Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome, It’s Making Some of Us Sick

Originally published in the Post Gazette, December 3, 2021

Why do sick buildings make some people sick and others it doesn’t affect at all? We all know of unhealthy buildings, those with mold and fungus problems from water damage, those with poor ventilation, those with dirty air ducts loaded with fecal matter and remains of disease-carrying rodents and insects, and those with viral-bacterial microorganisms that get trapped and clogged from dirty air conditioning filters and vents. Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends residential duct cleaning when there are mold or pest problems? Well, they do but it’s not enforced. Are there any Federal regulations or standards regarding mold testing in buildings? No there aren’t. According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), (2021), “Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants. The EPA cannot accept or provide any mold testing to check if a building follows federal mold standards.” According to “A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace, Safety and Health Information Bulletin by OSHA.gov (2013), currently, there are no federal standards or recommendations (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores.” This is horrible and must be changed. There are a lot of sick buildings out there that must be cleaned. I know this because I was a victim of sick buildings.

I worked in many nursing facilities and found it odd that most of the staff I worked with, as well as myself, suffered from some type of autoimmune problem. While working in these buildings daily, the staff and I noticed that some of us were experiencing the same strange symptoms. After being in these buildings for 15-30 minutes we all would experience brain fog, headaches, dizziness, body rashes and fatigue. After leaving the building it would take a few hours to feel better. We also found it strange that every nursing facility building we worked in had visible water damage and black mold (yet none of these buildings were ever tested). Could it be that the mold in these buildings was making us sick? Or maybe it was coming from rodents and insects that carry diseases. They die in the air ducts which then circulate germs in the air we breathe. Most of us sought medical attention, but we never got answers.

Again, so why is it that some people in these buildings get sick and some don’t? Myself and some of my coworkers got sick, but others didn’t. The answer has to do with the body’s methylation process. The role of proper methylation promotes body detoxification and is involved in the repair of your DNA. It’s a series of chemical changes that occur in every cell and tissue in your body. It is dependent upon the storage of key nutrients such as methylfolate, B12 and B6. The methylation process can be easily disrupted by stress, environmental toxins such as mold and by a poor diet. How do you know if you have a methylation problem? Common signs and symptoms include, memory problems, autoimmune disorders, allergies, asthma, hormone imbalances, infertility, inflammatory conditions, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, mental health and cardiovascular disorders. It can contribute to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and respiratory diseases. A well functioning methylation system supports detoxification and keeps your immune system healthy. It is essential to your overall well being.

The MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase) gene test was the secret to addressing the mysterious symptoms that I and some of my coworkers were experiencing. What is the MTHFR gene test? Most people haven’t heard of this test. Up to 50% of the population are unaware that they may have a methylation defect. The MTHFR test detects 2 mutations such as Variant C677T and A1298C. If you test positive for either or both mutations (which are inherited from your parents), you have a higher risk of developing a chronic disease. I tested positive for the A1298C MTHFR mutation. As a result, my body could not properly detoxify out the mold that I was breathing in from being in these sick buildings. This MTHFR defect can obstruct the body’s natural detoxification process while decreasing the production of glutathione that is produced by the liver. Glutathione is a crucial antioxidant that fights free radicals and assists in detoxing pollutants such as mold and chemicals that can destroy your healthy cells. The MTHFR mutation also makes a person more susceptible to certain cancers, birth defects and autoimmune diseases. Mahmoud, A. and Ali, M. (2019), wrote an article in PubMed regarding DNA methylation and cancer outcome, in which they state that, “Abnormal DNA methylation has been observed in several cancers such as colon, stomach, cervical, prostate, and breast cancers. These alterations in DNA methylation may play a critical role in cancer development and progression.”  Taking the MTHFR gene test gave me the answers about my body that I needed to save my life. To find out if your body needs help in fighting mold toxins in sick buildings, work with an integrative practitioner and get tested for the MTHFR gene.

For sure, we must fight for the legal mandating of healthier buildings. It’s a war for the health and wellbeing of us all. We must pay attention to the health of the buildings we work and live in, report unhealthy issues, and get them fixed. And, as I said, sick buildings make some people sick. So, by being diligent and attentive to MTHFR testing, high quality nutrition, methylated supplementation, and the health of the buildings you spend your everyday life in, you can make sure you are NOT one of the people getting sick from sick buildings.

References

Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Are there Federal regulations or standards regarding mold? . EPA. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
https://www.epa.gov/mold/are-there-federal-regulations-or-standards-regarding-mold.
https://www.epa.gov/mold/are-there-federal-regulations-or-standards-regarding-mold

MM;, M. A. M. A. (2019). Methyl donor micronutrients that modify DNA methylation and cancer outcome. Nutrients. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30871166/. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30871166/

Department of Labor Logo United States department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2013). Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.osha.gov/publications/shib101003#:~:text=Currently%2C%20there%20are%20no%20federal,of%20mold%20or%20mold%20spores.&text=Most%20typical%20indoor%20air%20exposures,risk%20of%20adverse%20health%20effects.https://www.osha.gov/publications/shib101003#:~:text=Currently%2C%20there%20are%20no%20federal,of%20mold%20or%20mold%20spores.&text=Most%20typical%20indoor%20air%20exposures,risk%20of%20adverse%20healt
h%20effects.