Health Risks Associated with Environmental Hazards

Stachybotrys

Exposure

Stachybotrys Chartarummold (also known as Stachybotrys Atra), a greenish-black mold, has been linked to serious health issues as chronic bronchitis, heart problems, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease. At present there is not a test that proves an association between Stachybotrys Chartarum and particular health symptoms but persistent symptoms should be checked by a physician.

Symptoms of exposure in humans

Exposure to the myotoxins present in Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra can have a wide range of effects. Depending on the length of exposure and volume of spores inhaled or ingested, symptoms can manifest as chronic fatigue or headaches, fever, irritation to the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat, sneezing, rashes, and chronic coughing. In severe cases of exposure or cases exacerbated by allergic reaction, symptoms can be extreme including nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum which grows in soil and material contaminated with bird or bat droppings (guano).
Symptoms of Histoplasmosis exposure in human

If symptoms of histoplasmosis infection occur, they will start within 3 to 17 days after exposure; the average is 12–14 days. Most affected individuals have clinically silent manifestations and show no apparent ill effects.  The acute phase of histoplasmosis is characterized by non-specific respiratory symptoms, often cough or flu-like. Occasionally, other organs are affected. This form of the disease is called disseminated histoplasmosis, and it can be fatal if untreated.

Molds

A type of microscopic fungus – are found in virtually every ecosystem in every climate on earth. They have existed in the natural environment for hundreds of millions of years and humans have co-existed in the presence of mold and other fungi throughout the entirety of their evolution. Molds and other fungi are used in the production of everything from foods to medicines.

There are more than 100,000 species of fungi of which at least 1,000 are common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold
can be found almost everywhere, and will grow indoors where there is moisture. Some of the most commonly found species are Stachybotrys, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Aspergillus.

While some mold species can damage property if unchecked and some can affect people with allergies and immune deficiencies, exposure to mold only rarely results in health problems. Common health concerns arising from exposure to mold include hay-fever-like allergic symptoms, according to the CDC. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease may experience difficulty breathing when exposed to some molds, and people with immune suppression disorders or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.