Mould Exposure, CIRS and Salicylate Intolerance

Australia and New Zealand have been devastated by flooding in recent years, and though the initial clean was heartbreaking to families who have lost everything, it is the longer lasting problems from the water damage that are causing the most problems. In this article, we’ll explain the link between mould exposure and salicylate intolerance, as well as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

Flood waters and excess moisture are a breeding ground for mould, which can not only cause a range of allergic symptoms like irritation to the eyes, skin, nose and throat, but also trigger the development of asthma and food intolerances. 

In sensitive individuals it can also trigger Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

The Effects of Mould Exposure

After a flood, mould can begin to grow within 24 hours, especially if in humid climates like in Queensland or Auckland.  They then release spores which contain mycotoxins that can cause allergic reactions and respiratory inflammation. 

These spores are very small and light so can float around your house easily.  If they land in an area that is damp that provides enough moisture and food (cellulose) it will grow and form colonies. If you don’t get rid of all the mould it will continue to grow which can be a significant health risk to all those living there even, though if you are not allergic to it.

An AAAAI Position Statement entitled The Medical Effects of Exposure to Mold describes, “Mould can cause adverse human health effects in 3 specific mechanisms;

• generation of harmful immune response (e.g. allergy or hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
• direct infection by the organism
• and toxic irritant effects from mould byproducts.” 

Mould is a major problem in Australia and New Zealand, and not just from flooding, our old houses and some of the newer ones were not built with proper ventilation or insulation allowing mould to thrive.

We’ll cover some of the main health issues that can results from mould exposure;

• Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
• Salicylate Intolerance
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)

For those people who are susceptible to the mycotoxins they release, it can cause long term health problems like CIRS, which stands for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.

CIRS is also called biotoxin illness or mould toxicity. It is a body-wide inflammatory condition that affects multiple systems and creates multiple symptoms throughout the whole body. It is caused by exposure to biotoxins or neurotoxins derived from a biological source.

Mould is a biotoxin producing component of many water damaged buildings, of which the mould species Stachbotrys, Aspergillius, Acremonium, Penicillium and Chaetomium are commonly found.

A paper published by The Center for Disease Control in America found that “mould, endotoxins, and fungal glycans were detected in the environment after hurricane Katrina and Rita in New Orleans at concentrations that have previously been associated with health effects. Among the sources of biotoxins that can produce CIRS, biotoxins grown from mould known to grow in water damaged buildings account for up to 80% of CIRS sickness.”

If CIRS is left untreated it can become debilitating to patients, but can be hard to diagnose as it can mimic other chronic health conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.

How to Diagnose CIRS

The problem with CIRS is the biotoxins affect our immune system in such a way that it is difficult for it to find its presence. Our immune system has two main sections; the innate and the adaptive immune system.

We are born with the innate immune response, but we develop an adaptive immune system after birth. The innate system acts almost immediately to an infection, the adaptive is the second line of defence, so takes longer to respond but provides long term immunity by creating an immunological memory after the initial exposure to a specific pathogen or biotoxin.

In biotoxin illness it has been found that people who have specific gene defects are the ones who get the sickest, with the most common being the HLA gene (1 in 4 of the population has this).

For that portion of people the biotoxins lead to the up-regulation of the innate immune system, so the adaptive immune system can’t see the biotoxins presented to them by the innate system and can’t produce antibodies to neutralise them.

The innate immune response knows there is a foreign invader there so it continues to create inflammatory cytokines leading to chronic inflammation in multiple systems in the body.

Bacteria and viral pathogens can be seen in blood work, but because the biotoxins are extremely small, fat soluble molecules they are capable of going from cell to cell through membranes without being carried directly in the bloodstream making them difficult to find.

These biotoxins position themselves on the inner fat soluble membrane of cells, preferring the fatty tissue found in the brain, and nervous system so symptoms often occur in the brain, cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal system. 

Can Mould Exposure trigger Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)?

It is possible to have both Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) as well as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), or to confuse the conditions as they have similar presentations.

Mould exposure causes your immune system to be on high alert at all times, in an attempt to protect you from ongoing danger. But this actually causes inflammation and the excess release of histamine and other mediators which can trigger MCAS.

You can learn more about MCAS in our other blog/podcast episode “The Rise of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)“

Mould Exposure and Salicylate Intolerance

There’s also a link between mould exposure and salicylate intolerance. Salicylates are naturally occurring food chemicals that are present in many of the foods we eat.

Salicylates belong to the phenol family of plant compounds and are most common in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables. They are the plant’s protection mechanism against predators and so are found in higher amounts in the skin and for most people do not cause them any problems.  Some pharmaceutical drugs also have a synthetic version of them, the most common being aspirin. 

