Mold Exposure and Mycotoxins

Understanding the Impact on Your Health

What is Mold Exposure?

Mold exposure occurs when individuals inhale or come into contact with mold spores or mycotoxins produced by certain types of mold. Mold exposure can happen when living, working, or frequenting buildings that have had water damage. These toxins can cause a variety of health issues, particularly in sensitive individuals. Extensive medical evidence supports the view that exposure to mycotoxins leads to immune dysregulation, neurological disorders, cancer, and various other health issues. At Hygenerate, we take a functional medicine approach to help you understand and address the symptoms associated with mold exposure and mycotoxin toxicity.

Common Misconceptions About Mold

Traditionally, many people believe they can "smell" mold and detect "mustiness," which they associate with a space being "moldy." However, many sources and types of mold are hidden behind walls, under paint, in bathrooms, and in other areas that are not visible or detectable to the human eye or nose. This makes it essential to conduct proper testing rather than relying solely on smell to assess the presence of mold.

Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Mold exposure can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:
Cognitive Symptoms:

Difficulty concentrating
Brain fog
Poor memory
Symptoms resembling ADD/ADHD
Confusion or disorientation
Dizziness, vertigo, or a sensation of being "drunk"
Blurry vision, frequent changes in vision, or difficulty reading

Emotional and Psychological Symptoms:

Mood swings
Depression
Anxiety

Physical Symptoms:

Chronic fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest
Trouble sleeping or insomnia
Stubborn weight gain
Headaches or migraines
Nausea or frequent vomiting
Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, rashes, redness, or flushing)
Itchy or burning skin
Easy bruising
Chest pain
Overactive bladder

Respiratory Symptoms:

Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
Runny nose, sinus congestion, or post-nasal drip
Watery eyes or sore throat
Ears feeling plugged or clogged
Frequent respiratory infections or asthma exacerbations

Musculoskeletal Symptoms:

Fibromyalgia or generalized muscle pain
Muscle weakness or spasms
Balance issues or incoordination
Difficulty walking

Allergic Responses:

Food sensitivities

Commonly Missed Diagnoses

Medical diagnoses commonly missed for mold exposure include autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and neurological conditions like dementia and Lyme disease. Because mold can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as cognitive changes, mood disorders, and respiratory issues, these conditions may be mistaken for other diseases, especially if the link to mold is not recognized.
Understanding Mycotoxin Testing
When assessing for mycotoxin exposure, urine tests are frequently utilized. However, it’s important to clarify what these tests measure:

Metabolites vs. Mycotoxins: Urine tests measure metabolites of mycotoxins, which are substances produced when the body processes these toxins. For example, when you eat asparagus, the unique smell in your urine is due to asparagus metabolites.

Excretion vs. Pathology: High urine levels indicate excretion of metabolites but do not necessarily signify pathology or health issues. Some mycotoxins, like ochratoxin, are primarily bound to proteins in the body (such as albumin) and cannot be excreted in urine despite their presence.

Testing Limitations: The FDA has not approved any urine tests for mycotoxins, and the CDC warns against using these tests for diagnostic purposes due to a lack of validation. This means results may not provide a reliable picture of your health status. Additionally, many harmful molds cannot be detected without specialized testing methods, such as air testing, petri dish testing, ERMI dust collections, and evaluations by certified mold literate providers.

Serum Testing with MyMycoLabs: We also utilize serum testing through MyMycoLabs, which allows us to assess both current exposures and potential colonization by mold and mycotoxins. This testing provides valuable insights into your body’s response to mycotoxins and helps guide our treatment approach.

Immune Response to Mycotoxins

The presence of IgG antibodies to mycotoxins indicates an active immune response, typically due to current exposure in one's living or work environment. Previous exposure can also lead to colonization, particularly in the sinuses, resulting in chronic sinus issues, and in the lungs, leading to persistent respiratory symptoms.
IgE antibodies to mycotoxins are commonly linked to allergic reactions. These antibodies trigger mast cells to release histamine, heparin, and cytokines, which promote inflammation and activate mast cells. Located near blood vessels, nerves, and the lymphatic system, mast cells play a role in various inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.

