Are Your Customers Mold Sensitized?

This article has three key objectives.

First, it will explain why some of your customers are sick from mold and other’s are not. 

Second, it will explain how you can help your customers identify if they are mold sensitized.

Finally, it will explain why you should position your mold removal company as an expert at addressing the needs of mold sensitized individuals. 

Bottom line, there is a market demand from consumers impacted by mold.  Position your business as an expert and increase your sales and profits while serving a genuine market need. 

Are Your Customers’ Sick From Mold Because Of Their Genes?

One of the biggest challenges faced by people sick from mold is the fact that doctors, friends, and other family members dismiss their symptoms simply because they, personally, do not get sick when exposed to mold.

Many victims of mold sickness are labelled as hypochondriacs and are accused of not being sick at all.

This is tragic because many people that get sick have no control over their sickness because their bodies have a genetic pre-disposition to mold illness.

There is actually a scientific reason and knowledge of that science will not only help you serve your customers more effectively, but also increase sales by addressing the needs of mold sensitized individuals.

Lessons Learned From Interviews With Mold Sensitized Individuals

In 2015, Wonder Makers Environmental, a company based in Michigan, launched a website, https://www.moldsensitized.com with the mission of educating consumers, contractors, and health professionals on the health concerns caused by mold. The website’s goal is to be the ultimate resource of mold information and contains many articles written by the CEO, Michael Pinto.

Since launching the website, many mold sensitized individuals have been interviewed and many lessons can be learned from these interviews.

1.     In general, there is a lack of appreciation amongst the medical community of the impact that mold can have on certain individuals.

2.     The symptoms from mold sickness are broad, leading to multiple mis-diagnosis of patients by many doctors.

3.     It is quite common for mold sensitized individuals to seek help from multiple medical practitioners and still not get healthy.

4.     Eventually, the individual learns that mold has been the cause of the sickness.

5.     Mold sensitized individuals frequently are forced to seek alternative shelters because traditional remediation approaches are not adequate to address their sensitivities, even assuming that the current standard of care is followed.

Anecdotal Data Versus Scientific Data On Mold Illness!

For more than a decade, people have tried to use the courts to sue for compensation from sicknesses caused by mold. During the early stages of these legal battles, the court system tended to side with the defendants citing a lack of scientific evidence that mold actually makes people sick.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence, anecdotal data from thousands of contractors working with occupants of water-damaged buildings documented the health challenges that many faced.

In the 1980s, the World Health Organization, coined the term “Sick Building Syndrome” which it was believed was caused by poor indoor air quality caused by water damage to the buildings.

According to Erik Johnson, a mold expert and survivor, it was not until the 1990s, that the World Health Organization, acknowledged that “Sick Building Syndrome” could be caused by toxic mold.

The medical community is beginning to acknowledge the health impact that water damaged buildings can have. This recognition was made very public in 2015, with the release of the MOLDY documentary which featured health professionals and people who have suffered mental and physical health issues after moving into moldy houses.

In a presentation at the PLR Expo in Toronto, Canada, in November, 2015, CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental, Michael Pinto presented 12 Future Trends In The Restoration Industry.

One of the most notable trends he cites is a “A Tighter Connection Between Medicine and Environment.”

Pinto cites new diagnosing techniques to identify the illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), which legitimizes the tie between Water Damaged Buildings (WDB) and sickness. He also cited research that has identified a genetic component to this condition, a screening test (VCS), and most importantly, a treatment regimen.

Other trends Pinto believes demonstrate the important ties between medicine and the environment include the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) which is a scientific test that analyzes dust samples for 36 mold species. This test provides base information to identify CIRS because 26 of the mold species are considered to be water damage indicators.

This test is important because one sample can be analyzed to identify the extent of water damage in the building that could make someone susceptible to CIRS sick. Importantly, this test will provide an ERMI score, i.e. a HERTSMI-2 score that can be given to physicians and will help them assess whether a building will make their patient sick.

Because of the growing medical awareness and the fact that there are now medical tests and drugs to diagnose and treat mold illness, Pinto believes that one of the other consequences of this acknowledgement will be a “More Active Justice System” where plaintiffs will now be able to get compensation because they now have science to back up their claims.

