Toxic Mold and Depression
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Chronic depression is a common health symptom for people being affected by toxic mold. Stachybotrys, a mold usually thought of
in "sick building syndrome," has been linked with depression.
Sick building syndrome is used to describe situations in which
building occupants experience acute health problems linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be
identified. Stachybotrys and sick building syndrome have been associated with a variety of physical and mental health issues, including
depression and chronic fatigue.
People who live in damp, moldy homes are prone to depression. A study at Brown School of Medicine evaluated the association between
living in a damp and moldy dwelling and the risk of depression.
It was discovered that depression was negatively affected by perception
of control over one's home as well as mold-related physical illness. The risk for depression went up about 40% among people who lived in
moldy homes. According to the study, "Dampness and mold were associated with depression, independent of individual and housing characteristics."
Early warning signs of exposure to toxic mold include the folling:
Cough
Cold
Flu-Like Symptoms
Headache
Fever
Dermatitis
Nose Bleeds
Sinusitis
General Malaise
If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms along with depression, visit your doctor. However, it is important to remember that
these signs are often misdiagnosed by doctors. If you suspect that your home has been exposed to water damage and/or mold, call in a mold specialist.
They will usually inspect your home at no charge.
If you know you have mold, do not attempt to remove or treat it yourself.
Even when it is completely dry, it can be easily reactivated by the least amount of moisture in the air.
Many people try to treat olnd with bleach, ozone, and other chemicals and biocides. These substances are not effective in
treating mold and can be hazardous to your health. In the past, even the EPA recommended cleaning mold infested areas with bleach and water,
and you can still find this advice on some websites dealing with mold.
On the EPA website in an article entitled "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", which now says,
"The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine
practice during mold remediation."
If you cannot afford to have mold professionally removed from your home, moving may be the best alternative. However, if you own your home, you
will most likely be forced to disclose this to any potential buyers.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Rand TG, White K, Logan A, Gregory L. Histological, immunohistochemical and morphometric changes in lung tissue in juvenile mice experimentally exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum spores. Mycopathologia 2003;156(2): 119-31.
Shenassa ED, Daskalakis C, Liebhaber A, Braubach M, Brown M. Dampness and mold in the home and depression: An examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathways. Am J Public Health 2007;97(10): 1893-9.
Sudakin DL. Toxigenic fungi in a water-damaged building: an intervention study. Am J Ind Med 1998 Aug;34(2): 183-90.
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