Specific Mycotoxins and Their Effects

Satratoxin: A potent trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys, commonly known as "black mold." It can cause neurotoxicity and inflammation in the brain, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, nosebleeds, chest pain, pulmonary hemorrhage, moist dermatitis, and fever. Prolonged exposure may result in neurocognitive issues and a chronic immune response, resulting in inflammation and oxidative stress that can damage brain and nerve cells.

Verrucarin and Verrucarol: Trichothecene mycotoxins primarily produced by Fusarium and Aspergillus species. They can cause tremors, immune toxicity, and inflammation, and are cytotoxic, meaning they can damage cells. Additionally, they are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis, impacting overall cellular function.

Ochratoxin: Can lead to immune suppression, lung disease, and urinary tract tumors, and it is toxic to the kidneys and liver. It is also carcinogenic, meaning it can cause cancer due to its ability to affect DNA and inhibit protein synthesis. This toxin targets the liver, kidney, brain, skeletal muscle, and fat tissue.

T2 Toxin: Trichothecene mycotoxins that have been used in biological warfare. They can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and intestinal hemorrhage, as well as changes in reproductive cycles and infertility. This mycotoxin is known to decrease testosterone levels.

Aspergillus/Penicillium Neuro Auto-Toxin (Gliotoxin): Can lead to immune suppression, neurotoxicity (associated with multiple sclerosis and other conditions), and immune toxicity. It is genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA, and exhibits strong cytotoxic effects against white blood cells, including macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, even at very low concentrations.

Fumonisin B1: Comes mainly from Fusarium molds. It is hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and can cause esophageal cancer. It inhibits sphingolipid metabolism, which adversely affects the brain, and can cause depression that is resistant to antidepressant medications. It also causes mitochondrial dysregulation.

Vomitoxin (Deoxynivalenol): Another trichothecene mycotoxin with significant health implications, including damaging the intestinal barrier, leading to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease, and increasing estrogen and testosterone levels by way of increasing inflammation.

Alternaria Toxin (Alternariol): A mycotoxin with several harmful effects, including cell damage, genetic mutations, immune suppression, and inflammation.

Penicillium Toxin (Mycophynolic acid): Can cause immune suppression.

Zearalenone: An estrogenic mycotoxin that significantly impacts reproduction in both women and men. Key effects include reproductive health issues, premature breast development, and precocious puberty in girls. In males, it results in reduced testosterone levels and impaired spermatogenesis. It attacks the liver, immune system, and causes mitochondrial dysregulation.

Expertise in Mold-Related Illnesses

At Hygenerate, our team is well-equipped to evaluate and treat mold and mycotoxin-related illnesses. Julianne has participated in training with one of the leaders in mold illness, Dr. Jill Crista, and is well-versed in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.

Our treatment approach includes:

Supporting kidney and liver function
Opening up detoxification pathways
Ensuring optimized sleep, hormones, and metabolic functions
Offering traditional pharmaceutical options
Providing nutraceutical options
Utilizing specific binders tailored to each individual's unique situation to help facilitate the removal of mycotoxins from the body

Treatment Approach

Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) Testing

VCS testing is a valuable tool used to evaluate the impact of mold exposure and mycotoxins on your neurological function. This non-invasive test measures the ability to detect visual contrast, which can be affected by neurological impairment caused by toxic exposure. Many individuals with mold-related illnesses report changes in their vision, and VCS testing can help identify these changes, providing insight into the effects of mycotoxin exposure on your nervous system.

Why Choose Us?

If you suspect mold exposure or are experiencing symptoms associated with mycotoxin toxicity, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Hygenerate. Our team will work with you to develop a personalized plan that addresses your health needs through a functional medicine lens. At Hygenerate, we are committed to helping you achieve optimal health through understanding and addressing the root causes of your symptoms. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us today.