25% of the Population is Susceptible to Mold Illness!

The most interesting aspect of the research on the effect that Sick Building Syndrome has on patients pertains to genetics.

One of the biggest problems with mold sickness is that it impacts everyone differently.

Some may experience minor allergies, and other health conditions like asthma and chronic sinusitis, while other mold sensitized patients may suffer severe illnesses.

One physician documented the health symptoms of 227 patients that lived in water damaged buildings during a three year period. What this doctor found was that 98% of his patients had one of the gene types where their immune systems were not able to effectively deal with contaminants from water damaged buildings.

As stated by Pinto:

In layman’s terms, two different genes have been isolated, which keep some people’s immune systems from functioning properly when they have been exposed to contaminants from water-damaged buildings. Instead of properly identifying and eliminating the foreign invader, those body defense mechanisms increase the problem. When viewed with a basic understanding of genetic distributions, this research made it clear that up to a quarter of the population (25%) is at increased risk from exposure to water-damaged buildings.

This research is very significant because it demonstrates that up to 25% of the population has a genetic pre-disposition that makes them more susceptible to mold illness and the condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

Because of this research, the scientific community and legal system is now taking much greater notice because diagnostic tests, lab tests and treatment tools are being developed to help these patients. In short, the data is no longer anecdotal, but based on objective measures.

What Is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)?

According to Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, CIRS is:

An accute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans, c-type lectins and possibly spirocyclic drimanes, plus volatile ogranic compounds.

Listed below are the 37 symptoms associated with CIRS.

1.     Fatigue

2.     Weakness

3.     Aches

4.     Muscle Cramps

5.     Unusual Pain

6.     Ice Pick Pain

7.     Headache

8.     Light Sensitivity

9.     Red Eyes

10. Blurred Vision

11. Tearing

12. Sinus Problems

13. Cough

14. Shortness of Breath

15. Abdominal Pain

16. Diarrhea

17. Joint Pain

18. Morning Stiffness

19. Memory Issues

20. Focus/Concentration Issues

21. Word Recollection Issues

22. Decreased Learning of New Knowledge

23. Confusion

24. Disorientation

25. Skin Sensitivity

26. Mood Swings

27. Appetite Swings

28. Sweats (especially night sweats)

29. Temperature Regulation or Dysregulation Problems

30. Excessive Thirst

31. Increased Urination

32. Static Shocks

33. Numbness

34. Tingling

35. Vertigo

36. Metallic Taste

37. Tremors

For 75% of the population, when exposed to biotoxins caused by mold, the individuals immune system responds by binding with the invading poison that allows its cells to filter the biotoxins through the liver, kidneys, and other organs.

In contrast, 25% of the population that have the genetic susceptibility to mold illness get sick because their bodies immune system does not bind to the biotoxin, meaning it is not eliminated and therefore continues to circulate, causing the many symptoms, documented above.

The “C” in CIRS refers to the term “Chronic” because individuals that are exposed to poisons from mold are unable to eliminate the toxins from their body, resulting in on-going and escalating sickness, particularly if the person is continually exposed to mold. This is the primary reason that the first priority of medical practitioners treating mold sensitized patients is to begin the detox process which also must coincide with movement away from the building that is constantly exposing the person to the toxins.

The “I” in CIRS refers to the term “Inflammatory” because the constant exposure to the toxins creates a cycle of sickness, meaning the individual’s immune system is constantly trying to fight the toxins, leading to inflammation.

The “R” in CIRS refers to “Response” because the human body is designed to respond to invading toxins. In the case of patients suffering from mold sickness, the immune system is constantly trying to fight the toxins causing a stress on the complete immune system of the individual, which in turn leads to other health conditions.

As stated by Pinto, the “S” in CIRS refers to “Syndrome” because:

The symptoms are a result of many factors, including external exposures and internal responses. The contaminants from water-damaged buildings should trigger the activation of an immune response, but some people’s genetic structure does not allow the proper recognition of the biotoxin. Since this combination of circumstances inhibits the clearance of the poison from the body, these harmful substances continue to circulate and create continual damage. With such individuals there is no linear dose/response relationship, meaning that even trivial exposures can create severe problems.

