The Controversy Over Black Mold Toxins

Updated 10-21-07, 9-30-12

There appears to be a controversy over whether or not black mold toxins cause problems. In my mind there is no controversy. I know mold toxins cause health problems and serious ones at that. I know. I lived it. I do think the severity of the health problems are related to the amount of toxic black mold spores one is exposed to. But I don't agree with the claims that black mold toxins are not a problem because they can not be present in high enough concentrations. My own experience completely negates that statement.

The symptoms of black mold poisoning that I had were very severe because I was exposed to very high levels of stachybotrys and chaetomium spores in the air. They were airborn spores being spewed out through the HVAC system. People exposed to a lower concentration of toxic black mold spores would probably have fewer and less severe symptoms of black mold poisoning.

There have been many studies that have shown just how toxic and even deadly these mold toxins can be. A summary of these studies can be found in my book,

Surviving Toxic Black Mold Syndrome

I am not trying to spread panic about black mold, I am simply trying to spread the truth about mold toxins and their ability to cause serious health problems.

This fact seems to be ignored by many people. I have noticed many articles about black mold discussing only allergy symptoms of black mold like asthma, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes etc. Many articles completely fail to mention the neurological and immunological effects of mold toxins.

I agree that there are allergy symptoms associated with toxic black mold. It is a mold after all and allergic reactions to it can develop. But in addition to the allergy symptoms there can be symptoms brought on by the mold toxins. Mold toxins can cause neurological and immunological symptoms. See my web page "SYMPTOM OVERVIEW".

Black mold toxins can suppress the immune system. Also black mold toxins are neuro-toxins. That means they affect nerves and cause pain. In some people they can affect the brain and induce multiple sclerosis like symptoms. Some black mold toxins can cause tremors. Some mold toxins can cause kidney damage. Black mold toxins in high enough concentrations can even cause death. There have been accounts of black mold toxins causing death. This sounds a little worse than just plain old allergies doesn't it?