We take care of so many people who are told that mold in their homes is not causing their problems. Sometimes, the spouse is in denial. Sometimes, other family members won’t take it seriously. Often, their doctors won’t listen. Even if they get past these doubters and start getting help, these sufferers can face landlords who blow off even visible mold as “not a real problem”.
This news report from Virginia tells of multiple apartment renters who got sick after moving in. In the process of sorting out their symptoms, they discovered either water leaks or mold growth. Of course, measures were taken to clean up the mold. This sometimes included inspections. In some situations, HVAC filters were changed. In other situations, areas were painted over.
Over time, several tenants found similar issues and the initial issues resurfaced when mold grew through new layers of paint or quick fixes gave way to repeated leaks.
Various reports of continued or increasing symptoms included allergies, sore throats, dripping noses, and burning eyes.
Some tenants had their mold tested and report that a toxic mold called Stachybotrys was found while landlords report their testing showed no health threats to residents.
These tenants are facing what we see in our patients’ lives. Real remediation costs money, sometimes a lot of it and landlords are wanting to optimize their profit. This is not inherently evil as they also have bills and mortgages to pay, but they do have a responsibility to provide a safe residence to their tenants.
If our patients just give up or give in to resistant landlords, they will usually continue to experience symptoms of mold toxicity. These symptoms can go far beyond allergies and runny noses. Symptoms can disrupt life, lead to job losses, and even disrupt family relationships. Pushing hard enough to have a safe home is critical for recovery from mold toxicity.
If you are striving for a healthier more abundant life after mold toxicity, don’t give in. Either push the landlord to do proper repairs or move out. Your life is not worth their neglect.
Original News Source
WTOPNews, Scott Gelman, https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2024/11/not-safe-here-residents-of-herndon-apartment-complex-say-mold-is-making-them-sick/. November 22, 2024, Accessed December 4, 2024.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
