The Mould Show Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:19:34 -0500 http://www.themouldshow.com en-au © 2026 The Mould Show yes 8118b19e-7733-5f92-8c93-702f9cd9a48b Dr Cameron Jones episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) mould, climate change, indoor air, water damage, real estate, healthy homes, building biology, mycology, microbiology, inflammation, mould illness, public health Dr Cameron Jones https://storage.buzzsprout.com/cj8homjn3s91vrvjc9bzj1936h8n?.jpg The Mould Show http://www.themouldshow.com Fungal mycotoxins & ME/CFS could this be why you're tired? Fungal mycotoxins & ME/CFS could this be why you're tired? Science is all about observation and forming hypotheses to answer questions. For scientists like myself, I’m interested in how the environment affects health, and specifically, how water-damaged buildings and exposure to poor indoor air quality can affect quality of life. For this week on The Mould Show, we're going to be talking about fungal mycotoxins and myalgic encephalomyelitis termed ME for short and chronic fatigue syndrome  (ME/CFS). 

The reason I've chosen this topic is that I've met a family whom I've now done three separate mould inspections for.  Why this is unusual is that the symptoms experienced by the female occupant and her daughter are classic ME/CFS symptoms.  Across all 3 of the different properties hidden mould problems were discovered.  That information in itself was useful for this family and helped them to break their lease due to the fact that there was verified mould present. However, that's not the point of this podcast and even the positive mould confirmation as an environmental trigger didn’t help the mother and daughter from understanding why they reacted so strongly when indoors. They thought they were going crazy, since how could 3 different properties cause them so much trouble? They couldn’t understand why some buildings caused no issues, and the 3 they’d chosen to rent all set them off?

This has bothered me all year.  I know mould is a huge issue for some people – but what exactly might be going on for THIS family?

A very interesting article on Substack focuses on his experience with chronic pain and ME/CFS and how after 25 years of suffering, he discovered by chance, following a recommendation from a friend to read a book that talked about the connection between ME and chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction. So that is the true focus of the topic today. 

• Could exposure to fungal mycotoxins be the reason why they were tired and experiencing pain?  
• Could this be the reason you’re tired? Is this another aspect to environmental illness?
• And could this be classified as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)? 
• Are there any patient-specific tests to verify ME/CFS or mould exposure and what can be done to alleviate the symptoms?  

Firstly, let's define what ME/CFS is. There are three core symptoms + at least one or more other symptoms which include:
 
1. an inability to participate in routine activities that would have been possible before becoming ill and that lasts for greater than six months. 
2. the fatigue which is also a primary symptom tends to worsen after physical, mental or emotional effort. 
3. and does not resolve after sleep, termed ‘unrefreshing sleep’. 

Other problems include:

a) an inability to concentrate or memory impairment and/or 
b) something called orthostatic intolerance. This means that when people stand up, they feel lightheaded or dizzy and can even faint. 

The family that moved into those three different properties all complained that after a few days of occupying the mould-contaminated building the wife especially experienced episodes of unexpected fainting and collapsing into her husband's arms. 

Those 3 inspections coupled with reading the Substack article led me to investigate further whether there was any published literature, focusing on exposure to fungal cells or their mycotoxins in the ME/CFS literature. 

Very recently a publication appeared in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that has looked at exactly this topic. These scientists looked at the levels of Aspergillus toxins like aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and gliotoxin in the urine of 236 ME/CFS patients who had a known exposure to mould from water-damaged buildings. 

The evidence from two types of urine mycotoxin testing from Real-Time

]]> Science is all about observation and forming hypotheses to answer questions. For scientists like myself, I’m interested in how the environment affects health, and specifically, how water-damaged buildings and exposure to poor indoor air quality can affect quality of life. For this week on The Mould Show, we're going to be talking about fungal mycotoxins and myalgic encephalomyelitis termed ME for short and chronic fatigue syndrome  (ME/CFS). 

The reason I've chosen this topic is that I've met a family whom I've now done three separate mould inspections for.  Why this is unusual is that the symptoms experienced by the female occupant and her daughter are classic ME/CFS symptoms.  Across all 3 of the different properties hidden mould problems were discovered.  That information in itself was useful for this family and helped them to break their lease due to the fact that there was verified mould present. However, that's not the point of this podcast and even the positive mould confirmation as an environmental trigger didn’t help the mother and daughter from understanding why they reacted so strongly when indoors. They thought they were going crazy, since how could 3 different properties cause them so much trouble? They couldn’t understand why some buildings caused no issues, and the 3 they’d chosen to rent all set them off?

This has bothered me all year.  I know mould is a huge issue for some people – but what exactly might be going on for THIS family?

A very interesting article on Substack focuses on his experience with chronic pain and ME/CFS and how after 25 years of suffering, he discovered by chance, following a recommendation from a friend to read a book that talked about the connection between ME and chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction. So that is the true focus of the topic today. 

• Could exposure to fungal mycotoxins be the reason why they were tired and experiencing pain?  
• Could this be the reason you’re tired? Is this another aspect to environmental illness?
• And could this be classified as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)? 
• Are there any patient-specific tests to verify ME/CFS or mould exposure and what can be done to alleviate the symptoms?  

Firstly, let's define what ME/CFS is. There are three core symptoms + at least one or more other symptoms which include:
 
1. an inability to participate in routine activities that would have been possible before becoming ill and that lasts for greater than six months. 
2. the fatigue which is also a primary symptom tends to worsen after physical, mental or emotional effort. 
3. and does not resolve after sleep, termed ‘unrefreshing sleep’. 

Other problems include:

a) an inability to concentrate or memory impairment and/or 
b) something called orthostatic intolerance. This means that when people stand up, they feel lightheaded or dizzy and can even faint. 

The family that moved into those three different properties all complained that after a few days of occupying the mould-contaminated building the wife especially experienced episodes of unexpected fainting and collapsing into her husband's arms. 

Those 3 inspections coupled with reading the Substack article led me to investigate further whether there was any published literature, focusing on exposure to fungal cells or their mycotoxins in the ME/CFS literature. 

Very recently a publication appeared in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that has looked at exactly this topic. These scientists looked at the levels of Aspergillus toxins like aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and gliotoxin in the urine of 236 ME/CFS patients who had a known exposure to mould from water-damaged buildings. 

The evidence from two types of urine mycotoxin testing from Real-Time

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-10859346 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 11:00:00 +1000 2386 103 full false Multiple Sclerosis and fungi – is there a link? Multiple Sclerosis and fungi – is there a link? This week on The Mould Show we're going to be looking at the gut microbiome and in particular some emerging research that is showing that the diversity of microorganisms found in the gut may be linked to different immune responses and may even affect the pathogenesis of conditions like multiple sclerosis, MS. I'll be reviewing two of the dominant papers in the MS literature around gut microflora and looking at this concept of species diversity. In these papers the scientists looked at the number of different microorganisms between healthy controls and MS patients. Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease known to affect two and a half million people worldwide with most patients experiencing what is termed relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis which as the name suggests shows periods of stasis punctuated with symptoms but overwhelmingly moves towards more frequent symptoms as the disease progresses. There are currently no known treatments for MS. However, there is an abundant literature showing that healthy lifestyle factors such as no current smoking, a healthy diet regular exercise and maintaining a low body mass index all help reduce symptoms. The two papers we're looking at today ask the question: Are there some fungi that can be measured in the gut that are correlated with MS and healthy controls? Essentially, what is the role that microbiology plays in MS?. These two papers strongly suggest that bacterial and fungal diversity is indeed connected and can differentiate healthy controls from MS patients. This research is exciting because it offers the opportunity not only for individualized testing as a risk predictor, but also the opportunity for individualized dietary modifications to be made to change the composition of the gut microflora. Both papers determined that fungi like Candida, Epicoccum, Malassezia and Saccharomyces all seem to show statistical relationships that could be a value to predict or at least classify individuals into different risk categories. Interestingly, when we drill into the literature and look at the species diversity for Saccharomyces which is a typical yeast found in breads and grains there is another set of literature that has looked at the gut microbiota and the day 28-day mortality for critically ill patients admitted to hospital. Of course, many of the underlying reasons for hospital admission includes chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, immunosuppression, active cancer and acute kidney injury. Nevertheless, when sampling was performed, they found clear evidence that species diversity in the gut was predictive for which patients survived versus those that died? So, what to make of these facts? Well, there is an opportunity to look at what readily available compounds might be used nutritionally or therapeutically, to mitigate, delay, or reverse these diseases? One of the compounds being actively researched is called Astaxanthin and is commonly found in shellfish and lobsters and green micro algae. It’s been shown to not only possess anti-microbial or antibiotic type activity but there is emerging research it can be used for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and even conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome. This research into use of astaxanthin suggests that even if it cannot be used as a topical anti-microbial (due to high dosage), it may exert its beneficial effect by altering the composition of the gut microflora at lower dosage. Other elegant research has looked at how astaxanthin has been able to protect the myelin sheath in Multiple Sclerosis models in rats. This research strongly suggests that astaxanthin exerts its effect because they help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. We can only hope that more research into the therapeutic effects of natural compounds like astaxanthin may lead towards wide-spread use of targeted dietary modifications.  

]]> This week on The Mould Show we're going to be looking at the gut microbiome and in particular some emerging research that is showing that the diversity of microorganisms found in the gut may be linked to different immune responses and may even affect the pathogenesis of conditions like multiple sclerosis, MS. I'll be reviewing two of the dominant papers in the MS literature around gut microflora and looking at this concept of species diversity. In these papers the scientists looked at the number of different microorganisms between healthy controls and MS patients. Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease known to affect two and a half million people worldwide with most patients experiencing what is termed relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis which as the name suggests shows periods of stasis punctuated with symptoms but overwhelmingly moves towards more frequent symptoms as the disease progresses. There are currently no known treatments for MS. However, there is an abundant literature showing that healthy lifestyle factors such as no current smoking, a healthy diet regular exercise and maintaining a low body mass index all help reduce symptoms. The two papers we're looking at today ask the question: Are there some fungi that can be measured in the gut that are correlated with MS and healthy controls? Essentially, what is the role that microbiology plays in MS?. These two papers strongly suggest that bacterial and fungal diversity is indeed connected and can differentiate healthy controls from MS patients. This research is exciting because it offers the opportunity not only for individualized testing as a risk predictor, but also the opportunity for individualized dietary modifications to be made to change the composition of the gut microflora. Both papers determined that fungi like Candida, Epicoccum, Malassezia and Saccharomyces all seem to show statistical relationships that could be a value to predict or at least classify individuals into different risk categories. Interestingly, when we drill into the literature and look at the species diversity for Saccharomyces which is a typical yeast found in breads and grains there is another set of literature that has looked at the gut microbiota and the day 28-day mortality for critically ill patients admitted to hospital. Of course, many of the underlying reasons for hospital admission includes chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, immunosuppression, active cancer and acute kidney injury. Nevertheless, when sampling was performed, they found clear evidence that species diversity in the gut was predictive for which patients survived versus those that died? So, what to make of these facts? Well, there is an opportunity to look at what readily available compounds might be used nutritionally or therapeutically, to mitigate, delay, or reverse these diseases? One of the compounds being actively researched is called Astaxanthin and is commonly found in shellfish and lobsters and green micro algae. It’s been shown to not only possess anti-microbial or antibiotic type activity but there is emerging research it can be used for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and even conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome. This research into use of astaxanthin suggests that even if it cannot be used as a topical anti-microbial (due to high dosage), it may exert its beneficial effect by altering the composition of the gut microflora at lower dosage. Other elegant research has looked at how astaxanthin has been able to protect the myelin sheath in Multiple Sclerosis models in rats. This research strongly suggests that astaxanthin exerts its effect because they help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. We can only hope that more research into the therapeutic effects of natural compounds like astaxanthin may lead towards wide-spread use of targeted dietary modifications.  

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-10816334 Sun, 19 Jun 2022 16:00:00 +1000 1417 102 full false Can toxic indoor mould cause immunosuppression? Can toxic indoor mould cause immunosuppression? Imagine that at your workplace - you move to new offices and these offices are sited partially below ground level. Within three months of moving into the new offices, every person who works there has started to suffer from symptoms that consistent with exposure to a water damage buildings and are reacting to the microbes and moulds that are commonly found in these environments.  
 
When the symptoms became unbearable, the office staff started looking for answers. This week on The Mould Show, I'm going to be reviewing the research results that carefully examined each of those office workers to work out two things: 
 
Firstly, was the building contributing something toxic that the workers were being exposed to? And secondly, how could this be best measured by the medical doctors who were involved? 

This publication looks at whether or not immunosuppression and adverse events can be measured. And if so, how does one go about doing this? This publication appeared on the 21st of January 2022 in the Journal of Fungi: Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity-A Pilot Study. 
 
What the scientists did was examine both the patient (that is the occupants of the workplace), and they also looked at the building to see what type of toxins and microbes could be detected. 

The purpose of the research was how to prove causality between the symptoms experienced by the workers and exposure to the toxic indoor air. But the scientists weren't satisfied with just using microbiological technique to measure for mould, because it's well recognized that even though these tests are very sensitive and accurate to measure mould spore levels in the air - they can often miss the breakdown fragments of microbes that grow on water damaged buildings. 

And therefore, this very exciting research from Finland has implemented a new method to assess toxicity indoors, which looks at collecting condensed indoor air water vapour and test that.  Now what does this mean? 
 
Well, essentially, they have devised and patented a method of rapidly collecting water vapor out of the air but again, how did they do this? 

The Finnish scientists used three toxicity test methods to see how the indoor air might be compromised. The first one was to use THP-1 macrophages.  We cover the other two cell, lines in the podcast.

But what about all those people who are working in water damaged building interiors? We know if they're being exposed to particulate matter, like mould spores and cell fragments, from typical indoor air quality tests like spore traps, bio tape lifts or direct microbiology from the air or surfaces onto Petri plates.  But many of the mycotoxins can also be measured in urine? Thanks to this breaking research, there are other, new biomarkers like mycophenolic acid – which is tested from the water vapour indoors. 

In turn, what do you think the contribution is to adverse health from mycophenolic acid exposure? The Finnish data shows that mycophenolic acid reduces immune function and the other types of in vitro tests showed that macrophages activity is reduced and that mitochondrial activity is increased, but also that bore sperm motility is interfered with. 

Vaali K, Tuomela M, Mannerström M, Heinonen T, Tuuminen T. Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity-A Pilot Study. J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Jan 21;8(2):104. doi: 10.3390/jof8020104. PMID: 35205859; PMCID: PMC8877819. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35205859/

]]> Imagine that at your workplace - you move to new offices and these offices are sited partially below ground level. Within three months of moving into the new offices, every person who works there has started to suffer from symptoms that consistent with exposure to a water damage buildings and are reacting to the microbes and moulds that are commonly found in these environments.  
 
When the symptoms became unbearable, the office staff started looking for answers. This week on The Mould Show, I'm going to be reviewing the research results that carefully examined each of those office workers to work out two things: 
 
Firstly, was the building contributing something toxic that the workers were being exposed to? And secondly, how could this be best measured by the medical doctors who were involved? 

This publication looks at whether or not immunosuppression and adverse events can be measured. And if so, how does one go about doing this? This publication appeared on the 21st of January 2022 in the Journal of Fungi: Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity-A Pilot Study. 
 
What the scientists did was examine both the patient (that is the occupants of the workplace), and they also looked at the building to see what type of toxins and microbes could be detected. 

The purpose of the research was how to prove causality between the symptoms experienced by the workers and exposure to the toxic indoor air. But the scientists weren't satisfied with just using microbiological technique to measure for mould, because it's well recognized that even though these tests are very sensitive and accurate to measure mould spore levels in the air - they can often miss the breakdown fragments of microbes that grow on water damaged buildings. 

And therefore, this very exciting research from Finland has implemented a new method to assess toxicity indoors, which looks at collecting condensed indoor air water vapour and test that.  Now what does this mean? 
 
Well, essentially, they have devised and patented a method of rapidly collecting water vapor out of the air but again, how did they do this? 

The Finnish scientists used three toxicity test methods to see how the indoor air might be compromised. The first one was to use THP-1 macrophages.  We cover the other two cell, lines in the podcast.

But what about all those people who are working in water damaged building interiors? We know if they're being exposed to particulate matter, like mould spores and cell fragments, from typical indoor air quality tests like spore traps, bio tape lifts or direct microbiology from the air or surfaces onto Petri plates.  But many of the mycotoxins can also be measured in urine? Thanks to this breaking research, there are other, new biomarkers like mycophenolic acid – which is tested from the water vapour indoors. 

In turn, what do you think the contribution is to adverse health from mycophenolic acid exposure? The Finnish data shows that mycophenolic acid reduces immune function and the other types of in vitro tests showed that macrophages activity is reduced and that mitochondrial activity is increased, but also that bore sperm motility is interfered with. 

Vaali K, Tuomela M, Mannerström M, Heinonen T, Tuuminen T. Toxic Indoor Air Is a Potential Risk of Causing Immuno Suppression and Morbidity-A Pilot Study. J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Jan 21;8(2):104. doi: 10.3390/jof8020104. PMID: 35205859; PMCID: PMC8877819. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35205859/

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-10782463 Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:00:00 +1000 2025 101 full false Hot vs Cold Water Washing & Fungi – Which is Better? Hot vs Cold Water Washing & Fungi – Which is Better? If you're dealing with water damage building interiors, or just wondering what is the best way to clean textiles and clothing that might have become mould contaminated - you might be thinking, why can't I just put them all into the washing machine? Your next question might be: is there something I can do to the washing cycle that will help reduce the population of any germs that might be on those textiles? The answer is yes, there is an optimal way of washing your clothing to remove specific germs like classes of fungi that cause skin and nail infections. These fungi are termed dermatophytes and are superficial fungal infections that colonize the skin, hair or nails. This group of fungi thrive in moist areas of the skin and are easily transferred to clothing and towels and they are also found in soil. The statistics around dermatophytes report that 20 to 25% of the world's population is currently infected with a dermatophyte fungus. A paper that was published in late May 2022, looked at whether you could freeze material contaminated with dermatophyte fungi, or heat them up in a laundromat or domestic dryer, or whether it was best to wash them – and if so, what’s the best way to reduce the viability of these dermatophytes? This is an interesting question because although dermatophyte fungi are specific causative agents of skin, hair and nail infections they nevertheless represent a class of fungi that if we understand how they respond to the washing cycle - then this could extend to other types of fungi found in the home, on the floor, or on porous personal items of personal property that might benefit from being washed. So the central question of this live stream is: hot cycle versus cold cycle versus heat drying versus freezing - which is better? To answer this question, I'm going to summarize the key findings of a paper that came out in the Journal of Fungi which looked at how to test between these different treatments. What the scientists did was deliberately contaminate gauze pads with three of the most common fungi that affect humans (Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale). We know the effects of these fungi when they attack feet and other moist skin areas and cause, for example, Athlete's Foot. We should also respect the fact that these fungi are easily transmitted. Think – of contact with infected individuals or even skin contact with inanimate objects like flooring. And so what the scientists did was they deliberately infected small gauze pads and then cleaned them in different ways. The. They looked at the recovery rate for the dermatophyte fungi. Successful cleaning meant there were no fungi recovered. The first treatment looked at how temperature and cleaning time impacted on fungal recovery. The next question for the washing machine method was whether adding detergent helps? Another cleaning method looked at whether freezing the textile gauze pad could kill the fungi? The results are compelling:•Low temperature washing for example, at 40 degrees Celsius for 100 minutes with or without detergent did not reduce the viability of Trichophyton fungi. •Increasing the temperature to either 60 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Celsius for either 100 minutes or 150 minutes resulted in the loss of viability for Trichophyton fungi. •The higher temperature was effective with or without detergent. •Unfortunately, heat drying the contaminated material in either a domestic machine or a laundromat machine for anywhere from 10 minutes to 150 minutes, did not reduce the population viability of Trichophyton fungi. •And somewhat counter-intuitively, it was not possible to freeze the fungus and cause it to stop growing even if freezing was carried out for one day, two days, or even seven days – the persistent viability of the Trichophyton fungi was preserved. The take-home message, therefore, was that domestic washing machines with or without detergent are hig

]]> If you're dealing with water damage building interiors, or just wondering what is the best way to clean textiles and clothing that might have become mould contaminated - you might be thinking, why can't I just put them all into the washing machine? Your next question might be: is there something I can do to the washing cycle that will help reduce the population of any germs that might be on those textiles? The answer is yes, there is an optimal way of washing your clothing to remove specific germs like classes of fungi that cause skin and nail infections. These fungi are termed dermatophytes and are superficial fungal infections that colonize the skin, hair or nails. This group of fungi thrive in moist areas of the skin and are easily transferred to clothing and towels and they are also found in soil. The statistics around dermatophytes report that 20 to 25% of the world's population is currently infected with a dermatophyte fungus. A paper that was published in late May 2022, looked at whether you could freeze material contaminated with dermatophyte fungi, or heat them up in a laundromat or domestic dryer, or whether it was best to wash them – and if so, what’s the best way to reduce the viability of these dermatophytes? This is an interesting question because although dermatophyte fungi are specific causative agents of skin, hair and nail infections they nevertheless represent a class of fungi that if we understand how they respond to the washing cycle - then this could extend to other types of fungi found in the home, on the floor, or on porous personal items of personal property that might benefit from being washed. So the central question of this live stream is: hot cycle versus cold cycle versus heat drying versus freezing - which is better? To answer this question, I'm going to summarize the key findings of a paper that came out in the Journal of Fungi which looked at how to test between these different treatments. What the scientists did was deliberately contaminate gauze pads with three of the most common fungi that affect humans (Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale). We know the effects of these fungi when they attack feet and other moist skin areas and cause, for example, Athlete's Foot. We should also respect the fact that these fungi are easily transmitted. Think – of contact with infected individuals or even skin contact with inanimate objects like flooring. And so what the scientists did was they deliberately infected small gauze pads and then cleaned them in different ways. The. They looked at the recovery rate for the dermatophyte fungi. Successful cleaning meant there were no fungi recovered. The first treatment looked at how temperature and cleaning time impacted on fungal recovery. The next question for the washing machine method was whether adding detergent helps? Another cleaning method looked at whether freezing the textile gauze pad could kill the fungi? The results are compelling:•Low temperature washing for example, at 40 degrees Celsius for 100 minutes with or without detergent did not reduce the viability of Trichophyton fungi. •Increasing the temperature to either 60 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Celsius for either 100 minutes or 150 minutes resulted in the loss of viability for Trichophyton fungi. •The higher temperature was effective with or without detergent. •Unfortunately, heat drying the contaminated material in either a domestic machine or a laundromat machine for anywhere from 10 minutes to 150 minutes, did not reduce the population viability of Trichophyton fungi. •And somewhat counter-intuitively, it was not possible to freeze the fungus and cause it to stop growing even if freezing was carried out for one day, two days, or even seven days – the persistent viability of the Trichophyton fungi was preserved. The take-home message, therefore, was that domestic washing machines with or without detergent are hig

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-10737935 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +1000 590 100 full false DIY Mould Remediation of Paper Documents DIY Mould Remediation of Paper Documents In Australia, we're currently suffering from torrential rain all along the east coast, affecting Queensland and New South Wales and potentially moving towards Victoria. Regardless of where you're living, unexpected water damage and mould may be a new problem for you to begin dealing with. This live stream and podcast will focus on how to deal with mould and water damage affecting paper documents. We can all imagine sodden books and libraries underwater, but I'll leave that problem for the archivists. This show segment will focus exclusively on how you can deal with mould contamination of paper documents.  To do this, I’ll review a recent paper that came out that looked at how to sterilize paper during a crisis. The authors compared two types of sterilization methods called (1) gamma sterilization which uses radiation to perform cold sterilization and (2) dry heat sterilization. Why this paper is interesting is that all of us have access to dry heat using a convection drying oven. 

 

The scientists performed several types of tests looking at the efficiency of gamma radiation versus dry heat. They discovered that gamma radiation inactivated 100% of the test organisms, including fungi and gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but what about the efficacy of dry heat? The scientists looked at three temperatures: 100, 150, and 200 degrees Celsius for 15, 30 or 60 minutes. They also looked at the impact of two different sterilization techniques on the structural integrity of the paper using scanning electron microscopy. When we focus only on fungi, (because bacteria are easier to kill)  it was shown that a conservative temperature of 100 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes achieved a 97.1% inactivation. This also had the lowest comparative impact on the paper structure. 

 

Obviously, other methods of water damage restoration indoors such as increasing ventilation to provide additional air circulation or the use of a dehumidifier are also valuable methods of dealing with water damage. 

 

The take-home message from this paper is that a convection oven can effectively disinfect and nearly sterilize water-damaged papers using a conservative time and temperature of 100 degrees Celcius for 15minutes. 

 

I hope this information helps any persons dealing with mould contamination of paper documents.

 

REFERENCES:

 

Alshammari, F.H., Hussein, HA.A. Sterilization of paper during crisis. AMB Expr 12, 13 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-022-01345-6

]]> In Australia, we're currently suffering from torrential rain all along the east coast, affecting Queensland and New South Wales and potentially moving towards Victoria. Regardless of where you're living, unexpected water damage and mould may be a new problem for you to begin dealing with. This live stream and podcast will focus on how to deal with mould and water damage affecting paper documents. We can all imagine sodden books and libraries underwater, but I'll leave that problem for the archivists. This show segment will focus exclusively on how you can deal with mould contamination of paper documents.  To do this, I’ll review a recent paper that came out that looked at how to sterilize paper during a crisis. The authors compared two types of sterilization methods called (1) gamma sterilization which uses radiation to perform cold sterilization and (2) dry heat sterilization. Why this paper is interesting is that all of us have access to dry heat using a convection drying oven. 

 

The scientists performed several types of tests looking at the efficiency of gamma radiation versus dry heat. They discovered that gamma radiation inactivated 100% of the test organisms, including fungi and gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but what about the efficacy of dry heat? The scientists looked at three temperatures: 100, 150, and 200 degrees Celsius for 15, 30 or 60 minutes. They also looked at the impact of two different sterilization techniques on the structural integrity of the paper using scanning electron microscopy. When we focus only on fungi, (because bacteria are easier to kill)  it was shown that a conservative temperature of 100 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes achieved a 97.1% inactivation. This also had the lowest comparative impact on the paper structure. 

 

Obviously, other methods of water damage restoration indoors such as increasing ventilation to provide additional air circulation or the use of a dehumidifier are also valuable methods of dealing with water damage. 

 

The take-home message from this paper is that a convection oven can effectively disinfect and nearly sterilize water-damaged papers using a conservative time and temperature of 100 degrees Celcius for 15minutes. 

 

I hope this information helps any persons dealing with mould contamination of paper documents.

 

REFERENCES:

 

Alshammari, F.H., Hussein, HA.A. Sterilization of paper during crisis. AMB Expr 12, 13 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-022-01345-6

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-10179229 Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +1100 1006 99 99 full false One Family's Experience With Building Related Illness One Family's Experience With Building Related Illness Many people ask me the question: can you really get sick from spending time inside a water-damaged property? Or another related question: Does mould really make people sick? Sometimes I even get questions along the lines of: I can understand why people might not like the smell of mould or even its visual presence, but surely, a little bit of mould can't hurt you? 

If you've ever been part of these conversations, and want definitive proof that mould can in fact, cause serious problems for occupants then this live stream and podcast is for you. A paper came out at the end of 2021 in the Journal of Hygiene and Infection Control, discussing the situation for a family of five, who developed severe health problems after spending six years inside a water damaged home.  Your first reaction might be: why did they stay six years? For many people, this is unavoidable and for this family, it was because it was a new home construction.  They battled on trying the get the builder to fix the problems. This case study deep dives into something called building-related illness and explores its relationship with sick building syndrome. 

The paper is important because it includes an evaluation of the home from an Occupational Hygiene viewpoint as well as the Environmental Medicine perspective. This case study highlights many of the building-specific factors that contributed to water damage and mould as well as the complaint pattern and medical symptoms that were experienced by the children, the mother and the father.  

The outcome of this case study revealed that until the family changed their place of residence unwanted health complaints persisted. But once they left the father's health symptoms improved after two weeks. The three children took six months to recover and the mother's symptoms went away after 18 months. 

This paper highlights that long term exposure to mould was the cause of building-related illness. Use this paper to support your position especially if you're ever needing to prove the health hazards from mould inside buildings

REFERENCE: 

Kramer A, Wichelhaus TA, Kempf V, Hogardt M, Zacharowski K. Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building. GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2021 Dec 7;16:Doc32. doi: 10.3205/dgkh000403. PMID: 34956824; PMCID: PMC8662741.

]]> Many people ask me the question: can you really get sick from spending time inside a water-damaged property? Or another related question: Does mould really make people sick? Sometimes I even get questions along the lines of: I can understand why people might not like the smell of mould or even its visual presence, but surely, a little bit of mould can't hurt you? 

If you've ever been part of these conversations, and want definitive proof that mould can in fact, cause serious problems for occupants then this live stream and podcast is for you. A paper came out at the end of 2021 in the Journal of Hygiene and Infection Control, discussing the situation for a family of five, who developed severe health problems after spending six years inside a water damaged home.  Your first reaction might be: why did they stay six years? For many people, this is unavoidable and for this family, it was because it was a new home construction.  They battled on trying the get the builder to fix the problems. This case study deep dives into something called building-related illness and explores its relationship with sick building syndrome. 

The paper is important because it includes an evaluation of the home from an Occupational Hygiene viewpoint as well as the Environmental Medicine perspective. This case study highlights many of the building-specific factors that contributed to water damage and mould as well as the complaint pattern and medical symptoms that were experienced by the children, the mother and the father.  

The outcome of this case study revealed that until the family changed their place of residence unwanted health complaints persisted. But once they left the father's health symptoms improved after two weeks. The three children took six months to recover and the mother's symptoms went away after 18 months. 

This paper highlights that long term exposure to mould was the cause of building-related illness. Use this paper to support your position especially if you're ever needing to prove the health hazards from mould inside buildings

REFERENCE: 

Kramer A, Wichelhaus TA, Kempf V, Hogardt M, Zacharowski K. Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building. GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2021 Dec 7;16:Doc32. doi: 10.3205/dgkh000403. PMID: 34956824; PMCID: PMC8662741.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-10033088 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:00:00 +1100 1661 98 98 full true Does mould harm children's health? Does mould harm children's health? I'm often asked whether mould affects children's health? I thought this would be an appropriate topic to kick off the new year for The Mould Show in 2022. In approaching this topic, I'm going to review some of the key symptoms associated with exposure to mould and then provide you with an easy visual guide that you can use to not only remember the typical mould symptoms but the causes and effects but that may be helpful when describing indoor air quality issues in your home or workplace.

We all know that unexpected weather increasingly contributes to mould problems indoors in addition to water leaks and home dilapidation problems. In turn, most of us understand that moulds grow on wet surfaces and release their spores into the air.  It’s important to remember that mycotoxin levels inside water-damaged buildings are sometimes 1000-fold higher than the mould count. It's also known that 50% of fungal growth can be hidden and is missed by mould testing according to the EPA.  

Find out what the key research papers say about mould and your child's health?

REFERENCES:

Campbell AW, Watson P. Mold, Mycotoxins, and their Effects in Children. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 Jan;27(1):8-10. PMID: 33609089.

Campbell AW, Decena K. The Brain and Mycotoxins. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Nov;26(6):8-11. PMID: 33609092.

Campbell AW. Molds and Mycotoxins: A Brief Review. Altern Ther Health Med. 2016 Jul;22(4):8-11. PMID: 27548484.

Theoharides TC. Mold and Immunity. Clin Ther. 2018 Jun;40(6):882-884. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 May 30. PMID: 29859636.

Spengler JD, Jaakkola JJ, Parise H, Katsnelson BA, Privalova LI, Kosheleva AA. Housing characteristics and children's respiratory health in the Russian Federation. Am J Public Health. 2004 Apr;94(4):657-62. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.4.657. PMID: 15054021; PMCID: PMC1448314.

Jedrychowski W, Maugeri U, Perera F, Stigter L, Jankowski J, Butscher M, Mroz E, Flak E, Skarupa A, Sowa A. Cognitive function of 6-year old children exposed to mold-contaminated homes in early postnatal period. Prospective birth cohort study in Poland. Physiol Behav. 2011 Oct 24;104(5):989-95. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.06.019. Epub 2011 Jul 8. PMID: 21763705; PMCID: PMC3758954.

Szumilas M. Explaining odds ratios [published correction appears in J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Winter;24(1):58]. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;19(3):227-229.

Wong CT, Wais J, Crawford DA. Prenatal exposure to common environmental factors affects brain lipids and increases risk of developing autism spectrum disorders. Eur J Neurosci. 2015 Nov;42(10):2742-60. doi: 10.1111/ejn.13028. Epub 2015 Sep 19. PMID: 26215319.

]]> I'm often asked whether mould affects children's health? I thought this would be an appropriate topic to kick off the new year for The Mould Show in 2022. In approaching this topic, I'm going to review some of the key symptoms associated with exposure to mould and then provide you with an easy visual guide that you can use to not only remember the typical mould symptoms but the causes and effects but that may be helpful when describing indoor air quality issues in your home or workplace.

We all know that unexpected weather increasingly contributes to mould problems indoors in addition to water leaks and home dilapidation problems. In turn, most of us understand that moulds grow on wet surfaces and release their spores into the air.  It’s important to remember that mycotoxin levels inside water-damaged buildings are sometimes 1000-fold higher than the mould count. It's also known that 50% of fungal growth can be hidden and is missed by mould testing according to the EPA.  

Find out what the key research papers say about mould and your child's health?

REFERENCES:

Campbell AW, Watson P. Mold, Mycotoxins, and their Effects in Children. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 Jan;27(1):8-10. PMID: 33609089.

Campbell AW, Decena K. The Brain and Mycotoxins. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Nov;26(6):8-11. PMID: 33609092.

Campbell AW. Molds and Mycotoxins: A Brief Review. Altern Ther Health Med. 2016 Jul;22(4):8-11. PMID: 27548484.

Theoharides TC. Mold and Immunity. Clin Ther. 2018 Jun;40(6):882-884. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 May 30. PMID: 29859636.

Spengler JD, Jaakkola JJ, Parise H, Katsnelson BA, Privalova LI, Kosheleva AA. Housing characteristics and children's respiratory health in the Russian Federation. Am J Public Health. 2004 Apr;94(4):657-62. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.4.657. PMID: 15054021; PMCID: PMC1448314.

Jedrychowski W, Maugeri U, Perera F, Stigter L, Jankowski J, Butscher M, Mroz E, Flak E, Skarupa A, Sowa A. Cognitive function of 6-year old children exposed to mold-contaminated homes in early postnatal period. Prospective birth cohort study in Poland. Physiol Behav. 2011 Oct 24;104(5):989-95. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.06.019. Epub 2011 Jul 8. PMID: 21763705; PMCID: PMC3758954.

Szumilas M. Explaining odds ratios [published correction appears in J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Winter;24(1):58]. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;19(3):227-229.

Wong CT, Wais J, Crawford DA. Prenatal exposure to common environmental factors affects brain lipids and increases risk of developing autism spectrum disorders. Eur J Neurosci. 2015 Nov;42(10):2742-60. doi: 10.1111/ejn.13028. Epub 2015 Sep 19. PMID: 26215319.

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-9884740 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +1100 1581 97 97 full true Which Mould Spores are Protective Against COVID-19? Which Mould Spores are Protective Against COVID-19? When you think about the over 5M fungal species that exist on the planet and juxtapose this against the approximate 2000 mushrooms species we might eat as food - there really are a lot of chance and probable possibilities for us to come into contact with these microorganisms in our everyday lives. 

This new paper that came out from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is quite an eye-opener because it looked at how fungal communities inside 1135 homes in the United States is connected with something called the Infection Fatality Ratio (IFR) which describes the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 per 1000 coronavirus infections. 

Their research showed that an increased fungal diversity especially for specific Species of indoor fungi versus outdoor fungi (Beta diversity) was associated with a reduced infection fatality ratio.  

In their paper, they looked at whether there was a correlation between certain Species of fungi and adverse outcomes from COVID? And amazingly they found that “yes” there is! 

They found that something called the beta diversity assessed from a comparison between fungal spore types collected outdoors and then inside the home living environment was of fundamental importance. 

The key result is that: high diversity of outdoor fungi when also present indoors is associated with a suppression effect for COVID-19 mortality.

This means that collecting spore trap measurements from the outdoors and indoors is very important for predicting adverse events like mortality from COVID-19 and emphasizes the importance of the environment on human illness.  Now it’s not just the raw numbers of fungi, but the overlap of which types are present outdoors and also found indoors which defines different aspects of Species richness and diversity. 

The research showed that at least four of the following seven fungal genera have a key role in suppressing coronavirus infections. These were: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Epicoccum, Eurotium, Toxicocladosporium and Wallemia as well as a novel Mycosphaerellaceae fungus.  

You could argue that simply airing out your property will naturally bring fresh outdoor air containing mould spores indoors. So, wouldn’t that automatically select for the correct beta diversity ratio that’s better for your health?  

On the surface, you'd be right to conclude this. However, I've personally done 1000s of indoor air quality inspections over the years and many homes have hidden mould problems that contribute to poor indoor air quality.  This is often caused by water damage and dampness and in most of these cases, there is a skewed distribution of fungi indoors that’s very different to the outdoors.  

This publication is extremely important because it shows a correlation effect between bioaerosol counts especially mould spores and respiratory disease outcomes. The key takeaway here is that COVID-19 mortality is suppressed inside homes where the outdoor fungi occur indoors at very similar levels. 

When the skewness or difference between the outdoor: indoor diversity changes, or when the indoor fungi are significantly different to the outdoors, then COVID-19 mortality increases. 

These researchers found that fungal beta diversity was a much stronger correlate for adverse COVID-19 outcome as age.  For example, older persons have worse COVID-19 outcomes, and this paper says that fungal beta diversity in the wrong direction is also bad for your health.   The authors stress the method is unlikely to be restricted only to coronavirus but could extend to surveillance of other allergic and viral diseases. This research, therefore, underscores the importance of fungal biosurveillance in the built environment to improve public health outcomes.  

REFERENCE:
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.14.21267549

]]> When you think about the over 5M fungal species that exist on the planet and juxtapose this against the approximate 2000 mushrooms species we might eat as food - there really are a lot of chance and probable possibilities for us to come into contact with these microorganisms in our everyday lives. 