Some people when exposed to mould can develop an intolerance to salicylate foods, especially if their gut health is compromised. 

This is because our body uses the same pathways to detoxify both mould and salicylates, and that they both use the antioxidant glutathione to help the body do this. You can read our other blog post “Salicylate Intolerance and The Sulphation Pathway” for more information.

If your body has been exposed to mould and its mycotoxins it will use up a lot of your stores of glutathione to detoxify the mould and there may not be enough for salicylate detoxification as well.  To further the problem salicylates are a potent depleter of glutathione, leaving less available in the body overall! (2)

Salicylate intolerance symptoms usually occur after eating salicylate rich foods, but fragrances can also contain salicylates triggering symptoms when inhaled. Other signs and symptoms of a salicylate reaction can be headaches, migraines, eczema, itchy inflamed skin/rashes, bloating, nausea, bed-wetting, asthma, nasal and sinus congestion, behavioural problems such as ADHD, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances, rapid heart beat and arrhythmias, tinnitus, joint pain, arthritis. 

You can find out more about salicylates and request a full salicylate food list in our Food Chemical Intolerance E-Pack HERE

Mould Exposure and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) flare-ups can also happen from mould exposure, as moulds can produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons.

People who are sensitive to VOCs may experience MCS symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, memory problems, breathing difficulties, flu-like symptoms, rashes, and hives.

Recovering from Mould Exposure

Recovering from the effects of mould exposure requires a holistic approach, especially when dealing with CIRS.

The priority is to remove or minimise your exposure to the mould. Although if the mould is in your home or place of work and you’re unable to leave, here are some tips to help reduce its spread.

• Unfortunately it is very hard to eliminate moulds once they have begun to grow. This is why it is recommended that after flooding in your home you need to remove all porous material and throw it away. This includes – clothing, couches, mattresses, carpet, rubber foam, papers, cloth products.  Non porous products need to be thoroughly professionally cleaned. 

• Mould needs moisture, oxygen and a cellulose based food to grow, so after the clean up your best defence to stop mold growing again is to reduce the humidity levels in your house and keep it as dry as you can.  You can do this with dehumidifiers as they will reduce humidity levels and keep track of what the levels are. 

• Dehumidifiers need to be 45% and 55% to avoid any mould growth.  You will need more than one, and you will need to find out what parts of the house have the most damp.  Most dehumidifiers have a built-in humidistat to give you the current, relative humidity of that area. This will help to stop further growth but you still have to find and eliminate any mould colonies that are present. 

• All surfaces in the house that have mould spores visible either need to be removed i.e. re jib or particle board, or use an appropriate surface cleaner to kill it.  Bleach is commonly used but won’t actually kill the mould, it only bleaches it white so it’s hard to see and also releases strong fumes which cause lung irritations, watery eyes and coughing.

• There are non toxic enzyme based formulas that will kill mould and mildew.  They are free of ammonia and chlorine and biodegradable. For clothing materials that can fit in a washing machine there are laundry additives you can add that will remove the mould and spores. 

• When cleaning up any mould you need to protect yourself by wearing goggles and gloves to avoid contact with the mould. Use a KN95 style mask to avoid inhalation of the spores. Keep the room you are cleaning well ventilated to avoid over exposure from cleaning chemicals and mould spores. Keeping areas well ventilated will also reduce humidity, especially in the bathroom and laundry areas. 

• Use an exhaust fan or open a window when showering and in the laundry your dryer should be vented to an outside vent. You can also use bags of desiccant to remove damp from wardrobes. In winter time when the windows aren’t open as much condensation can collect on indoor surfaces like windows and their frames, or cold walls which can create an ideal climate for mould to grow. (1)

Mould Mycotoxin Detoxification

Once you have reduced your exposure to mould, the next step is to address any mycotoxins in your system.

A Naturopath that specialises in mould detoxification will be able to help support you with this process. We’ve work closely with Naturopath Brenda Rosenfeld, who specialises in this process.

Natural Allergy Treatment

Once you have reduced your exposure, and addressed any mould mycotoxins in your system, we can step in to address any remaining reactions!

At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland (HWA), we use a technique called muscle testing (or kinesiology) to help pinpoint any reactions to a range food and environmental substances, which may be contributing your symptoms.

Following testing, you can work with your practitioner to address reactions to mould species, food chemicals like salicylates or chemicals using a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT).

Get in touch

• Call us on 1300 853 023 / 09 479 5997 (NZ) to chat to our friendly staff
• Send us your question HERE
• Request a Free PAT Information E-PACK HERE

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Please note that this blog post contains general information only. Always consult your health care professional before changing your diet, starting new supplements or regarding any medical condition.