Your environment could be the reason for Neurological conditions like Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s and Motor Neuron Disease, as well as a trigger for some Cancers. Environmental toxins may have different outcomes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder due to selective loss of motor neurons (MND) and it is on the increase.

A team of researchers, led by a University of Miami neurology professor, have found that the toxin in those algae blooms can lead to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) MND.  Australian Professor Rowe said one theory was that a toxin produced by blue-green algae called beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA-Toxin) might be one environmental risk factor for some people.

Did you know that when testing for bacteria in water-damaged homes we record high levels of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

Photocatalytic Air Purification System (PAPS) has reduced several inflammatory triggers, toxins and viral exposures.

What else is lurking in your home environment or workplace?

 

Participant Information Sheet

Exposure to Fungus in the Home and Workplace and the Occurrence of Breast Cancer:
A Pilot Study

Invitation
You are invited to take part in a research project to find out whether a fungus/mould which is known to be a common environmental contaminant is present within cancerous breast tissue but absent from healthy breast tissue. The project will also aim to find out whether there is a possible association between environmental exposure to the fungus and its presence within breast cancer.

The study is being conducted by Mr Vincent Neil, the CEO of Mycotox Pty Ltd, Australia and Dr Jack Thrasher PhD, of Thrasher & Associates Medical/Legal Consultants, USA. The company Mycotox Pty Ltd performs commercial testing for indoor microbial contamination.

Before you decide whether or not you wish to participate in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish.

What is the purpose of this study?
Understanding the causes and risk factors associated with breast cancer is important for the future treatment and prevention of this disease. This study is examining a possible association between breast cancer and a fungus/mould which is a common environmental contaminant. This study will compare results obtained from the analysis of both the indoor environments and breast tissue samples of women with breast cancer and those free from breast cancer. In this way it will be possible to determine whether environmental exposure to the fungus, bacteria and associated toxins, has the potential to act as a risk factor for breast cancer.

How is this study being paid for?
The study is funded by Mycotox Pty Ltd, NSW.

Who can become involved in this study?
You will be eligible to take part in this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • You are a woman aged 18 years or older.
  • You are not pregnant.
  • You have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer and have had a breast cancer biopsy taken within the last three years OR you have had a cosmetic breast procedure performed within the last three years which resulted in a tissue sample being collected and you have never received a diagnosis of breast cancer.
  • You were residing at your current address for at least five years before you were either diagnosed with breast cancer or before you had cosmetic breast surgery.

What if I don’t want to take part in this study, or if I want to withdraw later?
Participation in this study is voluntary. It is completely up to you whether or not you participate. If you decide not to participate, there will be no negative consequences for you. If you do not take part in the study or decide to withdraw from the study, it will not affect your future treatment by staff of Mycotox Pty Ltd should you use any of the company’s services in the future.

If you wish to withdraw from the study once it has started, you can do so at any time without explanation and once again there will be no negative consequences for you. If you decide to withdraw you may request that data already collected be destroyed.

However, it may not be possible to return your samples to you or withdraw your data from the study results if these have already had your identifying details removed, or if the data has already been used in the publication of the study’s findings.

What does this study involve?
If you decide to participate, you will have to sign the Participant Consent Form.

You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Your age.
  • The address of your home and your contact details.
  • The address of your workplace and your employer’s contact details.
  • Date of initial diagnosis with breast cancer and date tissue biopsy taken (for breast cancer patients) or date cosmetic surgery performed and date tissue sample taken.
  • Location at which your tissue sample is stored.
  • Length of time you have lived at your current home.
  • Length of time you have worked at your current workplace.

You will be asked to allow representatives from Mycotox Pty Ltd to perform sample collection within your home. This sampling will occur on one occasion only and at a time that you agree to. Sampling will involve taking air and surface samples from within your home as well as taking samples from any subfloor void. This onsite testing will be carried out by Vincent Neil, from Mycotox Pty Ltd who is the Chief Investigator. This part of the study will involve between two and four hours of your time.

If you are currently working, you may also be asked to allow testing within your workplace. You will be asked to provide details of your employer so that the Investigator Vincent Neil can contact them and organise for sampling to take place. This sampling will occur on one occasion only and at a time you and your employer agree to. Sampling will involve both air and surface sampling and will be carried out by Vincent Neil from Mycotox Pty Ltd.