This new paper that came out from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is quite an eye-opener because it looked at how fungal communities inside 1135 homes in the United States is connected with something called the Infection Fatality Ratio (IFR) which describes the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 per 1000 coronavirus infections. 

Their research showed that an increased fungal diversity especially for specific Species of indoor fungi versus outdoor fungi (Beta diversity) was associated with a reduced infection fatality ratio.  

In their paper, they looked at whether there was a correlation between certain Species of fungi and adverse outcomes from COVID? And amazingly they found that “yes” there is! 

They found that something called the beta diversity assessed from a comparison between fungal spore types collected outdoors and then inside the home living environment was of fundamental importance. 

The key result is that: high diversity of outdoor fungi when also present indoors is associated with a suppression effect for COVID-19 mortality.

This means that collecting spore trap measurements from the outdoors and indoors is very important for predicting adverse events like mortality from COVID-19 and emphasizes the importance of the environment on human illness.  Now it’s not just the raw numbers of fungi, but the overlap of which types are present outdoors and also found indoors which defines different aspects of Species richness and diversity. 

The research showed that at least four of the following seven fungal genera have a key role in suppressing coronavirus infections. These were: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Epicoccum, Eurotium, Toxicocladosporium and Wallemia as well as a novel Mycosphaerellaceae fungus.  

You could argue that simply airing out your property will naturally bring fresh outdoor air containing mould spores indoors. So, wouldn’t that automatically select for the correct beta diversity ratio that’s better for your health?  

On the surface, you'd be right to conclude this. However, I've personally done 1000s of indoor air quality inspections over the years and many homes have hidden mould problems that contribute to poor indoor air quality.  This is often caused by water damage and dampness and in most of these cases, there is a skewed distribution of fungi indoors that’s very different to the outdoors.  

This publication is extremely important because it shows a correlation effect between bioaerosol counts especially mould spores and respiratory disease outcomes. The key takeaway here is that COVID-19 mortality is suppressed inside homes where the outdoor fungi occur indoors at very similar levels. 

When the skewness or difference between the outdoor: indoor diversity changes, or when the indoor fungi are significantly different to the outdoors, then COVID-19 mortality increases. 

These researchers found that fungal beta diversity was a much stronger correlate for adverse COVID-19 outcome as age.  For example, older persons have worse COVID-19 outcomes, and this paper says that fungal beta diversity in the wrong direction is also bad for your health.   The authors stress the method is unlikely to be restricted only to coronavirus but could extend to surveillance of other allergic and viral diseases. This research, therefore, underscores the importance of fungal biosurveillance in the built environment to improve public health outcomes.  

REFERENCE:
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.14.21267549

]]> Buzzsprout-9778725 Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +1100 1821 96 96 full true Censorship of Mould Illness in Finland Censorship of Mould Illness in Finland This week on The Mould Show, I'm going to be talking about censorship of mould illness. And to do this, we’ll be reviewing a paper that came out earlier this year that focused on the situation in Finland. Essentially, this is a battle between free democracy and socialism and the impact that politics has on contemporary scientific thinking and the dissemination of applied science into the wider community. 

So, what's this all about? Well, most of us understand the connection between bad indoor air quality and water damage and how this can impact our health. However, I'm always amazed when people try to negate this connection between environmental exposure and illness or outright deny the scientific facts. 

This is very perplexing because on the one hand, when the mainstream media is considering carbon credits, or net-zero, they seem to have no trouble linking the slightest change in the environment with some type of consequence to someone somewhere. 

In certain socialist, corporatist European countries like Finland, mould related illness has become highly politicized. And today we're going to be reviewing a paper put out by Professor Tamara Tuuminen in May/June 2021.  She is a very courageous scientist and doctor who discusses the fact that even though the epidemiological literature shows an overwhelming consensus that mould induces a multi-organ symptomology way beyond just the sniffles - that many government and corporate institutions in her country of Finland deny this link. 

She discusses the Government Department of Health and Welfare as well as the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health as two of the key institutions that aim to deny mould as a real environmental illness. Her paper discusses how this is achieved using corporatist special interest groups and educational bodies who often position themselves as independent opinion leaders. In many cases, they are far from unbiased and can demonstrate corruption by not disclosing hidden conflicts of interest or selectively quoting only those academic works of literature that support the government or corporate agenda. 

In the Livestream, I'm going to present evidence as far back as 1964 showing that this approach is patently false, and any non-brainwashed person can easily verify these facts for themselves.  DYOR and it quite easy then to connect environmental illnesses connected with mould and the many very real physiological problems that can ensue.   

I'll also discuss how the Finnish attempt to use mindfulness exercises and referrals to psychologists or psychiatrists, instead of addressing the fundamental problem of indoor air quality and building damage.  Contemporary, mainstream narrative protocols instead blame the person for the sickness and from a clinical perspective, attempt to retrain the patient’s brain to remove the stressful situation. 

I hope you'll join with me and watch the live stream or download the podcast which touches on multiple areas of contemporary #FollowTheScience and #Censorship of science and how this has become politicized.  

I’ll conclude with some recommendations that you can follow to minimize this bias to get at the ground truth and let the science help rather than hurt you.

REFERENCES:

Tuuminen T. Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome, or Mold-related Illness, Has Become Highly Politicized and Downplayed in Finland. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 May;27(3):59-64. PMID: 33882029.


]]> This week on The Mould Show, I'm going to be talking about censorship of mould illness. And to do this, we’ll be reviewing a paper that came out earlier this year that focused on the situation in Finland. Essentially, this is a battle between free democracy and socialism and the impact that politics has on contemporary scientific thinking and the dissemination of applied science into the wider community. 

So, what's this all about? Well, most of us understand the connection between bad indoor air quality and water damage and how this can impact our health. However, I'm always amazed when people try to negate this connection between environmental exposure and illness or outright deny the scientific facts. 

This is very perplexing because on the one hand, when the mainstream media is considering carbon credits, or net-zero, they seem to have no trouble linking the slightest change in the environment with some type of consequence to someone somewhere. 

In certain socialist, corporatist European countries like Finland, mould related illness has become highly politicized. And today we're going to be reviewing a paper put out by Professor Tamara Tuuminen in May/June 2021.  She is a very courageous scientist and doctor who discusses the fact that even though the epidemiological literature shows an overwhelming consensus that mould induces a multi-organ symptomology way beyond just the sniffles - that many government and corporate institutions in her country of Finland deny this link. 

She discusses the Government Department of Health and Welfare as well as the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health as two of the key institutions that aim to deny mould as a real environmental illness. Her paper discusses how this is achieved using corporatist special interest groups and educational bodies who often position themselves as independent opinion leaders. In many cases, they are far from unbiased and can demonstrate corruption by not disclosing hidden conflicts of interest or selectively quoting only those academic works of literature that support the government or corporate agenda. 

In the Livestream, I'm going to present evidence as far back as 1964 showing that this approach is patently false, and any non-brainwashed person can easily verify these facts for themselves.  DYOR and it quite easy then to connect environmental illnesses connected with mould and the many very real physiological problems that can ensue.   

I'll also discuss how the Finnish attempt to use mindfulness exercises and referrals to psychologists or psychiatrists, instead of addressing the fundamental problem of indoor air quality and building damage.  Contemporary, mainstream narrative protocols instead blame the person for the sickness and from a clinical perspective, attempt to retrain the patient’s brain to remove the stressful situation. 

I hope you'll join with me and watch the live stream or download the podcast which touches on multiple areas of contemporary #FollowTheScience and #Censorship of science and how this has become politicized.  

I’ll conclude with some recommendations that you can follow to minimize this bias to get at the ground truth and let the science help rather than hurt you.

REFERENCES:

Tuuminen T. Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome, or Mold-related Illness, Has Become Highly Politicized and Downplayed in Finland. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 May;27(3):59-64. PMID: 33882029.


]]> Buzzsprout-9737409 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +1100 1003 95 95 full true Salt Therapy and Mould Illness Salt Therapy and Mould Illness In this presentation, I want to review something called salt therapy, which is considered a complementary method for the treatment of respiratory tract illnesses. This will have a special focus on mould related disease.  Clinical practice referrals my Company receives revolve around exposure to indoor air dampness and mould, usually in the home. When this is prolonged, it can cause problems including: vocal cords irritation, rhinitis, cough, wheezing and recurrent infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Breathing in bioaerosols might also make existing asthma worse or bring on new asthma in children or adults. Many of the client and patient referrals we receive complain that their doctor does not truly understand their symptoms or may even consider some of these to be psychosomatic. 

Apart from focussing on fixing the building, what can you do to ‘get well’ if you’re mould affected?  To this end, an important paper recently came out in the Journal: Alternative Therapies in June 2021.  Salt therapy is put forward as a treatment for mould related illness. But what is it and why does it work?

Salt therapy has developed into a holistic complementary therapy available in day spa-like environments based on observations made by a 19th century Polish doctor, Feliks Boczkowski.  He noticed that salt mine workers had far fewer skin and respiratory health symptoms compared with other mine workers. 

Later during World War II in Germany, people who sheltered during bombing in salt caves were observed to experience relief from respiratory problems. Salt therapy exploits or mimics the microclimate of natural salt caves. People who spend time in these caves are take advantage of what is called Spleotherapy in the literature. This involves inhaling pure sodium chloride, NaCl along with other aerosolized elements including magnesium and calcium. A different version termed Halotherapy allows people to experience the benefits of salt therapy by spending time in a room that has salt coated walls and floor. Halotherapy may also use a generator (termed a halogenerator) to produce fine sodium chloride aerosols (1-5-micron diameter) which are aerosolized in the ‘salt room’.  

The salt easily penetrates into all parts of the respiratory tract and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Salt particles also promote ciliary transport in the lung, allowing mucus plugs to be coughed up and it also reduces IgE inflammatory levels. 

Doctors have used salt therapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, bronchitis for cystic fibrosis and for viral bronchiolitis. There is even research support linking the use of salting of face masks to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an effort to combat COVID-19.  

Salt therapy is known to be 100% natural and it's generally safe because it improves the clearance of particulates from the lung, often provides relief from coughing and reduces bronchial inflammation.  It’s easily experienced by spending time in a salt room (30-60 min. sessions) repeated 10 to 20 times.  If your home might be mouldy, then consider salt your new ally for health promotion.

REFERENCES: 

Wasik AA, Tuuminen T. Salt Therapy as a Complementary Method for the Treatment of Respiratory Tract Diseases, With a Focus on Mold-Related Illness. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 Oct;27(S1):223-239. PMID: 34726628. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34726628/

]]> In this presentation, I want to review something called salt therapy, which is considered a complementary method for the treatment of respiratory tract illnesses. This will have a special focus on mould related disease.  Clinical practice referrals my Company receives revolve around exposure to indoor air dampness and mould, usually in the home. When this is prolonged, it can cause problems including: vocal cords irritation, rhinitis, cough, wheezing and recurrent infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Breathing in bioaerosols might also make existing asthma worse or bring on new asthma in children or adults. Many of the client and patient referrals we receive complain that their doctor does not truly understand their symptoms or may even consider some of these to be psychosomatic. 

Apart from focussing on fixing the building, what can you do to ‘get well’ if you’re mould affected?  To this end, an important paper recently came out in the Journal: Alternative Therapies in June 2021.  Salt therapy is put forward as a treatment for mould related illness. But what is it and why does it work?

Salt therapy has developed into a holistic complementary therapy available in day spa-like environments based on observations made by a 19th century Polish doctor, Feliks Boczkowski.  He noticed that salt mine workers had far fewer skin and respiratory health symptoms compared with other mine workers. 

Later during World War II in Germany, people who sheltered during bombing in salt caves were observed to experience relief from respiratory problems. Salt therapy exploits or mimics the microclimate of natural salt caves. People who spend time in these caves are take advantage of what is called Spleotherapy in the literature. This involves inhaling pure sodium chloride, NaCl along with other aerosolized elements including magnesium and calcium. A different version termed Halotherapy allows people to experience the benefits of salt therapy by spending time in a room that has salt coated walls and floor. Halotherapy may also use a generator (termed a halogenerator) to produce fine sodium chloride aerosols (1-5-micron diameter) which are aerosolized in the ‘salt room’.  

The salt easily penetrates into all parts of the respiratory tract and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Salt particles also promote ciliary transport in the lung, allowing mucus plugs to be coughed up and it also reduces IgE inflammatory levels. 

Doctors have used salt therapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, bronchitis for cystic fibrosis and for viral bronchiolitis. There is even research support linking the use of salting of face masks to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an effort to combat COVID-19.  

Salt therapy is known to be 100% natural and it's generally safe because it improves the clearance of particulates from the lung, often provides relief from coughing and reduces bronchial inflammation.  It’s easily experienced by spending time in a salt room (30-60 min. sessions) repeated 10 to 20 times.  If your home might be mouldy, then consider salt your new ally for health promotion.

REFERENCES: 

Wasik AA, Tuuminen T. Salt Therapy as a Complementary Method for the Treatment of Respiratory Tract Diseases, With a Focus on Mold-Related Illness. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021 Oct;27(S1):223-239. PMID: 34726628. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34726628/

]]> Buzzsprout-9683363 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:00:00 +1100 649 94 94 full true Black Fungus Risks and COVID-19 Black Fungus Risks and COVID-19 Black fungus disease can have a devastating impact for people who contract COVID 19 and even for those who are recovering from COVID-19 and who are more properly classed as COVID long haulers. 
 
My purpose in presenting this live stream is really to bring about awareness to every person about the potential impact of black fungus and explore some of the reasons why everyone should be aware of post-COVID infection co-infection with black fungi. It is my hope that this live stream prevents unnecessary illness, infection and even death. 
 
So, what are the common types of black fungus and why is this connected with COVID? To answer this question, I need to focus on two of the most common fungi that are implicated in mucormycosis and they are from the Genus that includes Rhizopus sp. and Mucor sp. These are typically fast-growing fungi that produce copious spores. 

The problem is that these black coloured fungi in the immunocompromised hosts such as those recovering from COVID can utilize the iron in blood as a food source. It must be remembered that the pre-COVID infectious period includes the one to two weeks prior to symptoms. The next month is the acute phase of COVID infection. And after five weeks, this is the post-COVID-19 period. 
 
Those admitted to hospital are commonly offered steroid medications. These steroids like dexamethasone work by dampening down the body's immune system, but at the same time they also increase the levels of iron in the blood, which the black fungi use as a food source. Although dexamethasone does work and is a relatively inexpensive medication, it is a problem for treatment, especially when this has become widespread due to the fact that although it produces an anti-inflammatory effect, this property is at the same time, immunosuppressive in action. These mean this steroid has two contrasting properties as a treatment. 
 
There are many ways in which black fungus can enter the body. Depending on where it enters, this determines the impact of the severity of the fungal infection. 
 
So, what is the takeaway from this particular livestream? Number one, it's very important that you know whether or not you are at risk. Just because you've recovered from COVID 19 does not mean that your body is capable of neutralizing invading pathogens like the black fungi. Everyone should be mindful of the fact the indoor living environment has an effect on your overall health and predisposition to infection. Therefore, inadequate hygiene, high humidity, and water damaged materials can cause an already compromised immune system to become susceptible to various diseases. 
 

REFERENCES:
 
Pushparaj K, Kuchi Bhotla H, Arumugam VA, Pappusamy M, Easwaran M, Liu WC, Issara U, Rengasamy KRR, Meyyazhagan A, Balasubramanian B. Mucormycosis (black fungus) ensuing COVID-19 and comorbidity meets - Magnifying global pandemic grieve and catastrophe begins. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jan 20;805:150355. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150355. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34818767; PMCID: PMC8443313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150355
 
Lukács, G., Papp, T., Nyilasi, I., Nagy, E., & Vágvölgyi, C. (2004). Differentiation of Rhizomucor species on the basis of their different sensitivities to lovastatin. Journal of clinical microbiology, 42(11), 5400–5402. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.42.11.5400-5402.2004
 
Zupančič, J., Novak Babič, M., Zalar, P., & Gunde-Cimerman, N. (2016). The Black Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis and Other Selected Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogens Spread from Dishwashers to Kitchens. PloS one, 11(2), e0148166. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148166. 
 
Air Quality and Mould Inspection Report: Nauru Regional Processing Centre.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2020/fa-191000441-document-released.PDF

]]> Black fungus disease can have a devastating impact for people who contract COVID 19 and even for those who are recovering from COVID-19 and who are more properly classed as COVID long haulers. 
 
My purpose in presenting this live stream is really to bring about awareness to every person about the potential impact of black fungus and explore some of the reasons why everyone should be aware of post-COVID infection co-infection with black fungi. It is my hope that this live stream prevents unnecessary illness, infection and even death. 
 
So, what are the common types of black fungus and why is this connected with COVID? To answer this question, I need to focus on two of the most common fungi that are implicated in mucormycosis and they are from the Genus that includes Rhizopus sp. and Mucor sp. These are typically fast-growing fungi that produce copious spores. 

The problem is that these black coloured fungi in the immunocompromised hosts such as those recovering from COVID can utilize the iron in blood as a food source. It must be remembered that the pre-COVID infectious period includes the one to two weeks prior to symptoms. The next month is the acute phase of COVID infection. And after five weeks, this is the post-COVID-19 period. 
 
Those admitted to hospital are commonly offered steroid medications. These steroids like dexamethasone work by dampening down the body's immune system, but at the same time they also increase the levels of iron in the blood, which the black fungi use as a food source. Although dexamethasone does work and is a relatively inexpensive medication, it is a problem for treatment, especially when this has become widespread due to the fact that although it produces an anti-inflammatory effect, this property is at the same time, immunosuppressive in action. These mean this steroid has two contrasting properties as a treatment. 
 
There are many ways in which black fungus can enter the body. Depending on where it enters, this determines the impact of the severity of the fungal infection. 
 
So, what is the takeaway from this particular livestream? Number one, it's very important that you know whether or not you are at risk. Just because you've recovered from COVID 19 does not mean that your body is capable of neutralizing invading pathogens like the black fungi. Everyone should be mindful of the fact the indoor living environment has an effect on your overall health and predisposition to infection. Therefore, inadequate hygiene, high humidity, and water damaged materials can cause an already compromised immune system to become susceptible to various diseases. 
 

REFERENCES:
 
Pushparaj K, Kuchi Bhotla H, Arumugam VA, Pappusamy M, Easwaran M, Liu WC, Issara U, Rengasamy KRR, Meyyazhagan A, Balasubramanian B. Mucormycosis (black fungus) ensuing COVID-19 and comorbidity meets - Magnifying global pandemic grieve and catastrophe begins. Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jan 20;805:150355. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150355. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34818767; PMCID: PMC8443313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150355
 
Lukács, G., Papp, T., Nyilasi, I., Nagy, E., & Vágvölgyi, C. (2004). Differentiation of Rhizomucor species on the basis of their different sensitivities to lovastatin. Journal of clinical microbiology, 42(11), 5400–5402. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.42.11.5400-5402.2004
 
Zupančič, J., Novak Babič, M., Zalar, P., & Gunde-Cimerman, N. (2016). The Black Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis and Other Selected Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogens Spread from Dishwashers to Kitchens. PloS one, 11(2), e0148166. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148166. 
 
Air Quality and Mould Inspection Report: Nauru Regional Processing Centre.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2020/fa-191000441-document-released.PDF

]]> Buzzsprout-9642542 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +1100 1098 93 93 full true Clinical Mould Antigen Extracts and Moulds From Water-Damaged Homes Clinical Mould Antigen Extracts and Moulds From Water-Damaged Homes Common health concerns from mould include: asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, headache, eye and skin problems and other health issues.  It is reasonably well known, at least by the integrative health community, that exposure to moulds and other fungi is correlated with a range of allergic and pulmonary diseases in susceptible individuals. 

Allergy is often tested using antigen extracts. The paper we're discussing today shows that the available antigen extracts are not well matched to the types of fungi that are commonly found indoors. 

Allergic sensitization is measured in vivo by something called the skin prick or intradermal testing method or by serological testing against a panel. Fungal antigens are therefore used to determine reaction and it is an important clinical diagnostic that supports environmental inspections. 

It is also known that environmental remediation is correlated with improved outcomes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and asthma. But linking these conditions with buildings relies on either the environmental inspection or the clinician being able to prove the allergy using fungal antigens. 

This important paper shows that the actual spore counts in the air reveal exactly which fungi are most likely to induce allergy. 

The research reviewed nearly 25,000 indoor air samples from over 7,500 mould affected or complaint homes and compared them against nearly 30,000 outdoor air samples. It was found that the Penicillium fungus was the dominant Genus in water damaged homes and was more common than Aspergillus. 

Overall five important Penicillium Genus fungi and three Aspergillus Genus species were identified as the predominant indoor water damage related fungi. Notably, none of the Penicillium species and only one of the Aspergillus species have a clinical antigen extract available for skin testing or serum testing. 

The conclusions show variously that commercial production of additional antigen extracts are required and that air spore count measures are fundamentally important to determine risk level of the indoor air versus the outdoor air. 

So, what is healthy air versus unhealthy air? The researchers review the recommendations put forward by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) who state that higher indoor versus outdoor mould levels, determined using either viable Petri plate culture or spore trap air sampling should be considered as unhealthy. 

This new research also introduces a new quantitative minimum threshold risk level: 

Where the combined concentration level of Penicillium/Aspergillus fungi in the indoor air is greater than 200 colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3) higher than in the outdoor air. This may be an appropriate evidence-based benchmark.

This research concludes by stating that the accuracy of clinical detection of mould sensitivity can be significantly improved by (1) adding new antigen extracts for the predominant species of Penicillium and Aspergillus commonly identified in damp and mould affected homes and that (2) this will lead to improved outcomes for individuals who suffer from mould related conditions so that (3) timely environmental interventions such as (4) patient relocation and or (5) mould remediation when required can be implemented as a (5) critical component of disease management to improve the outcomes of asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the built environment.

REFERENCE:

Misalignment between Clinical Mold Antigen Extracts and Airborne Molds Found in Water-Damaged Homes. William M Sothern, Sarah L O'Beirne, Michael Berg, Daniel Devine, Nasrin Khandaker, Christopher Mikrut, and Robert J Kaner
Published online: November 17, 2021as DOI: https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202101-096OC

]]> Common health concerns from mould include: asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, headache, eye and skin problems and other health issues.  It is reasonably well known, at least by the integrative health community, that exposure to moulds and other fungi is correlated with a range of allergic and pulmonary diseases in susceptible individuals. 

Allergy is often tested using antigen extracts. The paper we're discussing today shows that the available antigen extracts are not well matched to the types of fungi that are commonly found indoors. 

Allergic sensitization is measured in vivo by something called the skin prick or intradermal testing method or by serological testing against a panel. Fungal antigens are therefore used to determine reaction and it is an important clinical diagnostic that supports environmental inspections. 

It is also known that environmental remediation is correlated with improved outcomes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and asthma. But linking these conditions with buildings relies on either the environmental inspection or the clinician being able to prove the allergy using fungal antigens. 

This important paper shows that the actual spore counts in the air reveal exactly which fungi are most likely to induce allergy. 

The research reviewed nearly 25,000 indoor air samples from over 7,500 mould affected or complaint homes and compared them against nearly 30,000 outdoor air samples. It was found that the Penicillium fungus was the dominant Genus in water damaged homes and was more common than Aspergillus. 

Overall five important Penicillium Genus fungi and three Aspergillus Genus species were identified as the predominant indoor water damage related fungi. Notably, none of the Penicillium species and only one of the Aspergillus species have a clinical antigen extract available for skin testing or serum testing. 

The conclusions show variously that commercial production of additional antigen extracts are required and that air spore count measures are fundamentally important to determine risk level of the indoor air versus the outdoor air. 

So, what is healthy air versus unhealthy air? The researchers review the recommendations put forward by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) who state that higher indoor versus outdoor mould levels, determined using either viable Petri plate culture or spore trap air sampling should be considered as unhealthy. 

This new research also introduces a new quantitative minimum threshold risk level: 

Where the combined concentration level of Penicillium/Aspergillus fungi in the indoor air is greater than 200 colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3) higher than in the outdoor air. This may be an appropriate evidence-based benchmark.

This research concludes by stating that the accuracy of clinical detection of mould sensitivity can be significantly improved by (1) adding new antigen extracts for the predominant species of Penicillium and Aspergillus commonly identified in damp and mould affected homes and that (2) this will lead to improved outcomes for individuals who suffer from mould related conditions so that (3) timely environmental interventions such as (4) patient relocation and or (5) mould remediation when required can be implemented as a (5) critical component of disease management to improve the outcomes of asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the built environment.

REFERENCE:

Misalignment between Clinical Mold Antigen Extracts and Airborne Molds Found in Water-Damaged Homes. William M Sothern, Sarah L O'Beirne, Michael Berg, Daniel Devine, Nasrin Khandaker, Christopher Mikrut, and Robert J Kaner
Published online: November 17, 2021as DOI: https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202101-096OC

]]> Buzzsprout-9614915 Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1100 1103 92 full false 5 Things To Know About Toenail Fungus And COVID-19 5 Things To Know About Toenail Fungus And COVID-19 Summer is approaching, at least for us here in Australia and for some of us, looking down at our toes might bring on a "yuck" reaction. Why are those nails cracked, fragile or showing discoloration? Are you embarrassed by this? What's causing it? How do I stop it?  Is this a sign of something worse?

That's the topic of this week's show. And importantly, we're going to be talking about how the health of your toenails and even the health of the nails on your fingers can be used as an indicator of overall health. 

To do this, we're going to go through some of the most common questions around nail fungus including symptoms and which groups of people are most likely to get fungal nail infections? What are the terms about this microbial infection and what are the typical fungi that cause this? We'll also talk about some of the environmental hazards for foot fungus as well as how it's diagnosed at the lab and then move on to how you can prevent fungal nail infections and discuss some of the treatments from the research literature. With this foundation we'll then move on to the central topic of today's presentation, which is looking at the association between foot and nail fungus and COVID 19 clinical outcomes and we'll be discussing what the scientists discovered and why it's very important to deal with fungal nail infections because they do have an impact on the clinical outcomes of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. 

REFERENCES:

Rakita U, Kaundinya T, Guraya A, Nelson K, Maner B, Manjunath J, Schwartzman G, Lane B, Silverberg JI. Associations between onychomycosis and COVID-19 clinical outcomes: a retrospective cohort study from a US metropolitan center. Arch Dermatol Res. 2021 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s00403-021-02299-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34773138. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00403-021-02299-8

Elewski B. E. (1998). Onychomycosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Clinical microbiology reviews, 11(3), 415–429. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.11.3.415

Robres P, Aspiroz C, Rezusta A, Gilaberte Y. Usefulness of Photodynamic Therapy in the Management of Onychomycosis. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2015 Dec;106(10):795-805. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2015.08.005. Epub 2015 Oct 1. PMID: 26427737.

]]> Summer is approaching, at least for us here in Australia and for some of us, looking down at our toes might bring on a "yuck" reaction. Why are those nails cracked, fragile or showing discoloration? Are you embarrassed by this? What's causing it? How do I stop it?  Is this a sign of something worse?

That's the topic of this week's show. And importantly, we're going to be talking about how the health of your toenails and even the health of the nails on your fingers can be used as an indicator of overall health. 

To do this, we're going to go through some of the most common questions around nail fungus including symptoms and which groups of people are most likely to get fungal nail infections? What are the terms about this microbial infection and what are the typical fungi that cause this? We'll also talk about some of the environmental hazards for foot fungus as well as how it's diagnosed at the lab and then move on to how you can prevent fungal nail infections and discuss some of the treatments from the research literature. With this foundation we'll then move on to the central topic of today's presentation, which is looking at the association between foot and nail fungus and COVID 19 clinical outcomes and we'll be discussing what the scientists discovered and why it's very important to deal with fungal nail infections because they do have an impact on the clinical outcomes of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. 

REFERENCES:

Rakita U, Kaundinya T, Guraya A, Nelson K, Maner B, Manjunath J, Schwartzman G, Lane B, Silverberg JI. Associations between onychomycosis and COVID-19 clinical outcomes: a retrospective cohort study from a US metropolitan center. Arch Dermatol Res. 2021 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s00403-021-02299-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34773138. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00403-021-02299-8

Elewski B. E. (1998). Onychomycosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Clinical microbiology reviews, 11(3), 415–429. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.11.3.415

Robres P, Aspiroz C, Rezusta A, Gilaberte Y. Usefulness of Photodynamic Therapy in the Management of Onychomycosis. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2015 Dec;106(10):795-805. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2015.08.005. Epub 2015 Oct 1. PMID: 26427737.

]]> Buzzsprout-9563031 Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +1100 812 91 full false How Mould Spores Control Influenza-Like Illness How Mould Spores Control Influenza-Like Illness Have you ever wondered whether there's a connection between the seasons and flu like epidemics? Well, this week on The Mould Show, we're going to be looking at two recent pieces of evidence, which focus on the fact that current models for flu-like epidemics are not sufficiently explained by the seasonality effect. Now, most of us would think to ourselves that colds and flus are often more frequent in the cooler winter months, and that gives rise to the seasonality effect. However, two papers have recently provided some stunning evidence suggesting that there is a strong statistical association between exposure to pollen and mould and the infection potential of flu-like illnesses.  

We know that pollen is allergenic and that it's linked to immune-activation and defence against a range of different respiratory viruses. But, interestingly, it seems to create a bioaerosol that when inhaled, seems to lower the reproduction number of flu-like viruses. 

These results for pollen were quickly followed up on by another research group that decided to look at whether or not there was a correlation with mould spore exposure. 

And that's the main focus of this live stream. The follow-on paper and results show again, a statistically strong correlation between the total bioaerosol count, the total pollen count, and the total mould spore count and presentations to hospital emergency departments for influenza-like illnesses. 

The final part of the presentation will review how the authors have used mould spore counts and pollen counts to show that COVID-19 presentations and hospitalizations are correlated with the airborne mould spores and pollen counts. This data has significant implications for how we understand disease transmission of flu-like illnesses and chosen interventions against. I look forward to you joining me for this exciting episode.

References:


Confirmation of an Inverse Relationship between Bioaerosol Count and Influenza-like Illnesses, Including COVID-19. On the Contribution of Mold Spores
Richa B. Shah, Rachna D. Shah, Damien G. Retzinger, Andrew C. Retzinger, Deborah A. Retzinger, Gregory S. Retzinger
medRxiv 2021.02.07.21251322; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.07.21251322

Pollen Explains Flu-Like and COVID-19 Seasonality
Martijn J. Hoogeveen, Eric C.M. van Gorp, Ellen K. Hoogeveen
medRxiv 2020.06.05.20123133; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123133
Now published in Science of The Total Environment doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143182
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123133v4

]]> Have you ever wondered whether there's a connection between the seasons and flu like epidemics? Well, this week on The Mould Show, we're going to be looking at two recent pieces of evidence, which focus on the fact that current models for flu-like epidemics are not sufficiently explained by the seasonality effect. Now, most of us would think to ourselves that colds and flus are often more frequent in the cooler winter months, and that gives rise to the seasonality effect. However, two papers have recently provided some stunning evidence suggesting that there is a strong statistical association between exposure to pollen and mould and the infection potential of flu-like illnesses.  

We know that pollen is allergenic and that it's linked to immune-activation and defence against a range of different respiratory viruses. But, interestingly, it seems to create a bioaerosol that when inhaled, seems to lower the reproduction number of flu-like viruses. 

These results for pollen were quickly followed up on by another research group that decided to look at whether or not there was a correlation with mould spore exposure. 

And that's the main focus of this live stream. The follow-on paper and results show again, a statistically strong correlation between the total bioaerosol count, the total pollen count, and the total mould spore count and presentations to hospital emergency departments for influenza-like illnesses. 

The final part of the presentation will review how the authors have used mould spore counts and pollen counts to show that COVID-19 presentations and hospitalizations are correlated with the airborne mould spores and pollen counts. This data has significant implications for how we understand disease transmission of flu-like illnesses and chosen interventions against. I look forward to you joining me for this exciting episode.

References:


Confirmation of an Inverse Relationship between Bioaerosol Count and Influenza-like Illnesses, Including COVID-19. On the Contribution of Mold Spores
Richa B. Shah, Rachna D. Shah, Damien G. Retzinger, Andrew C. Retzinger, Deborah A. Retzinger, Gregory S. Retzinger
medRxiv 2021.02.07.21251322; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.07.21251322

Pollen Explains Flu-Like and COVID-19 Seasonality
Martijn J. Hoogeveen, Eric C.M. van Gorp, Ellen K. Hoogeveen
medRxiv 2020.06.05.20123133; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123133
Now published in Science of The Total Environment doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143182
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123133v4

]]> Buzzsprout-9522869 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +1100 1206 90 full false What Is Dampness and Mould Hypersensitivity Syndrome, Anyway? What Is Dampness and Mould Hypersensitivity Syndrome, Anyway? If you've ever found yourself having trouble explaining to someone why you just don't feel right inside that room or building, then you'll want to watch this.  Ok, you might just sneeze a little over springtime when exposed to pollen...but what if those types of symptoms happened to you every time you clocked in at work?  How do you make sense of this?  Sick building syndrome is a catch-all term that is often used to describe the constellation of symptoms that may occur if you react to this "something" indoors.  There's also the problem of long-term exposure.  If you're constantly exposed to a challenging environment, your symptoms may get worse.  That's the topic of the show today and will focus attention on what clinicians know lies beyond sick building syndrome.  I'll go over what they know about multiple chemical sensitivity, hypersensitivity and chronic fatigue.  The research shows that the duration of exposure along with other co-morbidities leads to a worsening of symptoms and an expansion on the clinical definitions of illness. I conclude with commentary on the important role of site testing and the need for microbiology data.  There's a self-serving reason why your insurance-led occupational hygienist or landlord or rogue builder might want to dismiss your claims about health and water damage and mould exposure.  There's also a simple argument against such self-serving claims.  That's called "Lege artis:" and is Latin for the need to sample the environmental microbiology and toxicology in the same way any other diagnostic specimen is taken.  Don't allow any authority to rely on a visual inspection or say that no visible mould was seen and hence there is no problem.  Use and be aware of the "Lege artis" and the fact there are multiple Standards and Guidelines for indoor air quality and water damage and microbial assessment.  Don't led no data or poor data compromise your health or the lie that mould isn’t a problem as long as we dry out your building.  Remember there’s an industry who want your money for works that are all too often poorly implemented or unverified for source removal.  If you’ve ever been sold the snake oil that “we’ll just fog to treat the mould” recognize that that’s not removing the microbial risks and dead mould can still cause a serious immune challenge.  This Livestream is for all those that need that one publication to help explain and support how they feel and where the science is at around this topic of risk and exposure to water damage and mould.  


Reference:

Tuuminen T. The Roles of Autoimmunity and Biotoxicosis in Sick Building Syndrome as a "Starting Point" for Irreversible Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome. Antibodies (Basel). 2020 Jun 22;9(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antib9020026. PMID: 32580407; PMCID: PMC7345570.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3981683/son-scared-home-mould-missed-school/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-13/condobolin-aboriginal-tenants-houses-mould-termite-faults/100530342

]]> If you've ever found yourself having trouble explaining to someone why you just don't feel right inside that room or building, then you'll want to watch this.  Ok, you might just sneeze a little over springtime when exposed to pollen...but what if those types of symptoms happened to you every time you clocked in at work?  How do you make sense of this?  Sick building syndrome is a catch-all term that is often used to describe the constellation of symptoms that may occur if you react to this "something" indoors.  There's also the problem of long-term exposure.  If you're constantly exposed to a challenging environment, your symptoms may get worse.  That's the topic of the show today and will focus attention on what clinicians know lies beyond sick building syndrome.  I'll go over what they know about multiple chemical sensitivity, hypersensitivity and chronic fatigue.  The research shows that the duration of exposure along with other co-morbidities leads to a worsening of symptoms and an expansion on the clinical definitions of illness. I conclude with commentary on the important role of site testing and the need for microbiology data.  There's a self-serving reason why your insurance-led occupational hygienist or landlord or rogue builder might want to dismiss your claims about health and water damage and mould exposure.  There's also a simple argument against such self-serving claims.  That's called "Lege artis:" and is Latin for the need to sample the environmental microbiology and toxicology in the same way any other diagnostic specimen is taken.  Don't allow any authority to rely on a visual inspection or say that no visible mould was seen and hence there is no problem.  Use and be aware of the "Lege artis" and the fact there are multiple Standards and Guidelines for indoor air quality and water damage and microbial assessment.  Don't led no data or poor data compromise your health or the lie that mould isn’t a problem as long as we dry out your building.  Remember there’s an industry who want your money for works that are all too often poorly implemented or unverified for source removal.  If you’ve ever been sold the snake oil that “we’ll just fog to treat the mould” recognize that that’s not removing the microbial risks and dead mould can still cause a serious immune challenge.  This Livestream is for all those that need that one publication to help explain and support how they feel and where the science is at around this topic of risk and exposure to water damage and mould.  


Reference:

Tuuminen T. The Roles of Autoimmunity and Biotoxicosis in Sick Building Syndrome as a "Starting Point" for Irreversible Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome. Antibodies (Basel). 2020 Jun 22;9(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antib9020026. PMID: 32580407; PMCID: PMC7345570.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3981683/son-scared-home-mould-missed-school/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-13/condobolin-aboriginal-tenants-houses-mould-termite-faults/100530342

]]> Buzzsprout-9487708 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +1100 1084 89 full false Avoid the top 8 asthma and allergy triggers in your home Avoid the top 8 asthma and allergy triggers in your home Asthma is a common respiratory condition causing an attack or spasm of the bronchioles or airways that carry air to the lungs. Asthma makes it difficult to breathe and in Australia affects one in nine people equivalent to 2.7 million Australians. In the period between 2017-2018 nearly 40,000 hospitalisations occurred. It's known that 80% of asthma hospitalisations are preventable. 

Now it's not just the hospital costs - asthma affects quality of life. Asthma sufferers self report their wellbeing as "fair" or "poor" compared with other people without asthma. 

Some interesting research was recently published in the journal, Indoor Air in September 2021.  It looked at what household features contribute to biocontamination and that are linked with asthma. 

What are some of the typical biocontaminants that might cause asthma-type health effects? Most of us can recall images of pollution haze and coughing, but different types of microorganisms, dusts and pollens and household behaviours are also likely suspects. 

