| Molds and fungus are nearby virtually everywhere | | | | symptoms in your home or work environment, |
| we go. For the most part these molds are | | | | the best course of action is to contact a |
| relatively innocuous. Certain molds, however, do | | | | professional that knows how to seek and |
| pose substantial health risks. According to Berlin D. | | | | eliminate fungal growth. |
| Nelson, Ph.D., department of plant pathology, | | | | Another health concern with mold and fungus |
| North Dakota State University, Stachybotrys | | | | stems from foam. Polyurethane foam, which is |
| Chartarum or "black mold" is the most prominent | | | | the type of foam commonly used in cushion and |
| and notorious of the toxic molds (1). | | | | bedding applications, can be broken down by mold |
| Black mold is a heavy producer of mycotoxins | | | | into volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are |
| (toxins created by a fungus). These mycotoxins | | | | toxic. |
| cause a wide range of symptoms from | | | | Dr T. James Sprott, OBE, Msc, PhD, FNZIC, In |
| headaches to flu-like symptoms, and chronic | | | | New Zealand, discovered that this was a major |
| illnesses. The mycotoxins created by black mold | | | | contributor to sudden infant death syndrome |
| are numerous, but fall into 3 main categories: | | | | (SIDS), where used crib mattresses were the |
| Macrocyclic Trichothecenes, which inhibit protein | | | | culprits (2). Though the effects in adults usually go |
| synthesis; Phenylspirodrimanes and Cyclsporine, | | | | unidentified you may find that you feel better |
| which are strong immunosuppressive agents; and | | | | when you aren't exposed to them. |
| Stachylysin, which can lyse erythrocytes (destroy | | | | The solution for crib mattresses was a simple |
| red blood cells). With all three groups present | | | | layer of plastic completely covering the entire |
| there is little wonder why mycotoxicosis | | | | thing, not so practical for adults. This is a major |
| (mycotoxin poisoning) caused by black mold can | | | | reason not to buy used mattresses, which often |
| lead to severe degradation in human health. | | | | have mold already growing in them, besides the |
| Black mold has also been linked to "sick building | | | | other obvious factors (what did those previous |
| syndrome", which describes situations in which the | | | | owners do in that bed?). |
| health and comfort of people is effected by time | | | | To prevent mold from building up in your |
| spent in a certain building or room, where there is | | | | mattress it is good to use a mattress pad which |
| no obvious cause. | | | | is washable and will absorb most of the moisture |
| Unless you experience symptoms that seem to | | | | that would be going to perpetuate mold growth. It |
| be location dependant you probably don't need to | | | | is best, however, to simply buy a mattress that |
| worry too much for the time being. However, | | | | doesn't create a suitable environment for mold or |
| mold spores, which are benign by themselves and | | | | other microbes, such as latex. |
| found practically everywhere, can propogate wildly | | | | Latex is a natural product that provides a superb |
| active colonies when exposed to an amply moist | | | | sleep system that will keep your bed free of |
| environment. | | | | mold and other harmful microbes. Mold will always |
| This effect is very common with flooding, which | | | | be around, and will always be a health concern. It |
| is why it is of pressing importance to ensure that | | | | is by familiarizing ourselves with mold, it's |
| a flooded house is cleaned up and dried out | | | | indications, and it's environment that we are able |
| thoroughly before mold is allowed to proliferate. In | | | | to minimize the risk that it will effect our lives. |
| the case that you are experiencing chronic | | | | |