1. National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month September 1-30, 2009
The National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month Planning Committee developed this Toxic Mold Fact Sheet to
provide information about molds and mycotoxins. Currently, there are no Federal Government Standards for indoor air
quality regarding molds and mycotoxins. This information is provided to inform the public on the preventable health and
development problems that may be caused by exposure to toxic mold in your homes, workplaces, schools, and
communities.
Important Mold Facts:
People are routinely exposed to more than 200 species of fungi indoors and outdoors. There are sixty species that produce
the 180 trichothecene mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins kill other things, like bacteria and viruses, so mold can continue to grow.
The American Cancer Society lists aflatoxin mycotoxins as known human carcinogens. The FDA has enforced regulatory
limits on aflatoxin concentrations in foods and feeds since 1965.
Mold spores, whether dead or alive, can cause adverse health effects.
Molds also produce a large number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals are responsible for the musty
odors produced by growing molds.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
• There is no practical way to eliminate all molds and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control
indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
• Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.
There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Incidences:
It is estimated that 500,000 deaths occur yearly in the United States due to exposure to indoor toxic mold.
According to an EPA study, an estimated 50% of our nation’s schools have problems linked to poor indoor air quality.
Health Causes:
Mycotoxin exposure can lead to toxic injury that may include multiple illnesses, affecting the skin and the nervous,
vascular, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, urinary, and immune systems; including the formation of cancers and can be
life-threatening.
Studies: In the mid-1990's, a study conducted from Cleveland, Ohio, involved infants who had died suddenly from
unexplained pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding of the lungs). Upon investigation, the researchers found that the infants
resided in homes with high levels of Stachybotrys atra, linking Stachybotrys atra exposure to serious health effects and even
death. A government study is now being conducted, with findings to be released in 2010.
A 1997 Mayo Clinic study found that 96% of recurring sinus infections are caused by fungus in the sinuses. When
participants were treated with anti-fungal sinus sprays, recurrence of infection was considerably less, and in some cases, no
recurring infections were noted.
Fifty percent of the 937 children tested in a large multicity asthma study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health
showed sensitivity to mold, indicating the importance of mold as an asthma trigger among these children. Molds are
thought to play a role in asthma in several ways. Molds produce many potentially allergenic compounds, and molds may
play a role in asthma via release of irritants that increase potential for sensitization or release of toxins (mycotoxins) that
affect immune response.

2. National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month September 1-30, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are molds?
Molds are a common name for fungi. Molds are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic matter and
mold spores to reproduce. These organisms are part of the fungi kingdom, a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast, and
mildews. In nature, molds play a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Molds need
moisture to grow.
What are mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are toxic vapors produced by mold spores when they sporulate, or grow, and have serious health effects on
humans and animals. Mycotoxins are so poisonous that they have been used as a biological war weapon. Stachybotrys
chartarum is the most studied and well-known toxic mold. It is known to produce trichothecene mycotoxins. Aspergillus
produces aflatoxin mycotoxins. Aflatoxins are among the most carcinogenic substances known.
How do you get sick from mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the skin, and can result in a multitude of symptoms
including but not limited to: dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise
and fever.
How can exposure to indoor mold and mycotoxins affect your health?
Mycotoxin exposure can lead to toxic injury that may include multiple illnesses, affecting the skin and the nervous,
vascular, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, urinary, and immune systems; including the formation of cancers and can be
life-threatening.
Can mold grow inside the human body?
Yes. Certain species of molds referred to as “body temperature molds” can live and grow inside the human body, causing
recurring infections and numerous other health problems as well as death.
Should you use bleach to clean mold?
No. Bleach combined with certain mycotoxins and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) may cause brain tumors and
other serious health issues, including death. OSHA does not recommend using bleach in mold remediation. Ammonia
dissolves some molds and neutralizes the mycotoxins. It is important to follow safety guidelines when using cleaners to
remove molds. Consult the EPA website for proper personal safety equipment when removing mold. If mold growth is over
10 square feet, the recommendation is to contact a professional who is experienced in cleaning up mold; either a reputable,
certified industrial hygienist (CIH) or a qualified mold remediation company.
Where can you find additional information about indoor molds and mycotoxins?
You can visit these websites for additional information: www.nationalindoormoldsociety.org and
www.moldhopenetwork.org.
DISCLAIMER: The purpose of the Toxic Mold Fact Sheet and the Frequently Asked Questions is to inform, not treat or offer legal
counsel to the public about mold/mycotoxin health related issues. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or
take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician, nor is it intended to serve as legal counsel. Please consult
your own doctor or other qualified health professional regarding the treatment of your medical problem and consult your attorney for
legal counsel.

3. National Indoor Toxic Mold References
Here are the references to support the Toxic Mold Fact Sheet and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Aflatoxins - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aflatoxins#cite_ref-0
American Cancer Society-Known Human Carcinogens/Agents and Groups of Agents. Known and Probable
Carcinogens.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Known_and_Probable_Carcinogens.asp?sitearea=PED
Croft, William, DVM, PhD., and Medical Pathologist. National Indoor Mold Society Internet Talk Show-May 12, 2007.
Episode 1 http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=21450&cmd=apop
Croft, William, DVM, PhD., and Medical Pathologist. National Indoor Mold Society Internet Talk Show-June 16, 2007.
Episode 5 http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=24340&cmd=apop
Croft, William, DVM, PhD., and Medical Pathologist. National Indoor Mold Society Internet Talk Show-November 18,
2007. Episode 7 http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=65154&cmd=apop
Croft, William, DVM, PhD., and Medical Pathologist. National Indoor Mold Society Internet Talk Show- May 17, 2008
Episode 10 http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=114563&cmd=apop
Dearborn DG, Yike I, Sorenson WG, Miller MJ, Etzel RA. Overview of investigations into pulmonary hemorrhage
among infants in Cleveland, Ohio. Environ Health Perspect. 1999 Jun;107 Suppl 3:495-9. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10346998?dopt=Abstract
Institute of Medicine. Clearing the air: asthma and indoor air exposures. Washington, DC: National Academies Press;
2000.
Minnesota Department of Health/Indoor Air Quality in Schools
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/schools/index.html
Morgan WJ, Crain EF, Gruchalla RS, O’Connor GT, Kattan M, Evans R 3rd, et al. Results of home-based environmental
intervention among urban children with asthma. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1068–80.
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha05.htm
Study Implicates Fungus As Cause of Chronic Sinusitis, September 9, 1999- Rochester, MN- Mayo Clinic Study.
Doctor’s Guide Global Edition- http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/129e7e.htm
Stachybotrys Induced Hemorrhage in the Developing Lung- Clinical trials NCT00011700 - National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences. Study Start date- January 1999- Estimated Study Completion Date-February 2010
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00011700
United States Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration-A Brief Guide to Mold in the
Workplace-Mold Remediation/Cleanup Methods-Use of Biocides http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html
US EPA/Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings- Investigating, Evaluating, and Remediating
Moisture and Mold Problems. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/ier.html#Mold
%20Remediation%20-%20Key%20Steps
Wannemacher, Robert, Wiener, Stanley L. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare- Chapter 34:
Tricothecene Mycotoxins. Textbook of Military Medicine, Published by the Office of The Surgeon General, Borden
Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, D.C. Office of The Surgeon General United States Army, 1997.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/medaspec/Ch-34electrv699.pdf
Wood, G.E. Mycotoxins in foods and feeds in the United States J Anim Sci 1992. 70:3941-3949.
http://jas.fass.org/cgi/reprint/70/12/3941.pdf