The paper I'm highlighting is from Canada and the scientists collected dust from people's homes to determine the concentrations of: house dust mite allergens, cat allergens, cockroach allergen, beta-(1,3)-D-glucan and endotoxin levels. They also used a questionnaire as part of home inspections to ask about features and behaviours in the home. 

What did they find?

They discovered that the age of the home and whether or not carpets were present along with the history of water damage and mould odour were https://www.rev.com/all positively associated with the presence of multiple indoor contaminants linked to asthma. 

They also found that high floor cleaning frequency and the use of dehumidifiers were negatively associated with the presence of multiple indoor contaminants. 

This live stream will review this data and list the Top 8 asthma and allergy triggers. I've also created a free survey so you can measure your own home for risk factors linked to asthma and allergic disease.  You can find the survey here: https://drcameronjones.checkboxau.com/asthma-and-allergy-triggers

REFERENCES:

Sun L, Miller JD, Van Ryswyk K, et al. Household determinants of biocontaminant exposures in Canadian homes. Indoor Air. 2021;00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12933

]]> Asthma is a common respiratory condition causing an attack or spasm of the bronchioles or airways that carry air to the lungs. Asthma makes it difficult to breathe and in Australia affects one in nine people equivalent to 2.7 million Australians. In the period between 2017-2018 nearly 40,000 hospitalisations occurred. It's known that 80% of asthma hospitalisations are preventable. 

Now it's not just the hospital costs - asthma affects quality of life. Asthma sufferers self report their wellbeing as "fair" or "poor" compared with other people without asthma. 

Some interesting research was recently published in the journal, Indoor Air in September 2021.  It looked at what household features contribute to biocontamination and that are linked with asthma. 

What are some of the typical biocontaminants that might cause asthma-type health effects? Most of us can recall images of pollution haze and coughing, but different types of microorganisms, dusts and pollens and household behaviours are also likely suspects. 

The paper I'm highlighting is from Canada and the scientists collected dust from people's homes to determine the concentrations of: house dust mite allergens, cat allergens, cockroach allergen, beta-(1,3)-D-glucan and endotoxin levels. They also used a questionnaire as part of home inspections to ask about features and behaviours in the home. 

What did they find?

They discovered that the age of the home and whether or not carpets were present along with the history of water damage and mould odour were https://www.rev.com/all positively associated with the presence of multiple indoor contaminants linked to asthma. 

They also found that high floor cleaning frequency and the use of dehumidifiers were negatively associated with the presence of multiple indoor contaminants. 

This live stream will review this data and list the Top 8 asthma and allergy triggers. I've also created a free survey so you can measure your own home for risk factors linked to asthma and allergic disease.  You can find the survey here: https://drcameronjones.checkboxau.com/asthma-and-allergy-triggers

REFERENCES:

Sun L, Miller JD, Van Ryswyk K, et al. Household determinants of biocontaminant exposures in Canadian homes. Indoor Air. 2021;00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12933

]]> Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-9454209 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 18:00:00 +1100 817 88 full false Victoria's Freedom Day - What Will Happen? Victoria's Freedom Day - What Will Happen? On the 22nd October 2021, Victoria, Australia begins our own Freedom Day.  But is this really freedom? State-wide vaccine mandates are in force and there's a need for vaccine passports to enter retail.  

For many, significant restrictions remain. The State is still under a form of medical apartheid.  Strict coercion around freedom of choice has forced many to choose vaccination just to re-enter society or keep their job.  

The censorship around therapeutic options and facts and figures and open debate have largely been silenced across the mainstream media. 

This short Livestream discusses a very recent publication that came out (20th October 2021) on the preprint server, medRxiv. 
This paper serves as a warning around the very real risks of transmission among the vaccinated. 

Please read it for yourself and consider the results and conclusions. 

REFERENCE:

Evidence of transmission from fully vaccinated individuals in a large outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Provincetown, Massachusetts
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.20.21265137v1

]]> On the 22nd October 2021, Victoria, Australia begins our own Freedom Day.  But is this really freedom? State-wide vaccine mandates are in force and there's a need for vaccine passports to enter retail.  

For many, significant restrictions remain. The State is still under a form of medical apartheid.  Strict coercion around freedom of choice has forced many to choose vaccination just to re-enter society or keep their job.  

The censorship around therapeutic options and facts and figures and open debate have largely been silenced across the mainstream media. 

This short Livestream discusses a very recent publication that came out (20th October 2021) on the preprint server, medRxiv. 
This paper serves as a warning around the very real risks of transmission among the vaccinated. 

Please read it for yourself and consider the results and conclusions. 

REFERENCE:

Evidence of transmission from fully vaccinated individuals in a large outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Provincetown, Massachusetts
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.20.21265137v1

]]> Dr Cameron Jones, PhD. Buzzsprout-9413179 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1100 876 87 full false What You Should Know About Portable Air Filters What You Should Know About Portable Air Filters This Week in Victoria and New South Wales and many other parts of Australia we're reopening and a lot of the lockdown restrictions are being lifted. So what does that mean? Well, many of our children will be returning to school - so this week I want to be focusing on a very important non-pharmaceutical intervention, which revolves around indoor air quality. And this is a particularly relevant and topical, because if you've picked up any of the news media over the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed a range of different stories focusing on both the Victorian announcement regarding the $190 million package for air purifiers to be put into all public schools. Similarly, in New South Wales people are calling for stronger ventilation Standards, and this is shining a spotlight on a very important engineering control step to address public health concerns around respiratory viruses. And so today we're going to be focusing on HEPA which stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and I'm going to be reviewing and answering the following questions: 

- Are portable air purifiers effective? 
- What to look for in an air purifier? 
- What are some of the definitions you should be aware of when you look online if you want to purchase one of these HEPA air purifiers for your own home or office?
- Do portable air purifiers work against covid?
- Is there research showing HEPA is of benefit for particulate matter and in turn bacteria, fungi, pollen, and even viruses when they are put to the test? 
- What are the best portable air purifiers according to science?

And this should help you out when you return to your High street retailer and look on the box for specifications or DYOR online. 

I also want to talk about some of the scientific evidence that is the premise for why HEPA is a valuable intervention. Then, what is the evidence for whether they work or not against the SARS-CoV-2 virus? 

I'll also be reviewing some of the writings from expert panels, such as OzSage, and their recommendations regarding carbon dioxide, and ventilation standards for buildings. 

Importantly, I will review where HEPA air purifiers fail, and some of the common mistakes that can occur when people are trying to match a portable HEPA air purifier for a particular space. 

Finally, I'll round out with some of the benefits that are validated from the literature, such as improving or reducing the probability of hospital-acquired infections, specifically around fungal pathogens.

Then, I'll conclude with some very recent research looking at the benefits of HEPA air quality and depression. 

REFERENCES:

1. Hammond A, Khalid T, Thornton HV, Woodall CA, Hay AD (2021) Should homes and workplaces purchase portable air filters to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections? A systematic review. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0251049. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251049

2. Rodríguez, M., Palop, M., Seseña, S. and Rodríguez, A., 2021. Are the Portable Air Cleaners (PAC) really effective to terminate airborne SARS-CoV-2?. Science of The Total Environment, 785, p.147300.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147300

3. Protecting children from COVID-19 and making schools and childcare safer.
https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/1523_ozsage_advice_on_protecting_children_from_covid_19
https://www.burnet.edu.au/system/asset/file/4947/OzSAGE_Children_and_Schools_and_Childcare.pdf
https://ozsage.org/ventilation-and-vaccine-plus/

4. Tamana, S., Gombojav, E., Kanlic, A., Banzrai, C., Batsukh, S., Enkhtuya, E., Boldbaatar, B., Lanphear, B., Lear, S., McCandless, L., Venners, S. and Allen, R., 2021. Portable HEPA filter air cleaner use during pregnancy and children's body mass index at two years of age: The UGAAR randomized controlled trial. Environment International, 156, p.106728.

5. Curtis L. HEPA

]]> This Week in Victoria and New South Wales and many other parts of Australia we're reopening and a lot of the lockdown restrictions are being lifted. So what does that mean? Well, many of our children will be returning to school - so this week I want to be focusing on a very important non-pharmaceutical intervention, which revolves around indoor air quality. And this is a particularly relevant and topical, because if you've picked up any of the news media over the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed a range of different stories focusing on both the Victorian announcement regarding the $190 million package for air purifiers to be put into all public schools. Similarly, in New South Wales people are calling for stronger ventilation Standards, and this is shining a spotlight on a very important engineering control step to address public health concerns around respiratory viruses. And so today we're going to be focusing on HEPA which stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and I'm going to be reviewing and answering the following questions: 

- Are portable air purifiers effective? 
- What to look for in an air purifier? 
- What are some of the definitions you should be aware of when you look online if you want to purchase one of these HEPA air purifiers for your own home or office?
- Do portable air purifiers work against covid?
- Is there research showing HEPA is of benefit for particulate matter and in turn bacteria, fungi, pollen, and even viruses when they are put to the test? 
- What are the best portable air purifiers according to science?

And this should help you out when you return to your High street retailer and look on the box for specifications or DYOR online. 

I also want to talk about some of the scientific evidence that is the premise for why HEPA is a valuable intervention. Then, what is the evidence for whether they work or not against the SARS-CoV-2 virus? 

I'll also be reviewing some of the writings from expert panels, such as OzSage, and their recommendations regarding carbon dioxide, and ventilation standards for buildings. 

Importantly, I will review where HEPA air purifiers fail, and some of the common mistakes that can occur when people are trying to match a portable HEPA air purifier for a particular space. 

Finally, I'll round out with some of the benefits that are validated from the literature, such as improving or reducing the probability of hospital-acquired infections, specifically around fungal pathogens.

Then, I'll conclude with some very recent research looking at the benefits of HEPA air quality and depression. 

REFERENCES:

1. Hammond A, Khalid T, Thornton HV, Woodall CA, Hay AD (2021) Should homes and workplaces purchase portable air filters to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections? A systematic review. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0251049. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251049

2. Rodríguez, M., Palop, M., Seseña, S. and Rodríguez, A., 2021. Are the Portable Air Cleaners (PAC) really effective to terminate airborne SARS-CoV-2?. Science of The Total Environment, 785, p.147300.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147300

3. Protecting children from COVID-19 and making schools and childcare safer.
https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/1523_ozsage_advice_on_protecting_children_from_covid_19
https://www.burnet.edu.au/system/asset/file/4947/OzSAGE_Children_and_Schools_and_Childcare.pdf
https://ozsage.org/ventilation-and-vaccine-plus/

4. Tamana, S., Gombojav, E., Kanlic, A., Banzrai, C., Batsukh, S., Enkhtuya, E., Boldbaatar, B., Lanphear, B., Lear, S., McCandless, L., Venners, S. and Allen, R., 2021. Portable HEPA filter air cleaner use during pregnancy and children's body mass index at two years of age: The UGAAR randomized controlled trial. Environment International, 156, p.106728.

5. Curtis L. HEPA

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-9399885 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1100 2144 86 full false What Can Danish Nurses Tell Us About Heart Health & Air Pollution? What Can Danish Nurses Tell Us About Heart Health & Air Pollution? According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. In 2019, it was estimated that 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular disease.  This represents 32% of all global deaths with 85% being caused by heart attack and stroke. It is further reported that 75% of cardiovascular disease deaths, take place in low and middle-income countries. 

Heart disease and mortality is considered a premature death. This is because most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by focusing on behavioral risk factors. These include tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, a lack of physical activity, and harmful use of alcohol. 

It's therefore important to detect cardiovascular disease, as early as possible so it can be managed with lifestyle, counseling and medication as required. 

So what can Danish nurses tell us about the risk of heart failure? A lot, actually. A recent paper published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has conducted original research and made some profound discoveries that all of us should be aware of. 

So what exactly do I mean when I talk about the Danish nurses in Denmark? A study was begun in the early 1990s, which was looking at 22,189 Danish nurses to determine whether or not there were environmental risk factors connected with heart failure. 

The study goals were premised on the fact that millions of people die from heart failure, and those that live are frequently hospitalized, have a poor quality of life, and experience multiple comorbidities. 

The researchers already knew that risks like smoking, excess alcohol consumption and obesity were linked to pre-existing conditions like hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and myocardial infarction. They also knew that air pollution is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

Scientists define heart failure, by the reduced ability of the heart to pump or fill with blood. This is a subcategory of cardiovascular disease. The question they were looking at was whether air pollution might induce oxidative stress and inflammation and in turn, cause an imbalance to the autonomic nervous system. 

The trial tracked a large number of female Danish nurses, from 1993 and 1999 which was the baseline, all the way up until the end of 2014. Over this nearly 2 decade period, they found some fascinating associations between heart failure and exposure to environmental pollutants. 

The key takeaway from the data is that heart failure was strongest when the nurses were exposed to very fine particulate matter (PM2.5) having a diameter of less than 2.5 microns.  The researchers also found that road traffic noise was also associated with the incidence of heart failure. 

Over 2% of the nurses suffered heart failure. These nurses were most likely to have been exposed to PM2.5, traffic noise, and NO2 pollution.  The heart failure nurses were also more likely to be former smokers and to have high blood pressure. 

You don't have to be a Danish nurse to recognize that the clinical implications of this research are that air pollution and road traffic noise are correlated with an increased risk of heart failure. Targetting public health interventions to former smokers or those with high blood pressure, as well as those who live with exposure to air pollution is warranted. All of us should be aware of the silent risks to heart health from fine particle air pollution and road traffic noise.  

REFERENCES:

Long‐Term Exposure to Air Pollution, Road Traffic Noise, and Heart Failure Incidence: The Danish Nurse Cohort. Journal of the American Heart Association, https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.121.021436


]]> According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. In 2019, it was estimated that 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular disease.  This represents 32% of all global deaths with 85% being caused by heart attack and stroke. It is further reported that 75% of cardiovascular disease deaths, take place in low and middle-income countries. 

Heart disease and mortality is considered a premature death. This is because most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by focusing on behavioral risk factors. These include tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, a lack of physical activity, and harmful use of alcohol. 

It's therefore important to detect cardiovascular disease, as early as possible so it can be managed with lifestyle, counseling and medication as required. 

So what can Danish nurses tell us about the risk of heart failure? A lot, actually. A recent paper published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has conducted original research and made some profound discoveries that all of us should be aware of. 

So what exactly do I mean when I talk about the Danish nurses in Denmark? A study was begun in the early 1990s, which was looking at 22,189 Danish nurses to determine whether or not there were environmental risk factors connected with heart failure. 

The study goals were premised on the fact that millions of people die from heart failure, and those that live are frequently hospitalized, have a poor quality of life, and experience multiple comorbidities. 

The researchers already knew that risks like smoking, excess alcohol consumption and obesity were linked to pre-existing conditions like hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and myocardial infarction. They also knew that air pollution is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

Scientists define heart failure, by the reduced ability of the heart to pump or fill with blood. This is a subcategory of cardiovascular disease. The question they were looking at was whether air pollution might induce oxidative stress and inflammation and in turn, cause an imbalance to the autonomic nervous system. 

The trial tracked a large number of female Danish nurses, from 1993 and 1999 which was the baseline, all the way up until the end of 2014. Over this nearly 2 decade period, they found some fascinating associations between heart failure and exposure to environmental pollutants. 

The key takeaway from the data is that heart failure was strongest when the nurses were exposed to very fine particulate matter (PM2.5) having a diameter of less than 2.5 microns.  The researchers also found that road traffic noise was also associated with the incidence of heart failure. 

Over 2% of the nurses suffered heart failure. These nurses were most likely to have been exposed to PM2.5, traffic noise, and NO2 pollution.  The heart failure nurses were also more likely to be former smokers and to have high blood pressure. 

You don't have to be a Danish nurse to recognize that the clinical implications of this research are that air pollution and road traffic noise are correlated with an increased risk of heart failure. Targetting public health interventions to former smokers or those with high blood pressure, as well as those who live with exposure to air pollution is warranted. All of us should be aware of the silent risks to heart health from fine particle air pollution and road traffic noise.  

REFERENCES:

Long‐Term Exposure to Air Pollution, Road Traffic Noise, and Heart Failure Incidence: The Danish Nurse Cohort. Journal of the American Heart Association, https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.121.021436


]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-9365626 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +1100 846 85 full false Lactoferrin and Covid - What You Need To Know Lactoferrin and Covid - What You Need To Know Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-9332604 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1100 1310 84 full false Nicotine, Covid and Inflammation Nicotine, Covid and Inflammation Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-9292443 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 21:00:00 +1000 1424 83 full false Foot fungus - this is what professionals do Foot fungus - this is what professionals do Dr Cameron Jones, PhD Buzzsprout-9278565 Wed, 29 Sep 2021 14:00:00 +1000 1363 82 full false The Relationship Between Germs And Bed Linen The Relationship Between Germs And Bed Linen Dr Cameron L Jones Buzzsprout-8983961 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 15:00:00 +1000 865 81 full false Watch Out: How Fungi Are Taking Over Nail Salons And What To Do About It Watch Out: How Fungi Are Taking Over Nail Salons And What To Do About It Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-8871937 Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +1000 365 80 full false The Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality And Happiness The Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality And Happiness Studies have shown that people are healthier, more comfortable and more productive in structures with good indoor air quality (IAQ). Be that as it may, I've had a first-hand experience as an indoor air quality and mould inspection expert not only about the huge impact of moulds and water damage on people’s property but also the emotional distress these things can cause them. According to studies, there exists a huge relationship between emotional wellbeing and particulate matter pollution, and a very strong numerical relationship between mould spore counts, the presence of water damage, including hidden mould, and measures of particulate matter in the PM 2.5 and PM 10 size range. And as the concentration of PM 2.5 particles in the air increases, levels of happiness decrease. As the concentration of PM 2.5 pollutants increases, levels of tiredness, stress and sadness all increase. Read the blog here: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/indoor-air-quality-and-happiness

REFERENCES:

Lal RM, Das K, Fan Y, Barkjohn KK, Botchwey N, Ramaswami A, Russell AG. Connecting Air Quality with Emotional Well-Being and Neighborhood Infrastructure in a US City. Environ Health Insights. 2020 May 3;14:1178630220915488. doi: 10.1177/1178630220915488. PMID: 32425542; PMCID: PMC7218333.

Li M, Ferreira S, Smith TA, Zhang X. Air pollution and noncognitive traits among Chinese adolescents. Health Econ. 2021 Feb;30(2):478-488. doi: 10.1002/hec.4193. Epub 2020 Nov 16. PMID: 33197091

Song Y, Zhou A, Zhang M. Exploring the effect of subjective air pollution on happiness in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Dec;27(34):43299-43311. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10255-8. Epub 2020 Jul 31. PMID: 32737779.

]]> Studies have shown that people are healthier, more comfortable and more productive in structures with good indoor air quality (IAQ). Be that as it may, I've had a first-hand experience as an indoor air quality and mould inspection expert not only about the huge impact of moulds and water damage on people’s property but also the emotional distress these things can cause them. According to studies, there exists a huge relationship between emotional wellbeing and particulate matter pollution, and a very strong numerical relationship between mould spore counts, the presence of water damage, including hidden mould, and measures of particulate matter in the PM 2.5 and PM 10 size range. And as the concentration of PM 2.5 particles in the air increases, levels of happiness decrease. As the concentration of PM 2.5 pollutants increases, levels of tiredness, stress and sadness all increase. Read the blog here: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/indoor-air-quality-and-happiness

REFERENCES:

Lal RM, Das K, Fan Y, Barkjohn KK, Botchwey N, Ramaswami A, Russell AG. Connecting Air Quality with Emotional Well-Being and Neighborhood Infrastructure in a US City. Environ Health Insights. 2020 May 3;14:1178630220915488. doi: 10.1177/1178630220915488. PMID: 32425542; PMCID: PMC7218333.

Li M, Ferreira S, Smith TA, Zhang X. Air pollution and noncognitive traits among Chinese adolescents. Health Econ. 2021 Feb;30(2):478-488. doi: 10.1002/hec.4193. Epub 2020 Nov 16. PMID: 33197091

Song Y, Zhou A, Zhang M. Exploring the effect of subjective air pollution on happiness in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Dec;27(34):43299-43311. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10255-8. Epub 2020 Jul 31. PMID: 32737779.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-8170383 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +1100 1200 3 79 full false How best to wash clothing to reduce germs How best to wash clothing to reduce germs Hot water or cold water, detergent or the latest green-cleaning additive.  What does the literature say?  If you want to reduce germs, how best to wash?  That's the 3-minute topic today!

]]> Hot water or cold water, detergent or the latest green-cleaning additive.  What does the literature say?  If you want to reduce germs, how best to wash?  That's the 3-minute topic today!

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-8126468 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +1100 417 3 78 full false Disease Prevention - Is This The Future of Healthcare - Clubhouse Conversation Recap Disease Prevention - Is This The Future of Healthcare - Clubhouse Conversation Recap Prevention, they say, is better than cure. And that forms the basis of preventive medicine, a proactive approach aimed at getting ahead of the potential causes of diseases by promoting healthy behaviours and screening for diseases with the aim to keep people from becoming sick in the first place rather than treating diseases when they eventually occur. 

In this week on The Mould Show, I dive into the emerging social media, audio-only platform called Clubhouse.  Here you'll find a large range of healthcare, wellness, and medicine focussed groups (as well as many others) that are relevant to biotoxin illness. 

After listening in, making some rooms, creating a club or two, and talking into these rooms, I'm reviewing some of the key takeaways around the future of healthcare.   

Synopsis: Disease and disability are affected by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, disease agents, and lifestyle choices and are dynamic processes which begin before individuals realize they are affected.

Read more on the blog here: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/preventive-medicine-is-this-the-future-of-healthcare

]]> Prevention, they say, is better than cure. And that forms the basis of preventive medicine, a proactive approach aimed at getting ahead of the potential causes of diseases by promoting healthy behaviours and screening for diseases with the aim to keep people from becoming sick in the first place rather than treating diseases when they eventually occur. 

In this week on The Mould Show, I dive into the emerging social media, audio-only platform called Clubhouse.  Here you'll find a large range of healthcare, wellness, and medicine focussed groups (as well as many others) that are relevant to biotoxin illness. 

After listening in, making some rooms, creating a club or two, and talking into these rooms, I'm reviewing some of the key takeaways around the future of healthcare.   

Synopsis: Disease and disability are affected by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, disease agents, and lifestyle choices and are dynamic processes which begin before individuals realize they are affected.

Read more on the blog here: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/preventive-medicine-is-this-the-future-of-healthcare

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-8091021 Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +1100 1100 3 77 full false In 10 Minutes, I'll Give You The Truth About Having a Mould-Free Home In Humid Climates In 10 Minutes, I'll Give You The Truth About Having a Mould-Free Home In Humid Climates Do you know that the most humid parts of the world are Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Singapore, all in South and Southeast Asia as well as Darwin in Australia? This underscores the need to maintain an indoor living environment that is free of mould because of the huge challenges of living in a humid climate. Although mould poses a great risk, especially to those living in humid climates, there are still some practical control measures that can be adopted to stop the growth of mould or reduce its impact. They include the control of moisture, nutrients and temperature. Find out more on the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/the-truth-about-having-a-mould-free-home-in-humid-climates

]]> Do you know that the most humid parts of the world are Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Singapore, all in South and Southeast Asia as well as Darwin in Australia? This underscores the need to maintain an indoor living environment that is free of mould because of the huge challenges of living in a humid climate. Although mould poses a great risk, especially to those living in humid climates, there are still some practical control measures that can be adopted to stop the growth of mould or reduce its impact. They include the control of moisture, nutrients and temperature. Find out more on the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/the-truth-about-having-a-mould-free-home-in-humid-climates

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-8025727 Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +1100 913 3 76 full false Top 7 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Triggers You Should Avoid Top 7 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Triggers You Should Avoid Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a very serious, often overlooked condition. About one in four people with the disease cannot work or participate in normal day-to-day activities. It is a disease that affects people of all ages or gender, but one funny thing about it is that it is often unrecognized and possibly remains undiagnosed in many cases.

MCAS is a group of diseases involving the immune system. When the triggers occur, antigens are raised inside the body, which might result in itchiness, for example. But this also leads to a histamine cascade, which causes contraction of the respiratory vessels. Then blood vessels dilate and result in gastric acid secretion. 

Many people with MCAS can have very serious life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis. Typical symptoms include itching, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, heart palpitations, hives, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal problems, wheezing, low blood pressure, anxiety and, very typically, a flushing or a swelling, which appears on the face or body.  

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis – allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and severe diarrhea. High levels of mast cell mediators are released during those episodes. 

For these reasons, it is therefore important that you are very much aware of the top seven underlying factors that can contribute to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and avoid them completely so you can live a healthier, happier life. 

REFERENCES:

Kritas SK, Gallenga CE, D Ovidio C, Ronconi G, Caraffa Al, Toniato E, Lauritano D, Conti P. Impact of mold on mast cell-cytokine immune response. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2018 Jul-Aug;32(4):763-768. PMID: 30043558.

Reed CE. Inflammatory effect of environmental proteases on airway mucosa. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2007 Sep;7(5):368-74. doi: 10.1007/s11882-007-0056-5. PMID: 17697646.

O'Hara, Beth. Mast Cell 360 Guide: 7 Root Causes in Mast cell Activation Syndrome. 
https://mastcell360.com/Mast%20Cell%20360%20Guide%207%20Common%20Root%20Causes%20in%20Mast%20Cell%20Activation%20Syndrome.pdf

]]> Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a very serious, often overlooked condition. About one in four people with the disease cannot work or participate in normal day-to-day activities. It is a disease that affects people of all ages or gender, but one funny thing about it is that it is often unrecognized and possibly remains undiagnosed in many cases.

MCAS is a group of diseases involving the immune system. When the triggers occur, antigens are raised inside the body, which might result in itchiness, for example. But this also leads to a histamine cascade, which causes contraction of the respiratory vessels. Then blood vessels dilate and result in gastric acid secretion. 

Many people with MCAS can have very serious life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis. Typical symptoms include itching, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, heart palpitations, hives, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal problems, wheezing, low blood pressure, anxiety and, very typically, a flushing or a swelling, which appears on the face or body.  

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is a condition in which the patient experiences repeated episodes of the symptoms of anaphylaxis – allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and severe diarrhea. High levels of mast cell mediators are released during those episodes. 

For these reasons, it is therefore important that you are very much aware of the top seven underlying factors that can contribute to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and avoid them completely so you can live a healthier, happier life. 

REFERENCES:

Kritas SK, Gallenga CE, D Ovidio C, Ronconi G, Caraffa Al, Toniato E, Lauritano D, Conti P. Impact of mold on mast cell-cytokine immune response. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2018 Jul-Aug;32(4):763-768. PMID: 30043558.

Reed CE. Inflammatory effect of environmental proteases on airway mucosa. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2007 Sep;7(5):368-74. doi: 10.1007/s11882-007-0056-5. PMID: 17697646.

O'Hara, Beth. Mast Cell 360 Guide: 7 Root Causes in Mast cell Activation Syndrome. 
https://mastcell360.com/Mast%20Cell%20360%20Guide%207%20Common%20Root%20Causes%20in%20Mast%20Cell%20Activation%20Syndrome.pdf

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-7821712 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +1100 1034 3 75 full false What everyone must know about early life allergen exposure What everyone must know about early life allergen exposure According to statistics, about 90 percent of our time is spent indoors. The number could be much higher in recent times due to COVID-19 which has caused many governments around the world to impose lockdowns and forced people, including children, to stay home in order to avoid contracting the virus and halt its spread.

But more worrisome is the fact that these kids are also exposed to other dangers – like the threat from airborne allergen exposure in their early lives.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology defines an allergen as a usually harmless substance capable of triggering a response that starts in the immune system and results in an allergic reaction, like sneezing or itching. For instance, if you have an allergy to pollen, your immune system identifies pollen as an invader or allergen.  But the reaction event can turn serious and also be overlooked. 

How then does the indoor living environment affect children? A recent study in environmental medicine from the University of California's Institute of Integrative Immunology looked at early life exposure, including prenatal exposure and how this can be linked to behavioural changes, growth delay and neuroimmune complications; and made some startling revelations. 

The researchers found that children exposed to allergens, including water damage, and mould in the womb for up to two years may display growth delay, allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic dermatitis, motor problems and speech delay whereas when older children – that is those between the ages of two and five – are exposed to mould and water-damaged environments, they display symptoms, including allergic rhinitis, motor problems, behavioural problems and speech delay. 

Did you see the elephant in the room?  All the children were experiencing seizures!  This symptom is a lot worse than just a runny nose isn’t it? 

The doctors presented three case studies and the children involved all showed positive allergy tests to the following four fungi: Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Rhizopus. 

They, therefore, concluded the following. That:

  1. The developing immune system can show an aggressive response to environmental danger signals. 
  2. As a result of prolonged cytokine release caused by an allergic response, seizures and behavioural instability can occur.
  3. Indoor environmental triggers like mould, mycotoxins, dust mites and other particulates can lead to a skewed neuroimmune response. 
  4. The solution by the doctors, especially to reduce immune activation and control the appearance of seizures, was in all cases to, firstly, identify if children were living in unhealthy households during the mother's pregnancy and during early life, and then determine if they were sensitized to mould. If the home inspection or assessment revealed allergen conditions like mould or water damage, then the doctor could recommend relocation to a mould-free home, an action known as mould avoidance.

So, the main point here, even as scary as it is, is that epileptic seizures and other abnormal behavioural problems were simply the result of mould exposure. When in doubt, get it tested.

You should also now know that indoor air quality is not restricted to allergy and asthma problems alone. It could have more far-reaching consequences. 

It then behoves you as parents with young children, pregnant mothers and their partners, grandparents, childcare workers, property managers and landlords as well as integrative medical doctors and allied healthcare practitioners to take more drastic measures aimed at protecting these children from allergen exposure at their very early age, even in the midst of the pandemic.

REFERENCES:

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33179020/

]]> According to statistics, about 90 percent of our time is spent indoors. The number could be much higher in recent times due to COVID-19 which has caused many governments around the world to impose lockdowns and forced people, including children, to stay home in order to avoid contracting the virus and halt its spread.

But more worrisome is the fact that these kids are also exposed to other dangers – like the threat from airborne allergen exposure in their early lives.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology defines an allergen as a usually harmless substance capable of triggering a response that starts in the immune system and results in an allergic reaction, like sneezing or itching. For instance, if you have an allergy to pollen, your immune system identifies pollen as an invader or allergen.  But the reaction event can turn serious and also be overlooked. 

How then does the indoor living environment affect children? A recent study in environmental medicine from the University of California's Institute of Integrative Immunology looked at early life exposure, including prenatal exposure and how this can be linked to behavioural changes, growth delay and neuroimmune complications; and made some startling revelations. 

The researchers found that children exposed to allergens, including water damage, and mould in the womb for up to two years may display growth delay, allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic dermatitis, motor problems and speech delay whereas when older children – that is those between the ages of two and five – are exposed to mould and water-damaged environments, they display symptoms, including allergic rhinitis, motor problems, behavioural problems and speech delay. 

Did you see the elephant in the room?  All the children were experiencing seizures!  This symptom is a lot worse than just a runny nose isn’t it? 

The doctors presented three case studies and the children involved all showed positive allergy tests to the following four fungi: Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Rhizopus. 

They, therefore, concluded the following. That:

  1. The developing immune system can show an aggressive response to environmental danger signals. 
  2. As a result of prolonged cytokine release caused by an allergic response, seizures and behavioural instability can occur.
  3. Indoor environmental triggers like mould, mycotoxins, dust mites and other particulates can lead to a skewed neuroimmune response. 
  4. The solution by the doctors, especially to reduce immune activation and control the appearance of seizures, was in all cases to, firstly, identify if children were living in unhealthy households during the mother's pregnancy and during early life, and then determine if they were sensitized to mould. If the home inspection or assessment revealed allergen conditions like mould or water damage, then the doctor could recommend relocation to a mould-free home, an action known as mould avoidance.

So, the main point here, even as scary as it is, is that epileptic seizures and other abnormal behavioural problems were simply the result of mould exposure. When in doubt, get it tested.

You should also now know that indoor air quality is not restricted to allergy and asthma problems alone. It could have more far-reaching consequences. 

It then behoves you as parents with young children, pregnant mothers and their partners, grandparents, childcare workers, property managers and landlords as well as integrative medical doctors and allied healthcare practitioners to take more drastic measures aimed at protecting these children from allergen exposure at their very early age, even in the midst of the pandemic.

REFERENCES:

 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33179020/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-7688080 Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:00:00 +1100 926 3 74 full false 10 Reasons Your Relationship With Hypersensitivity is Toxic 10 Reasons Your Relationship With Hypersensitivity is Toxic Allergens are all around us. It seems like a fairly straightforward concept, though how they find their way to us can be extremely surprising. Take for example, animal allergens. If you learned that your child had a dog allergy, what steps would you take to avoid issues for them?

The most common response to this would likely be some variation of not having a pet dog and limiting visits to places where dogs live. After all, kids spend most of their time at school or at home so you may think there is little risk of exposure in these controlled environments.

This is, however, not the case. Studies have found that children will be exposed to dog and cat allergens just by attending school. During a 1998 study conducted in a Swedish school it was discovered that allergens were present on the clothes worn by all pet owning students. Despite preventative measures we may take against them, allergens still find a way to infiltrate places we believe are safe.

Allergens are definitely a bit more complex than we may give them credit for. That is because allergens truly are everywhere. But, what exactly is an allergen?

Typically, an allergen is either a protein or a glycoprotein. The most common of these can be found in pollen, fungus, dust-mites, and animal material. When these enter your body, either through inhaling or ingesting them, they trigger an immune response. This immune response is what causes common allergic reactions like coughing and sneezing, as well as more serious reactions like anaphylaxis.

As you know, however, there are far more allergies than the ones listed above. Bugs like cockroaches are a massive cause of allergens, many people have severe reactions to bee stings, and medications that can save one person’s life may kill another who takes it. It is truly fascinating how something so simple can cause such a wide array of reactions in different subjects.

 To summarize, there is no truly effective way to outrun allergens. They are a part of our world and will always be there. Luckily, through medical science advances we have devised a number of ways to manage and deal with their effects as we continue our research on the topic.

REFERENCES:

Lei, D. and Grammer, L., 2019. An overview of allergens. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 40(6), pp.362-365. https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2019.40.4247

Berge, M., Munir, A. and Dreborg, S., 1998. Concentrations of cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and mite (Der f 1 and Der p 1) allergens in the clothing and school environment of Swedish schoolchildren with and without pets at home. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 9(1), pp.25-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.1998.tb00296.x

de Vrieze, J., 2020. Suspicions Grow That Nanoparticles In Pfizer’S COVID-19 Vaccine Trigger Rare Allergic Reactions. [online] Science | AAAS. Available at: <https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/suspicions-grow-nanoparticles-pfizer-s-covid-19-vaccine-trigger-rare-allergic-reactions> [Accessed 21 December 2020].

]]> Allergens are all around us. It seems like a fairly straightforward concept, though how they find their way to us can be extremely surprising. Take for example, animal allergens. If you learned that your child had a dog allergy, what steps would you take to avoid issues for them?

The most common response to this would likely be some variation of not having a pet dog and limiting visits to places where dogs live. After all, kids spend most of their time at school or at home so you may think there is little risk of exposure in these controlled environments.

This is, however, not the case. Studies have found that children will be exposed to dog and cat allergens just by attending school. During a 1998 study conducted in a Swedish school it was discovered that allergens were present on the clothes worn by all pet owning students. Despite preventative measures we may take against them, allergens still find a way to infiltrate places we believe are safe.

Allergens are definitely a bit more complex than we may give them credit for. That is because allergens truly are everywhere. But, what exactly is an allergen?

Typically, an allergen is either a protein or a glycoprotein. The most common of these can be found in pollen, fungus, dust-mites, and animal material. When these enter your body, either through inhaling or ingesting them, they trigger an immune response. This immune response is what causes common allergic reactions like coughing and sneezing, as well as more serious reactions like anaphylaxis.

As you know, however, there are far more allergies than the ones listed above. Bugs like cockroaches are a massive cause of allergens, many people have severe reactions to bee stings, and medications that can save one person’s life may kill another who takes it. It is truly fascinating how something so simple can cause such a wide array of reactions in different subjects.

 To summarize, there is no truly effective way to outrun allergens. They are a part of our world and will always be there. Luckily, through medical science advances we have devised a number of ways to manage and deal with their effects as we continue our research on the topic.

REFERENCES:

Lei, D. and Grammer, L., 2019. An overview of allergens. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 40(6), pp.362-365. https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2019.40.4247

Berge, M., Munir, A. and Dreborg, S., 1998. Concentrations of cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and mite (Der f 1 and Der p 1) allergens in the clothing and school environment of Swedish schoolchildren with and without pets at home. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 9(1), pp.25-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.1998.tb00296.x

de Vrieze, J., 2020. Suspicions Grow That Nanoparticles In Pfizer’S COVID-19 Vaccine Trigger Rare Allergic Reactions. [online] Science | AAAS. Available at: <https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/suspicions-grow-nanoparticles-pfizer-s-covid-19-vaccine-trigger-rare-allergic-reactions> [Accessed 21 December 2020].

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6994003 Thu, 24 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +1100 1293 73 full false 5 ways to reduce sneezing and dominate dust in your home 5 ways to reduce sneezing and dominate dust in your home COVID-19 has reshaped how we think about public health and the practical steps we take every day to keep ourselves safe and healthy. Today more than ever, we share a heightened responsibility surrounding our environmental hygiene, as well as the potential harm that poor cleaning habits can cause.  

Something we encounter every day is dust. It’s synonymous with being untidy, old, and causing us to sneeze. But perhaps in our post-COVID world, we will see dust a little differently. 

Dust is an organic material, a combination of microbial vegetable or animal materials. Often, household dust is comprised of skin cells from human inhabitants and pets. As it is biological, dust can contain viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, insects, mites, and even antibiotics. Moreover, dust contributes to bioaerosols, which when disturbed, become airborne and can cause respiratory issues. This forms part of the background bioburden to the home and the subsequent risks from exposure. 

The most common allergic reaction to dust is sneezing, however, this can develop into a condition called allergic rhinitis. This is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa and can cause further nasal congestion as well as itchiness or irritation, as well as redness of the eyes and inflammation and discharge from the nose. 

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common atopic diseases, and depending on where you live, affects between 10% and 60% of the population. Of these cases, the most common cause is from household dust allergens. 

