Saturday, October 3, 2009

Toxic mold - History


Since Biblical times it has been known that indoor mold growth can be a health hazard. (See Leviticus 14:39-47.) In the 1930s, mold was identified as the cause behind the mysterious deaths of farm animals in Russia and other countries. Stachybotrys chartarum was found growing on wet grain used for animal feed.


In the 1970s, building construction techniques changed in response to the energy crises. As a result, homes and buildings became more air-tight. Also, cheaper materials such as drywall came into common use. This combination of increased moisture and suitable substrates contributed to increased mold growth inside buildings.


Today, the agriculture industry keeps a close eye on mold and mycotoxin levels in grains in order to prevent the contamination of animal feed and human food supplies. In 2005 Diamond Pet Foods, a US pet food manufacturer experienced a significant rise in the number of corn shipments containing elevated levels of aflatoxin. This mold toxin eventually made it into the pet food supply, and dozens of dogs died before the food could be recalled.

2 comments:

  1. Mold is there already for a long time and people need to be careful when they find mold in their house. Black mold can be toxic and need to be dealed in the right way.

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  2. Wonderful piece on the history of mold. People tend to think that mold is new and wasn't a problem when they were kids, but they don’t realize that it was around and was a problem back then, but people just didn't know enough about it then.
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