The Tribune

By Monique Thompson

I know that at first you may be thinking that I am talking about the stress and tension in your work environment. While that can be very toxic in and of itself, I am talking about the furry black critter that sits right above you watching you from the cracks of the walls, near the dampness of the air conditioning unit, sitting in the cracks of the tiles in the rest room, and chilling with you as you take your break in that enclosed break room.

Unfortunately, this toxin is one that far too many public servants and school children are chronically exposed to day in and day out. And this toxin is particularly dangerous to infants and children.

Generally, mould is a type of fungi that can spread and reproduce by making spores and are a big deal no matter where they are found, be it in the home, in schools or in the workplace. They have an affinity for damp, dark and warm areas. This may include poorly ventilated areas indoors, kitchens, overcrowded storage spaces, bathrooms, and areas that may have gotten wet through flooding, plumbing, etcetera, but was unable to dry properly. Consequently, one of the best ways to prevent mold growth is to control moisture.

Mould causes the biodegradation of natural materials, which is unwanted as it pertains to food and damage to property, and can make people very sick. Disease may result from allergic sensitivity to mould spores, from the growth of pathogenic (disease causing) moulds within the body, or from the deleterious effects of ingested or inhaled toxic compounds produced by moulds.

When people with mold allergies are exposed to the fungi, they experience symptoms such as watery, itchy eyes, a chronic cough, headaches or migraines, difficulty breathing, rashes, tiredness, sinus problems, nasal blockage and frequent sneezing.

Stachybotrys chartarum (black mould) and Aspergillus are two of the more common toxic moulds. Exposure to black mould causes ailments such as headaches, severe suppression of the immune system, pulmonary haemorrhage (bleeding of the lungs) in infants, and cancer. Aspergillus is a genus that consists of a few hundred mould species found worldwide. Aspergillosis in an infection with Aspergillus which can lead to severe lung infections that can spread to the entire body.

Mycotoxins are the toxic compounds produced from mold spores. Hundreds of mycotoxins have been identified, and many are pathogenic. Mycotoxins can potentially cause acute (or sudden) health problems and chronic effects if eaten, inhaled, or via skin contact. They can get into the bloodstream and damage the immune system, stop the body from making protein, decrease the body’s ability to clear particles from the lung, and increase susceptibility to bacterial toxins.

Collectively, the effects of mould amount to more sick days in the workplace, children having to miss more schools more parents having to stay home with children, and less productivity all around. However, the bigger problem that deserves immediate attention and resolution is the destruction of people’s health. And instead of waiting until we have droves of children and adults having to be treated for cancer, lung infections, and other diseases spawned by mould, the government needs to seriously address this right away as mould was detected in the post office, police stations, other government buildings, and a few public schools. Were any of these problems resolved? I honestly don’t know, but from the protest at the post office a few days ago, I’m going to go out on a limb and say in at least that building the problem has not been addressed.

What is heartbreaking about this situation is that in 2013 Clear Solutions Plus investigated the mould problem and deemed that it was serious and required immediate attention. To correct the problem in 25 of the infested buildings it would have taken 14 weeks and $187,275. Now, that may appear to be a lot of money, but when you think of the $6.68 million the government lost on Junkanoo Carnival in 2015, and the $7 million they plan on spending this year on the event, the $187, 275 begins to pale in comparison, right?

To reiterate the point, mould growth in buildings can lead to a variety of health problems. Rectifying the problem means the preservation of the health of people who work or attend school in these buildings. This problem should have been dealt with a long time ago, and I hope that the present administration is working hard to this end. The health of the people is one of the best investments any government can make.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of and a physician at the Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative and holistic medical clinic. Call 356-0083 or visit www.chibahamas.com for more information.