Allergic rhinitis caused by dust can lead to workday losses in adults and school day losses and learning disabilities in children. People who suffer from allergic rhinitis report feeling tired and can also report feeling miserable because of their nasal symptoms.

So, what steps can we all take?

A great method to combat dust is to use microfiber cloths rather than cotton or other woven-style cleaning materials. Microfiber works so well because it has a high density of cleaning strands, with the increased surface area offering a better level of cleaning. 

Additionally, disposable wipes are a great way to get dust under control. Some contain alcohol, detergents, antimicrobial solutions or are simply damp. They work through a combination of both physically moving material, as well as the added effect of any detergent of alcohol within the wipe. Even with the addition of a cleaning solution, there is still a risk of cross-contamination from using the same wipe on multiple surfaces, therefore it is vital to adhere to the ‘one wipe, one surface’ rule.

 

Thirdly, it is important to understand that fungal contamination of buildings is known to be worse in winter while the overall levels of bacteria tend to decrease. Therefore, cleaning of surfaces that potentially become water prone, or show condensation, should be cleaned more frequently during winter. 

 

The fourth important point is that research suggests that where you live has an impact on your experience of allergic symptoms. For example, if you live in an urban area, your risk of allergic rhinitis is four times higher compared to those who live in rural areas, and your asthma risk is eight times higher, primarily due to traffic air pollution. If you find you’re a prevalent sneezer, and you can’t escape to the countryside, then pay close attention to hard-to clean areas like the tops of pictures or mirrors on walls, the tops of doorframes, the tops of shelving. Consider testing these areas with tape lifts if you want an objective measure of the settled dust bioburden.

Finally, it’s worth knowing that microfibers containing sporicidal disinfectants and detergent is more effective at reducing microbes that remain on surfaces in comparison to microfiber towels that are just made damp with water and used to clean. Many gym or workout towels are made of microfibre, but may

]]> COVID-19 has reshaped how we think about public health and the practical steps we take every day to keep ourselves safe and healthy. Today more than ever, we share a heightened responsibility surrounding our environmental hygiene, as well as the potential harm that poor cleaning habits can cause.  

Something we encounter every day is dust. It’s synonymous with being untidy, old, and causing us to sneeze. But perhaps in our post-COVID world, we will see dust a little differently. 

Dust is an organic material, a combination of microbial vegetable or animal materials. Often, household dust is comprised of skin cells from human inhabitants and pets. As it is biological, dust can contain viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, insects, mites, and even antibiotics. Moreover, dust contributes to bioaerosols, which when disturbed, become airborne and can cause respiratory issues. This forms part of the background bioburden to the home and the subsequent risks from exposure. 

The most common allergic reaction to dust is sneezing, however, this can develop into a condition called allergic rhinitis. This is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa and can cause further nasal congestion as well as itchiness or irritation, as well as redness of the eyes and inflammation and discharge from the nose. 

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common atopic diseases, and depending on where you live, affects between 10% and 60% of the population. Of these cases, the most common cause is from household dust allergens. 

Allergic rhinitis caused by dust can lead to workday losses in adults and school day losses and learning disabilities in children. People who suffer from allergic rhinitis report feeling tired and can also report feeling miserable because of their nasal symptoms.

So, what steps can we all take?

A great method to combat dust is to use microfiber cloths rather than cotton or other woven-style cleaning materials. Microfiber works so well because it has a high density of cleaning strands, with the increased surface area offering a better level of cleaning. 

Additionally, disposable wipes are a great way to get dust under control. Some contain alcohol, detergents, antimicrobial solutions or are simply damp. They work through a combination of both physically moving material, as well as the added effect of any detergent of alcohol within the wipe. Even with the addition of a cleaning solution, there is still a risk of cross-contamination from using the same wipe on multiple surfaces, therefore it is vital to adhere to the ‘one wipe, one surface’ rule.

 

Thirdly, it is important to understand that fungal contamination of buildings is known to be worse in winter while the overall levels of bacteria tend to decrease. Therefore, cleaning of surfaces that potentially become water prone, or show condensation, should be cleaned more frequently during winter. 

 

The fourth important point is that research suggests that where you live has an impact on your experience of allergic symptoms. For example, if you live in an urban area, your risk of allergic rhinitis is four times higher compared to those who live in rural areas, and your asthma risk is eight times higher, primarily due to traffic air pollution. If you find you’re a prevalent sneezer, and you can’t escape to the countryside, then pay close attention to hard-to clean areas like the tops of pictures or mirrors on walls, the tops of doorframes, the tops of shelving. Consider testing these areas with tape lifts if you want an objective measure of the settled dust bioburden.

Finally, it’s worth knowing that microfibers containing sporicidal disinfectants and detergent is more effective at reducing microbes that remain on surfaces in comparison to microfiber towels that are just made damp with water and used to clean. Many gym or workout towels are made of microfibre, but may

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6683861 Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +1100 541 72 full false The ugly truth about bath toys: mould, yeast and bacteria The ugly truth about bath toys: mould, yeast and bacteria Bathtime wouldn’t be the same without a rubber duck. For children, and maybe some adults too, the main attraction of a scrub in the tub is the chance to play with rubber or plastic bath toys, watching them bob amongst the bubbles and submerge amongst the suds. But beneath the cheery exterior of bright wide eyes and chirpy beak exists a hidden danger - one that could make you or your children very unwell.

The best way to investigate this is to chop them open (sorry, ducky), revealing the microbial growths that manifest inside. The initial findings are startling, showing a significant build-up of dark, murky slime, known as a biofilm. Biofilms are, in fact, a whole host of different microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and moulds, that stick to each other and form a slimy substance to help them survive and multiply.  

What’s shocking is that this is not just a one-off or a particularly old toy. Research found that 70% of bath toys contained the same black, slimy biofilm, and it could potentially be very harmful.

So, why does this biofilm grow inside of bath toys? One reason is the materials used. Plastic polymers leach biodegradable plasticizers and stabilizers which are used as a food source by microbes, giving them the fuel they need to multiply. On top of this, a combination of microbes from the building’s plumbing as well as additional nutrients and microbial contamination from the person bathing promotes microbial growth and biofilm formation inside the toys. All of these factors combine to create an environment in which the biofilm can survive and grow. 

As unpleasant as biofilm sounds, the harm it can cause someone is even more severe. Because of the variety of microbes within the biofilm, there exists a range of dangers it can pose.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the microbes found in the biofilm, can cause inflammation and sepsis as well as urinary tract, skin and gastrointestinal infections. 

Exophiala, also known as Black Yeast, can cause skin infections and is particularly dangerous to those who suffer from cystic fibrosis

Enterococcus faecalis, rather unpleasantly, is found in faeces. They can colonize the intestines and can cause fever, chills, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal upset and meningitis. 

Of course, environmental exposure to these microbes is very normal, but the danger lies in coming into contact with them in high concentration or ingesting them.

One of the best ways to keep bath times fun, yet safe, is to disinfect toys. However, disinfecting toys once will not prevent microbes from returning and growing again. It is still worth being vigilant, and maintaining a routine of drying the toys after use, boiling them, and then using a disinfectant product on them will help to ensure they stay clean and safe. Additionally, closing up any holes with a glue gun will stop any moisture from getting inside.

]]> Bathtime wouldn’t be the same without a rubber duck. For children, and maybe some adults too, the main attraction of a scrub in the tub is the chance to play with rubber or plastic bath toys, watching them bob amongst the bubbles and submerge amongst the suds. But beneath the cheery exterior of bright wide eyes and chirpy beak exists a hidden danger - one that could make you or your children very unwell.

The best way to investigate this is to chop them open (sorry, ducky), revealing the microbial growths that manifest inside. The initial findings are startling, showing a significant build-up of dark, murky slime, known as a biofilm. Biofilms are, in fact, a whole host of different microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and moulds, that stick to each other and form a slimy substance to help them survive and multiply.  

What’s shocking is that this is not just a one-off or a particularly old toy. Research found that 70% of bath toys contained the same black, slimy biofilm, and it could potentially be very harmful.

So, why does this biofilm grow inside of bath toys? One reason is the materials used. Plastic polymers leach biodegradable plasticizers and stabilizers which are used as a food source by microbes, giving them the fuel they need to multiply. On top of this, a combination of microbes from the building’s plumbing as well as additional nutrients and microbial contamination from the person bathing promotes microbial growth and biofilm formation inside the toys. All of these factors combine to create an environment in which the biofilm can survive and grow. 

As unpleasant as biofilm sounds, the harm it can cause someone is even more severe. Because of the variety of microbes within the biofilm, there exists a range of dangers it can pose.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the microbes found in the biofilm, can cause inflammation and sepsis as well as urinary tract, skin and gastrointestinal infections. 

Exophiala, also known as Black Yeast, can cause skin infections and is particularly dangerous to those who suffer from cystic fibrosis

Enterococcus faecalis, rather unpleasantly, is found in faeces. They can colonize the intestines and can cause fever, chills, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal upset and meningitis. 

Of course, environmental exposure to these microbes is very normal, but the danger lies in coming into contact with them in high concentration or ingesting them.

One of the best ways to keep bath times fun, yet safe, is to disinfect toys. However, disinfecting toys once will not prevent microbes from returning and growing again. It is still worth being vigilant, and maintaining a routine of drying the toys after use, boiling them, and then using a disinfectant product on them will help to ensure they stay clean and safe. Additionally, closing up any holes with a glue gun will stop any moisture from getting inside.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6564478 Thu, 26 Nov 2020 18:00:00 +1100 887 71 full false What you should know about pathogens for 2021 What you should know about pathogens for 2021 Pathogen. Germ. Bug. Infection. Virus. Plague. Today, more than ever, it seems like we are constantly surrounded by an invisible world of hidden dangers. These words are synonymous with our times, but we are not the first generation who have had to contend with a dangerous pathogen. So, what is a pathogen, and how has history shaped the relationship between them and humans?  2020 has brought there lens of infection into the spotlight, but is our collective experience of COVID-19 any different to pandemics and infections that have happened throughout history.  Find out this week and read more at the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/the-evolutionary-duel-between-humans-and-pathogens-can-we-overcome-it

REFERENCES:

Balloux, F., van Dorp, L. Q&A: What are pathogens, and what have they done to and for us?. BMC Biol 15, 91 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-017-0433-z

Janik, E.; Ceremuga, M.; Niemcewicz, M.; Bijak, M. Dangerous Pathogens as a Potential Problem for Public Health. Medicina 2020, 56, 591. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56110591

Candida auris: A Drug-resistant Germ That Spreads in Healthcare Facilities | Candida auris | Fungal Diseases | CDC. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/c-auris-drug-resistant.html

Department of Health | Chapter 8: Infection control. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdna-norovirus.htm-l~cda-cdna-norovirus.htm-l-8

When Anthrax-Laced Letters Terrorized the Nation. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www.history.com/news/anthrax-attacks-terrorism-letters

]]> Pathogen. Germ. Bug. Infection. Virus. Plague. Today, more than ever, it seems like we are constantly surrounded by an invisible world of hidden dangers. These words are synonymous with our times, but we are not the first generation who have had to contend with a dangerous pathogen. So, what is a pathogen, and how has history shaped the relationship between them and humans?  2020 has brought there lens of infection into the spotlight, but is our collective experience of COVID-19 any different to pandemics and infections that have happened throughout history.  Find out this week and read more at the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/the-evolutionary-duel-between-humans-and-pathogens-can-we-overcome-it

REFERENCES:

Balloux, F., van Dorp, L. Q&A: What are pathogens, and what have they done to and for us?. BMC Biol 15, 91 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-017-0433-z

Janik, E.; Ceremuga, M.; Niemcewicz, M.; Bijak, M. Dangerous Pathogens as a Potential Problem for Public Health. Medicina 2020, 56, 591. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56110591

Candida auris: A Drug-resistant Germ That Spreads in Healthcare Facilities | Candida auris | Fungal Diseases | CDC. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/c-auris-drug-resistant.html

Department of Health | Chapter 8: Infection control. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdna-norovirus.htm-l~cda-cdna-norovirus.htm-l-8

When Anthrax-Laced Letters Terrorized the Nation. (2020). Retrieved 16 November 2020, from https://www.history.com/news/anthrax-attacks-terrorism-letters

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6467263 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +1100 843 70 full false How to stop the spread of mould this wet and warm summer How to stop the spread of mould this wet and warm summer Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6352045 Fri, 13 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +1100 934 69 full false Why Climate Change Could Cost You Your Cappuccino Why Climate Change Could Cost You Your Cappuccino “It's often said that a bad day with coffee is better than a good day without.” A fair statement, no? If you asked any of the drinkers of the 2.25 billion cups of coffee drunk daily, they’d probably all give you a similar answer. Some research suggests that coffee may even have some positive health benefits. But this uniquity of caffeine consumption raises some serious questions about the damaging effects our coffee habits are having on the planet.

By 2050, up to 50% of the land currently used for growing coffee will be lost to climate change. As we see a global increase in wild weather along with fluctuating temperatures and rainfall, the types of fungal infections affecting coffee plants will change leading to an increase in mycotoxin production, which is capable of causing a range of diseases.  This week, find out all about the fungal coffee threat and what you can do about it.

REFERENCES:

Adhikari M, Isaac EL, Paterson RRM, Maslin MA. A Review of Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Coffee Cultivation and Mycotoxigenic Fungi. Microorganisms. 2020;8(10):1625. Published 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.3390/microorganisms8101625

Rosario Ortolá, Adrián Carballo-Casla, Esther García-Esquinas, Esther Lopez-Garcia, José R Banegas, Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo, Health Decline Is Associated with Reports of No Coffee Consumption Years After Reporting Coffee Consumption Among Older Adults in Spain, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 150, Issue 7, July 2020, Pages 1916–1923, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa126

]]> “It's often said that a bad day with coffee is better than a good day without.” A fair statement, no? If you asked any of the drinkers of the 2.25 billion cups of coffee drunk daily, they’d probably all give you a similar answer. Some research suggests that coffee may even have some positive health benefits. But this uniquity of caffeine consumption raises some serious questions about the damaging effects our coffee habits are having on the planet.

By 2050, up to 50% of the land currently used for growing coffee will be lost to climate change. As we see a global increase in wild weather along with fluctuating temperatures and rainfall, the types of fungal infections affecting coffee plants will change leading to an increase in mycotoxin production, which is capable of causing a range of diseases.  This week, find out all about the fungal coffee threat and what you can do about it.

REFERENCES:

Adhikari M, Isaac EL, Paterson RRM, Maslin MA. A Review of Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Coffee Cultivation and Mycotoxigenic Fungi. Microorganisms. 2020;8(10):1625. Published 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.3390/microorganisms8101625

Rosario Ortolá, Adrián Carballo-Casla, Esther García-Esquinas, Esther Lopez-Garcia, José R Banegas, Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo, Health Decline Is Associated with Reports of No Coffee Consumption Years After Reporting Coffee Consumption Among Older Adults in Spain, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 150, Issue 7, July 2020, Pages 1916–1923, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa126

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6245095 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +1100 878 68 full false Can the mould in blue cheese be as harmful as mould in the house? Can the mould in blue cheese be as harmful as mould in the house? When we see mould on our food our immediate reaction is to throw it away. To us, it is an indication that the food has turned bad, and we assume that food would not taste the same because fermentation has started. Along with this, we begin to question the texture, aroma and appearance of the food.

However, we sometimes see mould as a delicious component of some of our favourite indulgences.

Mould is, of course, responsible for the speckles within blue cheese and its characteristic saltiness and sharpness. It is caused by the cultivation of various Penicillium moulds.

Mould can be seriously harmful to us, especially to those who suffer from an allergy to it, so is there a heightened risk from eating blue cheese?

So, what causes the body to react to an allergy?

Read more on the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/can-the-mould-in-blue-cheese-be-as-harmful-as-mould-in-the-house

]]> When we see mould on our food our immediate reaction is to throw it away. To us, it is an indication that the food has turned bad, and we assume that food would not taste the same because fermentation has started. Along with this, we begin to question the texture, aroma and appearance of the food.

However, we sometimes see mould as a delicious component of some of our favourite indulgences.

Mould is, of course, responsible for the speckles within blue cheese and its characteristic saltiness and sharpness. It is caused by the cultivation of various Penicillium moulds.

Mould can be seriously harmful to us, especially to those who suffer from an allergy to it, so is there a heightened risk from eating blue cheese?

So, what causes the body to react to an allergy?

Read more on the blog: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/can-the-mould-in-blue-cheese-be-as-harmful-as-mould-in-the-house

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6137629 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +1100 838 67 full false Climate Change could be damaging your home: here’s what you need to know, and what can be done Climate Change could be damaging your home: here’s what you need to know, and what can be done We all know about the devastating effects that change in our climate will cause, from melting ice caps, rising sea levels and more extreme weather. But there is another risk too, and one that could potentially affect all of us in the way we build and look after our homes, and how we try to save the ones at risk.

One of the consequences of climate change that we are already seeing, and bearing witness to its effects, is changes in our weather. Namely, we are experiencing warmer and wetter winters along with warmer and drier summers. Amidst the plethora of changes this will cause, scientists are concerned about an increase in the severity of microbiological attacks of exposed timbers. This means that any type of wood used in construction could be more at risk to decay from mould and wood-rot fungi.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/climate-change-could-be-damaging-your-home-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-and-what-can-be-done

Scientists use something called the Scheffer Climate Index to monitor temperature and rain variables, which can be used to indicate how preferable the conditions are for harmful mould and fungi to take effect. A recent study found that in the UK the value on the Scheffer index is likely to increase due to climate change, meaning that there is a greater risk of timber being attacked by a variety of organisms such as with decay-causing fungi and moulds creating a major source of economic loss, and potentially damaging some of our most valuable and historic buildings.

One of the immediate ways in which we are going to have to address this issue is in the higher maintenance costs. Damaged wood is not only unsightly, but it can result in the structural integrity of a building becoming compromised, so replacing or treating any damaged timbers before they get to that point is crucial.

Moreover, some of our most historic buildings, for which wood was a primary construction material, will require additional maintenance and care to ensure that future generations can enjoy them. Specialist care may be required owing to the age of the timbers, and their susceptibility to being water damaged irreparably.

But it is not just old buildings that need to be taken into account. It is estimated that the average newly-built American new home contains 22 fully grown pine trees worth of timber within them. Across the world, timber is still one of the primary materials used in house construction, which fuels the ever-increasing rates of forest destruction, further harming the climate and raising the Scheffer index. It’s a vicious cycle and one that will take immense amounts of change and oversight to overcome.

One of the immediate things we can do is increase the scrutiny on building designs, making sure they are future proof and take into account using durable and responsibly sourced timber, while also increasing research on effective and appropriate wood protection strategies, including wood treatments or wood modifications. 

So, what do you need to look out for in your own home? Some of the telltale signs are:

1. Sagging of ceiling linings 
2. Corrosion of fixings 
3. Uneven floor surfaces 
4. Mould or fungi
5. Musty smells 
6. Swollen materials such as skirtings and architraves 
7. Staining or discolouration of materials or surfaces 
8. Staining and rotting of carpets, or rusting of carpet fixings. 

It is vital to maintain potential problematic areas, especially timber, and this can only be done by knowing what to look out for, testing and inspecting. Specialist microbiologists can be brought in to assess fungal decay of framing timbers and truss. This can be used to prove whether or not there is a health risk posed by the fungi that colonize water damaged timbers in addition to the potential for wood rot decay.

]]> We all know about the devastating effects that change in our climate will cause, from melting ice caps, rising sea levels and more extreme weather. But there is another risk too, and one that could potentially affect all of us in the way we build and look after our homes, and how we try to save the ones at risk.

One of the consequences of climate change that we are already seeing, and bearing witness to its effects, is changes in our weather. Namely, we are experiencing warmer and wetter winters along with warmer and drier summers. Amidst the plethora of changes this will cause, scientists are concerned about an increase in the severity of microbiological attacks of exposed timbers. This means that any type of wood used in construction could be more at risk to decay from mould and wood-rot fungi.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/climate-change-could-be-damaging-your-home-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-and-what-can-be-done

Scientists use something called the Scheffer Climate Index to monitor temperature and rain variables, which can be used to indicate how preferable the conditions are for harmful mould and fungi to take effect. A recent study found that in the UK the value on the Scheffer index is likely to increase due to climate change, meaning that there is a greater risk of timber being attacked by a variety of organisms such as with decay-causing fungi and moulds creating a major source of economic loss, and potentially damaging some of our most valuable and historic buildings.

One of the immediate ways in which we are going to have to address this issue is in the higher maintenance costs. Damaged wood is not only unsightly, but it can result in the structural integrity of a building becoming compromised, so replacing or treating any damaged timbers before they get to that point is crucial.

Moreover, some of our most historic buildings, for which wood was a primary construction material, will require additional maintenance and care to ensure that future generations can enjoy them. Specialist care may be required owing to the age of the timbers, and their susceptibility to being water damaged irreparably.

But it is not just old buildings that need to be taken into account. It is estimated that the average newly-built American new home contains 22 fully grown pine trees worth of timber within them. Across the world, timber is still one of the primary materials used in house construction, which fuels the ever-increasing rates of forest destruction, further harming the climate and raising the Scheffer index. It’s a vicious cycle and one that will take immense amounts of change and oversight to overcome.

One of the immediate things we can do is increase the scrutiny on building designs, making sure they are future proof and take into account using durable and responsibly sourced timber, while also increasing research on effective and appropriate wood protection strategies, including wood treatments or wood modifications. 

So, what do you need to look out for in your own home? Some of the telltale signs are:

1. Sagging of ceiling linings 
2. Corrosion of fixings 
3. Uneven floor surfaces 
4. Mould or fungi
5. Musty smells 
6. Swollen materials such as skirtings and architraves 
7. Staining or discolouration of materials or surfaces 
8. Staining and rotting of carpets, or rusting of carpet fixings. 

It is vital to maintain potential problematic areas, especially timber, and this can only be done by knowing what to look out for, testing and inspecting. Specialist microbiologists can be brought in to assess fungal decay of framing timbers and truss. This can be used to prove whether or not there is a health risk posed by the fungi that colonize water damaged timbers in addition to the potential for wood rot decay.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-6009970 Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +1100 784 66 full false Is mould the cause of your sleep problems? Is mould the cause of your sleep problems? Sometimes, it seems like the hardest thing in the world to do is to get to sleep. Be it struggling to drift off, tossing and turning in the early hours or waking up too early and not being able to get any more shuteye - it’s something we’ve all had to deal with at one point or another.

George Clooney blames his insomnia on a racing mind, helped only by going to sleep with the TV on, whilst Lady Gaga’s fibromyalgia and PTSD are both conditions known to negatively affect a person’s sleep. On the other hand, Rihanna’s reported ‘3 to 4 hours of sleep’ is self-inflicted, with the popstar admitting to binge-watching TV late at night. 

A 2016 Centre for Disease Control report concluded that sleep problems, including insomnia,  sharply increases the risk of heart attacks, cancer, and obesity. Moreover, insomniacs are far more likely to suffer from mental health issues like depression as well as being linked to all major psychological disorders.

But could mould be meddling with your sleep, and potentially causing you serious health concerns?

One study set out to investigate whether exposure to dampness and mould could induce sleep disturbances, and their findings suggest that it could be far more common than you think.

The researchers gave 11,318, adults in northern Europe a postal questionnaire and followed them up between 1990 and 2010, recording their sleep anomalies and any potential problems. The scientists defined a sleep problem being prevalent if it occurred three times a week. 

They found that the four most commonly reported types of sleep disturbances were: difficulty getting to sleep, difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening and general insomnia symptoms like snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

They also recorded information on respiratory health and home and work environments, to see if there was any correlation between the participants’ exposure to mould and their sleep problems.

The results found that floor dampness, visible mould and mould odour would all contribute to the four major sleep problems. Within the study, one in three of the subjects developed insomnia, over the 10-year period, one-quarter of the subjects suffered from interrupted sleep and 15% of them starting snoring.

One of the primary causes of dampness in the home and subsequent mould growth is floor dampness from concrete flooring. This arises during the construction of new homes when the flooring is undergoing the curing process. Emissions of toxic chemicals from waterlogged concrete has been linked to asthma. 

The report concludes its findings, saying: “the observed association between damp and mouldy buildings and the onset of sleep disturbances is a novel finding.” and emphasizes the importance of reducing indoor dampness and mould at home, to reduce the risk of impaired sleep quality, and any potential health consequences. 

So, does this mean that your sleep problems are down to mould in your house? The science is still fresh, and there is plenty more for researchers to investigate, but the results of this study indicate that it could be a possibility. Or perhaps you’re like Rihanna, and simply enjoy a little bit too much late-night TV.

REFERENCES:
Wang J, Janson C, Lindberg E, Holm M, Gislason T, Benediktsdóttir B, Johannessen A, Schlünssen V, Jogi R, Franklin KA, Norbäck D. Dampness and mold at home and at work and onset of insomnia symptoms, snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. Environ Int. 2020 Jun;139:105691. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105691. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32272294
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105691

]]> Sometimes, it seems like the hardest thing in the world to do is to get to sleep. Be it struggling to drift off, tossing and turning in the early hours or waking up too early and not being able to get any more shuteye - it’s something we’ve all had to deal with at one point or another.

George Clooney blames his insomnia on a racing mind, helped only by going to sleep with the TV on, whilst Lady Gaga’s fibromyalgia and PTSD are both conditions known to negatively affect a person’s sleep. On the other hand, Rihanna’s reported ‘3 to 4 hours of sleep’ is self-inflicted, with the popstar admitting to binge-watching TV late at night. 

A 2016 Centre for Disease Control report concluded that sleep problems, including insomnia,  sharply increases the risk of heart attacks, cancer, and obesity. Moreover, insomniacs are far more likely to suffer from mental health issues like depression as well as being linked to all major psychological disorders.

But could mould be meddling with your sleep, and potentially causing you serious health concerns?

One study set out to investigate whether exposure to dampness and mould could induce sleep disturbances, and their findings suggest that it could be far more common than you think.

The researchers gave 11,318, adults in northern Europe a postal questionnaire and followed them up between 1990 and 2010, recording their sleep anomalies and any potential problems. The scientists defined a sleep problem being prevalent if it occurred three times a week. 

They found that the four most commonly reported types of sleep disturbances were: difficulty getting to sleep, difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening and general insomnia symptoms like snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

They also recorded information on respiratory health and home and work environments, to see if there was any correlation between the participants’ exposure to mould and their sleep problems.

The results found that floor dampness, visible mould and mould odour would all contribute to the four major sleep problems. Within the study, one in three of the subjects developed insomnia, over the 10-year period, one-quarter of the subjects suffered from interrupted sleep and 15% of them starting snoring.

One of the primary causes of dampness in the home and subsequent mould growth is floor dampness from concrete flooring. This arises during the construction of new homes when the flooring is undergoing the curing process. Emissions of toxic chemicals from waterlogged concrete has been linked to asthma. 

The report concludes its findings, saying: “the observed association between damp and mouldy buildings and the onset of sleep disturbances is a novel finding.” and emphasizes the importance of reducing indoor dampness and mould at home, to reduce the risk of impaired sleep quality, and any potential health consequences. 

So, does this mean that your sleep problems are down to mould in your house? The science is still fresh, and there is plenty more for researchers to investigate, but the results of this study indicate that it could be a possibility. Or perhaps you’re like Rihanna, and simply enjoy a little bit too much late-night TV.

REFERENCES:
Wang J, Janson C, Lindberg E, Holm M, Gislason T, Benediktsdóttir B, Johannessen A, Schlünssen V, Jogi R, Franklin KA, Norbäck D. Dampness and mold at home and at work and onset of insomnia symptoms, snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. Environ Int. 2020 Jun;139:105691. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105691. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32272294
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105691

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5920168 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +1100 687 65 full false What is that mould smell, and is it worth $5m? What is that mould smell, and is it worth $5m? What is that mould smell, and is it worth $5m?

We all know the smell. That damp, pungent aroma that lingers in the air, it can be earthy, meaty and musty, like sodden socks or rotten wood. The odour has connotations of decrepit squalor, yet it is something we’ve all had to deal with at one point or another, so, just what is that smell, and is it worth a $5million lawsuit?

 

Megan Fox, actress and model, amongst other things, is suing a range of lawyers and agents after buying a Malibu property which allegedly had a mould problem. Miss Fox claims that the mould on the property, caused by damp, was causing her “chronic headaches” for which she received “holistic treatment.”

 

So it would appear that even the Hollywood elite are all too familiar with the pervasive aroma of mould, but just what is it that gives it that distinct scent?

 

READ MORE HERE: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/what-is-that-mould-smell-and-is-it-worth-5m

 

The smell released from mould, or more generally fungi, are called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). The’s VOCs can be pleasant, such as the odour emitted from wine or beer, while others are repulsive, such as the stink of sewage. The growing field of research into the volatilome sees scientists using chemical sensors to take a snapshot of the aroma profile to pinpoint exactly what is causing the specific aroma. So far over 300 VOCs have been identified. Despite being on the cutting edge of today’s research, smell has been used as far back as Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates to identify a patient’s ailments.

 

But is the smell of mould as bad as we think or are the connotations we apply to it a factor in our disdain towards the scent? Shakespeare explores this in Romeo & Juliet, saying: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, yet scientists have found that the name of a smell has a direct impact on how we react to it.

 

They tested this by labelling a smell with either a pleasant name, such as countryside farm, or an unpleasant one, like hospital disinfectant. They found that the positive name made a pleasant smell more appealing, and conversely, less pleasant odours were experienced more repulsively when they were associated with negative names. One can only guess at how Megan Fox would react to the smell of mould in her $3.3million Malibu mansion.

 

So is the mould in Megan’s house causing her to become unwell? It could well be. mVOC’s (Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds) are products of microbial metabolism, and can be found in common household mould. People who are exposed to mVOCs complain of headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and asthma-like symptoms - exactly what Megan Fox has described as her experience in her recent lawsuit. 

 

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that the smell of mould means you’re being exposed to something potentially harmful, although that doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance. Mould smell indicates microbial growth which needs to be minimized to prevent property damage and unwanted exposure. But the science is increasingly showing us that these mVOCs are definitely connected with microbial activity and could be used to localize hidden mould, and potentially reduce the risk of someone becoming unwell.

 

So, is the mould in your house worth a $5million lawsuit? If you’re Megan Fox, it could well be. The trial is ongoing, but perhaps a more thorough look around the property, and a good sense of smell, would have altered her to the dangers.

]]> What is that mould smell, and is it worth $5m?

We all know the smell. That damp, pungent aroma that lingers in the air, it can be earthy, meaty and musty, like sodden socks or rotten wood. The odour has connotations of decrepit squalor, yet it is something we’ve all had to deal with at one point or another, so, just what is that smell, and is it worth a $5million lawsuit?

 

Megan Fox, actress and model, amongst other things, is suing a range of lawyers and agents after buying a Malibu property which allegedly had a mould problem. Miss Fox claims that the mould on the property, caused by damp, was causing her “chronic headaches” for which she received “holistic treatment.”

 

So it would appear that even the Hollywood elite are all too familiar with the pervasive aroma of mould, but just what is it that gives it that distinct scent?

 

READ MORE HERE: https://www.drcameronjones.com/blog/what-is-that-mould-smell-and-is-it-worth-5m

 

The smell released from mould, or more generally fungi, are called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). The’s VOCs can be pleasant, such as the odour emitted from wine or beer, while others are repulsive, such as the stink of sewage. The growing field of research into the volatilome sees scientists using chemical sensors to take a snapshot of the aroma profile to pinpoint exactly what is causing the specific aroma. So far over 300 VOCs have been identified. Despite being on the cutting edge of today’s research, smell has been used as far back as Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates to identify a patient’s ailments.

 

But is the smell of mould as bad as we think or are the connotations we apply to it a factor in our disdain towards the scent? Shakespeare explores this in Romeo & Juliet, saying: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, yet scientists have found that the name of a smell has a direct impact on how we react to it.

 

They tested this by labelling a smell with either a pleasant name, such as countryside farm, or an unpleasant one, like hospital disinfectant. They found that the positive name made a pleasant smell more appealing, and conversely, less pleasant odours were experienced more repulsively when they were associated with negative names. One can only guess at how Megan Fox would react to the smell of mould in her $3.3million Malibu mansion.

 

So is the mould in Megan’s house causing her to become unwell? It could well be. mVOC’s (Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds) are products of microbial metabolism, and can be found in common household mould. People who are exposed to mVOCs complain of headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and asthma-like symptoms - exactly what Megan Fox has described as her experience in her recent lawsuit. 

 

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that the smell of mould means you’re being exposed to something potentially harmful, although that doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance. Mould smell indicates microbial growth which needs to be minimized to prevent property damage and unwanted exposure. But the science is increasingly showing us that these mVOCs are definitely connected with microbial activity and could be used to localize hidden mould, and potentially reduce the risk of someone becoming unwell.

 

So, is the mould in your house worth a $5million lawsuit? If you’re Megan Fox, it could well be. The trial is ongoing, but perhaps a more thorough look around the property, and a good sense of smell, would have altered her to the dangers.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5814865 Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +1100 686 64 full false The Hidden Dangers In Your Pillows You Need To Know About The Hidden Dangers In Your Pillows You Need To Know About After a tiresome day, there is nothing better than crawling into bed and laying your head down onto a soft, comforting pillow. But before you drift off into the sweetest of dreams, take a moment to think about the hidden dangers lurking within your pillow. It could turn out to be your worst nightmare... 

A 2006 study looked into the fungi living in pillows, and they discovered that the most common 3 fungi were:​ Aspergillus fumigatus​, A​ureobasidium pullulans​ and a yeast, called Rhodotorula.​ What’s frightening is that ​Aspergillus fumigatus​, the most common fungus found in the pillows, is known to have implications for patients who have respiratory disease, especially those individuals suffering from asthma and sinusitis. 

The study went further, discovering that fungi were more prolific in synthetic fibres than natural ones. Over the past 30 years, our bedding buying habits have changed from feather and flock pillows, sheets and blankets to mainly polyester pillows and quilts. This means that we are being exposed to more of this potentially harmful fungus and that our pillows aren’t as hygienic as we think. 

For people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a respiratory illness that affects 400,000 people in Oceania, the threat from this harmful fungus is very real. A recently published study found that up to 4% of COPD sufferers will develop infectious aspergillus, which has a startling mortality rate of 40-70%. This means that in any one year, approximately 7000 people die prematurely from invasive aspergillosis. 

And the most common fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis is ​Aspergillus fumigatus​, the same fungi that is the most commonly found in pillows. 

Even for those who don’t suffer from COPD, there is still cause for concern from invasive aspergillus. 

More than ever, people are buying pillows that are branded as being “allergy friendly” and these are often made from buckwheat, but contrary to their allergy friendly claims, they can sometimes be the cause of someone’s reaction. 

As well as being a hotbed for aspergillosis, buckwheat has been a known allergen since 1909. A report from 2003 outlines the case of a 24year old man in the US who went to his doctor reporting that he had been suffering from a worsening cough for the past three months, eventually becoming asthmatic. Any kind of medication prescribed to him was ineffective, yet the patient noted that anytime he spent time away from home his symptoms would improve, only to worsen when he returned. 

This led the doctors to test for any allergies the patient may be suffering from, and the results showed that he was suffering from a strong allergic reaction to both his buckwheat pillow as well as the aspergillus fungi growing inside of it. After removing both buckwheat pillows from his apartment, his cough and other symptoms completely resolved within four days. 

So how can you protect yourself from potentially harmful and hidden microbes in your pillows? One way would be to use a pillow protector to limit the physical contact you may be having with anything harmful within the pillow. Additionally, replacing your pillows more frequently will reduce the amount of harmful Aspergillus fumigatus you’re being exposed to. Moreover, being aware of what your pillows are made from will help you better understand the potential risks you are living with. If you use a synthetic or buckwheat pillow, it may be worth looking into replacing them with a natural feather pillow, which has fewer porous holes, therefore reducing contamination. 

Perhaps most important of all is simply being aware of the risks of infectious aspergillosis on susceptible people. Taking these simple precautions can help reduce the rate of premature deaths from infectious aspergillosis in the community. 

]]> After a tiresome day, there is nothing better than crawling into bed and laying your head down onto a soft, comforting pillow. But before you drift off into the sweetest of dreams, take a moment to think about the hidden dangers lurking within your pillow. It could turn out to be your worst nightmare... 

A 2006 study looked into the fungi living in pillows, and they discovered that the most common 3 fungi were:​ Aspergillus fumigatus​, A​ureobasidium pullulans​ and a yeast, called Rhodotorula.​ What’s frightening is that ​Aspergillus fumigatus​, the most common fungus found in the pillows, is known to have implications for patients who have respiratory disease, especially those individuals suffering from asthma and sinusitis. 

The study went further, discovering that fungi were more prolific in synthetic fibres than natural ones. Over the past 30 years, our bedding buying habits have changed from feather and flock pillows, sheets and blankets to mainly polyester pillows and quilts. This means that we are being exposed to more of this potentially harmful fungus and that our pillows aren’t as hygienic as we think. 

For people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a respiratory illness that affects 400,000 people in Oceania, the threat from this harmful fungus is very real. A recently published study found that up to 4% of COPD sufferers will develop infectious aspergillus, which has a startling mortality rate of 40-70%. This means that in any one year, approximately 7000 people die prematurely from invasive aspergillosis. 

And the most common fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis is ​Aspergillus fumigatus​, the same fungi that is the most commonly found in pillows. 

Even for those who don’t suffer from COPD, there is still cause for concern from invasive aspergillus. 

More than ever, people are buying pillows that are branded as being “allergy friendly” and these are often made from buckwheat, but contrary to their allergy friendly claims, they can sometimes be the cause of someone’s reaction. 

As well as being a hotbed for aspergillosis, buckwheat has been a known allergen since 1909. A report from 2003 outlines the case of a 24year old man in the US who went to his doctor reporting that he had been suffering from a worsening cough for the past three months, eventually becoming asthmatic. Any kind of medication prescribed to him was ineffective, yet the patient noted that anytime he spent time away from home his symptoms would improve, only to worsen when he returned. 

This led the doctors to test for any allergies the patient may be suffering from, and the results showed that he was suffering from a strong allergic reaction to both his buckwheat pillow as well as the aspergillus fungi growing inside of it. After removing both buckwheat pillows from his apartment, his cough and other symptoms completely resolved within four days. 

