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Toxic Molds
"In the outdoor environment molds are ubiquitous. Moist conditions involving drywall, wood, carpeting, or paper material are the proliferation medium in the indoor environment for toxic molds. Since Americans spend 75 to 90% of their time indoors, the risk of exposure to toxic molds that may grow indoors is increased (R- 1). Toxic molds enter the indoor environment through doorways, windows, heating and ventilation systems, and air conditioning systems, given the appropriate circumstances. Spores from toxic molds in the air deposit on people, animals, clothing, shoes, and bags, turning them into common and potential carriers of toxic molds into the indoor environments (home and office) (R-2). Indoor environments that contain excessive moisture such as leakage from roofs, walls, plant
pots, or pet urine cause proliferation and development of molds. The most common molds which are found indoor are Cladosporium,
Penicillium, and Aspergillus. In order to proliferate, molds need nutrients which are commonly present in building environments such as cellular substrates in paper, paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, wood products, drywall, carpet, fabric, insulation materials, wallpaper, paints, and dusts. Some of the indoor molds have the potential to produce extremely toxic materials called toxic mycotoxins
(R-3, 4). Those toxic molds which have the potential of producing toxic materials include Fusarium and Stachybotrys, among others.For more details go to www.environmentaldiseases.com.
About the author: "Dr. Nachman Brautbar is a board-certified internist and nephrologist, with a specialization in toxicology. His list of
past and present academic appointments include: Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He specializes in the toxicological and internal medicine aspects of injury in the workplace, product liability, personal injury, standard of
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