Mold Problems
Pregnancy and Mold
Problems
Q. Our offices at work are
located in the basement. The basement has no ventilation system,
it is re-circulated air. There are various odors, including
sanitary sewer gas, paint, cleansing agents, etc. The offices have
been flooded several times; mold and mildew may be growing in the
ceilings, walls, carpeting, etc. (the carpets dry themselves after
flooding; the maintenance department has made no effort to clean
up the flooding or shampoo the carpets; however, they have changed
the ceiling blocks.) All of the employees have complained of
various problems, including frequent colds, headaches, sinus
problems, sore throats, upset stomachs, fatigue, etc. In March of
2003 I became pregnant with our second child. In May, an ozone air
purifier was installed at work. When they turned it on, it smelled
immediately. By Monday, the smell was terrible. I had just found
out I was pregnant, so I went and complained, and they moved me
out of the basement. However, at 9 weeks I had a miscarriage. The
ultrasound showed that the baby had only been developed to 6
weeks. I was 6 weeks pregnant when the ozone air purifier was
installed, and I was exposed to the smell all day. I contacted the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and they
told me that ozone is not safe. With fetuses, ozone can cause fetal toxicity, abnormalities, and developmental problems, etc. In
addition, the ozone can mix with other things in the air and cause
even more hazardous conditions. Do you think that the ozone, mold,
or other things in my work environment could have caused my
miscarriage? I believe that if the ozone or mold itself did not
cause the miscarriage, the air purifier could have "shaken up" and
made air-borne whatever is down in the basement. All that they
have tested for at this point is carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
and relative humidity. High levels of carbon dioxide have been
found. (The air conditioning was on at the time they conducted the
tests, so that is probably why the humidity was ok.) I know that
they can also test for mold, but at this point they seem reluctant
to do so. They are planning on fixing the flooding problems and
replacing some of the carpeting, so they think that the problem
will be solved. However, I still feel that the place should be
tested further. Do you think my work environment could have caused
the miscarriage? Besides mold, what other tests should be
conducted?
A. There is plenty of anecdotal accounts of the problems of mold on
pregnancy such as causing miscarriages and birth defects, but
there is no detailed medical study that has ever been done on
the link between mold and pregnancy problems. In view of the
very adverse situation you have had to work in [extensive mold
contamination and exposure to dangerous ozone], you ought to
find out your legal rights from an environmental attorney [http://www.moldlawyer.com].
Prior to seeing an attorney, you need to get mold test results
that document the mold problem at work. Use do it yourself
mold test kits available at a large hardware, home improvement,
or safety store, to test the air in the basement work area and
the outward air flow out of each heating/cooling duct register
in the basement to determine the possible presence of elevated
levels of airborne mold spores, in comparison to an outdoor mold
control test.
Q.
Does any one have any answers regarding mold in unborn
children? We had a severe mold problem at our place of
employment last October three women pregnant, all three
children have birth defects. [Sept. 9, 2004]
A.
Because people's concern about indoor mold problems has
only arisen in the past few years, there are not yet any
published health studies that document a link between
mold exposure at work or in the home to birth defects
and miscarriages. But there are many medical doctors who
are very concerned about such a link, as well as
many ladies [exposed to serious mold contamination] who
have actually experienced miscarriages and/or birth
defects in their newborns. The anecdotal experiences are
very persuasive, as is the sad happening in your
moldy workplace w here all three pregnant women gave
birth to children with birth defects. My recommendation
to ladies is that if they are planning on having a baby,
or are otherwise already pregnant, they they should use
do it yourself mold test kits available from a
large hardware, home improvement, or safety store,
or hire a
Certified Mold Inspector to
mold test the air of each room, attic, basement, crawl
space, and the outward air flow from each
heating/cooling duct register in BOTH their home and
workplace for the possible presence of elevated levels
of airborne mold spores, in comparison to an outdoor
mold control test. If there are elevated levels or if
there is visible mold growth [which should be mold analyzed for mold lab mold species identification], a
woman planning on having a baby, or a pregnant lady,
should find an alternative, mold-safe place to live
and/or to work. Don't move clothing or personal property
from a moldy location to somewhere else without first
doing mold decontamination of all such items to avoid
mold cross contamination of where you move to.
Q.
I'm trying to find some information about my office. It
smells like musky, moldy smell. They had a flood before
and still have the same carpet. They never had it
professionally cleaned since they had the water in
there. I've had a miscarriage and I am now pregnant
again and trying to find out it this could be a big
danger, or what I should do. Any input would be great. [Sept.
9, 2004]
A.
Living or working in mold contamination is very risky
for your health and for the life and health of your
baby. To avoid another miscarriage, you need to stop
work immediately in that moldy office. If you smell
mold, there is a BIG mold problem. You can document the
extent of the mold health threat to you and your baby by
using either do it yourself mold test kits available
from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store, to
mold test thoroughly your office and your home, or hire a
Certified Mold Inspector.
When you have mold growing inside your body [because you
breathed in airborne mold spores, or ingested moldy
foods or drank moldy drinks, or had open wounds into
which airborne mold spores landed in], the mold will
grow and thrive well by eating your body from the inside
out. Mold spores and mold growth will enter your blood
stream to travel via the umbilical cord to mold
contaminate your growing fetus. The mold Stachybotrys
destroys brain tissue. Most molds are very destructive
of the respiratory system. Aspergillus is a known
cancer-causer.
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Also please read:
Mold
Health Article, Pregnancy
and Mold Exposure and 2006 Study that Finds Eating Moldy Corn Caused
Mold Birth Defects