So how can you protect yourself from potentially harmful and hidden microbes in your pillows? One way would be to use a pillow protector to limit the physical contact you may be having with anything harmful within the pillow. Additionally, replacing your pillows more frequently will reduce the amount of harmful Aspergillus fumigatus you’re being exposed to. Moreover, being aware of what your pillows are made from will help you better understand the potential risks you are living with. If you use a synthetic or buckwheat pillow, it may be worth looking into replacing them with a natural feather pillow, which has fewer porous holes, therefore reducing contamination. 

Perhaps most important of all is simply being aware of the risks of infectious aspergillosis on susceptible people. Taking these simple precautions can help reduce the rate of premature deaths from infectious aspergillosis in the community. 

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5719132 Sat, 03 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +1000 636 63 full false How a Keto diet could protect you from dementia by altering your gut fungi How a Keto diet could protect you from dementia by altering your gut fungi Breakthrough research out this past week shows that the gut mycobiome has a big influence on brain function.  Researchers have discovered that the Ketogenic diet can be used to manipulate the gut microflora and that certain fungi are linked with mild cognitive impairment.  The Keto diet was compared against participants who ate a diet endorsed by the  American Heart Association diet.  

REFERENCES:

Nagpal, R., Neth, B., Wang, S., Mishra, S., Craft, S., & Yadav, H. (2020). Gut mycobiome and its interaction with diet, gut bacteria and alzheimer's disease markers in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study. Ebiomedicine, 59, 102950. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102950

Ketogenic diet. Healthdirect.gov.au. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ketogenic-diet. Published 2020. Accessed September 3, 2020.

]]> Breakthrough research out this past week shows that the gut mycobiome has a big influence on brain function.  Researchers have discovered that the Ketogenic diet can be used to manipulate the gut microflora and that certain fungi are linked with mild cognitive impairment.  The Keto diet was compared against participants who ate a diet endorsed by the  American Heart Association diet.  

REFERENCES:

Nagpal, R., Neth, B., Wang, S., Mishra, S., Craft, S., & Yadav, H. (2020). Gut mycobiome and its interaction with diet, gut bacteria and alzheimer's disease markers in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study. Ebiomedicine, 59, 102950. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102950

Ketogenic diet. Healthdirect.gov.au. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ketogenic-diet. Published 2020. Accessed September 3, 2020.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5274208 Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:00:00 +1000 512 62 full false How fungus in the lungs can be used to predict respiratory distress How fungus in the lungs can be used to predict respiratory distress The COVID pandemic has shone a lens on the issue of mechanical ventilators.  No one wants to get that sick that ventilation is required just to have a chance at staying alive. In turn, what if there was a way to predict who would have a severe lung disease response or go on to suffer from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ADRS) and who wouldn't?  Well, some clever scientists have just discovered why some people show a high level of inflammation and seem to go on and suffer with ADRS.  In this LiveStream, I'm going to review this exciting breakthrough recently presented by the European Respiratory Society this week on Monday. Using next-generation sequencing, they were able to work out that the diversity of the lung fungal microflora (the mycobiome) predicted not only inflammation but detected the risk for which groups of people would have more severe lung disease.  I'll even tell you the biomarker they tracked.  So, what does this mean for you...well, if you have a predisposition to lung disease, then you'll want to tune in and find out why having a more diverse lung fungal mycobiome is better than lungs that show a dominance of one particular fungus.  Tune into the Livestream to find out which fungus is the worst to have growing inside.  

REFERENCES:

Abstract no: 3044, "Diversity of the lung microbiome is associated with severity of disease in acute respiratory distress syndrome", by Noel Britton et al; Online from Monday 24 August and presented in the "New insights into mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit" session at 09.30 hrs CEST on Monday 7 September: https://k4.ersnet.org/prod/v2/Front/Program/Session?e=259&session=12387

Fornai F, Carrizzo A, Forte M, et al. The inflammatory protein Pentraxin 3 in cardiovascular disease. Immun Ageing. 2016;13(1):25. Published 2016 Aug 24. doi:10.1186/s12979-016-0080-1

]]> The COVID pandemic has shone a lens on the issue of mechanical ventilators.  No one wants to get that sick that ventilation is required just to have a chance at staying alive. In turn, what if there was a way to predict who would have a severe lung disease response or go on to suffer from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ADRS) and who wouldn't?  Well, some clever scientists have just discovered why some people show a high level of inflammation and seem to go on and suffer with ADRS.  In this LiveStream, I'm going to review this exciting breakthrough recently presented by the European Respiratory Society this week on Monday. Using next-generation sequencing, they were able to work out that the diversity of the lung fungal microflora (the mycobiome) predicted not only inflammation but detected the risk for which groups of people would have more severe lung disease.  I'll even tell you the biomarker they tracked.  So, what does this mean for you...well, if you have a predisposition to lung disease, then you'll want to tune in and find out why having a more diverse lung fungal mycobiome is better than lungs that show a dominance of one particular fungus.  Tune into the Livestream to find out which fungus is the worst to have growing inside.  

REFERENCES:

Abstract no: 3044, "Diversity of the lung microbiome is associated with severity of disease in acute respiratory distress syndrome", by Noel Britton et al; Online from Monday 24 August and presented in the "New insights into mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit" session at 09.30 hrs CEST on Monday 7 September: https://k4.ersnet.org/prod/v2/Front/Program/Session?e=259&session=12387

Fornai F, Carrizzo A, Forte M, et al. The inflammatory protein Pentraxin 3 in cardiovascular disease. Immun Ageing. 2016;13(1):25. Published 2016 Aug 24. doi:10.1186/s12979-016-0080-1

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5155579 Wed, 26 Aug 2020 18:00:00 +1000 645 61 full false What Science Is Telling Us About COVID-19 and Long Haulers What Science Is Telling Us About COVID-19 and Long Haulers Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5137360 Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +1000 683 60 full false How an common anti-fungal drug could help stop brain disease How an common anti-fungal drug could help stop brain disease Without medical breakthroughs, more than 6.4M Australians will be diagnosed with dementia in the next 40 years at a cost of more than $1 trillion. This week I want to discuss several exciting publications that have appeared in the research literature in 2020. It’s not just dementia, other diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, and even depression are increasingly being linked to something called mitochondrial dysfunction. The literature shows that 2 approaches called: methylene blue and photobiomodulation might be very effective. But why? This issue of mitochondria and its’ link with inflammatory processes has been known for some time. Especially, with respect to how fungal pathogens and environmental fungi seem to induce similar mitochondrial dysfunction in humans. I will look at what’s known about this and then review a paper from 2020 showing that fungi have been found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. This has been termed ‘polymicrobial invasion’ and suggests that some brain disorders are catalyzed by infections. The main paper I want to focus on as part of this Livestream came out on August 14th, 2020, and shows that brain inflammation, cytokine expression, and memory can be actively modulated with a common anti-fungal drug. This is breakthrough research and suggests this treatment could offer real relief in the near term. Join me on the Livestream or on the Podcast to find out which drug offers this potential microbiological benefit and what evidence supports this claim.

REFERENCES:

Mudarri D, Fisk WJ. Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold [published correction appears in Indoor Air. 2007 Aug;17(4):334]. Indoor Air. 2007;17(3):226-235. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00474.x

Yeo, I.J., Yun, J., Son, D.J. et al. Antifungal drug miconazole ameliorated memory deficits in a mouse model of LPS-induced memory loss through targeting iNOS. Cell Death Dis 11, 623 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-2619-5

Pisa D, Alonso R, Carrasco L. Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis of Fungi and Bacteria in Brain Tissue. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16(7):1135-1152. doi:10.7150/ijbs.42257. Available from http://www.ijbs.com/v16p1135.htm

Yang L, Youngblood H, Wu C, Zhang Q. Mitochondria as a target for neuroprotection: role of methylene blue and photobiomodulation. Transl Neurodegener. 2020;9(1):19. Published 2020 Jun 1. doi:10.1186/s40035-020-00197-z

GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(5):459-480. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X

Hamblin MR. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016;6:113-124. Published 2016 Oct 1. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002

Fisher MC, Gurr SJ, Cuomo CA, et al. Threats Posed by the Fungal Kingdom to Humans, Wildlife, and Agriculture. mBio. 2020;11(3):e00449-20. Published 2020 May 5. doi:10.1128/mBio.00449-20

Zhang JM, An J. Cytokines, inflammation, and pain. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2007;45(2):27-37. doi:10.1097/AIA.0b013e318034194e



]]> Without medical breakthroughs, more than 6.4M Australians will be diagnosed with dementia in the next 40 years at a cost of more than $1 trillion. This week I want to discuss several exciting publications that have appeared in the research literature in 2020. It’s not just dementia, other diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, and even depression are increasingly being linked to something called mitochondrial dysfunction. The literature shows that 2 approaches called: methylene blue and photobiomodulation might be very effective. But why? This issue of mitochondria and its’ link with inflammatory processes has been known for some time. Especially, with respect to how fungal pathogens and environmental fungi seem to induce similar mitochondrial dysfunction in humans. I will look at what’s known about this and then review a paper from 2020 showing that fungi have been found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. This has been termed ‘polymicrobial invasion’ and suggests that some brain disorders are catalyzed by infections. The main paper I want to focus on as part of this Livestream came out on August 14th, 2020, and shows that brain inflammation, cytokine expression, and memory can be actively modulated with a common anti-fungal drug. This is breakthrough research and suggests this treatment could offer real relief in the near term. Join me on the Livestream or on the Podcast to find out which drug offers this potential microbiological benefit and what evidence supports this claim.

REFERENCES:

Mudarri D, Fisk WJ. Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold [published correction appears in Indoor Air. 2007 Aug;17(4):334]. Indoor Air. 2007;17(3):226-235. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00474.x

Yeo, I.J., Yun, J., Son, D.J. et al. Antifungal drug miconazole ameliorated memory deficits in a mouse model of LPS-induced memory loss through targeting iNOS. Cell Death Dis 11, 623 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-2619-5

Pisa D, Alonso R, Carrasco L. Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis of Fungi and Bacteria in Brain Tissue. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16(7):1135-1152. doi:10.7150/ijbs.42257. Available from http://www.ijbs.com/v16p1135.htm

Yang L, Youngblood H, Wu C, Zhang Q. Mitochondria as a target for neuroprotection: role of methylene blue and photobiomodulation. Transl Neurodegener. 2020;9(1):19. Published 2020 Jun 1. doi:10.1186/s40035-020-00197-z

GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(5):459-480. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X

Hamblin MR. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016;6:113-124. Published 2016 Oct 1. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002

Fisher MC, Gurr SJ, Cuomo CA, et al. Threats Posed by the Fungal Kingdom to Humans, Wildlife, and Agriculture. mBio. 2020;11(3):e00449-20. Published 2020 May 5. doi:10.1128/mBio.00449-20

Zhang JM, An J. Cytokines, inflammation, and pain. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2007;45(2):27-37. doi:10.1097/AIA.0b013e318034194e



]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-5014061 Sun, 16 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +1000 1944 59 full false Facts About Black Mould and Fungal Sinusitis Facts About Black Mould and Fungal Sinusitis Black mould is a common term used to describe home infestations with mould. Its use is linked with an expectation of toxicity. In this week's Livestream, I report on the first case of Black mould sinusitis and how this was linked with immunocompromised status. Did you know that 17% of insurance claims at a major Australian insurer were water damage related? Did you know that in the USA, approximately 3.6% of the population are immunocompromised? Do you see a pattern here? Damp housing + immune compromise = opportunity for Black mould and other moulds to become BIG problems! Learn more on this Livestream or watch later or listen to the podcast later.

REFERENCES:

Semis M, Dadwal SS, Tegtmeier BR, Wilczynski SP, Ito JI, Kalkum M. First Case of Invasive Stachybotrys Sinusitis [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 10]. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa231. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa231

Flappan SM, Portnoy J, Jones P, Barnes C. Infant pulmonary hemorrhage in a suburban home with water damage and mold (Stachybotrys atra). Environ Health Perspect. 1999;107(11):927-930. doi:10.1289/ehp.99107927

Massoud Mahmoudi & M. Eric Gershwin (2000) Sick Building Syndrome. III. Stachybotrys chartarum, Journal of Asthma, 37:2, 191-198, DOI: 10.3109/02770900009055442

Shinya Y, Miyawaki S, Nakatomi H, et al. Recurrent cerebral aneurysm formation and rupture within a short period due to invasive aspergillosis of the nasal sinus; pathological analysis of the catastrophic clinical course. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015;8(10):13510-13522. Published 2015 Oct 1.

Identifying a fungal signature of moisture damage in buildings: targeted and untargeted approaches with mycobiome data. Rachel I. Adams, Iman Sylvain, Michal P. Spilak, John W. Taylor, Michael S. Waring, Mark J. Mendell. Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2020, AEM.01047-20; DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01047-20

Khan L. The growing number of immunocompromised - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2008/01/the-growing-number-of-immunocompromised/. Published 2008. Accessed August 9, 2020.

]]> Black mould is a common term used to describe home infestations with mould. Its use is linked with an expectation of toxicity. In this week's Livestream, I report on the first case of Black mould sinusitis and how this was linked with immunocompromised status. Did you know that 17% of insurance claims at a major Australian insurer were water damage related? Did you know that in the USA, approximately 3.6% of the population are immunocompromised? Do you see a pattern here? Damp housing + immune compromise = opportunity for Black mould and other moulds to become BIG problems! Learn more on this Livestream or watch later or listen to the podcast later.

REFERENCES:

Semis M, Dadwal SS, Tegtmeier BR, Wilczynski SP, Ito JI, Kalkum M. First Case of Invasive Stachybotrys Sinusitis [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 10]. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa231. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa231

Flappan SM, Portnoy J, Jones P, Barnes C. Infant pulmonary hemorrhage in a suburban home with water damage and mold (Stachybotrys atra). Environ Health Perspect. 1999;107(11):927-930. doi:10.1289/ehp.99107927

Massoud Mahmoudi & M. Eric Gershwin (2000) Sick Building Syndrome. III. Stachybotrys chartarum, Journal of Asthma, 37:2, 191-198, DOI: 10.3109/02770900009055442

Shinya Y, Miyawaki S, Nakatomi H, et al. Recurrent cerebral aneurysm formation and rupture within a short period due to invasive aspergillosis of the nasal sinus; pathological analysis of the catastrophic clinical course. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015;8(10):13510-13522. Published 2015 Oct 1.

Identifying a fungal signature of moisture damage in buildings: targeted and untargeted approaches with mycobiome data. Rachel I. Adams, Iman Sylvain, Michal P. Spilak, John W. Taylor, Michael S. Waring, Mark J. Mendell. Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2020, AEM.01047-20; DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01047-20

Khan L. The growing number of immunocompromised - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2008/01/the-growing-number-of-immunocompromised/. Published 2008. Accessed August 9, 2020.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4915154 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 17:00:00 +1000 1570 58 full false COVID-19 & Facemasks: Some Stats, Facts, and Data You Need To Know COVID-19 & Facemasks: Some Stats, Facts, and Data You Need To Know We hear so much about masks and how they’ll now help stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but their use is not without controversy. I’m doing a livestream on this important topic today. Expect to hear ***NEW*** information and facts. Learn why they work and which ones do and don’t. What does the research say about the true levels of protection? Tune in on Facebook and later on YouTube or my podcast: The Mould Show. 

REFERENCES:

Ability of Fabric Facemasks Materials to Filter Ultrafine Particles at Coughing Velocity - for Home Made and Fabric Face Mask Creation
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.14.20065375

Face mask wearing rate predicts country's COVID-19 death rates: with supplementary state-by-state data in the United States
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.22.20137745

Quantifying Respiratory Airborne Particle Dispersion Control Through Improvised Reusable Masks
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.12.20152157

Who is wearing a mask? Gender-, age-, and location-related differences during the COVID-19 pandemic
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.13.20152736

Facemasks prevent influenza-like illness: implications for COVID-19
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.07.20094912

Facepiece filtering respirators with exhalation valve should not be used in the community to limit SARS-CoV-2 diffusion doi:10.1017/ice.2020.244

Medical masks and Respirators for the Protection of Healthcare Workers from SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.04.009.

Surgical mask partition reduces the risk of non-contact transmission in a golden Syrian hamster model for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa644

Aerosol filtering efficiency of respiratory face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glykeria Loupa, Dimitra Karali, SPYRIDON RAPSOMANIKIS
medRxiv 2020.07.16.20155119; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.16.20155119

Ewing E. Flu Masks Failed In 1918, But We Need Them Now | Health Affairs. Healthaffairs.org. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200508.769108/full/. 

Visualizing Speech-Generated Oral Fluid Droplets with Laser Light Scattering.  doi:10.1056/NEJMc2007800

Can self-imposed prevention measures mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic?
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003240

Impact of self-imposed prevention measures and short-term government-imposed social distancing on mitigating and delaying a COVID-19 epidemic: A modelling study.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003166

Face coverings – Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-covid-19

]]> We hear so much about masks and how they’ll now help stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but their use is not without controversy. I’m doing a livestream on this important topic today. Expect to hear ***NEW*** information and facts. Learn why they work and which ones do and don’t. What does the research say about the true levels of protection? Tune in on Facebook and later on YouTube or my podcast: The Mould Show. 

REFERENCES:

Ability of Fabric Facemasks Materials to Filter Ultrafine Particles at Coughing Velocity - for Home Made and Fabric Face Mask Creation
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.14.20065375

Face mask wearing rate predicts country's COVID-19 death rates: with supplementary state-by-state data in the United States
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.22.20137745

Quantifying Respiratory Airborne Particle Dispersion Control Through Improvised Reusable Masks
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.12.20152157

Who is wearing a mask? Gender-, age-, and location-related differences during the COVID-19 pandemic
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.13.20152736

Facemasks prevent influenza-like illness: implications for COVID-19
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.07.20094912

Facepiece filtering respirators with exhalation valve should not be used in the community to limit SARS-CoV-2 diffusion doi:10.1017/ice.2020.244

Medical masks and Respirators for the Protection of Healthcare Workers from SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.04.009.

Surgical mask partition reduces the risk of non-contact transmission in a golden Syrian hamster model for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa644

Aerosol filtering efficiency of respiratory face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glykeria Loupa, Dimitra Karali, SPYRIDON RAPSOMANIKIS
medRxiv 2020.07.16.20155119; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.16.20155119

Ewing E. Flu Masks Failed In 1918, But We Need Them Now | Health Affairs. Healthaffairs.org. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200508.769108/full/. 

Visualizing Speech-Generated Oral Fluid Droplets with Laser Light Scattering.  doi:10.1056/NEJMc2007800

Can self-imposed prevention measures mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic?
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003240

Impact of self-imposed prevention measures and short-term government-imposed social distancing on mitigating and delaying a COVID-19 epidemic: A modelling study.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003166

Face coverings – Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-covid-19

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4746512 Tue, 28 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +1000 2504 57 full false Could Iodine Nasal & Oral Antiseptics Help Protect You Against SARS-CoV-2? Could Iodine Nasal & Oral Antiseptics Help Protect You Against SARS-CoV-2? Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4635347 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 14:00:00 +1000 1174 56 full false Can Mould Cause Depression? Can Mould Cause Depression? I received an email the other day from a client with bad news informing me that his wife has breast cancer.  He told me that she had suffered from depression ever since reluctantly moving into a property that had a severe water damage problem and that had been concealed by the real estate agent.  This got me thinking about all the research talking about mould exposure and mood disorders like anxiety and depression and even IQ.

In this week’s Livestream, I’m going to review 6 key areas where mental health problems can occur due to mould and water damage:

1. Families that know about mould and water damage

2. Disaster recovery workers 

3. The elderly

4. Children and pre-adolescents

5. The immune system.  What’s going on inside your body?

6. Tenancy

Is depression the hidden epidemic often not spoken about when discussing building-specific factors surrounding mould and adverse indoor air quality from aeroallergens and other microbes?

REFERENCES:

Literature review of current research on health effects and accepted guidelines for the management of indoor mould and water damage in the built environment. (2013). ACNEM Journal. 32(3): 10 - 16.

Neuropsychological performance of patients following mold exposure. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12584073/

The neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cell activity in chronic toxigenic mold exposures. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14625399/

Indoor mold exposure associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment: a preliminary report. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15143851/

Psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of mixed mold exposure. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15259424/

Cognitive impairment associated with toxigenic fungal exposure: a replication and extension of previous findings. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15477176/

Interventions to improve children's health by improving the housing environment. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15742671/

Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathways. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761567/

Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407188/

Indoor factors and behavioural problems in children: the GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohort studies. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22487276/

Disaster-related exposures and health effects among US Coast Guard responders to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: a cross-sectional study. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25099408/

The Relationship of Built Environment to Health-Related Behaviors and Health Outcomes in Elderly Community Residents in a Middle Income Country. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26425497/

The built environment and mental health. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14709704/

Housing dampness and health amongst British Bengalis in East London. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2305276/

Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathw... - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761567/

The validity of the environmental neurotoxic effects of
toxigenic molds and mycotoxins (2007). https://print.ispub.com/api/0/ispub-article/11373

Seasonality of births in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a review of the literature. (1997

]]> I received an email the other day from a client with bad news informing me that his wife has breast cancer.  He told me that she had suffered from depression ever since reluctantly moving into a property that had a severe water damage problem and that had been concealed by the real estate agent.  This got me thinking about all the research talking about mould exposure and mood disorders like anxiety and depression and even IQ.

In this week’s Livestream, I’m going to review 6 key areas where mental health problems can occur due to mould and water damage:

1. Families that know about mould and water damage

2. Disaster recovery workers 

3. The elderly

4. Children and pre-adolescents

5. The immune system.  What’s going on inside your body?

6. Tenancy

Is depression the hidden epidemic often not spoken about when discussing building-specific factors surrounding mould and adverse indoor air quality from aeroallergens and other microbes?

REFERENCES:

Literature review of current research on health effects and accepted guidelines for the management of indoor mould and water damage in the built environment. (2013). ACNEM Journal. 32(3): 10 - 16.

Neuropsychological performance of patients following mold exposure. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12584073/

The neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cell activity in chronic toxigenic mold exposures. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14625399/

Indoor mold exposure associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment: a preliminary report. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15143851/

Psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of mixed mold exposure. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15259424/

Cognitive impairment associated with toxigenic fungal exposure: a replication and extension of previous findings. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15477176/

Interventions to improve children's health by improving the housing environment. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15742671/

Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathways. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761567/

Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407188/

Indoor factors and behavioural problems in children: the GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohort studies. - PubMed - NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22487276/

Disaster-related exposures and health effects among US Coast Guard responders to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: a cross-sectional study. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25099408/

The Relationship of Built Environment to Health-Related Behaviors and Health Outcomes in Elderly Community Residents in a Middle Income Country. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26425497/

The built environment and mental health. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14709704/

Housing dampness and health amongst British Bengalis in East London. - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2305276/

Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathw... - PubMed - NCBIhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761567/

The validity of the environmental neurotoxic effects of
toxigenic molds and mycotoxins (2007). https://print.ispub.com/api/0/ispub-article/11373

Seasonality of births in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a review of the literature. (1997

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-1734928 Wed, 15 Jul 2020 20:00:00 +1000 2408 depression, anxiety, mould, mold, mental health, water damage 1 15 full false The Ugly Truth About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Dampness and Mould The Ugly Truth About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Dampness and Mould This week I want to discuss something called: Dampness and mould hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) and how this is related to exposure to the indoor air dampness microbiota (DM). There have been two papers published in the last 6 months that demonstrate in two different workplaces (Hospital workers and Police officers) how their respective buildings that had long-term water damage and mould were associated with very different symptoms when compared to a control group of people who hadn't been exposed to the water damaged buildings.  These results should help anyone who is (possibly) having trouble explaining to others about the risks from water damage and mould.  The papers go into detail showing how cardiac problems as well as symptoms like multiple chemical sensitivity are very strongly associated with exposure to these toxic environments. I hope you can use these easily obtainable papers to help you convince others that mould & water damage MUST be taken seriously and not dismissed.  The data shows there is a causality between exposure to dampness microorganisms (DM) and the prevalence of multiple chemical sensitivity.  The authors conclude that adverse symptoms after exposure to DM can occur together with a range of other neurological symptoms and fatigue and is not a medically unexplained syndrome or a functional disorder.  Next time, someone tells you it's all in your head about your mould concerns, please cite this video and the research it's based on. 

REFERENCES:

Hyvönen S, Lohi J, Tuuminen T. Moist and Mold Exposure is Associated With High Prevalence of Neurological Symptoms and MCS in a Finnish Hospital Workers Cohort. Saf Health Work. 2020;11(2):173-177. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2020.01.003

Hyvönen S, Poussa T, Lohi J, Tuuminen T. High prevalence of neurological sequelae and multiple chemical sensitivity among occupants of a Finnish police station damaged by dampness microbiota [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 16]. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2020;1-7. doi:10.1080/19338244.2020.1781034

]]> This week I want to discuss something called: Dampness and mould hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) and how this is related to exposure to the indoor air dampness microbiota (DM). There have been two papers published in the last 6 months that demonstrate in two different workplaces (Hospital workers and Police officers) how their respective buildings that had long-term water damage and mould were associated with very different symptoms when compared to a control group of people who hadn't been exposed to the water damaged buildings.  These results should help anyone who is (possibly) having trouble explaining to others about the risks from water damage and mould.  The papers go into detail showing how cardiac problems as well as symptoms like multiple chemical sensitivity are very strongly associated with exposure to these toxic environments. I hope you can use these easily obtainable papers to help you convince others that mould & water damage MUST be taken seriously and not dismissed.  The data shows there is a causality between exposure to dampness microorganisms (DM) and the prevalence of multiple chemical sensitivity.  The authors conclude that adverse symptoms after exposure to DM can occur together with a range of other neurological symptoms and fatigue and is not a medically unexplained syndrome or a functional disorder.  Next time, someone tells you it's all in your head about your mould concerns, please cite this video and the research it's based on. 

REFERENCES:

Hyvönen S, Lohi J, Tuuminen T. Moist and Mold Exposure is Associated With High Prevalence of Neurological Symptoms and MCS in a Finnish Hospital Workers Cohort. Saf Health Work. 2020;11(2):173-177. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2020.01.003

Hyvönen S, Poussa T, Lohi J, Tuuminen T. High prevalence of neurological sequelae and multiple chemical sensitivity among occupants of a Finnish police station damaged by dampness microbiota [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 16]. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2020;1-7. doi:10.1080/19338244.2020.1781034

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4524953 Sat, 11 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +1000 1581 55 full false Sentinel Environmental Screening for Coronavirus Sentinel Environmental Screening for Coronavirus New research from the US military shows that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can remain stable on the skin for 14-days. The higher the temperature, the lower the recovery. Therefore, the colder the environment, the longer the coronavirus persists on surfaces like skin, banknotes and even clothing. In this weeks Livestream I’m covering the role of ‘Sentinel monitoring’. This aims to test out selected high touch surfaces in an effort to detect the presymptomatic (before they show symptoms) and the asymptomatic (people who never show symptoms). New breaking research shows that swabbing the environment can detect those environments that are 10-times more likely to show a positive coronavirus case during clinical testing. The conclusion from the research is that environmental screening can help identify workplaces that are likely to hide spreaders! Surface testing in the environment should be used alongside clinical testing of people.

Of course, reach out to us if you need surface swab testing at your workplace. Fast and efficient onsite service.  

REFERENCES:

Sentinel Coronavirus Environmental Monitoring Can Contribute to Detecting Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Virus Spreaders and Can Verify Effectiveness of Workplace COVID-19 Controls
Douglas Marshall, Frederic Bois, Soren K.S. Jensen, Svend A. Linde, Richard Higby, Yvoine Remy-McCort, Sean Murray, Bryan Dieckelman, Fitri Sudradjat
medRxiv 2020.06.24.20131185; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.24.20131185


Modeling the Stability of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on Skin, Currency, and Clothing
David Harbourt, Andrew Haddow, Ashley Piper, Holly Bloomfield, Brian Kearney, Kathleen Gibson, Tim Minogue
medRxiv 2020.07.01.20144253; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.01.20144253

]]> New research from the US military shows that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can remain stable on the skin for 14-days. The higher the temperature, the lower the recovery. Therefore, the colder the environment, the longer the coronavirus persists on surfaces like skin, banknotes and even clothing. In this weeks Livestream I’m covering the role of ‘Sentinel monitoring’. This aims to test out selected high touch surfaces in an effort to detect the presymptomatic (before they show symptoms) and the asymptomatic (people who never show symptoms). New breaking research shows that swabbing the environment can detect those environments that are 10-times more likely to show a positive coronavirus case during clinical testing. The conclusion from the research is that environmental screening can help identify workplaces that are likely to hide spreaders! Surface testing in the environment should be used alongside clinical testing of people.

Of course, reach out to us if you need surface swab testing at your workplace. Fast and efficient onsite service.  

REFERENCES:

Sentinel Coronavirus Environmental Monitoring Can Contribute to Detecting Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Virus Spreaders and Can Verify Effectiveness of Workplace COVID-19 Controls
Douglas Marshall, Frederic Bois, Soren K.S. Jensen, Svend A. Linde, Richard Higby, Yvoine Remy-McCort, Sean Murray, Bryan Dieckelman, Fitri Sudradjat
medRxiv 2020.06.24.20131185; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.24.20131185


Modeling the Stability of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on Skin, Currency, and Clothing
David Harbourt, Andrew Haddow, Ashley Piper, Holly Bloomfield, Brian Kearney, Kathleen Gibson, Tim Minogue
medRxiv 2020.07.01.20144253; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.01.20144253

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4455329 Mon, 06 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +1000 1462 54 full false Environmental Monitoring of Surfaces for a COVID-Safe Workplace Environmental Monitoring of Surfaces for a COVID-Safe Workplace As Australia re-opens, some States like Victoria are experiencing a resurgence in case numbers.  Was it the protests, is it the returning travellers, is it the asymptomatic spread, is it the super-spreaders?  All valid questions, without clear answers...but what's your business to do IF you WANT and NEED to re-open but you want to do this SAFELY?

In today's livestream I want to speak about the important role of surface contamination.  We all know that hand sanitiser and regular hand washing is globally promoted as a mandatory step - but have you stopped to think about all the reasons why?  Obviously touching other people with a handshake is easily understood as a risky behaviour - but what about all the other things you touch without thinking much about it.  Your phone, the steering wheel, the hand rail on that chair, the ATM machine, the shopping trolley and on and on.  It's these high-touch surfaces that can act as reservoirs for the coronavirus.  Those people actually infected with the virus also shed it into their local environment and it's spread on air currents and on particles of air pollution.  These land on surfaces and can act as fomites for further hand to person contact transmission.  In this way the virus can be spread.  Now, there's lots of research that discusses the replication competence on different surfaces and how rough or smooth an object is all has a role to play.  But, just assume as a takeaway Key Fact that the coronavirus can remain replication competent for up to 7 days on surfaces depending on where they are and what they're made from.

In today's livestream, we go into a shopping centre in Melbourne and demonstrate how we can test commonly used (and touched) surfaces to look for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  We're looking for the RNA using qPCR molecular screening.

In the video we show you live what we found!!!  It's amazing (and shocking): 1 in 5 of the tested surfaces FAILED.  That's like 20%.  The literature predicted a FAIL rate of juts under 17%.  If the limited range of surfaces we tested FAILED - imagine what your building is hiding?

I also review the Key Results for a Survey of the Australian public that showed how they feel about the issue of surface contamination and PCR swab testing.  The results show that unequivocally, the Australian Public want surface testing in the workplace.

We are offering qPCR swab testing to businesses across Victoria.  We come to you, suit up into PPE and will test your building.  If you PASS - great news.  If there are any FAILS, then you can take appropriate action. 

The AIM of swab testing is to provide evidence that your cleaning protocols are actually disinfecting the areas as anticipated.  Cleaning g validation in this way over time builds up a picture of how effectively the business or facility is maintaining hygiene standards regarding the coronavirus. The entire point of qPCR testing is to inspire confidence during the re-opening.

Where to obtain an onsite coronavirus surface swab test: 
https://www.biologicalhealthservices.com.au/

JONES, C.L. (2020). COVID-Safe Awareness and Implications for Environmental Surface Testing in Australia. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Volume 8, Issue V, Page No: 1234-1245, ISSN : 2321-9653, http://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2020.5196

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

]]> As Australia re-opens, some States like Victoria are experiencing a resurgence in case numbers.  Was it the protests, is it the returning travellers, is it the asymptomatic spread, is it the super-spreaders?  All valid questions, without clear answers...but what's your business to do IF you WANT and NEED to re-open but you want to do this SAFELY?

In today's livestream I want to speak about the important role of surface contamination.  We all know that hand sanitiser and regular hand washing is globally promoted as a mandatory step - but have you stopped to think about all the reasons why?  Obviously touching other people with a handshake is easily understood as a risky behaviour - but what about all the other things you touch without thinking much about it.  Your phone, the steering wheel, the hand rail on that chair, the ATM machine, the shopping trolley and on and on.  It's these high-touch surfaces that can act as reservoirs for the coronavirus.  Those people actually infected with the virus also shed it into their local environment and it's spread on air currents and on particles of air pollution.  These land on surfaces and can act as fomites for further hand to person contact transmission.  In this way the virus can be spread.  Now, there's lots of research that discusses the replication competence on different surfaces and how rough or smooth an object is all has a role to play.  But, just assume as a takeaway Key Fact that the coronavirus can remain replication competent for up to 7 days on surfaces depending on where they are and what they're made from.

In today's livestream, we go into a shopping centre in Melbourne and demonstrate how we can test commonly used (and touched) surfaces to look for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  We're looking for the RNA using qPCR molecular screening.

In the video we show you live what we found!!!  It's amazing (and shocking): 1 in 5 of the tested surfaces FAILED.  That's like 20%.  The literature predicted a FAIL rate of juts under 17%.  If the limited range of surfaces we tested FAILED - imagine what your building is hiding?

I also review the Key Results for a Survey of the Australian public that showed how they feel about the issue of surface contamination and PCR swab testing.  The results show that unequivocally, the Australian Public want surface testing in the workplace.

We are offering qPCR swab testing to businesses across Victoria.  We come to you, suit up into PPE and will test your building.  If you PASS - great news.  If there are any FAILS, then you can take appropriate action. 

The AIM of swab testing is to provide evidence that your cleaning protocols are actually disinfecting the areas as anticipated.  Cleaning g validation in this way over time builds up a picture of how effectively the business or facility is maintaining hygiene standards regarding the coronavirus. The entire point of qPCR testing is to inspire confidence during the re-opening.

Where to obtain an onsite coronavirus surface swab test: 
https://www.biologicalhealthservices.com.au/

JONES, C.L. (2020). COVID-Safe Awareness and Implications for Environmental Surface Testing in Australia. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Volume 8, Issue V, Page No: 1234-1245, ISSN : 2321-9653, http://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2020.5196

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4336601 Sat, 27 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +1000 2021 53 full false Asthma and the Older Cohort Asthma and the Older Cohort Have you ever wondered if some factors make asthma worse in older adults?  Find out what are the Top 7 reasons why asthma can be made worse indoors.  Once you know what they are, you can do something about limiting risk.  I also want to look at the relationship between the environment - and in particular temperature - and how this is linked to rates of hospital acquired bloodborne infections.  The results for bacteria and fungi will no doubt surprise you.  Also it's our 52nd show, so we've been doing these weekly LiveStreams for 1year.  Check out all the back episodes on YouTube @drcameronjones or listen to the podcasts on iTunes or your favourite streaming service or go to www.TheMouldShow.com 

TOP 7 Things Older People Should Be On The Lookout For To Reduce Their Levels Of Allergen Exposure:

1. Poor bathroom ventilation
2. No HEPA vacuum
3. Furry/feathered pets inside
4. Mould/moisture present
5. Dust
6. Pest/rodents
7. Cigarettes

Contrary to expectations: it was NOT warm and humid weather that had an impact on bloodstream infections it was warm and relatively dry weather which was associated.

REFERENCES:

Asthma among older people in Australia, Summary - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Retrieved 22 June 2020, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-respiratory-conditions/asthma-among-older-people-in-australia/contents/summary

Castner J, Barnett R, Moskos LH, Folz RJ, Polivka B. Home environment allergen exposure scale in older adult cohort with asthma [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 16]. Can J Public Health. 2020;10.17269/s41997-020-00335-0. doi:10.17269/s41997-020-00335-0

Schwab F, Gastmeier P, Hoffmann P, Meyer E. Summer, sun and sepsis-The influence of outside temperature on nosocomial bloodstream infections: A cohort study and review of the literature. PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234656. Published 2020 Jun 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234656

Hannam, P. (2020). Media data shows COVID-19 has stolen climate change's thunder. Retrieved 22 June 2020, from https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/media-data-shows-covid-19-has-stolen-climate-change-s-thunder-20200508-p54r6j.html

]]> Have you ever wondered if some factors make asthma worse in older adults?  Find out what are the Top 7 reasons why asthma can be made worse indoors.  Once you know what they are, you can do something about limiting risk.  I also want to look at the relationship between the environment - and in particular temperature - and how this is linked to rates of hospital acquired bloodborne infections.  The results for bacteria and fungi will no doubt surprise you.  Also it's our 52nd show, so we've been doing these weekly LiveStreams for 1year.  Check out all the back episodes on YouTube @drcameronjones or listen to the podcasts on iTunes or your favourite streaming service or go to www.TheMouldShow.com 

TOP 7 Things Older People Should Be On The Lookout For To Reduce Their Levels Of Allergen Exposure:

1. Poor bathroom ventilation
2. No HEPA vacuum
3. Furry/feathered pets inside
4. Mould/moisture present
5. Dust
6. Pest/rodents
7. Cigarettes

Contrary to expectations: it was NOT warm and humid weather that had an impact on bloodstream infections it was warm and relatively dry weather which was associated.