You will also be asked to assist in organising for Mycotox Pty Ltd to gain access, on one occasion only, to your stored breast tissue. You will do this by speaking to your medical practitioner and/or pathology service and by signing a release form if required by the pathology laboratory responsible for the storage of your tissue. In total this should take no more than an hour of your time.

Analysis of the samples collected during the study will be undertaken both within Australia and the USA. This study will be conducted over a period of three years. 

How much time will it take?
In total it is estimated that participation in this study will not exceed 9 hours of your time.

Risks
We do not foresee any risks if you decide to participate. However, participation in the study will involve some inconvenience to you personally.

You will be required to assist in arranging with your medical practitioner and/or pathology laboratory for Mycotox Pty Ltd to have access to your stored breast tissue sample.

A representative from Mycotox Pty Ltd will carry out sampling within your home and possibly your workplace. You will be required to be present when sampling is carried out at your home. You may also be required to assist in organising with your employer for testing to be carried out at your workplace. You should be aware that your personal information may be revealed to others if environmental testing is carried out within your workplace. Under these circumstances your personal information, regarding your having undergone a breast tissue biopsy for example, may be unavoidably revealed to some co-workers or staff.

Costs
Taking part in this study will be at no cost to you. You won’t be paid for taking part.

Benefits
Although there will be no immediate personal benefit to you and you will not be provided with your individual results your contribution may enable us to improve the current understanding of the causes and potential risk factors associated with breast cancer.

The information gained during this study may allow us to identify a novel risk factor for breast cancer. In the long-term the project has the potential to reduce the burden of this disease on the wider community.

Confidentiality
All the information collected in this study will be treated confidentially and will be stored securely within a safe and password protected computer at the Mycotox Pty Ltd premises. Only the Investigators Vincent Neil and Dr Jack Thrasher will have access to both participant names and the data collected for each participant. The test results for each participant will be identified with an individual identity number and participant names will not be used during laboratory and data analysis. Laboratory analyses for the fungus and some associated toxins will be carried out by Dr Dennis Hooper of Real Time Laboratories, Inc., USA, however all data provided to him will be identified using identity numbers only and participant names will not be used.

The study results may be published in peer reviewed scientific publications, presented at conferences and published on the Mycotox Pty Ltd website, but publications will not include any information identifying individual participants.

Information regarding participant identity will be kept for a minimum of 7 years after the publication of results, in order that any queries about the conduct of the study can be addressed. After this time this information which may identify the participants will be destroyed by the Investigator Vincent Neil. The data collected during the course of this study will be stored indefinitely in a de-identified form as part of a database to be used for potential future research.

What happens with the results?
We plan to publish the results in peer reviewed scientific publications and on the Mycotox Pty Ltd website and to present the results at conferences and other professional forums. Results may also be disclosed to the Family Planning NSW ethics committee for monitoring purposes.

In any publication, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified. The overall or group results of the study will be provided to you, if you wish. You may indicate that you would like to receive a summary of the study’s findings on the consent form provided.

How can I get more information?
Please feel free to ask questions about anything you don’t understand, by firstly emailing Vincent Neil at ua.ten.knilretnuhobfsctd-13f758@1krowten.

Who should I contact if I have concerns about the conduct of this study?
This survey has been approved by the Family Planning Ethics Committee.  If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of this research, you may email ua.gro.wsnpfobfsctd-430ac5@scihte or call the Ethics Executive Officer on 02 8752 4386. Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be informed about the outcome.

Neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment in 105 adults with indoor exposure to moulds compared to 100 exposed to chemicals

Patients exposed at home to moulds and mycotoxins and those exposed to chemicals (CE) have many similar symptoms of eye, nose, and throat irritation and poor memory, concentration, and other neurobehavioral dysfunctions. To compare the neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairments associated with indoor exposures to mould and chemicals. 105 consecutive adults exposed to moulds (ME) indoors at home and 100 patients exposed to other chemicals were compared to 202 community referents without mould or chemical exposure. To assess brain functions, we measured 26 neurobehavioral functions. Medical and exposure histories, mood state scores, and symptom frequencies were obtained. Vital capacity and flows were measured by spirometry. Groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) after adjusting for age, educational attainment, and sex, by calculating predicted values (observed/predicted x 100 = % predicted). And p < .05 indicated statistical significance for total abnormalities, and test scores that were outside the confidence limits of the mean of the percentage predicted. People exposed to mold had a total of 6.1 abnormalities and those exposed to chemicals had 7.1 compared to 1.2 abnormalities in referents. Compared to referents, the exposed groups had balance decreased, longer reaction times, and blink reflex latencies lengthened. Also, colour discrimination errors were increased and visual field performances and grip strengths were reduced. The cognitive and memory performance measures were abnormal in both exposed groups. Culture Fair scores, digit symbol substitution, immediate and delayed verbal recall, picture completion, and information were reduced. Times for peg placement and trail-making A and B were increased. One difference was that chemically exposed patients had excess fingertip number writing errors, but the mold-exposed did not. Mood State scores and symptom frequencies were greater in both exposed groups than in referents. Vital capacities were reduced in both groups. Neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairments associated with exposures to indoor moulds and mycotoxins were not different from those with various chemical exposures.