Is CIRS Life Threatening?

The major problem that individuals with CIRS face is their bodies immune systems become severely compromised and weakened from the vicious cycle of invading poison, immune response, and inflammation.

The end result is many of their bodies systems are damaged leading to a wide range of health conditions, some life threatening.

For this reason, many mold survivors have reported that they have abandoned the primary residence that initially made them sick; instead, seeking shelter in trailer parks, and very dry areas, with dessert like conditions where moisture is limited. These drastic measures were taken by these individuals because their bodies have become so sensitized to mold that even minor exposure triggers severe reactions.

Fortunately, the continued research on mold sickness is creating hope because treatments have developed that help individuals detox and eliminate the poisons, followed by rebuilding the immune system so that it regains strength.

How Can This Knowledge Help Your Business?

At the PLR Expo in 2015, Michael Pinto asked the audience of about 400 contractors, how many of you have heard of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome? Very few contractors put up their hands. Honestly, I was a bit surprised. Keep in mind, one of the trends that Pinto identified was “Growing Public Awareness.” If consumers are getting more educated, you should also.

One of the goals of this article is to explain why some of your customers are sick from mold and other’s are not. Now you know the answer: 25% of the population has a genetic pre-disposition to mold illness and may suffer from CIRS.

Learn about CIRS and know the symptoms. In fact, when you meet with a prospective client who has health issues that could possibly be caused by mold, ask them how many of the 37 symptoms of CIRS they have.

If you suspect that they have CIRS, ask them to consult with a physician who can verify the diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan to help them.

The next step is to work with your customer to properly remediate their home. It is no longer just a matter of dealing with mold in just one part of the home either when you are dealing with a mold sensitized customer. You need to understand the Big Picture meaning you need to work on a plan that addresses spore deposition throughout the home and also understand that the HVAC system could also be contaminated.

Addressing The Needs Of Mold Sensitized Individuals Will Increase Your Bottom Line!

In 2016, one of my clients worked on a mold project that was referred to them by Wonder Makers Environmental. The mold sensitized home owner was no longer living in her home because her health kept getting worse because she suffered from CIRS and was advised to move out until her home was properly remediated.

Wonder Makers referred this home owner to Johnny Wells, a contractor who understood how to deal with mold sensitized individuals. Their work plan addressed the source of contamination, i.e. the moisture source. Once this problem was fixed, the scope of work addressed the areas of the home that had mold growth. The work plan had three goals:

1.     Use proper standard of care, containment, negative air, air scrubbers, etc. to remove porous mold contaminated content. The contractor also implemented their mold prevention system backing it up with a 25 year guarantee.

2.     Create a work plan to address the spore contamination in the HVAC system by sub-contracting the clean up with a reputable firm

3.     Address the spore deposition in the home by setting up a clean room where contents cleaned with Mold-B-Gone and HEPA vacuumed could be stored. 

The total sale for this project was more than $20,000. 

The customer is happy because the fungal ecology of her home is at normal levels and she can live in her home again.

How many customers can you help if you simply ask the right questions? 

How might your business grow if you position it as the expert on CIRS and begin educating consumers?

How many jobs will you win from competitors if your education efforts build more trust with customers?

Bottom line, there is a need for contractors that understand the needs of individuals adversely affected by mold. The science of mold is advancing. The fact that up to 25% of the population could be genetically pre-disposed to mold illness, means that contractors that want to grow their businesses exponentially should begin preparing themselves to service this market demand. How prepared are you?

About the Author:

Sanjay Gupta has been researching and writing about mold, asbestos and IAQ issues since 2011 and has written more than 300 articles with the goal of educating consumers. Today, he owns a digital marketing agency, Restoration Digital Marketing Solutions, that manages the online marketing for many restoration contractors. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of CitriFresh Distribution, distributors of eco-friendly products that help mold removal companies save time and money. In addition, he is a Consultant with Your Restoration Coach, the Marketing Director of Wonder Makers Environmental, and the Director of Business Development for American Mold Products.