REFERENCES:

Asthma among older people in Australia, Summary - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Retrieved 22 June 2020, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-respiratory-conditions/asthma-among-older-people-in-australia/contents/summary

Castner J, Barnett R, Moskos LH, Folz RJ, Polivka B. Home environment allergen exposure scale in older adult cohort with asthma [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 16]. Can J Public Health. 2020;10.17269/s41997-020-00335-0. doi:10.17269/s41997-020-00335-0

Schwab F, Gastmeier P, Hoffmann P, Meyer E. Summer, sun and sepsis-The influence of outside temperature on nosocomial bloodstream infections: A cohort study and review of the literature. PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234656. Published 2020 Jun 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234656

Hannam, P. (2020). Media data shows COVID-19 has stolen climate change's thunder. Retrieved 22 June 2020, from https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/media-data-shows-covid-19-has-stolen-climate-change-s-thunder-20200508-p54r6j.html

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4267361 Mon, 22 Jun 2020 18:00:00 +1000 1814 52 full false What to do if you find mould in your new home during construction? What to do if you find mould in your new home during construction? It could happen if there's been a lot of rain, a delay in  the building process, or if timber has sat out in the elements for too long before being covered?  Mould, mould and more mould...what do you do if you find this?  Well - this episode will cover this important topic.  Firstly: relax...it might not be as bad as you think!  Discuss the matter with your builder.  Discuss your health and safety concerns.  Discuss your asset value concerns and implications that mould might have for building integrity.  This episode will cover what we recommend.  Document, document, document is really our best advice.  When in doubt: test, test, test.  Remember the principal way to deal with mould is: SOURCE REMOVAL. 

]]> It could happen if there's been a lot of rain, a delay in  the building process, or if timber has sat out in the elements for too long before being covered?  Mould, mould and more mould...what do you do if you find this?  Well - this episode will cover this important topic.  Firstly: relax...it might not be as bad as you think!  Discuss the matter with your builder.  Discuss your health and safety concerns.  Discuss your asset value concerns and implications that mould might have for building integrity.  This episode will cover what we recommend.  Document, document, document is really our best advice.  When in doubt: test, test, test.  Remember the principal way to deal with mould is: SOURCE REMOVAL. 

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4156031 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +1000 1043 51 full false 5 Fungal threats you might have missed due to COVID-19 5 Fungal threats you might have missed due to COVID-19 With all the attention at the moment focussing on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the rest of microbiology has taken somewhat of a backseat.  While the COVID pandemic has restricted behaviour and led to 6.4M cases and 383,000 deaths, the number of illnesses and deaths caused by fungi is also of epic proportions at 800M and 1.6M deaths annually.  With global warming a serious problem for humanity, I want this week to discuss some of the reasons that fungi are often neglected.  I want to shed some light on why this is, and what we should be discussing.  We'll look at forced evolution in the lab and why Temperature optima may well turn out to be the best predictor of the next fungal plague or infection illness.  Will it turn on us or our agriculture crops?  Thats the crux of food security - and mycotoxins and other direct infections do more than reduce our access to bananas!  I'll also make a short review of some of the fungal catastrophes to put this into context as well as discuss what we know about COVID and co-infections from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Topics:

1. Fungi are under-appreciated as a source of infection and co-infection. Viruses are now easily understood to be a source of infection between people and most people understand the concept of hospital acquired bacterial infections, but…

2. Fungi have significant genetic flexibility and rapid evolution

3. Global warming and fungal disease, invasive fungal infections after natural disasters

4. Plant and agricultural fungal threats much better understood - food security impacts potentially devastating

5. Short history of catastrophic events caused by fungi  

REFERENCES:

Casadevall A. Global Catastrophic Threats from the Fungal Kingdom. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2019:21-32. doi:10.1007/82_2019_161

Case N, Heitman J, Cowen L. The Rise of Fungi: A Report on the CIFAR Program Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities Inaugural Meeting. G3:Genes|Genomes|Genetics. 2020;10(6):1837-1842. doi:10.1534/g3.120.401271

ALL ABOUT GAFFI: Fungal diseases are neglected worldwide by public health authorities. Gaffi.org. https://www.gaffi.org/. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Lovett R. Space station mold survives 200 times the radiation dose that would kill a human. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/06/space-station-mold-survives-200-times-radiation-dose-would-kill-human#:~:text=Astronauts%20on%20the%20International%20Space,where%20radiation%20doses%20are%20low.&text=The%20gray%20is%20a%20measure%20of%20the%20amount%20of%20absorbed%20radiation%20energy. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Pomeroy R. Fungi That 'Eat' Radiation Are Growing on the Walls of Chernobyl's Ruined Nuclear Reactor | RealClearScience. Realclearscience.com. https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2020/02/04/fungi_that_eat_radiation_are_growing_on_the_walls_of_chernobyls_ruined_nuclear_reactor.html. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Carbone C. Surprising find in Chernobyl reactor. NewsComAu. https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/evolution/melaninfilled-fungus-thriving-on-radiation-from-chernobyl-meltdown/news-story/15af9f34faa4b62dff46a1258dbfb235. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

de Crecy E, Jaronski S, Lyons B, Lyons T, Keyhani N. Directed evolution of a filamentous fungus for thermotolerance. BMC Biotechnol. 2009;9(1):74. doi:10.1186/1472-6750-9-74

Leach MD, Cowen LE. Surviving the heat of the moment: a fungal pathogens perspective. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(3):e1003163. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003163

Dale, J., James, A., Paul, J. et al. Transgenic Cavendish bananas with resistance to Fusarium wilt tropical race 4. Nat Commun 8, 1496 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01670-6

]]> With all the attention at the moment focussing on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the rest of microbiology has taken somewhat of a backseat.  While the COVID pandemic has restricted behaviour and led to 6.4M cases and 383,000 deaths, the number of illnesses and deaths caused by fungi is also of epic proportions at 800M and 1.6M deaths annually.  With global warming a serious problem for humanity, I want this week to discuss some of the reasons that fungi are often neglected.  I want to shed some light on why this is, and what we should be discussing.  We'll look at forced evolution in the lab and why Temperature optima may well turn out to be the best predictor of the next fungal plague or infection illness.  Will it turn on us or our agriculture crops?  Thats the crux of food security - and mycotoxins and other direct infections do more than reduce our access to bananas!  I'll also make a short review of some of the fungal catastrophes to put this into context as well as discuss what we know about COVID and co-infections from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Topics:

1. Fungi are under-appreciated as a source of infection and co-infection. Viruses are now easily understood to be a source of infection between people and most people understand the concept of hospital acquired bacterial infections, but…

2. Fungi have significant genetic flexibility and rapid evolution

3. Global warming and fungal disease, invasive fungal infections after natural disasters

4. Plant and agricultural fungal threats much better understood - food security impacts potentially devastating

5. Short history of catastrophic events caused by fungi  

REFERENCES:

Casadevall A. Global Catastrophic Threats from the Fungal Kingdom. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2019:21-32. doi:10.1007/82_2019_161

Case N, Heitman J, Cowen L. The Rise of Fungi: A Report on the CIFAR Program Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities Inaugural Meeting. G3:Genes|Genomes|Genetics. 2020;10(6):1837-1842. doi:10.1534/g3.120.401271

ALL ABOUT GAFFI: Fungal diseases are neglected worldwide by public health authorities. Gaffi.org. https://www.gaffi.org/. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Lovett R. Space station mold survives 200 times the radiation dose that would kill a human. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/06/space-station-mold-survives-200-times-radiation-dose-would-kill-human#:~:text=Astronauts%20on%20the%20International%20Space,where%20radiation%20doses%20are%20low.&text=The%20gray%20is%20a%20measure%20of%20the%20amount%20of%20absorbed%20radiation%20energy. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Pomeroy R. Fungi That 'Eat' Radiation Are Growing on the Walls of Chernobyl's Ruined Nuclear Reactor | RealClearScience. Realclearscience.com. https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2020/02/04/fungi_that_eat_radiation_are_growing_on_the_walls_of_chernobyls_ruined_nuclear_reactor.html. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

Carbone C. Surprising find in Chernobyl reactor. NewsComAu. https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/evolution/melaninfilled-fungus-thriving-on-radiation-from-chernobyl-meltdown/news-story/15af9f34faa4b62dff46a1258dbfb235. Published 2020. Accessed June 6, 2020.

de Crecy E, Jaronski S, Lyons B, Lyons T, Keyhani N. Directed evolution of a filamentous fungus for thermotolerance. BMC Biotechnol. 2009;9(1):74. doi:10.1186/1472-6750-9-74

Leach MD, Cowen LE. Surviving the heat of the moment: a fungal pathogens perspective. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(3):e1003163. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003163

Dale, J., James, A., Paul, J. et al. Transgenic Cavendish bananas with resistance to Fusarium wilt tropical race 4. Nat Commun 8, 1496 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01670-6

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-4062902 Sat, 06 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +1000 1744 50 full false 3 New Facts About COVID Fomites You Need To Know 3 New Facts About COVID Fomites You Need To Know The CDC changed their website and the twittersphere went into a panic, since there was a presumed change about surface contamination.  Find out how fomite transmission in a hospital proved the point about surface risks.  Also, we take a look at how sunlight can be used to decontaminate surfaces and what you need to know about alcohol based hand sanitiser.

]]> The CDC changed their website and the twittersphere went into a panic, since there was a presumed change about surface contamination.  Find out how fomite transmission in a hospital proved the point about surface risks.  Also, we take a look at how sunlight can be used to decontaminate surfaces and what you need to know about alcohol based hand sanitiser.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3959720 Fri, 29 May 2020 15:00:00 +1000 1812 49 full false How to validate cleaning using your phone for a COVID safe workplace How to validate cleaning using your phone for a COVID safe workplace Let me show you how you can quickly and inexpensively turn your mobile phone into as device that can 'see' in ultraviolet.  Being able to see in UV is useful if you want to double  check that your cleaners have done a good job.  Did you know that you can use a fluorescent highlighter to mark high touch items and then check with UV to see that it's been cleaned.  This is very useful and important especially as economies around the world tentatively re-open.  Effective disinfectant cleaning must begin with care and attention to areas or items in the built environment that have a high probability of having shed coronavirus on them.  All you need is some sticky tape, a blue and a purple Sharpie and a fluorescent marker.  Once you've made your 'UV lens' for the flash on your phone, go around your workplace and mark out some items you want to validate that your cleaners have cleaned.  Under UV light, these will fluoresce, but if cleaning has been successful, then the dye in the highlighter will have been removed and you can have greater confidence in the knowledge that the cleaners have done their job as expected.  Of course, if the items or areas fluoresce, then you can make some adjustments to your cleaning requirements and monitor further.  

REFERENCES:

Hong Kong's reopened gyms may show future of socially distanced workouts
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/hong-kongs-gyms-future-socially-distanced-workouts

Jones, C.L. (2020). COVID-Safe Awareness and Implications for Environmental Surface Testing in Australia. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Volume 8, Issue V, Page No: 1234-1245, ISSN : 2321-9653, http://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2020.5196

]]> Let me show you how you can quickly and inexpensively turn your mobile phone into as device that can 'see' in ultraviolet.  Being able to see in UV is useful if you want to double  check that your cleaners have done a good job.  Did you know that you can use a fluorescent highlighter to mark high touch items and then check with UV to see that it's been cleaned.  This is very useful and important especially as economies around the world tentatively re-open.  Effective disinfectant cleaning must begin with care and attention to areas or items in the built environment that have a high probability of having shed coronavirus on them.  All you need is some sticky tape, a blue and a purple Sharpie and a fluorescent marker.  Once you've made your 'UV lens' for the flash on your phone, go around your workplace and mark out some items you want to validate that your cleaners have cleaned.  Under UV light, these will fluoresce, but if cleaning has been successful, then the dye in the highlighter will have been removed and you can have greater confidence in the knowledge that the cleaners have done their job as expected.  Of course, if the items or areas fluoresce, then you can make some adjustments to your cleaning requirements and monitor further.  

REFERENCES:

Hong Kong's reopened gyms may show future of socially distanced workouts
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/hong-kongs-gyms-future-socially-distanced-workouts

Jones, C.L. (2020). COVID-Safe Awareness and Implications for Environmental Surface Testing in Australia. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET), Volume 8, Issue V, Page No: 1234-1245, ISSN : 2321-9653, http://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2020.5196

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3838409 Wed, 20 May 2020 16:00:00 +1000 913 48 full false The COVID safe workplace and how to validate cleaning at your business The COVID safe workplace and how to validate cleaning at your business Australian businesses are soon to begin reopening. The threat from SARS-CoV-2 is not behind us even with lowered numbers of cases across the country. We still need to careful - and the role of deep disinfection cleaning is more important than ever. When you walk into someone's shop or business in the coming weeks and months, how do you know they are a COVID safe workplace? This week, I want to discuss how UV light can be used to validate cleaning efficiency. If you’ve ever wanted to check up on your cleaners - and make sure they’re doing a good job - this show will show you how! This is called environmental surveillance and is a common method for validating cleaning efficiency.

REFERENCES:

Melbourne McDonald's remains open despite being at the centre of a COVID-19 cluster. https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/coronavirus-fawkner-mcdonalds-melbourne-remains-open-despite-covid19-cluster-worrying-experts/02524ff7-7532-4b46-baa7-0f1fd26ae9de

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

]]> Australian businesses are soon to begin reopening. The threat from SARS-CoV-2 is not behind us even with lowered numbers of cases across the country. We still need to careful - and the role of deep disinfection cleaning is more important than ever. When you walk into someone's shop or business in the coming weeks and months, how do you know they are a COVID safe workplace? This week, I want to discuss how UV light can be used to validate cleaning efficiency. If you’ve ever wanted to check up on your cleaners - and make sure they’re doing a good job - this show will show you how! This is called environmental surveillance and is a common method for validating cleaning efficiency.

REFERENCES:

Melbourne McDonald's remains open despite being at the centre of a COVID-19 cluster. https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/coronavirus-fawkner-mcdonalds-melbourne-remains-open-despite-covid19-cluster-worrying-experts/02524ff7-7532-4b46-baa7-0f1fd26ae9de

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3767933 Fri, 15 May 2020 18:00:00 +1000 1218 47 full false COVID Toes, loss of smell and preview of our survey results on COVID-safe workplaces COVID Toes, loss of smell and preview of our survey results on COVID-safe workplaces The way humans behave is central to the ways in which SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted. Whether it’s a cough or a sneeze or touching something that’s then handled by someone else, we need to change behaviour (and quickly) to minimize transmission in the absence of pharmaceutical interventions. In Australia, as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed and businesses are being encouraged to prepare for reopening, the risks once again loom for fresh wave/s of infection. So, what does COVID-safe awareness look like? Overarchingly, it’s using scientifically and medically valid information to make choices that minimize harm and in the first place, accessing this information and using it for self-education and then applying it for your own and others' benefit.

This week, I want to focus some attention on 2 interesting papers. Both of them are about non-fever warning signs that the exposed and then infected individual may go on to develop into COVID-19. Think of today’s Livestream as a symptom-checker that relies on 2 recently published papers that I’ll summarise briefly. The first, looks at how the loss of smell is correlated with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19. The second paper reviews an interesting case of discoloured lesions affecting the feet that pre-date fever symptoms and have become known as “COVID Toes”. Whilst there is still much to learn about the transmission and diverse epidemiology seen with this coronavirus, the literature offers us these 2 easy-to-remember considerations that might be useful. With the race to re-open Schools, it might be prudent to be on the lookout for funny feet or a non-smelly fragrance!

The last part of this Livestream will briefly summarise 2 key points from a recent survey into the knowledge and perceptions of direct contact transmission pathways in Australia. We administered this survey to a cohort of Australians, and I’ll give you a very sneak peek since the paper is now at the peer-review stage. I’ll cover the full results in the next few weeks especially as this relates to the creation and maintenance of COVID-safe workplaces.

REFERENCES:

Predictive value of sudden olfactory loss in the diagnosis of COVID-19
Antje Haehner, Julia Draf, Sarah Draeger, Katja de With, Thomas Hummel
medRxiv 2020.04.27.20081356; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.27.20081356
Posted May 03, 2020.

Mazzotta F, Troccoli T. Acute acro-ischemia in the child at the time of COVID-19. International Federation of Podiatrists. Available at: https://www.fip-ifp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/acroischemia-ENG.pdf. Accessed April 27, 2020.

Dietz L, Horve PF, Coil DA, Fretz M, Eisen JA, Van Den Wymelenberg K. 2020. 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: built environment considerations to reduce transmission. mSystems 5:e00245-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00245-20.

Xing YH, Ni W, Wu Q, et al. Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 28]. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2020;S1684-1182(20)30081-5. doi:10.1016/j.jmii.2020.03.021

]]> The way humans behave is central to the ways in which SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted. Whether it’s a cough or a sneeze or touching something that’s then handled by someone else, we need to change behaviour (and quickly) to minimize transmission in the absence of pharmaceutical interventions. In Australia, as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed and businesses are being encouraged to prepare for reopening, the risks once again loom for fresh wave/s of infection. So, what does COVID-safe awareness look like? Overarchingly, it’s using scientifically and medically valid information to make choices that minimize harm and in the first place, accessing this information and using it for self-education and then applying it for your own and others' benefit.

This week, I want to focus some attention on 2 interesting papers. Both of them are about non-fever warning signs that the exposed and then infected individual may go on to develop into COVID-19. Think of today’s Livestream as a symptom-checker that relies on 2 recently published papers that I’ll summarise briefly. The first, looks at how the loss of smell is correlated with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19. The second paper reviews an interesting case of discoloured lesions affecting the feet that pre-date fever symptoms and have become known as “COVID Toes”. Whilst there is still much to learn about the transmission and diverse epidemiology seen with this coronavirus, the literature offers us these 2 easy-to-remember considerations that might be useful. With the race to re-open Schools, it might be prudent to be on the lookout for funny feet or a non-smelly fragrance!

The last part of this Livestream will briefly summarise 2 key points from a recent survey into the knowledge and perceptions of direct contact transmission pathways in Australia. We administered this survey to a cohort of Australians, and I’ll give you a very sneak peek since the paper is now at the peer-review stage. I’ll cover the full results in the next few weeks especially as this relates to the creation and maintenance of COVID-safe workplaces.

REFERENCES:

Predictive value of sudden olfactory loss in the diagnosis of COVID-19
Antje Haehner, Julia Draf, Sarah Draeger, Katja de With, Thomas Hummel
medRxiv 2020.04.27.20081356; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.27.20081356
Posted May 03, 2020.

Mazzotta F, Troccoli T. Acute acro-ischemia in the child at the time of COVID-19. International Federation of Podiatrists. Available at: https://www.fip-ifp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/acroischemia-ENG.pdf. Accessed April 27, 2020.

Dietz L, Horve PF, Coil DA, Fretz M, Eisen JA, Van Den Wymelenberg K. 2020. 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: built environment considerations to reduce transmission. mSystems 5:e00245-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00245-20.

Xing YH, Ni W, Wu Q, et al. Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 28]. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2020;S1684-1182(20)30081-5. doi:10.1016/j.jmii.2020.03.021

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3670228 Fri, 08 May 2020 18:00:00 +1000 1390 46 full false Preparing for a COVID-safe workplace and environmental surface testing for SARS-CoV-2 Preparing for a COVID-safe workplace and environmental surface testing for SARS-CoV-2 Social easing restrictions will eventually happen - but what does the research say? In today’s episode we’ll be reviewing what the literature says about direct and non-contact forms of virus transmission. I’ve just published a review paper on “Environmental Surface Contamination” and I’ll be picking out the key 🔑 points. In the media today, there’s some potential good news regarding how businesses should prepare for reopening. But what should they be considering? The Employment Minister, @senatormichaeliacash suggests that retailers create “COVID-safe workplaces”. With this in mind, I’ll be setting out some valuable information about surface contamination and what areas and items should be carefully monitored and screened. Apart from simply cleaning more carefully, some workplaces should be considering updates to their cleaning audits and how they may need to test surfaces to confirm that cleaning has minimised and virus that could have been shed. The utility of PCR swab tests will also be discussed as a pro-active way to perform cleaning validation as a form of environmental surveillance

REFERENCES:

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

Yamato, J., & Olsen, M. (2020). What will a post-pandemic Hollywood look like? We asked Hollywood. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-04-30/coronavirus-reopening-hollywood-production-survey

Rouse, A. (2020). Pubs and restaurants closed due to coronavirus prepare to reopen. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8275969/Pubs-gyms-shops-restaurants-closed-COVID-19-lockdown-prepared-reopen.html

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.25.20028043

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.3227

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.20046557

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0282_article

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.04.20053058

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0282_article

https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12606

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1002.030759

Knowledge and perceptions of environmental surface contamination and COVID-19: OUR SURVEY AVAILABLE SOON HERE - CHECK COMMENTS FOR UPDATES ON LOGINS AND AVAILABILITY

]]> Social easing restrictions will eventually happen - but what does the research say? In today’s episode we’ll be reviewing what the literature says about direct and non-contact forms of virus transmission. I’ve just published a review paper on “Environmental Surface Contamination” and I’ll be picking out the key 🔑 points. In the media today, there’s some potential good news regarding how businesses should prepare for reopening. But what should they be considering? The Employment Minister, @senatormichaeliacash suggests that retailers create “COVID-safe workplaces”. With this in mind, I’ll be setting out some valuable information about surface contamination and what areas and items should be carefully monitored and screened. Apart from simply cleaning more carefully, some workplaces should be considering updates to their cleaning audits and how they may need to test surfaces to confirm that cleaning has minimised and virus that could have been shed. The utility of PCR swab tests will also be discussed as a pro-active way to perform cleaning validation as a form of environmental surveillance

REFERENCES:

JONES, C.L. (2020). Environmental Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Review. Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology. 8(1): 15-19. https://medcraveonline.com/JHVRV/JHVRV-08-00215.pdf

Yamato, J., & Olsen, M. (2020). What will a post-pandemic Hollywood look like? We asked Hollywood. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-04-30/coronavirus-reopening-hollywood-production-survey

Rouse, A. (2020). Pubs and restaurants closed due to coronavirus prepare to reopen. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8275969/Pubs-gyms-shops-restaurants-closed-COVID-19-lockdown-prepared-reopen.html

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.25.20028043

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.3227

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.20046557

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0282_article

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.04.20053058

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0282_article

https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12606

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1002.030759

Knowledge and perceptions of environmental surface contamination and COVID-19: OUR SURVEY AVAILABLE SOON HERE - CHECK COMMENTS FOR UPDATES ON LOGINS AND AVAILABILITY

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3576391 Fri, 01 May 2020 15:00:00 +1000 1900 45 full false Pollution increases the risk for mould allergy and COVID-19 infections Pollution increases the risk for mould allergy and COVID-19 infections Have you ever wondered how the air we breathe can cause respiratory irritation?  What is in that haze or smog that sometimes blankets urban cities?  Sure, it probably contains chemicals and maybe even smoke - but there's a lot more to it than just a chemical soup.  In today's Livestream we're going to deep dive into particulate matter, or PM and review what's known about the fungal contribution. Then we're going to look at the inflammatory potential of mould fragments in the PM2.5 and PM10 and ultra small size ranges (yes, even down to the nanoscale).  Then we'll look at how cytokines are involved.  From this perspective, we'll then look into the connection between particulate matter and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 infection levels.  There's some excellent emerging research saying that the worse the PM, the higher the number of cases of COVID-19.  Watch the livestream to see if it's just the presence of PM that causes for example an immune reaction, perhaps pre-disposing people to SARS-CoV-2 or if the particles themselves are transmitting the virus.

REFERENCES:

SARS-Cov-2 RNA Found on Particulate Matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First Preliminary Evidence
Leonardo Setti, Fabrizio Passarini, Gianluigi De Gennaro, Pierluigi Baribieri, Maria Grazia Perrone, Massimo Borelli, Jolanda Palmisani, Alessia Di Gilio, Valentina Torboli, Alberto Pallavicini, Maurizio Ruscio, PRISCO PISCITELLI, Alessandro Miani
medRxiv 2020.04.15.20065995; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.15.20065995

The Potential role of Particulate Matter in the Spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: First Evidence-based Research Hypotheses
Leonardo Setti, Fabrizio Passarini, Gianluigi De Gennaro, Pierluigi Barbieri, Maria Grazia Perrone, Andrea Piazzalunga, Massimo Borelli, Jolanda Palmisani, Alessia Di Gilio, PRISCO PISCITELLI, Alessandro Miani
medRxiv 2020.04.11.20061713; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713

Initial evidence of higher morbidity and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 in regions with lower air quality
Riccardo Pansini, Davide Fornacca
medRxiv 2020.04.04.20053595; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.04.20053595
Posted April 16, 2020.

An effect assessment of Airborne particulate matter pollution on COVID-19: A multi-city Study in China
Bo Wang, Jiangtao Liu, Shihua Fu, Xiaocheng Xu, Lanyu Li, Yueling Ma, Ji Zhou, Jinxi Yao, Xingrong Liu, Xiuxia Zhang, Xiaotao He, Jun Yan, Yanjun Shi, Xiaowei Ren, Jingping Niu, Bin Luo, Kai zhang
medRxiv 2020.04.09.20060137; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.09.20060137

Holme JA, Øya E, Afanou AKJ, Øvrevik J, Eduard W. Characterization and pro-inflammatory potential of indoor mold particles [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 20]. Indoor Air. 2020;10.1111/ina.12656. doi:10.1111/ina.12656, https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12656

Yan D, Zhang T, Su J et al. Diversity and Composition of Airborne Fungal Community Associated with Particulate Matters in Beijing during Haze and Non-haze Days. Front Microbiol. 2016;7. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00487

Li, C.Y., Ding, M.S., Yang, Y., Zhang, P.C., Li, Y., Wang,Y.C., Huang, L.C., Yang, P.J., Wang, M., Sha, X., Xu, Y.M., Guo, C.W. and Shan,Z.W. (2016) Portrait and Classification of Individual Haze Particulates. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 1355-1379. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2016.710118

Schaible, H. Nociceptive neurons detect cytokines in arthr

]]> Have you ever wondered how the air we breathe can cause respiratory irritation?  What is in that haze or smog that sometimes blankets urban cities?  Sure, it probably contains chemicals and maybe even smoke - but there's a lot more to it than just a chemical soup.  In today's Livestream we're going to deep dive into particulate matter, or PM and review what's known about the fungal contribution. Then we're going to look at the inflammatory potential of mould fragments in the PM2.5 and PM10 and ultra small size ranges (yes, even down to the nanoscale).  Then we'll look at how cytokines are involved.  From this perspective, we'll then look into the connection between particulate matter and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 infection levels.  There's some excellent emerging research saying that the worse the PM, the higher the number of cases of COVID-19.  Watch the livestream to see if it's just the presence of PM that causes for example an immune reaction, perhaps pre-disposing people to SARS-CoV-2 or if the particles themselves are transmitting the virus.

REFERENCES:

SARS-Cov-2 RNA Found on Particulate Matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First Preliminary Evidence
Leonardo Setti, Fabrizio Passarini, Gianluigi De Gennaro, Pierluigi Baribieri, Maria Grazia Perrone, Massimo Borelli, Jolanda Palmisani, Alessia Di Gilio, Valentina Torboli, Alberto Pallavicini, Maurizio Ruscio, PRISCO PISCITELLI, Alessandro Miani
medRxiv 2020.04.15.20065995; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.15.20065995

The Potential role of Particulate Matter in the Spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: First Evidence-based Research Hypotheses
Leonardo Setti, Fabrizio Passarini, Gianluigi De Gennaro, Pierluigi Barbieri, Maria Grazia Perrone, Andrea Piazzalunga, Massimo Borelli, Jolanda Palmisani, Alessia Di Gilio, PRISCO PISCITELLI, Alessandro Miani
medRxiv 2020.04.11.20061713; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713

Initial evidence of higher morbidity and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 in regions with lower air quality
Riccardo Pansini, Davide Fornacca
medRxiv 2020.04.04.20053595; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.04.20053595
Posted April 16, 2020.

An effect assessment of Airborne particulate matter pollution on COVID-19: A multi-city Study in China
Bo Wang, Jiangtao Liu, Shihua Fu, Xiaocheng Xu, Lanyu Li, Yueling Ma, Ji Zhou, Jinxi Yao, Xingrong Liu, Xiuxia Zhang, Xiaotao He, Jun Yan, Yanjun Shi, Xiaowei Ren, Jingping Niu, Bin Luo, Kai zhang
medRxiv 2020.04.09.20060137; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.09.20060137

Holme JA, Øya E, Afanou AKJ, Øvrevik J, Eduard W. Characterization and pro-inflammatory potential of indoor mold particles [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 20]. Indoor Air. 2020;10.1111/ina.12656. doi:10.1111/ina.12656, https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12656

Yan D, Zhang T, Su J et al. Diversity and Composition of Airborne Fungal Community Associated with Particulate Matters in Beijing during Haze and Non-haze Days. Front Microbiol. 2016;7. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00487

Li, C.Y., Ding, M.S., Yang, Y., Zhang, P.C., Li, Y., Wang,Y.C., Huang, L.C., Yang, P.J., Wang, M., Sha, X., Xu, Y.M., Guo, C.W. and Shan,Z.W. (2016) Portrait and Classification of Individual Haze Particulates. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 1355-1379. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2016.710118

Schaible, H. Nociceptive neurons detect cytokines in arthr

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3471457 Thu, 23 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +1000 2275 44 full false What does a mould level greater than 1000 CFU mean for your health? What does a mould level greater than 1000 CFU mean for your health? The WHO in their seminal work from 2009 talk about 500 CFU - or colony forming units per cubic mere of air but what does that mean? Reading that document suggests that levels less than 500 mean the building is not water damaged - especially if you live in Finland! But what about indoor mould levels in the rest of the world? Today's livestream delves into this topic of 'colony forming units' - which are the numbers of discrete fungal colonies that appear (or grow) in petri plates when exposed to the air. The numbers on the plate can be translated into units per cubic metre of air. When this is done, we have THRESHOLDS. Think of these as numerical traffic lights. At green, it's OK indoors, and your mould levels can be considered normal...but what happens if the petri plate traffic lights show AMBER or RED? Some great French research uses 3 ways of measuring risk indoors using the CFU and links this with the experience of asthma and rhinitis. Towards the end of this livestream I alos compare the French thresholds with the Australian Mould Guideline (2010) by Dr Heike Neumeister and we see a strong correlation between the French and the Australians. This is great news for anyone trying the make a link between indoor mould exposure and adverse or the potential for adverse human health. As part of the breaking news segment, I cover some new research showing that some occupations make it more probable that you may come into contact with SARS-CoV-2 and contract COVID-19. Watch until the end to find out the 5 classes of 'at risk occupations'.

REFERENCES:

Reboux G, Rocchi S, Laboissière A et al. Survey of 1012 moldy dwellings by culture fungal analysis: Threshold proposal for asthmatic patient management. Indoor Air. 2018;29(1):5-16. doi:10.1111/ina.12516. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12516

L L. Mold Exposure and Mitochondrial Antibodies. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Feb 21. pii: AT5799. [Epub ahead of print] - PubMed - NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32088666. Published 2020. Accessed April 15, 2020.

Jones, C.L. (2019). Guidelines For The Assessment of Viable Fungal Hygiene On Indoor Surfaces Using RODAC Petri Plates. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2019;7(5):116‒126. https://medcraveonline.com/JBMOA/JBMOA-07-00256.pdf

Work-related Covid-19 transmission
Fan-Yun Lan, Chih-Fu Wei, Yu-Tien Hsu, David C Christiani, Stefanos N Kales
medRxiv 2020.04.08.20058297; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.08.20058297

]]> The WHO in their seminal work from 2009 talk about 500 CFU - or colony forming units per cubic mere of air but what does that mean? Reading that document suggests that levels less than 500 mean the building is not water damaged - especially if you live in Finland! But what about indoor mould levels in the rest of the world? Today's livestream delves into this topic of 'colony forming units' - which are the numbers of discrete fungal colonies that appear (or grow) in petri plates when exposed to the air. The numbers on the plate can be translated into units per cubic metre of air. When this is done, we have THRESHOLDS. Think of these as numerical traffic lights. At green, it's OK indoors, and your mould levels can be considered normal...but what happens if the petri plate traffic lights show AMBER or RED? Some great French research uses 3 ways of measuring risk indoors using the CFU and links this with the experience of asthma and rhinitis. Towards the end of this livestream I alos compare the French thresholds with the Australian Mould Guideline (2010) by Dr Heike Neumeister and we see a strong correlation between the French and the Australians. This is great news for anyone trying the make a link between indoor mould exposure and adverse or the potential for adverse human health. As part of the breaking news segment, I cover some new research showing that some occupations make it more probable that you may come into contact with SARS-CoV-2 and contract COVID-19. Watch until the end to find out the 5 classes of 'at risk occupations'.

REFERENCES:

Reboux G, Rocchi S, Laboissière A et al. Survey of 1012 moldy dwellings by culture fungal analysis: Threshold proposal for asthmatic patient management. Indoor Air. 2018;29(1):5-16. doi:10.1111/ina.12516. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12516

L L. Mold Exposure and Mitochondrial Antibodies. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Feb 21. pii: AT5799. [Epub ahead of print] - PubMed - NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32088666. Published 2020. Accessed April 15, 2020.

Jones, C.L. (2019). Guidelines For The Assessment of Viable Fungal Hygiene On Indoor Surfaces Using RODAC Petri Plates. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2019;7(5):116‒126. https://medcraveonline.com/JBMOA/JBMOA-07-00256.pdf

Work-related Covid-19 transmission
Fan-Yun Lan, Chih-Fu Wei, Yu-Tien Hsu, David C Christiani, Stefanos N Kales
medRxiv 2020.04.08.20058297; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.08.20058297

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3379852 Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +1000 2421 43 full false Coronavirus in cats - Evidence of infected cat populations in Wuhan Coronavirus in cats - Evidence of infected cat populations in Wuhan Could pet cats be a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2?  This video reviews the 2 main published studies showing that this is in fact happening.  The data shows that pet cats in Wuhan, China can be infected by pet owners who themselves have contracted COVID-19. This raises new questions about quarantine and how pets will be managed. 

REFERENCES:

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing serum antibodies in cats: a serological investigation
Qiang Zhang, Huajun Zhang, Kun Huang, Yong Yang, Xianfeng Hui, Jindong Gao, Xinglin He, Chengfei Li, Wenxiao Gong, Yufei Zhang, Cheng Peng, Xiaoxiao Gao, Huanchun Chen, Zhong Zou, Zhengli Shi, Meilin Jin
bioRxiv 2020.04.01.021196; doi: https://lnkd.in/gBXbZTC

Chen H. Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2. 2020. doi:https://lnkd.in/g7vsrfh

Bedford E. Dog and cat pet population worldwide 2018 | Statista. Statista. https://lnkd.in/gthh9HS. Published 2020. Accessed April 5, 2020.

]]> Could pet cats be a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2?  This video reviews the 2 main published studies showing that this is in fact happening.  The data shows that pet cats in Wuhan, China can be infected by pet owners who themselves have contracted COVID-19. This raises new questions about quarantine and how pets will be managed. 

REFERENCES:

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing serum antibodies in cats: a serological investigation
Qiang Zhang, Huajun Zhang, Kun Huang, Yong Yang, Xianfeng Hui, Jindong Gao, Xinglin He, Chengfei Li, Wenxiao Gong, Yufei Zhang, Cheng Peng, Xiaoxiao Gao, Huanchun Chen, Zhong Zou, Zhengli Shi, Meilin Jin
bioRxiv 2020.04.01.021196; doi: https://lnkd.in/gBXbZTC

Chen H. Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2. 2020. doi:https://lnkd.in/g7vsrfh

Bedford E. Dog and cat pet population worldwide 2018 | Statista. Statista. https://lnkd.in/gthh9HS. Published 2020. Accessed April 5, 2020.

]]> Buzzsprout-3250141 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +1000 1180 42 full false Can my pet get COVID-19? Can my pet get COVID-19? This week we're taking a mould holiday and instead focussing on a very serious contemporary health crisis.  Today, I want to review what we know about SARS-CoV-2 and virus transmission in pets.  There has been some disturbing new stories about this virus in 2 dogs and then 2 cats.  Investigations in Hong Kong revealed that the virus could be detected in at least one dog. The CDC cautions that there is no immediate risk to people from their pets. Obviously, no one wants people to start fearing their pets, but these early reports certainly suggests that there is some form of transmission even if this is juts settled RNA virus onto the pets fur.  However a bombshell of a paper came out overnight showing that SARS-CoV-2 is spread via droplets in ferrets and cats.  This is alarming and suggests that perhaps more widespread epidemiological testing needs to be undertaken in at least cats.  The last part of this livestream focuses on masks and if they offer scientifically valid reasons for wearing them.   Review a paper that shows that mask wearing on public transport prevents transmission to others.  The final paper looks at 3 types of masks and notes that mask wearing in combination with use of hand sanitiser can help minimise transmission. 

REFERENCES: 

Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2. 2020. 

Evaluating COVID-19 Public Health Messaging in Italy: Self-Reported Compliance and Growing Mental Health Concerns. medRxiv. 2020;(March 30). 

Pet dog tests positive for COVID-19 virus, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Afcd.gov.hk. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Risque zoonotique du SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) associé aux animaux de compagnie : infection de l’animal vers l’homme et de l’homme vers l’animal (Mandat du Comité scientifique fédéral en charge de la gestion de la pandémie de SARS-CoV2 en Belgique). Afsca.be. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Detection of low level of COVID-19 virus in pet dog. Info.gov.hk. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Hong Kong dog causes panic – but here's why you needn't worry about pets spreading COVID-19. The Conversation. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - If You Have Animals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Should pets be tested for coronavirus?. Science. 2020;Mar. 31(2020). doi:10.1126/science.abc0029. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/should-pets-be-tested-coronavirus

Pet cat tests positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong. The Straits Times. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Cat infected with COVID-19 from owner in Belgium. livescience.com. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Follow-up reports: Immediate Notification, then Reports No.1,2 and 3. Oie.int. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Questions and Answers on the COVID-19: OIE - World Organisation for Animal Health. Oie.int. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

BREAKING NEWS:

Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen Emissions: Potential Implications for Reducing Transmission of COVID-19. JAMA. Published online March 26, 2020. 

COVID-19 : Face Masks and Human-to-human Transmission. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2020;(29 March 2020). 

Potential utilities of mask wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol. 2020;(31 March 2020). 

]]> This week we're taking a mould holiday and instead focussing on a very serious contemporary health crisis.  Today, I want to review what we know about SARS-CoV-2 and virus transmission in pets.  There has been some disturbing new stories about this virus in 2 dogs and then 2 cats.  Investigations in Hong Kong revealed that the virus could be detected in at least one dog. The CDC cautions that there is no immediate risk to people from their pets. Obviously, no one wants people to start fearing their pets, but these early reports certainly suggests that there is some form of transmission even if this is juts settled RNA virus onto the pets fur.  However a bombshell of a paper came out overnight showing that SARS-CoV-2 is spread via droplets in ferrets and cats.  This is alarming and suggests that perhaps more widespread epidemiological testing needs to be undertaken in at least cats.  The last part of this livestream focuses on masks and if they offer scientifically valid reasons for wearing them.   Review a paper that shows that mask wearing on public transport prevents transmission to others.  The final paper looks at 3 types of masks and notes that mask wearing in combination with use of hand sanitiser can help minimise transmission. 

