The senior member of RealTime Laboratories talks about the immediate need to address mold contamination.

Carrollton, TX, – When water damages a home or building, the immediate need to fix the source is evident. What many people may not realize is that complete remediation of materials damaged by a leak is also critical. This can stop the development of mold in its tracks and may be necessary to safeguard health over the long-run. Studies are showing that exposure to mycotoxins produced by mold, can leave traces behind in the body years after exposure.

“Mycotoxins are poisonous molecules produced by molds and fungi that can be released into an indoor environment where they can contaminate humans and animals,” explains Dr. Dennis Hooper, laboratory director at RealTime Laboratories. “Strongly linked to conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, kidney toxicity and others, these toxins may remain in the body years after exposure has ended, continuing to promote health complaints.”

A study undertaken by Hooper and others found that simply removing a person from a contaminated environment wasn’t enough to end mycotoxins’ hold on the body. Multiple subjects in the study, in fact, tested positive for mycotoxins in their systems years after exposure to water-damaged environments had ended. One subject continued to show elevated mycotoxin levels in urine decades out from exposure.

“The findings indicate the importance of acting fast when water damage occurs to stop mold development before it begins,” says Dr. Hooper. “They also show that people who suffer from long-term, chronic health conditions may discover that mycotoxins play a role even if exposure to a contaminated space occurred years in the past. Testing for the presence of mycotoxins may prove vital for tracing a source of illness and potentially helping lead to more effective treatment.”
To learn more about Dr. Hooper’s reach, testing for mycotoxins in the body and the chronic health risk mycotoxins pose, visit his website at www.DrDHooper.com.

About Dr.Hooper
Dr. Hooper is presently the Senior Member of RealTime Laboratories, (RTL) Inc. and Medical Services Consultation International, LLC, in Carrollton, Texas. The laboratory was established in 2004 and is devoted to the study and testing of mycotoxins. Dr. Hooper has published some of his work as: Mycotoxin Detection in Human Samples from Patients Exposed to Environmental Molds Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009, 10, 1465-1475.