Kaye H Kilburn ten.labolgcbsobfsctd-7de8f8@nrublikhk" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19793776/#full-view-affiliation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">1
Affiliations 

Table of Contents

What is in a contaminated building that is making you sick?

In a contaminated building, there can be mould, bacteria, toxins, viruses, parasites, and VOCs, yet most companies only offer airborne and surface mould. The chemicals that are produced by mould and bacteria are not detected- reactive environmental triggers in a water-damaged build are a lot more than mould.  Others don’t test for bacteria and if you are testing only for airborne mould, you miss all the organisms that have developed a biofilm and are sticking to walls, ceilings cupboards and furniture.

Contaminants Other Companies Miss 

  • Bacteria
  • Fungal glucans
  • Bacterial endotoxins
  • Next-generation sequencing for mould and bacteria- i.e testing to a species level
  • VOCs in your home
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Carbon monoxide.
  • Breath analysis to show cells absorbing what is in your home. 
  • Tissue sampling for fungal species.
  • Testing of residue removed during Apheresis blood cleaning.

Others Simply Test for Mould.

All of these organisms including bacteria produce chemicals and toxins that can go directly to the brain, creating a change in gene expression, along with producing a cytokine storm within the body- remember 24% of the population have haplotype susceptibility- i.e., they will react to organisms like mould and bacteria.

If there is suspected hidden mould and bacteria, you need to investigate- looking at surface contamination doesn’t tell the full story.
70% of health exposures are due to BACTERIA, not MOULD.
Hidden mould and bacteria will affect you as they produce chemicals that impact the brain and some VOCs which are signalling pathways for bacteria and mould, can affect the normal signalling pathways in the body.

No One Else is Looking at Visual Contrast Sensitivity

vcs testMycotox uses VCS as a tool to determine whether the client is reacting to mould and bacteria, VOCs or other chemicals- if you think you have found a source and expose the client to it, if it causes a reaction then, that reaction will be reflected in changes in the VCS. The same happens when you take away triggers, the fails in the VCS drop- knowing in which area they dropped, alerts you to what the exposure may be. Below is the surviving mould test which we use on-site.

Few Use Real Science 

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), real science, for both mould and bacteria will help you understand what is going on, but the building biologists and so-called hygienists are not using them simply because they don’t understand what they are dealing with. If Penicillium purpurogenum is above 5 you had better be looking for contamination in wall cavities. There is a very small unpublished study that found this organism in 6 cancerous breast tissues but not in 3 breast reduction tissues. If you haven’t done real testing, like NGS for mould and bacteria, you would never know if that organism is an issue. Cyanobacteria, one form of bacteria, is currently being linked to Motor Neuron Disease and other possible neurological health concerns. Once again, 
if you are not testing for it, how will you know if you have those organisms?

Understanding Brain Inflammation

All of these microbial organisms, to include bacteria, produce chemicals and toxins that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
These exposures will result in a change in gene expression, along with producing a cytokine storm within the body. 

24% of the population have haplotype susceptibility, meaning they are prone to reacting to microbial organisms like mould and bacteria. This susceptibility to microbial exposure can lead to symptoms such as brain fog and headaches, all due to inflammation of the brain.

Looking at surface contamination doesn’t tell the full story.

Comprehensive Services by Mycotox

Visual Contrast Sensitivity Testing

This can help your doctor understand potential exposure in your home. We collect the results, leaving interpretation to your medical physician.

Environmental Trigger Reduction:

We conduct physical testing to identify and reduce environmental triggers.

Intrusive Inspections:

We perform cavity wall inspections and examine under bottom wall plates for bacterial growth.

Heavy Metal Testing:

We also test for heavy metals in your home, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of potential hazards.