REFERENCES: 

Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2. 2020. 

Evaluating COVID-19 Public Health Messaging in Italy: Self-Reported Compliance and Growing Mental Health Concerns. medRxiv. 2020;(March 30). 

Pet dog tests positive for COVID-19 virus, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Afcd.gov.hk. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Risque zoonotique du SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) associé aux animaux de compagnie : infection de l’animal vers l’homme et de l’homme vers l’animal (Mandat du Comité scientifique fédéral en charge de la gestion de la pandémie de SARS-CoV2 en Belgique). Afsca.be. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Detection of low level of COVID-19 virus in pet dog. Info.gov.hk. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Hong Kong dog causes panic – but here's why you needn't worry about pets spreading COVID-19. The Conversation. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - If You Have Animals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Should pets be tested for coronavirus?. Science. 2020;Mar. 31(2020). doi:10.1126/science.abc0029. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/should-pets-be-tested-coronavirus

Pet cat tests positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong. The Straits Times. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Cat infected with COVID-19 from owner in Belgium. livescience.com. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Follow-up reports: Immediate Notification, then Reports No.1,2 and 3. Oie.int. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Questions and Answers on the COVID-19: OIE - World Organisation for Animal Health. Oie.int. Published 2020. Accessed April 1, 2020.

BREAKING NEWS:

Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen Emissions: Potential Implications for Reducing Transmission of COVID-19. JAMA. Published online March 26, 2020. 

COVID-19 : Face Masks and Human-to-human Transmission. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2020;(29 March 2020). 

Potential utilities of mask wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol. 2020;(31 March 2020). 

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3210679 Thu, 02 Apr 2020 20:00:00 +1100 1614 41 full false How Long Can COVID-19 Survive On Surfaces? How Long Can COVID-19 Survive On Surfaces? How Long Can COVID-19 Survive On Surfaces?

If I touch that surface or object could I get sick from COVID-19?  That's the aim of this podcast to review what we know about airborne and surface transmission.  COVID-19 is a virus, so it's technically not alive...but if the viral RNA ends up on a doorknob or on an extractor fan, then you could unknowingly come into contact with it.  This is called fomite transmission. Today's episode reviews what we know about the survival of the virus on inanimate objects.  We find that it survives less well on copper surfaces and longer on plastic than on cardboard.  It can also be cleaned from the hospital rooms of patients diagnosed with the virus.  But, if the room is not cleaned, then virus can remain on many typical touch surfaces.  There is even a link with fecal shedding and the toilet. Next, I review the data from The Diamond Princess where it was found that the virus could be recovered from. Cabins after 17 days.  That's a long time to remain infectious.  What can you do?  Well, there's a US EPA site that lists all the disinfectants that should work for COVID-19 and I review some of the typical ones and their efficacy.  

The Breaking News section of this podcast discusses how nanofibrils of cellulose have been used to change the way building composite boards are produced.  This is a great example of materials science and the search for replacements for formaldehyde.  Who knows, these new 'green' manufacturing methods may also confer other benefits like antibacterial/anti-fungal properties due to the inclusion of boric acid. The last paper, I want to highlight comes out of Hong Kong and looks at seasonal influenza and how RNA could be recovered from the tops of bookshelves and doorhandles.  The levels were low, but the authors postulate that this famine transmission might exacerbate childhood influenza illness and propagation.  

REFERENCES:

Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents.  doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022

Survival of influenza virus on banknotes. doi:10.1128/AEM.00076-08. https://aem.asm.org/content/74/10/3002

Paper money and coins as potential vectors of transmissible disease. https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb.13.161

Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3227

Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. 10.1056/doi:10.1056/NEJMc2004973

Should we leave the paper currency? A microbiological examination. doi:10.37201/req/085.2019

Bacterial contamination of Pakistani currency notes from hospital and community sources. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15477

Comparative antibacterial effects of cellulose nanofiber, chitosan nanofiber, chitosan/cellulose combination and chitosan alone against bacterial contamination of Iranian banknotes. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.06.160

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. 

Presence of influenza virus on touch-surfaces in kindergartens and primary schools doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa114

Cellulose nanocrystals vs. cellulose nanofibrils: a comparative study on their microstructures and effects as polymer reinforcing agents. 

Aussie newsagent bans cash over coronavirus fears | A Current Affair. https://youtu.be/qSjKM2qOYNk

Public Health Responses to COVID-19 Outbreaks on Cruise Ships — Worldwide, February–March 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6912e3external icon.

NEWS:

Laminated Wallboard Panels Made with Cellulose Nanofibrils as a Binder: doi:10.3390/ma13061303

]]> How Long Can COVID-19 Survive On Surfaces?

If I touch that surface or object could I get sick from COVID-19?  That's the aim of this podcast to review what we know about airborne and surface transmission.  COVID-19 is a virus, so it's technically not alive...but if the viral RNA ends up on a doorknob or on an extractor fan, then you could unknowingly come into contact with it.  This is called fomite transmission. Today's episode reviews what we know about the survival of the virus on inanimate objects.  We find that it survives less well on copper surfaces and longer on plastic than on cardboard.  It can also be cleaned from the hospital rooms of patients diagnosed with the virus.  But, if the room is not cleaned, then virus can remain on many typical touch surfaces.  There is even a link with fecal shedding and the toilet. Next, I review the data from The Diamond Princess where it was found that the virus could be recovered from. Cabins after 17 days.  That's a long time to remain infectious.  What can you do?  Well, there's a US EPA site that lists all the disinfectants that should work for COVID-19 and I review some of the typical ones and their efficacy.  

The Breaking News section of this podcast discusses how nanofibrils of cellulose have been used to change the way building composite boards are produced.  This is a great example of materials science and the search for replacements for formaldehyde.  Who knows, these new 'green' manufacturing methods may also confer other benefits like antibacterial/anti-fungal properties due to the inclusion of boric acid. The last paper, I want to highlight comes out of Hong Kong and looks at seasonal influenza and how RNA could be recovered from the tops of bookshelves and doorhandles.  The levels were low, but the authors postulate that this famine transmission might exacerbate childhood influenza illness and propagation.  

REFERENCES:

Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents.  doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022

Survival of influenza virus on banknotes. doi:10.1128/AEM.00076-08. https://aem.asm.org/content/74/10/3002

Paper money and coins as potential vectors of transmissible disease. https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb.13.161

Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3227

Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. 10.1056/doi:10.1056/NEJMc2004973

Should we leave the paper currency? A microbiological examination. doi:10.37201/req/085.2019

Bacterial contamination of Pakistani currency notes from hospital and community sources. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15477

Comparative antibacterial effects of cellulose nanofiber, chitosan nanofiber, chitosan/cellulose combination and chitosan alone against bacterial contamination of Iranian banknotes. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.06.160

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. 

Presence of influenza virus on touch-surfaces in kindergartens and primary schools doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa114

Cellulose nanocrystals vs. cellulose nanofibrils: a comparative study on their microstructures and effects as polymer reinforcing agents. 

Aussie newsagent bans cash over coronavirus fears | A Current Affair. https://youtu.be/qSjKM2qOYNk

Public Health Responses to COVID-19 Outbreaks on Cruise Ships — Worldwide, February–March 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6912e3external icon.

NEWS:

Laminated Wallboard Panels Made with Cellulose Nanofibrils as a Binder: doi:10.3390/ma13061303

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3129574 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 21:00:00 +1100 2429 40 full false Fungal Growth in Carpets - How Serious is Carpet Mould? Fungal Growth in Carpets - How Serious is Carpet Mould? On this week's livestream I'm going to cover the topic of microbial contamination in carpet.  In Australia, with over 17% of insurance claims being water-related, the probability of your carpet becoming water-damaged and mould-affected at some stage is high.  Now, consider the context that asthma costs the community billions of dollars every year and that approx. 35% of asthma cases are caused by mould and dampness (tune in for these references!). You should be aware that there are 3 main types of carpets: nylon, wool and polypropylene. Which one is better or worse for your respiratory health?  What does dust do to the ability of your carpet to induce asthma?  What does the amount of humidity do?  These are some of the key questions we're going to answer in today's livestream. Once you know which carpet, which humidity and what other factors impact on your carpet cleanliness, I'm then going to discuss which cleaning methods are best for removing these microbial contaminants.

As part of the weekly 'Breaking News' segment, there a fascinating new paper that's come out that explains how mould damages the lung.  This paper provides fundamental evidence in support of the reasons that even low levels of mould can cause harm top people. We're also going to review 2 papers that have come out about the COVID-19 pandemic.  The first is a review of what we know of the medical journey for some of the first virus infected patients in China.  This information showed that severe pulmonary disease is the #1 reason for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).  Viral infections (and before COVID-19) became the central worry on all our minds, the risk from severe influenza pneumonia resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may in fact be made worse by Aspergillus infections. The relationship of co-infections with other pathogens like bacteria and fungi cannot be underestimated with COVID-19.

YouTube Link which has all the reference links:

https://youtu.be/_Rs82rPeARo

]]> On this week's livestream I'm going to cover the topic of microbial contamination in carpet.  In Australia, with over 17% of insurance claims being water-related, the probability of your carpet becoming water-damaged and mould-affected at some stage is high.  Now, consider the context that asthma costs the community billions of dollars every year and that approx. 35% of asthma cases are caused by mould and dampness (tune in for these references!). You should be aware that there are 3 main types of carpets: nylon, wool and polypropylene. Which one is better or worse for your respiratory health?  What does dust do to the ability of your carpet to induce asthma?  What does the amount of humidity do?  These are some of the key questions we're going to answer in today's livestream. Once you know which carpet, which humidity and what other factors impact on your carpet cleanliness, I'm then going to discuss which cleaning methods are best for removing these microbial contaminants.

As part of the weekly 'Breaking News' segment, there a fascinating new paper that's come out that explains how mould damages the lung.  This paper provides fundamental evidence in support of the reasons that even low levels of mould can cause harm top people. We're also going to review 2 papers that have come out about the COVID-19 pandemic.  The first is a review of what we know of the medical journey for some of the first virus infected patients in China.  This information showed that severe pulmonary disease is the #1 reason for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).  Viral infections (and before COVID-19) became the central worry on all our minds, the risk from severe influenza pneumonia resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may in fact be made worse by Aspergillus infections. The relationship of co-infections with other pathogens like bacteria and fungi cannot be underestimated with COVID-19.

YouTube Link which has all the reference links:

https://youtu.be/_Rs82rPeARo

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-3052888 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:00:00 +1100 2103 39 full false Microbiological Literacy & COVID-19 Awareness Microbiological Literacy & COVID-19 Awareness Now that the WHO has informed us all that the virus is now a Pandemic.  This week’s show will suspend our discussion on mould issues to bring you some important information on the COVID-19 virus.  This week we’ll be covering microbiological literacy, fractal scaling behaviour in death rate and how this is linked to what we know about the trail off of infection rate, the role of humidity and general virus transmission and infectivity as well as debunking some myths surrounding some claims that the COVID-19 is a laboratory made virus.  I also interview Richard Anthony from Eze Training who’s is launching a new course on infection control especially updated to cover COVID-19 that is aimed at the general public, hospitality staff as well as his core train demographic from the tattoo and allied body and beauty arts field. 

REFERENCES:

Timmis, K., Cavicchioli, R., Garcia, J., Nogales, B., Chavarría, M., Stein, L., McGenity, T., Webster, N., Singh, B., Handelsman, J., Lorenzo, V., Pruzzo, C., Timmis, J., Martín, J., Verstraete, W., Jetten, M., Danchin, A., Huang, W., Gilbert, J., Lal, R., Santos, H., Lee, S., Sessitsch, A., Bonfante, P., Gram, L., Lin, R., Ron, E., Karahan, Z., Meer, J., Artunkal, S., Jahn, D. and Harper, L., 2019. The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society. Environmental Microbiology, 21(5), pp.1513-1528. 10.1111/1462-2920.14611

Liu, S., Saif, L., Weiss, S., & Su, L. (2020). No credible evidence supporting claims of the laboratory engineering of SARS-CoV-2. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 9(1), 505-507. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1733440

Luo, W., Majumder, M., Liu, D., Poirier, C., Mandl, K., Lipsitch, M., & Santillana, M. (2020). The role of absolute humidity on transmission rates of the COVID-19 outbreak. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.12.20022467

Batista, M. (2020). Estimation of the final size of the coronavirus epidemic by the logistic model. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.16.20023606

Ziff, A., & Ziff, R. (2020). Fractal kinetics of COVID-19 pandemic. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.16.20023820

Wang, M., Jiang, A., Gong, L., Luo, L., Guo, W., & Li, C. et al. (2020). Temperature significant change COVID-19 Transmission in 429 cities. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.22.20025791

Cai, Y., Huang, T., Liu, X., & Xu, G. (2020). The Effects of "Fangcang, Huoshenshan, and Leishenshan" Makeshift Hospitals and Temperature on the Mortality of COVID-19. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.26.20028472

Oliveiros, B., Caramelo, L., Ferreira, N., & Caramelo, F. (2020). Role of temperature and humidity in the modulation of the doubling time of COVID-19 cases. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.05.20031872

Interview with Richard Anthony from: https://ezetrainingcourses.com/


]]> Now that the WHO has informed us all that the virus is now a Pandemic.  This week’s show will suspend our discussion on mould issues to bring you some important information on the COVID-19 virus.  This week we’ll be covering microbiological literacy, fractal scaling behaviour in death rate and how this is linked to what we know about the trail off of infection rate, the role of humidity and general virus transmission and infectivity as well as debunking some myths surrounding some claims that the COVID-19 is a laboratory made virus.  I also interview Richard Anthony from Eze Training who’s is launching a new course on infection control especially updated to cover COVID-19 that is aimed at the general public, hospitality staff as well as his core train demographic from the tattoo and allied body and beauty arts field. 

REFERENCES:

Timmis, K., Cavicchioli, R., Garcia, J., Nogales, B., Chavarría, M., Stein, L., McGenity, T., Webster, N., Singh, B., Handelsman, J., Lorenzo, V., Pruzzo, C., Timmis, J., Martín, J., Verstraete, W., Jetten, M., Danchin, A., Huang, W., Gilbert, J., Lal, R., Santos, H., Lee, S., Sessitsch, A., Bonfante, P., Gram, L., Lin, R., Ron, E., Karahan, Z., Meer, J., Artunkal, S., Jahn, D. and Harper, L., 2019. The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society. Environmental Microbiology, 21(5), pp.1513-1528. 10.1111/1462-2920.14611

Liu, S., Saif, L., Weiss, S., & Su, L. (2020). No credible evidence supporting claims of the laboratory engineering of SARS-CoV-2. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 9(1), 505-507. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1733440

Luo, W., Majumder, M., Liu, D., Poirier, C., Mandl, K., Lipsitch, M., & Santillana, M. (2020). The role of absolute humidity on transmission rates of the COVID-19 outbreak. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.12.20022467

Batista, M. (2020). Estimation of the final size of the coronavirus epidemic by the logistic model. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.16.20023606

Ziff, A., & Ziff, R. (2020). Fractal kinetics of COVID-19 pandemic. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.16.20023820

Wang, M., Jiang, A., Gong, L., Luo, L., Guo, W., & Li, C. et al. (2020). Temperature significant change COVID-19 Transmission in 429 cities. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.22.20025791

Cai, Y., Huang, T., Liu, X., & Xu, G. (2020). The Effects of "Fangcang, Huoshenshan, and Leishenshan" Makeshift Hospitals and Temperature on the Mortality of COVID-19. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.26.20028472

Oliveiros, B., Caramelo, L., Ferreira, N., & Caramelo, F. (2020). Role of temperature and humidity in the modulation of the doubling time of COVID-19 cases. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.05.20031872

Interview with Richard Anthony from: https://ezetrainingcourses.com/


]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2987398 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:00:00 +1100 2322 38 full false Mitochondria and Mould: What You Need To Know. Part 1 Mitochondria and Mould: What You Need To Know. Part 1 This term "mitochondrial dysfunction" is increasingly being talked about in regard to detoxification.  What is it?  What does it mean?  Where are the mitochondria and how are they linked to mould exposure? This week's episode is going to cover this fascinating topic.  

REFERENCES:

Wang, L., Li, W., Cheng, D. et al. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of three oral formulations of curcumin in rats. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10928-020-09675-3

Stress and Psychiatric Disorders: The Role of Mitochondria
Teresa E. Daniels, Elizabeth M. Olsen, Audrey R. Tyrka
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 2020 16:1. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-082719-104030 (to appear: May 2020)

Jaakkola, M.S., Lajunen, T.K. & Jaakkola, J.J.K. Indoor mold odor in the workplace increases the risk of Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome: a population-based incident case–control study. Clin Transl Allergy 10, 3 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13601-019-0307-2

Ochratoxin A exposure causes meiotic failure and oocyte deterioration in mice. Theriogenology. 2019 Nov 10. pii: S0093-691X(19)30505-9. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.11.005.

Mitochondrial Dynamic Dysfunction as a Main Triggering Factor for Inflammation Associated Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2020 Feb 14;13:97-107. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S232009.

Mold Exposure and Mitochondrial Antibodies. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Feb 21. pii: AT5799.

]]> This term "mitochondrial dysfunction" is increasingly being talked about in regard to detoxification.  What is it?  What does it mean?  Where are the mitochondria and how are they linked to mould exposure? This week's episode is going to cover this fascinating topic.  

REFERENCES:

Wang, L., Li, W., Cheng, D. et al. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of three oral formulations of curcumin in rats. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10928-020-09675-3

Stress and Psychiatric Disorders: The Role of Mitochondria
Teresa E. Daniels, Elizabeth M. Olsen, Audrey R. Tyrka
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 2020 16:1. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-082719-104030 (to appear: May 2020)

Jaakkola, M.S., Lajunen, T.K. & Jaakkola, J.J.K. Indoor mold odor in the workplace increases the risk of Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome: a population-based incident case–control study. Clin Transl Allergy 10, 3 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13601-019-0307-2

Ochratoxin A exposure causes meiotic failure and oocyte deterioration in mice. Theriogenology. 2019 Nov 10. pii: S0093-691X(19)30505-9. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.11.005.

Mitochondrial Dynamic Dysfunction as a Main Triggering Factor for Inflammation Associated Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2020 Feb 14;13:97-107. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S232009.

Mold Exposure and Mitochondrial Antibodies. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Feb 21. pii: AT5799.

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2922232 Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:00:00 +1100 1449 37 full false Hotel Room Mould! I Need To Complain - What Are My Options? Hotel Room Mould! I Need To Complain - What Are My Options? Imagine you and your family have planned a trip of a lifetime.  You finally get to your destination and discover that your supposedly luxurious hotel room is dirty and has mould.  What do you do?  Do you immediately write a bad review - potentially defaming the hotel and opening yourself up to being sued, or do you try and resolve the issues through the correct channels? In this week’s show, we look at what Google has to say about this problem.  To properly address this, we’ve consulted with a lawyerr to find out what they recommend and how they would deal with this.  

]]> Imagine you and your family have planned a trip of a lifetime.  You finally get to your destination and discover that your supposedly luxurious hotel room is dirty and has mould.  What do you do?  Do you immediately write a bad review - potentially defaming the hotel and opening yourself up to being sued, or do you try and resolve the issues through the correct channels? In this week’s show, we look at what Google has to say about this problem.  To properly address this, we’ve consulted with a lawyerr to find out what they recommend and how they would deal with this.  

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2857114 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:00:00 +1100 2066 36 full false How To Use Saunas For Mould Detoxification - Part 3 How To Use Saunas For Mould Detoxification - Part 3 Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2782675 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +1100 2741 35 full false How To Detox From Mould Using Sauna Bathing - Part 2 How To Detox From Mould Using Sauna Bathing - Part 2 Find out how sauna and exercise and nutritional supplements have been used to help people who suffer from an environmental illness termed Gulf War Illness.  This builds on what we know about the potential benefits of sauna for both firefighters and people who are dealing with symptoms attributed to mould illness and having spent time in water damaged environments. Also, we'll cover how sauna might work?  Does it operate my reducing inflammation or by affecting oxidative stress?  We'll also place sauna bathing into the 4-element model of mental health.  Finally, we'll talk about some basics of the use of niacin in combination with sauna.  Next week in Part 3, I'll be covering what the literature says about how sauna can help in neurodegerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and I want to touch on what the literature says about Multiple Sclerosis.

REFERENCES:

Longitudinal associations of sauna bathing with inflammation and oxidative stress: the KIHD prospective cohort study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...

Harnessing the Four Elements for Mental Health. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...

A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/21/...

A hot topic for health: Results of the Global Sauna Survey.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...


]]> Find out how sauna and exercise and nutritional supplements have been used to help people who suffer from an environmental illness termed Gulf War Illness.  This builds on what we know about the potential benefits of sauna for both firefighters and people who are dealing with symptoms attributed to mould illness and having spent time in water damaged environments. Also, we'll cover how sauna might work?  Does it operate my reducing inflammation or by affecting oxidative stress?  We'll also place sauna bathing into the 4-element model of mental health.  Finally, we'll talk about some basics of the use of niacin in combination with sauna.  Next week in Part 3, I'll be covering what the literature says about how sauna can help in neurodegerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and I want to touch on what the literature says about Multiple Sclerosis.

REFERENCES:

Longitudinal associations of sauna bathing with inflammation and oxidative stress: the KIHD prospective cohort study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...

Harnessing the Four Elements for Mental Health. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...

A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/21/...

A hot topic for health: Results of the Global Sauna Survey.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...


]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2730898 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:00:00 +1100 2178 34 full false Mould Detox Using Saunas - Part 1 Mould Detox Using Saunas - Part 1 In today's live stream we are going to be focusing on one of the most important aspects of mould exposure. This has to do with how you can potentially take control of your health. We’re taking a close look at one of the methods that has been written up reasonably extensively in the peer-reviewed literature that talks about practical methods that have shown strong effectiveness in people who have serious mould symptoms. In part 1 of this live stream I'm going to be reviewing some of the key papers that discuss how saunas have been used for mould detoxification. I'll also be discussing how saunas have been used by firefighters in an effort to combat problems associated with chemical and particulate matter challenge that they are exposed to as part of their work. Therefore, in part 1 I will review both recent and existing literature on which you can make some decisions regarding whether you want to incorporate this health modality into your own detoxification strategy. In part 2 we will discuss some of the fundamentals of infrared thermal energy and in part 3 we will talk to practitioners and people who use saunas for this purpose. In this livestream we will also review some of the current breaking news in the microbiology literature that has appeared in the first week of February.

REFERENCES:

PART 1:

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/inside-story-health-effects-indoor-air-quality-children-young-people

The treatment of patients with mycotoxin-induced disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19854821

A Large Case-series of Successful Treatment of Patients Exposed to Mold and Mycotoxin.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29861191

A review of the mechanism of injury and treatment approaches for illness resulting from exposure to water-damaged buildings, mold, and mycotoxins.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/767482/

Exposure of firefighters to particulates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24512044

Sauna bathing, health, and quality of life among octogenarian men: the Helsinki Businessmen Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29188579



]]> In today's live stream we are going to be focusing on one of the most important aspects of mould exposure. This has to do with how you can potentially take control of your health. We’re taking a close look at one of the methods that has been written up reasonably extensively in the peer-reviewed literature that talks about practical methods that have shown strong effectiveness in people who have serious mould symptoms. In part 1 of this live stream I'm going to be reviewing some of the key papers that discuss how saunas have been used for mould detoxification. I'll also be discussing how saunas have been used by firefighters in an effort to combat problems associated with chemical and particulate matter challenge that they are exposed to as part of their work. Therefore, in part 1 I will review both recent and existing literature on which you can make some decisions regarding whether you want to incorporate this health modality into your own detoxification strategy. In part 2 we will discuss some of the fundamentals of infrared thermal energy and in part 3 we will talk to practitioners and people who use saunas for this purpose. In this livestream we will also review some of the current breaking news in the microbiology literature that has appeared in the first week of February.

REFERENCES:

PART 1:

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/inside-story-health-effects-indoor-air-quality-children-young-people

The treatment of patients with mycotoxin-induced disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19854821

A Large Case-series of Successful Treatment of Patients Exposed to Mold and Mycotoxin.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29861191

A review of the mechanism of injury and treatment approaches for illness resulting from exposure to water-damaged buildings, mold, and mycotoxins.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/767482/

Exposure of firefighters to particulates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24512044

Sauna bathing, health, and quality of life among octogenarian men: the Helsinki Businessmen Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29188579



]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2670055 Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:00:00 +1100 1354 33 full false Back To School Moisture Damage & Your Child's Health Back To School Moisture Damage & Your Child's Health BREAKING NEWS - the corona virus, followed up with some new information linking fungi to grass pollens as a key contributor to thunderstorm asthma. Also, I have been receiving calls about the dubious practice of fogging for mould. Find out a legitimate method of aerosolized microbial control that's not suspect!

The main topic today is School Buildings and the Home and the potential connection with adverse respiratory health. Watch the video for the KEY PAPERS you should cite in any dialogue you have with your School or University if you suspect that mould or water damage is connected with poor or worsening health symptoms.

Towards the end of the video I tell you the 4 QUESTIONS you need answers for. Finally, I cite a paper that shows how to easily approach the MEASUREMENT of thee problems and how this information can be used to address parent, staff or child fears over exposure.

REFERENCES:

1. School attendance and daily respiratory symptoms in children: influence of moisture damage
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27224645/

2. Respiratory Diseases in University Students Associated with Exposure to Residential Dampness or Mold
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27869727/

3. Onset of respiratory symptoms among Chinese students: associations with dampness and redecoration, PM10, NO2, SO2 and inadequate ventilation in the school.
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30907194/

4. Onset and remission of rhinitis among students in relation to the home and school environment—A cohort study from Northern China
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30985976/

5. Does dampness and mold in schools affect health? Results of a meta-analysis.
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31310034/

6. Indoor Culturable Fungal Load and Associated Factors among Public Primary School Classrooms in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018: A Cross-sectional Study
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6813266/

NEWS:

1. Efficacy Of Hydrogen Peroxide Fumigation In Improving Disinfection Of Hospital Rooms And Reducing The Number Of Microorganisms
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31965767

2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108911
A systematic review of the role of grass pollen and fungi in thunderstorm asthmahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108911

1:05 Corona virus
3:02 Update on Thunderstorm asthma
4:44 Fogging and mould control
7:36 Hydrogen peroxide fumigation
12:20 Back to School Moisture Damage - What You Need To Know?12:59 The Letter - My Child Died From Environmental Impacts 
14:46 Key Questions
15:53 Are weekends and holidays connected with symptoms?
19:04 Onset and remission of rhinitis
23:25 What should you do?
26:02 Key Questions to consider
27:25 If it’s all too much for your school, here’s what to do or ask for?

]]> BREAKING NEWS - the corona virus, followed up with some new information linking fungi to grass pollens as a key contributor to thunderstorm asthma. Also, I have been receiving calls about the dubious practice of fogging for mould. Find out a legitimate method of aerosolized microbial control that's not suspect!

The main topic today is School Buildings and the Home and the potential connection with adverse respiratory health. Watch the video for the KEY PAPERS you should cite in any dialogue you have with your School or University if you suspect that mould or water damage is connected with poor or worsening health symptoms.

Towards the end of the video I tell you the 4 QUESTIONS you need answers for. Finally, I cite a paper that shows how to easily approach the MEASUREMENT of thee problems and how this information can be used to address parent, staff or child fears over exposure.

REFERENCES:

1. School attendance and daily respiratory symptoms in children: influence of moisture damage
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27224645/

2. Respiratory Diseases in University Students Associated with Exposure to Residential Dampness or Mold
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27869727/

3. Onset of respiratory symptoms among Chinese students: associations with dampness and redecoration, PM10, NO2, SO2 and inadequate ventilation in the school.
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30907194/

4. Onset and remission of rhinitis among students in relation to the home and school environment—A cohort study from Northern China
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30985976/

5. Does dampness and mold in schools affect health? Results of a meta-analysis.
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31310034/

6. Indoor Culturable Fungal Load and Associated Factors among Public Primary School Classrooms in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018: A Cross-sectional Study
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6813266/

NEWS:

1. Efficacy Of Hydrogen Peroxide Fumigation In Improving Disinfection Of Hospital Rooms And Reducing The Number Of Microorganisms
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31965767

2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108911
A systematic review of the role of grass pollen and fungi in thunderstorm asthmahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108911

1:05 Corona virus
3:02 Update on Thunderstorm asthma
4:44 Fogging and mould control
7:36 Hydrogen peroxide fumigation
12:20 Back to School Moisture Damage - What You Need To Know?12:59 The Letter - My Child Died From Environmental Impacts 
14:46 Key Questions
15:53 Are weekends and holidays connected with symptoms?
19:04 Onset and remission of rhinitis
23:25 What should you do?
26:02 Key Questions to consider
27:25 If it’s all too much for your school, here’s what to do or ask for?

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2613544 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:00:00 +1100 1958 32 full false Can A Questionnaire On Mould Help Explain Health Risks? Can A Questionnaire On Mould Help Explain Health Risks? Trend detection and identification has important ramifications in public health. With regard to water damage and mould, often the occupants own version of events and 'lived experience' inside the home is lost in the quicksand of data from spore traps, tape lifts, moisture levels and ERMI readings.

We ALL want to know if there is an underlying trend based on the observation of random variables over time? BUT, what are those random variables?

This Livestream focuses on this problem by exploring 2 different self-reporting questionnaires. Interesting questions about the ability for surveys to capture trend direction and discover persistent or anti-persistent (unstable) conditions warranting further fine-grained assessments and inspections are detailed.

Link to the FREE surveys:

1. Mould Risk Assessment: www.drcameronjones.com
2. Housing Mould Hazard: https://www.drcameronjones.com/pl/138413

1:37 News
2:40 Nano sized mould and temperature on earth, ice nucleation and respiratory hazards
9:31 Is my home making me sick?
9:40 Is the asset value of my home being compromised by water damage/mould?
10:15 Context of the problem
14:14 Survey Example #1: Mould Risk Assessment
22:39 Overview of Survey #2
25:14 Survey Example #2: Housing Mould Hazard
31:07 Conclusions

#mould #sickbuilding #waterdamage


]]> Trend detection and identification has important ramifications in public health. With regard to water damage and mould, often the occupants own version of events and 'lived experience' inside the home is lost in the quicksand of data from spore traps, tape lifts, moisture levels and ERMI readings.

We ALL want to know if there is an underlying trend based on the observation of random variables over time? BUT, what are those random variables?

This Livestream focuses on this problem by exploring 2 different self-reporting questionnaires. Interesting questions about the ability for surveys to capture trend direction and discover persistent or anti-persistent (unstable) conditions warranting further fine-grained assessments and inspections are detailed.

Link to the FREE surveys:

1. Mould Risk Assessment: www.drcameronjones.com
2. Housing Mould Hazard: https://www.drcameronjones.com/pl/138413

1:37 News
2:40 Nano sized mould and temperature on earth, ice nucleation and respiratory hazards
9:31 Is my home making me sick?
9:40 Is the asset value of my home being compromised by water damage/mould?
10:15 Context of the problem
14:14 Survey Example #1: Mould Risk Assessment
22:39 Overview of Survey #2
25:14 Survey Example #2: Housing Mould Hazard
31:07 Conclusions

#mould #sickbuilding #waterdamage


]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2557165 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 13:00:00 +1100 2203 mould, water damage, survey, cirs, healthrisk, self-assessment, self-reporting, environmentalhealth 31 full false How The Air Quality Index Can Be Used To Measure Bushfire Smoke How The Air Quality Index Can Be Used To Measure Bushfire Smoke This episode focuses on the Air Quality Index as this relates to measuring bushfire smoke and what the health messages say about the levels. The 2019-2020 Australian bushfires have burnt out 18.6M hectares of vegetation, destroyed over 5900 buildings with 2,200 homes lost.  Twenty nine people have been killed and 1Billion animals lives have been lost.  What is the smoke doing to you?  Even if you're not directly in the fire zone, the smoke could be affecting your health.  Find out all you need to know about the air quality index and what it means.  🔥 💨 😷 👨‍💼

Enjoy & 👇Comment Your Thoughts Below👇

★ Follow & Like On Facebook:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhe...

★ Follow BIOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES On Instagram:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/biologicalh...

★ Website for BIOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES:
👉 https://www.biologicalhealthservices....

★ Website for DR CAMERON JONES:
👉 https://www.drcameronjones.com

★ Subscribe On YouTube:
👉 http://www.youtube.com/drcameronjones
👉 http://www.drcameronjones.tv

★ Follow DR CAMERON JONES On Twitter:
👉https://www.twitter.com/drcameronjones

★ Follow DR CAMERON JONES On Instagram:
👉https://www.instagram.com/drcameronjones

★ Live Streaming Calendar:
👉https://www.drcameronjones.live

#bushfires #airquality #pyroaerobiology

]]> This episode focuses on the Air Quality Index as this relates to measuring bushfire smoke and what the health messages say about the levels. The 2019-2020 Australian bushfires have burnt out 18.6M hectares of vegetation, destroyed over 5900 buildings with 2,200 homes lost.  Twenty nine people have been killed and 1Billion animals lives have been lost.  What is the smoke doing to you?  Even if you're not directly in the fire zone, the smoke could be affecting your health.  Find out all you need to know about the air quality index and what it means.  🔥 💨 😷 👨‍💼

Enjoy & 👇Comment Your Thoughts Below👇

★ Follow & Like On Facebook:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhe...

★ Follow BIOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES On Instagram:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/biologicalh...

★ Website for BIOLOGICAL HEALTH SERVICES:
👉 https://www.biologicalhealthservices....

★ Website for DR CAMERON JONES:
👉 https://www.drcameronjones.com

★ Subscribe On YouTube:
👉 http://www.youtube.com/drcameronjones
👉 http://www.drcameronjones.tv

★ Follow DR CAMERON JONES On Twitter:
👉https://www.twitter.com/drcameronjones

★ Follow DR CAMERON JONES On Instagram:
👉https://www.instagram.com/drcameronjones

★ Live Streaming Calendar:
👉https://www.drcameronjones.live

#bushfires #airquality #pyroaerobiology

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2496076 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:00:00 +1100 1636 30 full false Top 10 Toxic Mould Social Networks on Facebook Top 10 Toxic Mould Social Networks on Facebook Who do you trust when it comes to mould? What have other people done? Am I the only one with these problems? Surely other people have dealt with mould and water damage and been successful and put it all behind them? Who will you turn to for advice, acceptance and wisdom? Social networks and health communication may be an important component of a solution that fits your needs. Online social networks, social influence and information cascades happen because of two types of influence. The first is PEER INFLUENCE where acceptance of information is dominated by users of the social network who influence the acceptance and consumption of information. The second type of influence is EXTERNAL INFLUENCE where for example the traditional news media introduces ‘a story’. 
WHY WOULD I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? Some estimates say that 55% of users spend less than 15 seconds actively on any web page. Social media engagement is fundamental to increasing the probability of reaching a target audience or being exposed to content you want. Facebook Groups are hot property! In 2018, 1.4 Billion people on Facebook used Groups every month. Closed Groups offer a way for like-minded people to community-build, share information and interact without a gatekeeper and without brand approvals or at least where known brands are in the background and people are at the interface of the dialogue. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW? Facebook is also changing their own rules and is rolling out “health support groups” where it will be possible for patients to post sensitive information anonymously through groups admins. Other groups are: public, closed or secret! WHAT ARE THE FACTS? Before I get into the specifics of the Top 10 Facebook Mould Groups I want to review what we know about social media, communication and misinformation. If we take a step back and look at what the academics are saying about the topic of vaccination on Facebook some interesting trends emerge: 1. Vaccine hesitancy is recognized as a major global health threat 2. Accessing any type of information on social media has been suggested to be a powerful influence factor on hesitancy 3. 2.6 Million users were analysed over 7 years interacting with just under 300,000 posts and they discovered that: 4. Content consumption about vaccines is dominated by the echo-chamber effect. The echo-chamber effect is when users or readers are exposed to information inside a bubble that supports their previously held beliefs. This is caused in part by machine learning algorithms at Google and Facebook where information content is tailored to users interests. 5. Echo-chambers explain why social media campaigns that deliver accurate information may have limited reach. 6. In fact, scientifically accurate information may only be effective in sub-groups and may even cause further polarisation away. What I mean here is that introducing dissenting information into a sub group can back-fire and in fact reinforce existing opinions within groups. 7. Other research shows that TRUST contributes to the success of social groups especially by encouraging people to interpret the actions of others favourably. 8. Some key facts emerge: (a) The likelihood of trust depends on how much they trust the group (b) Smaller, closed groups are trusted more (c) The individuals position within the group can predict trust (d) There are gender gaps - across countries, women tend to have larger networks of close friends than men and female users living away from their home town are more likely to engage in Facebook compared to their male counterparts. WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT CHECKING OUT FB GROUPS? You could miss out on timely and valuable peer-support. Consensus thinking in your niche can be subtle and by not joining in, you risk missing out on trends. Post popularity also gives you clues about these trends at work in your community. 

