Asthma Study
Since Dr. Kilpelainen did not take actual swab samples of the mold or do air quality tests, her study is considered anecdotal and not conclusive; “mold minimizers” cite her study as more of a theory than actual proof that there is a link between mold and asthma.
In 2012, researchers in Cincinnati, led by Tiina Reponen, decided to explore the link between mold and asthma further by studying the effect of mold on children.
The researchers studied the effects of mold on about 300 children and found that there are three mold species harmful to children: Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus unguis and Penicillium variabile. All three of these molds are prevalent in water damaged homes.
Reponen, co-author of the study, concluded:
“While it is known that mold is a risk factor for asthma, this is the first study that quantitatively measured mold and after adjusting for commonly known risk factors, found an association with asthma. Previously, other studies had shown qualitative or anecdotal associations.”
This conclusion clearly indicates that mold exposure in infancy can cause asthma, so it is very important that expectant mothers and families with small children avoid living in water damaged buildings.
Researchers studied children, ages 6 to 15, in 44 schools, and made the following conclusion:
“Classroom Aspergillus/Penicillium and basidiospores are significantly associated with childhood asthma and asthma with symptoms reduced on holidays or weekends (ASROH). Government health policy should explore environmental interventions for the elimination of fungal spores in classrooms to reduce the prevalence of childhood asthma.”
UK Mold and Asthma Study
In the same year, 2014, a study out of the UK made similar conclusions about mold and asthma. Dr. Richard Sharpe of the University of Exeter Medical School found that high levels of the fungal species Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium poses a significant health risk to people with asthma, worsening the symptoms in both children and adults.
Sharpe and his team reviewed 17 studies that were done in eight different countries and concluded:
“Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species were found to be present in higher concentrations in homes of asthmatic participants. Exposure to Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium species were found to be associated with increased risk of reporting asthma symptoms by a limited number of studies. The presence of Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species increased the exacerbation of current asthma symptoms by 36% to 48% compared with those exposed to lower concentrations of these fungi, as shown by using random-effect estimates. Studies were of medium quality and showed medium-high heterogeneity, but evidence concerning the specific role of fungal species was limited.” (Indoor fungal diversity and asthma: A meta-analysis and systematic review of risk factors)
Other conclusions from this study, included the following:
Dampness and fungal contamination in the home has been consistently shown to increase the risk of asthma and the severity of its symptoms.
Majority of the evidence reviewed focuses on the exacerbation of asthma symptoms, and few assess their role in the development of asthma.
So far Aspergillus and Penicillium species have already been linked to an increase in the risk of asthma development in children, but we know little about the effects of the other species we considered.
Dampness is one of the major factors affecting the growth of mold inside homes, a problem which has been on the rise as aging houses are sealed and retrofitted with new energy efficient technology. We currently know very little about how people’s living habits can contribute to indoor air quality, and ultimately affect their health. This study highlights the need for homes to have adequate heating, ventilation and home maintenance, all factors that will help to reduce the presence of mold and its effects on asthma symptoms.
The Impact of Mold Removal in Alleviating Asthma
The Impact of Mold Removal in Alleviating Asthma
The research studies cite both quantitative and qualitative evidence correlating a strong link between mold and asthma.
From an economic stand point, the health care costs related to asthma are $3.5 billion dollars. Much of the treatment focuses on the use of medications, a band aid solution because drugs and inhalers may not be addressing the root cause, mold.
Will the health care community and insurance providers finally begin acknowledging the positive impact that mold remediation will have? Michael Pinto, CEO of Wonder Makers, believes there is a strong argument for the environmental causes of asthma to one day be addressed by health insurance providers that see the benefits of mold removal as an asthma preventative measure.
Failure to address the cause negatively impacts the sufferer’s health and also has a significant economic cost from a health care standpoint and lost productivity.
Considering the health costs of asthma, it makes logical sense for the real cause of asthma, i.e. mold to be addressed and removed, particularly if there are children in the home.
“It’s proof of common sense that you want to take care of mold in the home. It’s just proving that if you don’t do that, your kids are more likely to develop asthma.” (Gary Steven, an allergist at the Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center in Milwaukee)
Furthering the argument to remove mold for asthma relief, a study published in the scientific journal Thorax concluded that mold remediation – the removal of visible mold – improved respiratory illnesses:
Asthma and rhinitis symptoms and the use of medications to treat them were reduced in patients who took part in a randomized controlled trial to see if removing visible household mold would relieve their symptoms.
After a year the intervention group (those whose mold was removed) reduced their use of medications by 22 percent while the controls reduced their medications by 16 percent.
The intervention group also reported about 24 percent net improvement in rhinitis and rhino conjunctivitis symptoms than the control group.
The intervention group also showed an improvement in wheezing that affected their activities like sleeping and speaking (31 percent vs. 7 percent improvement reported by the control group).
If you suffer from asthma, one of the most important steps that you can take to improve your condition is to determine if you have mold in your home. Consider getting the air quality of your home tested to determine if the trigger is mold because the short term cost of removing the mold could net long term health benefits and savings in health costs as well.
Mold B Gone is here to help and committed to serving mold sensitized residents and asthma sufferers. If you suspect that mold is making you sick, call us, 678-697-6267 or contact Mold B Gone for further assistance. Our goal is to help you live a healthier and happy life. Most importantly, we truly empathize with your situation and are committed to helping you and guarantee our services.
What Is The Link Between #Mold and #Asthma?: According to the CDC, rates of asthma among children in Georgia is 3% above the national average. Is mold a factor? This article cites stats and research!