If there is suspected hidden mould and bacteria, you need to investigate.

The Crucial Role of Intrusive Testing in Health Investigations

In a contaminated building, surface and air testing may indicate rooms that are a possible source of contamination but will not give you the level of knowledge required to determine whether these can be linked to the occupant’s illness.

What is hidden behind walls, in cavities, bottom timber wall plates, behind kitchen cupboards, behind bathroom vanities and above ceilings, will only be known if you can undertake intrusive testing.

Next Generation Sequencing

Next Generation Sequencing can help identify problems, low levels of Stachybotrys, A.versicolor and/or Penicillium purpurogenum will point towards a hidden source that you will have to locate. NGS for bacteria where the species indicate damp conditions will also steer you towards finding a water source.

Whether it’s mould, bacteria, or other hidden sources, most individuals react to chemical exposure. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from mould and bacteria are chemicals, but homes also contain additional chemicals from building materials, paints, and furniture with various foams

      1. Elevated moisture levels are a definite indication of microbial growth, it doesn’t matter if its in the wall plaster, flooring or extreme humidity levels. Once you have located any source of moisture then you must determine what parts of the building have been affected, sampling of cellulosic materials to include wall plaster/gyprock, timber studs, bottom wall plates and if required particle board flooring.

        1. Visible contamination on the underside of timber tables, contamination which is greater at the base of timber legs or leather items will inform you that there is a moisture problem in the concrete floor or in a subfloor- here you need to be able to find out why there is moisture and how that can be impacted. 

          1. There may be nothing wrong with the home but you may have brought in furniture from a contaminated home or you like antique furniture which has a level of bacteria, any contents that have been impacted by a previous home, brought second hand or you have just had a new partner with their contents, move in  and maybe those contents could be sources of hidden exposures.

            1. Grow House or Meth Lab

              A home that was used as a grow house and or a meth lab can be a source of chemicals- most insurance companies only clean surfaces and don’t remove the wall and ceiling plasters, hence you may have insulation that is heavily contaminated with the chemicals used in the meth lab. The paper face on the wall plaster will hold levels of chemicals from the grow house- if it’s being painted you would never know.
              meth lab
            2. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all health issues are directly related to mould and bacteria but could be from other chemical exposures. This can be a minefield, all on its own- cars being run in a garage which is under the home and the fumes including carbon monoxide being pumped into the occupied area above. Spray painting under the home restoring furniture and or cars, those chemicals ingressing into the home. Outside heavy use or even light use of common garden sprays like Roundup, home meth labs downstairs- there can be many reasons for chemicals impacting on occupants.
            3. Naturally, if there is chemical exposure as well as mould and bacteria, the body’s reaction may be far greater and simply identifying the mould and bacteria will not completely solve the total exposure which has created health concerns.

          How Health Symptoms Guide Contamination Investigations

          • Endotoxin testing may be beneficial, this may be implemented after you have already undertaken bacterial species analysis if the gram-negative bacteria is high.
          • Urine or blood analysis for Mycotoxins is not well understood as the Mycotoxins commonly found in dust differ from what we find in the human body so mycotoxins may come from an infection from an environmental organism or exposure is from food sources. Here if you have been found to have high levels of aflatoxins then eliminate those foods that contain grains etc from your diet then after 3 months see if you have reduced those levels.
          • If there are neurological health concerns then testing for levels of Cyanobacteria is certainly worthwhile. Also determining what VOCs are in the environment and if they match with the exhaled breath of the individual. The VOCs are chemicals and if the levels in the body reflect what is the building exposure then reduction of those chemicals both in the body and the home or workplace should be undertaken. In the body, the VOCs are part of what we call bioaccumulation and that’s when your medical physician may be able to help.

          Specialized Testing for Diverse Health Condition

          Endotoxin testing may be beneficial, especially after conducting bacterial species analysis if gram-negative bacteria levels are high. Urine or blood analysis for mycotoxins is complex, as mycotoxins found in dust differ from those in the human body. Mycotoxins may originate from environmental organisms or food sources. If high levels of aflatoxins are detected, eliminating grains and similar foods from your diet for three months can help reduce these levels.

          For neurological health concerns, testing for cyanobacteria levels is worthwhile. Additionally, identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment and matching them with exhaled breath samples can be crucial. If VOC levels in the body reflect environmental exposure, reducing these chemicals in both the body and the home or workplace is essential. VOCs contribute to bioaccumulation, and your medical physician can assist in managing this.