]]> Who do you trust when it comes to mould? What have other people done? Am I the only one with these problems? Surely other people have dealt with mould and water damage and been successful and put it all behind them? Who will you turn to for advice, acceptance and wisdom? Social networks and health communication may be an important component of a solution that fits your needs. Online social networks, social influence and information cascades happen because of two types of influence. The first is PEER INFLUENCE where acceptance of information is dominated by users of the social network who influence the acceptance and consumption of information. The second type of influence is EXTERNAL INFLUENCE where for example the traditional news media introduces ‘a story’. 
WHY WOULD I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? Some estimates say that 55% of users spend less than 15 seconds actively on any web page. Social media engagement is fundamental to increasing the probability of reaching a target audience or being exposed to content you want. Facebook Groups are hot property! In 2018, 1.4 Billion people on Facebook used Groups every month. Closed Groups offer a way for like-minded people to community-build, share information and interact without a gatekeeper and without brand approvals or at least where known brands are in the background and people are at the interface of the dialogue. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW? Facebook is also changing their own rules and is rolling out “health support groups” where it will be possible for patients to post sensitive information anonymously through groups admins. Other groups are: public, closed or secret! WHAT ARE THE FACTS? Before I get into the specifics of the Top 10 Facebook Mould Groups I want to review what we know about social media, communication and misinformation. If we take a step back and look at what the academics are saying about the topic of vaccination on Facebook some interesting trends emerge: 1. Vaccine hesitancy is recognized as a major global health threat 2. Accessing any type of information on social media has been suggested to be a powerful influence factor on hesitancy 3. 2.6 Million users were analysed over 7 years interacting with just under 300,000 posts and they discovered that: 4. Content consumption about vaccines is dominated by the echo-chamber effect. The echo-chamber effect is when users or readers are exposed to information inside a bubble that supports their previously held beliefs. This is caused in part by machine learning algorithms at Google and Facebook where information content is tailored to users interests. 5. Echo-chambers explain why social media campaigns that deliver accurate information may have limited reach. 6. In fact, scientifically accurate information may only be effective in sub-groups and may even cause further polarisation away. What I mean here is that introducing dissenting information into a sub group can back-fire and in fact reinforce existing opinions within groups. 7. Other research shows that TRUST contributes to the success of social groups especially by encouraging people to interpret the actions of others favourably. 8. Some key facts emerge: (a) The likelihood of trust depends on how much they trust the group (b) Smaller, closed groups are trusted more (c) The individuals position within the group can predict trust (d) There are gender gaps - across countries, women tend to have larger networks of close friends than men and female users living away from their home town are more likely to engage in Facebook compared to their male counterparts. WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT CHECKING OUT FB GROUPS? You could miss out on timely and valuable peer-support. Consensus thinking in your niche can be subtle and by not joining in, you risk missing out on trends. Post popularity also gives you clues about these trends at work in your community. 

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2291381 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +1100 1393 8 full false Visual Contrast Sensitivity - What Is It and Can You Use It For Mould Exposure? Visual Contrast Sensitivity - What Is It and Can You Use It For Mould Exposure? VCS Testing is a common method used by clinicians and the public to get an insight into how your visual system might have been impacted on by environmental pollutants.  The acronym stands for 'Visual Contrast Sensitivity' and it's the go-to method for people who may have been exposed to mould and want to know if their memory or visual response has been affected.  Learn how this test could help you? Topics I’m covering include:

1. What is visual contrast sensitivity?
2. Areas where VCS testing has been used
3. Foundation principles of the test
4. Practical demonstration of the manual method to measure your VCS aptitude
5. Discussion
6. What’s in it for you and why you should care about VCS testing

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> VCS Testing is a common method used by clinicians and the public to get an insight into how your visual system might have been impacted on by environmental pollutants.  The acronym stands for 'Visual Contrast Sensitivity' and it's the go-to method for people who may have been exposed to mould and want to know if their memory or visual response has been affected.  Learn how this test could help you? Topics I’m covering include:

1. What is visual contrast sensitivity?
2. Areas where VCS testing has been used
3. Foundation principles of the test
4. Practical demonstration of the manual method to measure your VCS aptitude
5. Discussion
6. What’s in it for you and why you should care about VCS testing

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2291255 Mon, 06 Jan 2020 13:00:00 +1100 1490 mould, mold, VCS, visualcontrastsensitivity, toxicmould, blackmould, mouldexposure, mouldillness, CIRS, chronicinflammatoryresponsesyndrome 7 full false Your Mould Questions Answered Your Mould Questions Answered Today I'm going to cover some of the common questions sent in to me about mould and mould exposure.

1. Will the test results show all types of mould and bacteria that are present?
2. I can’t see any mould but could it be there anyway?
3. What sort of test can I take to my landlord so I can break my lease?
4. I want to test for mould on my child’s lunchbox, how do I do this?
5. What’s the difference between an air and a swab test?
6. Will a lab report provide advice on how to remediate?
7. I have visible mould, what test will allow me to link this with the source of my headaches?
8. What’s the best way to sample a 3-bedroom house?
9. My carpet was flooded from a leak and I can still smell mould. I’m leasing my property, what are your recommendations?
10. My dog was diagnosed with a fungal lung infection do you have any information on this?
11. Is mould new? Why does it seem that more people are getting sick from mould today compared to when I was a kid?

If you have your own specific question, feel free to email or DM me and I’ll make every effort to answer you in the comments or directly.

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Today I'm going to cover some of the common questions sent in to me about mould and mould exposure.

1. Will the test results show all types of mould and bacteria that are present?
2. I can’t see any mould but could it be there anyway?
3. What sort of test can I take to my landlord so I can break my lease?
4. I want to test for mould on my child’s lunchbox, how do I do this?
5. What’s the difference between an air and a swab test?
6. Will a lab report provide advice on how to remediate?
7. I have visible mould, what test will allow me to link this with the source of my headaches?
8. What’s the best way to sample a 3-bedroom house?
9. My carpet was flooded from a leak and I can still smell mould. I’m leasing my property, what are your recommendations?
10. My dog was diagnosed with a fungal lung infection do you have any information on this?
11. Is mould new? Why does it seem that more people are getting sick from mould today compared to when I was a kid?

If you have your own specific question, feel free to email or DM me and I’ll make every effort to answer you in the comments or directly.

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2291099 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:00:00 +1100 2156 mould, moldremediation, toxicmold, mold removal, mold spores, mold health effects, black mould, mould assessment, mould testing, mold 6 full false What Is Christmas Tree Syndrome? What Is Christmas Tree Syndrome? Can a live Christmas Tree indoors aggravate your asthma or cause wheeze or contact dermatitis? Is this just a Scrooge conspiracy by a cold-hearted person who despises Christmas and wants us all to buy artificial trees or have no tree at all? Have you or a loved one perhaps started sneezing uncontrollably? Is that due to mould or just the fact that distant Family member/s you don’t see that often are on your doorstep? In this Live Stream, I’m reviewing the facts about what’s been termed Christmas Tree Syndrome and pointing out what’s real news from fake news. Also, find out why there might be fewer Christmas trees in your town or city this year? 

REFERENCES:


Christmas tree dermatitis caused by colophonium allergy. 2017. Contact Dermatitis. 77:406-429. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29164686

Identification of mould on seasonal indoor coniferous trees. 2011. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 106: 543-544.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2011.03.003

Christmas tree allergy: mould and pollen studies. 1970. C.M.A. Journal. 103: 1272-1276. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1930673/

The Christmas Tree Allergy Phenomenon – Live Christmas Trees Carry Mold That Increase Allergy Symptoms in Susceptible Individuals. 2015. https://nhsjs.com/2015/the-christmas-tree-allergy-phenomenon-live-christmas-trees-carry-mold-that-increase-allergy-symptoms-in-susceptible-individuals/#identifier_0_2869

A Review of Colophonium. https://www.the-dermatologist.com/content/review-colophonium

Exposure and Health Effects of Fungi on Humans. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016 ; 4(3): 396–404. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2016.01.008

Kasprzyk I, Rodinkova V, Šaulienė I, et al. Air pollution by allergenic spores of the genus Alternaria in the air of central and eastern Europe. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015;22(12):9260–9274. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-4070-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4473279/

The dreaded promise of Christmas and the New Year. 2007. Psychoanal Q. 2007 Oct;76(4):1351-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18085014

]]> Can a live Christmas Tree indoors aggravate your asthma or cause wheeze or contact dermatitis? Is this just a Scrooge conspiracy by a cold-hearted person who despises Christmas and wants us all to buy artificial trees or have no tree at all? Have you or a loved one perhaps started sneezing uncontrollably? Is that due to mould or just the fact that distant Family member/s you don’t see that often are on your doorstep? In this Live Stream, I’m reviewing the facts about what’s been termed Christmas Tree Syndrome and pointing out what’s real news from fake news. Also, find out why there might be fewer Christmas trees in your town or city this year? 

REFERENCES:


Christmas tree dermatitis caused by colophonium allergy. 2017. Contact Dermatitis. 77:406-429. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29164686

Identification of mould on seasonal indoor coniferous trees. 2011. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 106: 543-544.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2011.03.003

Christmas tree allergy: mould and pollen studies. 1970. C.M.A. Journal. 103: 1272-1276. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1930673/

The Christmas Tree Allergy Phenomenon – Live Christmas Trees Carry Mold That Increase Allergy Symptoms in Susceptible Individuals. 2015. https://nhsjs.com/2015/the-christmas-tree-allergy-phenomenon-live-christmas-trees-carry-mold-that-increase-allergy-symptoms-in-susceptible-individuals/#identifier_0_2869

A Review of Colophonium. https://www.the-dermatologist.com/content/review-colophonium

Exposure and Health Effects of Fungi on Humans. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016 ; 4(3): 396–404. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2016.01.008

Kasprzyk I, Rodinkova V, Šaulienė I, et al. Air pollution by allergenic spores of the genus Alternaria in the air of central and eastern Europe. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015;22(12):9260–9274. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-4070-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4473279/

The dreaded promise of Christmas and the New Year. 2007. Psychoanal Q. 2007 Oct;76(4):1351-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18085014

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2312921 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:00:00 +1100 1523 28 full false Oil of Cloves Expert Interview Oil of Cloves Expert Interview In this week’s podcast, I’m covering the facts everyone should know about oil of cloves. What’s it used for, how to use it (as a liquid or vapour), what to expect and where to get it. Joining me for an interview is Rachel Shaw from The Oil of Cloves Company. She’s going to be telling us all how to best use this essential oil to control mould in the home or office. Essential oils have shown remarkable antioxidant activities when used at low dose ranges from 0.01 to 10 mg/mL in animal and human cell models. This is mainly due to the diversity seen in the range of phenolic components in the essential oils. Get the inside view on how oil of cloves has been used for mould control and what other oils are available that can help you.

DISCOUNT CODE: 10% off products biohealth10 at: https://oilofcloves.com.au/

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

REFERENCES:

Wińska K, Mączka W, Łyczko J, Grabarczyk M, Czubaszek A, Szumny A. Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents-Myth or Real Alternative?. Molecules. 2019;24(11):2130. Published 2019 Jun 5. doi:10.3390/molecules24112130

Fei Hu, Xiao-Fang Tu, Kiran Thakur, Fan Hu, Xiao-Li Li, Ying-Shuo Zhang, Jian-Guo Zhang, Zhao-Jun Wei, Comparison of antifungal activity of essential oils from different plants against three fungi, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 134, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.110821

Bismarck D, Dusold A, Heusinger A, Müller E: Antifungal in vitro Activity of Essential Oils against Clinical Isolates of Malassezia pachydermatis from Canine Ears: A Report from a Practice Laboratory. Complement Med Res 2019. doi: 10.1159/000504316

Betzler de Oliveira de Siqueira L1, Matos APDS, Cardoso VDS, Villanova JCO, Guimarães BDCLR, Dos Santos EP, Beatriz Vermelho A, Santos-Oliveira R, Ricci Junior E.
Clove oil nanoemulsion showed potent inhibitory effect against Candida spp. Nanotechnology. 2019 Oct 18;30(42):425101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab30c1. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Valdivieso-Ugarte M, Gomez-Llorente C, Plaza-Díaz J, Gil Á. Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Essential Oils: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2786. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31731683

]]> In this week’s podcast, I’m covering the facts everyone should know about oil of cloves. What’s it used for, how to use it (as a liquid or vapour), what to expect and where to get it. Joining me for an interview is Rachel Shaw from The Oil of Cloves Company. She’s going to be telling us all how to best use this essential oil to control mould in the home or office. Essential oils have shown remarkable antioxidant activities when used at low dose ranges from 0.01 to 10 mg/mL in animal and human cell models. This is mainly due to the diversity seen in the range of phenolic components in the essential oils. Get the inside view on how oil of cloves has been used for mould control and what other oils are available that can help you.

DISCOUNT CODE: 10% off products biohealth10 at: https://oilofcloves.com.au/

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

REFERENCES:

Wińska K, Mączka W, Łyczko J, Grabarczyk M, Czubaszek A, Szumny A. Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents-Myth or Real Alternative?. Molecules. 2019;24(11):2130. Published 2019 Jun 5. doi:10.3390/molecules24112130

Fei Hu, Xiao-Fang Tu, Kiran Thakur, Fan Hu, Xiao-Li Li, Ying-Shuo Zhang, Jian-Guo Zhang, Zhao-Jun Wei, Comparison of antifungal activity of essential oils from different plants against three fungi, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 134, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.110821

Bismarck D, Dusold A, Heusinger A, Müller E: Antifungal in vitro Activity of Essential Oils against Clinical Isolates of Malassezia pachydermatis from Canine Ears: A Report from a Practice Laboratory. Complement Med Res 2019. doi: 10.1159/000504316

Betzler de Oliveira de Siqueira L1, Matos APDS, Cardoso VDS, Villanova JCO, Guimarães BDCLR, Dos Santos EP, Beatriz Vermelho A, Santos-Oliveira R, Ricci Junior E.
Clove oil nanoemulsion showed potent inhibitory effect against Candida spp. Nanotechnology. 2019 Oct 18;30(42):425101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab30c1. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Valdivieso-Ugarte M, Gomez-Llorente C, Plaza-Díaz J, Gil Á. Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Essential Oils: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2786. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31731683

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2274302 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +1100 2895 oilofcloves, oilofclovesuses, essentialoil, mould, cleaning 27 full false Public Housing Mould Nightmare Public Housing Mould Nightmare Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2297537 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +1100 2623 full false Mould Testing With Spore Traps: How To Measure Your Indoor Air Quality Mould Testing With Spore Traps: How To Measure Your Indoor Air Quality Do you need to know if your indoor air quality is being affected by mould spores? Has your property been water damaged? Is there a smell? Are you concerned about biotoxins? Covering the what, how and why of spore trap testing. I'm also discussing some real world examples from under the microscope. Find out when they are useful and my Top 6 tips for success and some pitfalls of this widely used method. I’ll also be doing a Q&A and links to papers/resources will be provided after the livestream in the description or comments.

TOP 6 TIPS FOR SUCCESS WITH SPORE TRAPS:
 
1. Take enough samples - must have representative data to answer questions about habitability across the home and in regions of interest
2. Adequate controls taken - statistical significance
3. Samples taken in the breathing zone
4. Spore trap data linked to other types of sampling
5. Consider destructive testing where there’s a suspicion of hidden mould eg. behind walls
6. Always test the roof void - often the hidden mould reservoir

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

REFERENCES

Jones CL. Crowd Sourced Taxonomic Identification Guide for Categorization
and Quantification of Fungal Spores by Optical Microscopy. J Mycol
Mycological Sci 2019, 2(1): 000106. https://www.medwinpublishers.com/OAJMMS/OAJMMS16000106.pdf

ASTM D7391 - 17e1 Standard Test Method for Categorization and Quantification of Airborne Fungal Structures in an Inertial Impaction Sample by Optical Microscopy. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7391.htm

ASTM D7440 - 08(2015)e1 Standard Practice for Characterizing Uncertainty in Air Quality Measurements. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7440.htm

ASTM D7338 - 14 Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7338.htm WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. Publication date: 2009. www.who.int/airpollution/guidelines/dampness-mould/en/

Carol Y. Rao , Harriet A. Burge & John C.S. Chang (1996) Review of Quantitative Standards and Guidelines for Fungi in Indoor Air, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 46:9, 899-908, DOI: 10.1080/10473289.1996.10467526

Cabral, J.P.S. (2010). Can we use indoor fungi as bioindicators of indoor air quality? Historical perspectives and open questions. Science of The Total Environment. 408(20): 4285-4295. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.005

Dananche ́ C, Gustin M-P, Cassier P, Loeffert ST, Thibaudon M, Be ́net T, et al. (2017) Evaluation of hirst-type spore trap to monitor environmental fungal load in hospital. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177263. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0177263

]]> Do you need to know if your indoor air quality is being affected by mould spores? Has your property been water damaged? Is there a smell? Are you concerned about biotoxins? Covering the what, how and why of spore trap testing. I'm also discussing some real world examples from under the microscope. Find out when they are useful and my Top 6 tips for success and some pitfalls of this widely used method. I’ll also be doing a Q&A and links to papers/resources will be provided after the livestream in the description or comments.

TOP 6 TIPS FOR SUCCESS WITH SPORE TRAPS:
 
1. Take enough samples - must have representative data to answer questions about habitability across the home and in regions of interest
2. Adequate controls taken - statistical significance
3. Samples taken in the breathing zone
4. Spore trap data linked to other types of sampling
5. Consider destructive testing where there’s a suspicion of hidden mould eg. behind walls
6. Always test the roof void - often the hidden mould reservoir

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

REFERENCES

Jones CL. Crowd Sourced Taxonomic Identification Guide for Categorization
and Quantification of Fungal Spores by Optical Microscopy. J Mycol
Mycological Sci 2019, 2(1): 000106. https://www.medwinpublishers.com/OAJMMS/OAJMMS16000106.pdf

ASTM D7391 - 17e1 Standard Test Method for Categorization and Quantification of Airborne Fungal Structures in an Inertial Impaction Sample by Optical Microscopy. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7391.htm

ASTM D7440 - 08(2015)e1 Standard Practice for Characterizing Uncertainty in Air Quality Measurements. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7440.htm

ASTM D7338 - 14 Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D7338.htm WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. Publication date: 2009. www.who.int/airpollution/guidelines/dampness-mould/en/

Carol Y. Rao , Harriet A. Burge & John C.S. Chang (1996) Review of Quantitative Standards and Guidelines for Fungi in Indoor Air, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 46:9, 899-908, DOI: 10.1080/10473289.1996.10467526

Cabral, J.P.S. (2010). Can we use indoor fungi as bioindicators of indoor air quality? Historical perspectives and open questions. Science of The Total Environment. 408(20): 4285-4295. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.005

Dananche ́ C, Gustin M-P, Cassier P, Loeffert ST, Thibaudon M, Be ́net T, et al. (2017) Evaluation of hirst-type spore trap to monitor environmental fungal load in hospital. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177263. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0177263

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2290934 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:00:00 +1100 1453 mould, indoorairquality, mouldtesting, fungalspores, sporetrap, sporetraptest, spores, mouldinspection, waterdamage, mycology, ocupationalhygiene, microbiology, environmentalhealth 5 full false What Is Bio-Tape & How To Use It? What Is Bio-Tape & How To Use It? Today I’m going to be talking about the subject of Bio-Tape - otherwise known as Tape Lifts or Cellotape Lifts. These are very commonly used in water damage investigations for mould and I’m going to tell you how they’re used, some of their advantages, and some of their disadvantages.

Q: WHY ARE THEY USED?
A: If you see visible mould, how can you measure it?

•You could take a photograph, but that doesn’t tell you what fungi are present?
•You could take a surface press plate impression - but that’s a whole other topic called Viable Sampling
•You could take a spore trap - but that also doesn’t tell you about surfaces, only indirectly try since that measures the concentration of mould in the air.
•You could even take a swab sample - but again, you need complex microbiological media to streak the swab across and incubation facilities.

ENTER: The Tape Lift.

•These are a sticky microscope slides.

BENEFITS/PRO’S:

1. Quick to do and relatively inexpensive
2. Easy to test a range ion different surfaces
3. Test and send to lab - the lab does the hard work

CON’S:

1. Potential bias in sampling - you could cherry pick ALL mouldy areas or pick all non-mouldy areas are manipulate the conclusions drawn by the data
2. Species ID much harder when tape is ripped off the surface - causes damage to tiny cell structure. Like ripping off a bandaid.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. It should be used as a companion or complementary method e.g. use tape lifts and RODAC press plates in combination for contents testing.
2. If a number of samples are taken from a representative set of surfaces to answer a specific question, the method is reliable
3. Next time you have need for a mould assessment ask if tape lift testing is available ands is suitable for your situation?

REFERENCES:

Citation: Jones CL. Comment on fungal tape lift reporting frameworks. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2019;7(6):155‒157. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2019.07.00262

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Today I’m going to be talking about the subject of Bio-Tape - otherwise known as Tape Lifts or Cellotape Lifts. These are very commonly used in water damage investigations for mould and I’m going to tell you how they’re used, some of their advantages, and some of their disadvantages.

Q: WHY ARE THEY USED?
A: If you see visible mould, how can you measure it?

•You could take a photograph, but that doesn’t tell you what fungi are present?
•You could take a surface press plate impression - but that’s a whole other topic called Viable Sampling
•You could take a spore trap - but that also doesn’t tell you about surfaces, only indirectly try since that measures the concentration of mould in the air.
•You could even take a swab sample - but again, you need complex microbiological media to streak the swab across and incubation facilities.

ENTER: The Tape Lift.

•These are a sticky microscope slides.

BENEFITS/PRO’S:

1. Quick to do and relatively inexpensive
2. Easy to test a range ion different surfaces
3. Test and send to lab - the lab does the hard work

CON’S:

1. Potential bias in sampling - you could cherry pick ALL mouldy areas or pick all non-mouldy areas are manipulate the conclusions drawn by the data
2. Species ID much harder when tape is ripped off the surface - causes damage to tiny cell structure. Like ripping off a bandaid.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. It should be used as a companion or complementary method e.g. use tape lifts and RODAC press plates in combination for contents testing.
2. If a number of samples are taken from a representative set of surfaces to answer a specific question, the method is reliable
3. Next time you have need for a mould assessment ask if tape lift testing is available ands is suitable for your situation?

REFERENCES:

Citation: Jones CL. Comment on fungal tape lift reporting frameworks. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2019;7(6):155‒157. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2019.07.00262

JOIN ME ON THE WEEKLY LIVESTREAM AT:  https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2290508 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:00:00 +1100 1297 mould, mouldillness, mouldtesting, mouldinspection, mouldtestingkits, mouldtestingkit, mouldassessment, bio-tape, tapelift 4 full false What Mould Remediation Standards Are Available? What Mould Remediation Standards Are Available? When you go to the Doctor and follow their treatment advice you usually feel pretty confidant in their skills safe in the knowledge that they have successfully graduated their medical degree. You assume they follow procedures and know where to access expert advice and information to help them do their job properly.

• But what about when your home or office or personal property has been damaged by unexpected water?
• Do you have a valid claim for damages? Is mould a real or foreseeable risk?
• How is the building or your home contents going to be assessed OR how have they been assessed?
• What criteria will be considered? What lens will you assessor or inspector use? These are fundamental questions that bring into focus both the applied and theoretical aspects underpinning mould remediation and restoration.

Now if you’re watching or listening to this - I’m assuming you want to know if there are some objective methods or approaches used by the water damage and restoration industry; and if so what are they and where do you get them to read yourself?

This is what I’m covering in todays show… Specifically, I’m going to draw your attention to my Top 5 Best-Of Mould Remediation Standards List:

TOP 5 Best-Of List:

1. S500: • Revised in 2015. It covers steps in how to approach and implement water damage restoration.
2. S520: • Third Edition, 2915. It covers steps in how to approach and implement mould remediation.
3. R520: • Third Edition, 2015. Supplementary reference guide for mould remediation.
4. AMG 2010: • Practical guide and reference to mould remediation and testing benchmarks. The defacto Australian Guideline. See: The Australian Mould Guideline
5. The Mould Worker’s Handbook (2010): • Companion guidebook for dealing with mould. THERE ARE OTHERS…

Join me each week on the livestream: https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> When you go to the Doctor and follow their treatment advice you usually feel pretty confidant in their skills safe in the knowledge that they have successfully graduated their medical degree. You assume they follow procedures and know where to access expert advice and information to help them do their job properly.

• But what about when your home or office or personal property has been damaged by unexpected water?
• Do you have a valid claim for damages? Is mould a real or foreseeable risk?
• How is the building or your home contents going to be assessed OR how have they been assessed?
• What criteria will be considered? What lens will you assessor or inspector use? These are fundamental questions that bring into focus both the applied and theoretical aspects underpinning mould remediation and restoration.

Now if you’re watching or listening to this - I’m assuming you want to know if there are some objective methods or approaches used by the water damage and restoration industry; and if so what are they and where do you get them to read yourself?

This is what I’m covering in todays show… Specifically, I’m going to draw your attention to my Top 5 Best-Of Mould Remediation Standards List:

TOP 5 Best-Of List:

1. S500: • Revised in 2015. It covers steps in how to approach and implement water damage restoration.
2. S520: • Third Edition, 2915. It covers steps in how to approach and implement mould remediation.
3. R520: • Third Edition, 2015. Supplementary reference guide for mould remediation.
4. AMG 2010: • Practical guide and reference to mould remediation and testing benchmarks. The defacto Australian Guideline. See: The Australian Mould Guideline
5. The Mould Worker’s Handbook (2010): • Companion guidebook for dealing with mould. THERE ARE OTHERS…

Join me each week on the livestream: https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2290478 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:00:00 +1100 777 mould, water damage, restoration, remediation, propertylaw, IICRC, Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, AustralianMouldGuideline 3 full false Can Mould Grow On Or In Bricks & Concrete? Can Mould Grow On Or In Bricks & Concrete? Think that mould only grows on bread, or on rotting fruit or if it does get inside your home - doesn’t it just live inside your air conditioning ducts where condensation can form, or if there’s been a flood or unexpected water ingress then it might grow on damp wall linings like gyprock plasterboard or on soft furnishings like backpacks or curtains?

This week, I’m wanting to talk about mould growth in extreme habitats like stone and mineral building elements. Think it can’t happen? I didn’t? I thought the only time microbes attacked walls was on really old ones where cultural artefacts like murals in churches or in caves become damaged. This phenomenon is called biodeterioration in the literature. However, I want to share with you some results from an inspection I did where we found mould growing not just on old plaster, but behind bricks, in old mortar joins, behind and between excised bricks and when we cracked some of the bricks open, there was even mould growing inside!!!! How can this be explained? After all, bricks and other stone materials like concrete and terrazzo-type floor tiles are typically a pretty poor foodstuff for microorganisms.

In a recent elegant experiment, some scientists from Israel and Germany did an elegant experiment showing that a fungus called Nigrospora spherica was the dominant fungus with a 100% match with the fungus found growing in efflorescence degrading stone chips of terrazzo floor tiles. When the particle size of the terrazzo was <1mm, the fungus dissolved more than 70% of the powdered tile in 10 days.

Now imagine what happens to your brick work when it gets wet and you see efflorescence. That’s a sign of fungal attack. If you have rising damp, you have slow biodeterioration going on indoors. Health concerns were raised by the authors of this study about breathing in the crystalline salts by residents where terrazzo tiles are breaking up.

This type of dilapidation happens eventually in the built environment. Now I want to show you some examples of fungi growing in a water damaged building inside a wall behind thick plaster….look at the clearly visible mycelium…. What about concrete? Typical fungi to those seen in the contaminated bricks include Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium brevicompactum. When concrete specimens were inoculated with these typical fungi and tested for stability and examined under a scanning electron microscope…do you know what they saw and found? The fungi induced: Calcium release from the concrete. If the concrete was wet, then they saw more rapid calcium loss compared to drier concrete.

After 28-days of growth with Penicillium, the stability of the concrete showed a 1% loss.

Now, lets revisit the mould in brick examples… What do you think is going to happen to your house if there’s a fire and the whole house is saturated? How is your remediation process going to get the mould and spores and biofilms out of the bricks, inside the bricks and between the mortar joins?

Citation: Jones CL. Guidelines for the assessment of viable fungal hygiene on indoor surfaces using RODAC petri plates. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access.
2019;7(5):116‒126. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2019.07.00256

REFERENCES:

Metabolic Activity of Micromycetes Affecting Urban Concrete Constructions.  The Scientific World Journal. Volume 2018, Article ID 8360287, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8360287 OR https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2018/8360287/abs/

Laboratory study of fungal bioreceptivity of different fractions of composite flooring tiles showing efflorescence. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. DOI 10.1007/s00253-014-5628-4 OR https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24652060

Concrete Damage in Field Conditions and Protective Sealer and Coating Systems. Coatings 7(7): June. DOI: 10.3390/coatings7070090 OR https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/7/7/90

]]> Think that mould only grows on bread, or on rotting fruit or if it does get inside your home - doesn’t it just live inside your air conditioning ducts where condensation can form, or if there’s been a flood or unexpected water ingress then it might grow on damp wall linings like gyprock plasterboard or on soft furnishings like backpacks or curtains?

This week, I’m wanting to talk about mould growth in extreme habitats like stone and mineral building elements. Think it can’t happen? I didn’t? I thought the only time microbes attacked walls was on really old ones where cultural artefacts like murals in churches or in caves become damaged. This phenomenon is called biodeterioration in the literature. However, I want to share with you some results from an inspection I did where we found mould growing not just on old plaster, but behind bricks, in old mortar joins, behind and between excised bricks and when we cracked some of the bricks open, there was even mould growing inside!!!! How can this be explained? After all, bricks and other stone materials like concrete and terrazzo-type floor tiles are typically a pretty poor foodstuff for microorganisms.

In a recent elegant experiment, some scientists from Israel and Germany did an elegant experiment showing that a fungus called Nigrospora spherica was the dominant fungus with a 100% match with the fungus found growing in efflorescence degrading stone chips of terrazzo floor tiles. When the particle size of the terrazzo was <1mm, the fungus dissolved more than 70% of the powdered tile in 10 days.

Now imagine what happens to your brick work when it gets wet and you see efflorescence. That’s a sign of fungal attack. If you have rising damp, you have slow biodeterioration going on indoors. Health concerns were raised by the authors of this study about breathing in the crystalline salts by residents where terrazzo tiles are breaking up.

This type of dilapidation happens eventually in the built environment. Now I want to show you some examples of fungi growing in a water damaged building inside a wall behind thick plaster….look at the clearly visible mycelium…. What about concrete? Typical fungi to those seen in the contaminated bricks include Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium brevicompactum. When concrete specimens were inoculated with these typical fungi and tested for stability and examined under a scanning electron microscope…do you know what they saw and found? The fungi induced: Calcium release from the concrete. If the concrete was wet, then they saw more rapid calcium loss compared to drier concrete.

After 28-days of growth with Penicillium, the stability of the concrete showed a 1% loss.

Now, lets revisit the mould in brick examples… What do you think is going to happen to your house if there’s a fire and the whole house is saturated? How is your remediation process going to get the mould and spores and biofilms out of the bricks, inside the bricks and between the mortar joins?

Citation: Jones CL. Guidelines for the assessment of viable fungal hygiene on indoor surfaces using RODAC petri plates. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access.
2019;7(5):116‒126. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2019.07.00256

REFERENCES:

Metabolic Activity of Micromycetes Affecting Urban Concrete Constructions.  The Scientific World Journal. Volume 2018, Article ID 8360287, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8360287 OR https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2018/8360287/abs/

Laboratory study of fungal bioreceptivity of different fractions of composite flooring tiles showing efflorescence. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. DOI 10.1007/s00253-014-5628-4 OR https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24652060

Concrete Damage in Field Conditions and Protective Sealer and Coating Systems. Coatings 7(7): June. DOI: 10.3390/coatings7070090 OR https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/7/7/90

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2274557 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +1100 816 mould, biodeterioration, waterdamage, microbiology, mycology, indoorairquality, propertylaw 2 full false Introduction to The Mould Show and How Mould Fits Into the Triad of Disease, Illness, and Sickness Introduction to The Mould Show and How Mould Fits Into the Triad of Disease, Illness, and Sickness Welcome to The Mould Show. Here’s where I bring you weekly practical information, research highlights and interviews with experts on how you can maximise your indoor air quality and minimise your exposure to harmful mould.

Today I’m going to introduce who I am, what we’re going to cover and discuss how mould fits into the triad of disease, illness, and sickness. This podcast is the audio version of live stream video that I do weekly at 11am on Thursdays.

You can join me at: https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Welcome to The Mould Show. Here’s where I bring you weekly practical information, research highlights and interviews with experts on how you can maximise your indoor air quality and minimise your exposure to harmful mould.

Today I’m going to introduce who I am, what we’re going to cover and discuss how mould fits into the triad of disease, illness, and sickness. This podcast is the audio version of live stream video that I do weekly at 11am on Thursdays.

You can join me at: https://www.facebook.com/biologicalhealth/

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2274275 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +1100 848 mould, mouldillness, indoorairquality, chronicillness, invisibleillness, publichealth, microbiology, mycology, environmentalhealth 1 full false Breathing in mould spores causes anxiety, memory deficits and increases pain perception Breathing in mould spores causes anxiety, memory deficits and increases pain perception Sickness behaviour following mould exposure has finally been validated. It turns out that anxiety, memory deficits and pain thresholds are all switched on by BOTH toxic and non-toxic mould. The research shows that mould spores and mould cell wall fragments can adversely affect the brain and influence behaviour by challenging and activating the innate immune system. In this week's Livestream I'm going to be talking about these important findings and making them understandable for a lay audience.

REFERENCES:

Harding CF, Pytte CL, Page KG, Ryberg KJ, Normand E, Remigio GJ, DeStefano RA, Morris DB, Voronina J, Lopez A, Stalbow LA, Williams EP and Abreu O. Mold inhalation causes innate immune activation, neural, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity. Available online 18th November 2019.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159119303010

Anand KS and Dhikav V. Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012 Oct-Dec; 15(4): 239–246. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548359/

Boato, F., Hechler, D., Rosenberger, K. et al. Interleukin-1 beta and neurotrophin-3 synergistically promote neurite growth in vitro . J Neuroinflammation 8, 183 (2011) doi:10.1186/1742-2094-8-183

Cui J, Chen Y, Wang HY, Wang RF. Mechanisms and pathways of innate immune activation and regulation in health and cancer. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(11):3270–3285. doi:10.4161/21645515.2014.979640

Jones, CL. Environmental exposure patterns for airborne particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) inside residential properties. ACNEM Journal. 2016; 35(1): 20-21.  

]]> Sickness behaviour following mould exposure has finally been validated. It turns out that anxiety, memory deficits and pain thresholds are all switched on by BOTH toxic and non-toxic mould. The research shows that mould spores and mould cell wall fragments can adversely affect the brain and influence behaviour by challenging and activating the innate immune system. In this week's Livestream I'm going to be talking about these important findings and making them understandable for a lay audience.

REFERENCES:

Harding CF, Pytte CL, Page KG, Ryberg KJ, Normand E, Remigio GJ, DeStefano RA, Morris DB, Voronina J, Lopez A, Stalbow LA, Williams EP and Abreu O. Mold inhalation causes innate immune activation, neural, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity. Available online 18th November 2019.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159119303010

Anand KS and Dhikav V. Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012 Oct-Dec; 15(4): 239–246. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548359/

Boato, F., Hechler, D., Rosenberger, K. et al. Interleukin-1 beta and neurotrophin-3 synergistically promote neurite growth in vitro . J Neuroinflammation 8, 183 (2011) doi:10.1186/1742-2094-8-183

Cui J, Chen Y, Wang HY, Wang RF. Mechanisms and pathways of innate immune activation and regulation in health and cancer. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(11):3270–3285. doi:10.4161/21645515.2014.979640

Jones, CL. Environmental exposure patterns for airborne particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) inside residential properties. ACNEM Journal. 2016; 35(1): 20-21.  

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2183759 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +1100 1768 25 full false Does Bleach Kill Mould? Does Bleach Kill Mould? This week we’re talking about disinfectants and more specifically bleach or sodium hypochlorite. “Does it work, no it doesn’t, look it just feeds the mould, no it doesn’t, yes it does, it makes the mycotoxins worse and simply changes mould from one colour to no colour” Fact or fiction? We all know, there's a lot of websites that say conflicting things. Who do you believe? You might even know the answer, maybe you’ve already made up your mind? But wait - what does the science say? To bring some perspective to the bleach debate, I’m going to take a look at what the National Wrestling Coach Association has to say. Up to 20% of wrestling injuries are caused by skin infections. Tune in to this episode and find out what the martial artists discovered about bacterial transmission and how this leads to improved disinfection methods and best practice for surface decontamination? HINT: contact sports are associated with an increased risk of skin infections, but the conclusions from their research are valuable (and transferrable) to the indoor living environment and similarly, to water-damaged interiors. Join me tomorrow as I go through this very practical topic since all of us from time to time need to clean up the mould. After all, over 70% of homes test positive for mould and research shows that windowsills are often the most frequently contaminated sites. What are we to do? Reach for the latest kill mould solution from the supermarket or hardware store, reach for the latest ultra-green plant-based carbon credit contributing liquid or test out something simple like vinegar? Which disinfectants are best for porous and non-porous materials? What about essential oils? TEASER ALERT: Clove oil (a hidden secret)...see the graph showing its antibacterial effect. All these are viable options you might consider when you need to clean the mould away. But, before you begin, I want to shine a spotlight on what the research says so you can make better-informed decisions for your next cleaning task. Stay till the end and I’ll also show you a simple bathroom hack for cleaning grout joints that have gone mouldy? 

]]> This week we’re talking about disinfectants and more specifically bleach or sodium hypochlorite. “Does it work, no it doesn’t, look it just feeds the mould, no it doesn’t, yes it does, it makes the mycotoxins worse and simply changes mould from one colour to no colour” Fact or fiction? We all know, there's a lot of websites that say conflicting things. Who do you believe? You might even know the answer, maybe you’ve already made up your mind? But wait - what does the science say? To bring some perspective to the bleach debate, I’m going to take a look at what the National Wrestling Coach Association has to say. Up to 20% of wrestling injuries are caused by skin infections. Tune in to this episode and find out what the martial artists discovered about bacterial transmission and how this leads to improved disinfection methods and best practice for surface decontamination? HINT: contact sports are associated with an increased risk of skin infections, but the conclusions from their research are valuable (and transferrable) to the indoor living environment and similarly, to water-damaged interiors. Join me tomorrow as I go through this very practical topic since all of us from time to time need to clean up the mould. After all, over 70% of homes test positive for mould and research shows that windowsills are often the most frequently contaminated sites. What are we to do? Reach for the latest kill mould solution from the supermarket or hardware store, reach for the latest ultra-green plant-based carbon credit contributing liquid or test out something simple like vinegar? Which disinfectants are best for porous and non-porous materials? What about essential oils? TEASER ALERT: Clove oil (a hidden secret)...see the graph showing its antibacterial effect. All these are viable options you might consider when you need to clean the mould away. But, before you begin, I want to shine a spotlight on what the research says so you can make better-informed decisions for your next cleaning task. Stay till the end and I’ll also show you a simple bathroom hack for cleaning grout joints that have gone mouldy? 

]]> Dr Cameron Jones Buzzsprout-2079567 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1100 1988 23 full false