The Roles of Autoimmunity and Biotoxicosis in Sick Building Syndrome as a “Starting Point” for Irreversible Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Abstract

Background: The terminology of “sick building syndrome” (SBS), meaning that a person may feel sick in a certain building, but when leaving the building, the symptoms will reverse, is imprecise. Many different environmental hazards may cause the feeling of sickness, such as high indoor air velocity, elevated noise, low or high humidity, vapors or dust. The Aim: To describe SBS in connection with exposure to indoor air dampness microbiota (DM). Methods: A search through Medline/Pubmed. Results and Conclusions: Chronic course of SBS may be avoided. By contrast, persistent or cumulative exposure to DM may make SBS potentially life-threatening and lead to irreversible dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS). The corner feature of DMHS is acquired by dysregulation of the immune system in the direction of hypersensitivities (types I–IV) and simultaneous deprivation of immunity that manifests as increased susceptibility to infections. DMHS is a systemic low-grade inflammation and a biotoxicosis. There is already some evidence that DMHS may be linked to autoimmunity. Autoantibodies towards, e.g., myelin basic protein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, ganglioside GM1, smooth muscle cells and antinuclear autoantibodies were reported in mold-related illness. DMHS is also a mitochondropathy and endocrinopathy. The association of autoimmunity with DMHS should be confirmed through cohort studies preferably using chip-based technology.

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ): a novel approach to managing chronic inflammatory response syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction

“…DMHS is, therefore, a systemic, low-grade inflammation resulting from exposure to biotoxins. 56 This research also demonstrates that autoantibodies are produced in response to the hypersensitivity induced by dampness, attacking myelin basic proteins and myelin-associated glycoproteins, which contribute to the mitochondrial damage associated with this mouldrelated illness. Studies have shown that neurological issues, most commonly presenting as brain fog, often include reduced cognition, difficulty concentrating and multitasking, and memory impairment.…”

What Initiates Chemical Intolerance? Findings from a Large Population-Based Survey of U.S. Adults

“…There is evidence linking CI to autoimmunity through autoantibody production against myelin basic protein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, ganglioside GM1, smooth muscle cells, and antinuclear autoantibodies (Abou-donia et al, 2018; Campbell et al, 2010;Gray et al, 2003;Tuuminen, 2020). Other proposed mechanisms for CI involve olfactory-limbic kindling, that is, ampli cation of reactivity to inhaled and ingested chemicals resulting in persistent affective, cognitive, and somatic symptoms (I. R. Bell, 1996; Iris R. Bell et al, 1997;Iris R Bell et al, 1992;Brown-DeGagne & McGlone, 1999).…”

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Impacts Related to Mould-Affected Housing: An Australian Integrative Review

“…More recently, international research suggests that reversible SBS has the ability to proceed to irreversible hypersensitivity to dampness and/or mouldy indoor conditions that affect many body systems. This is known to present as multiple symptoms and be linked to autoimmunity and such conditions like postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) [118,119]. The comorbidity of a biotoxin or mould-related illness is also reported to intersect with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) [94], tick-borne illness [94] and ME/CFS [59,94] in recent Australian studies.…”