Re: Different opinions about ammonia and mycotoxins

[Guest guest]

May just posted something about this a couple months ago.

He said he found that in discussing with a source he trusted that

ammonia destroys certain mycotoxins and chloride (bleach?) destroys

certain others. Problem with adjusting that to laundry is can only

bleach whites, so I have continued to use ammonia and on occasion I

do a wash with bleach for whites.

So apparently chemist talked to disagrees with Dr Croft.

It's disheartening....all the confusion. Just switch from one

cleaner to another I guess. Only thing I can think of that could

explain this contradiction is that perhaps a tricothecene produced

by one fungus may differ from a tricothecene produced by another

fungus, or may react differently on different surfaces. It sure

doesn't help to get conflicting info.

Here is the post.

Message No. 51939 June 25th, 2007:

Re: Stachybotrys

(portions removed from post)

I checked with a very knowledgeable chemist who has worked with

Stachybotrys

mycotoxins. Apparently, bleach DOES destroy the trichothocene

mycotoxins but

ammonia DOES NOT. (Ammonia is effective against aflatoxins as

previously

noted.)

C. May, M.A., CIAQP

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

1522 Cambridge Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

617-354-1055

www.mayindoorair.com

www.myhouseiskillingme.com

[Guest guest]

Diane,

I'm not the expert here but the archives have some excellent

discussion. As I remember it can help on some mycotoxins but not all.

Because mycotoxins are not alive they can't be killed. They are a

chemical component contained in, or on, or released from the various

parts of the total mold organism. So the effectiveness of ammonia is

a question of basic chemistry. What is the chemical make-up of the

mycotoxin and what effect, if any, does the chemical make-up of

ammonia have on it? Are there any byproducts to be concerned about?

Those are the question for which we need an expert.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Hi Folks: I have been using ammonia for laundry, cleaning etc as

> recommended by Dr. Croft back in 2004 to help control mycotoxins. I

> have relied on it to kill them in the laundry after using 2 cups per

> load and I have recommended this to many people here. A " mold " friend

> of mine just came back from an appointment with Dr. Gray in

> Arizona who is a " mold " specialist apparently and he told her that

> ammonia did NOT kill or control mycotoxins. I would like your opinion

> here as you have so much knowledge about mycotoxins. Do you all use

> ammonia or have I been mistaken in thinking if was helping...Thanks-

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Carl and ,

Maybe we should think of a good way to phrase this question since it seems

to be asked very frequently and then ask

people like Dr. Straus, Bill Croft, etc. for their cut on it and post it

somewhere where people can refer to it.

, would you then be able to put it in the file archive or monthly

posting for this group or something?

That is a very important thing to get right for people..

On 8/19/07, Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...> wrote:

>

> Diane,

>

> I'm not the expert here but the archives have some excellent

> discussion. As I remember it can help on some mycotoxins but not all.

> Because mycotoxins are not alive they can't be killed. They are a

> chemical component contained in, or on, or released from the various

> parts of the total mold organism. So the effectiveness of ammonia is

> a question of basic chemistry. What is the chemical make-up of the

> mycotoxin and what effect, if any, does the chemical make-up of

> ammonia have on it? Are there any byproducts to be concerned about?

>

> Those are the question for which we need an expert.

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > Hi Folks: I have been using ammonia for laundry, cleaning etc as

> > recommended by Dr. Croft back in 2004 to help control mycotoxins. I

> > have relied on it to kill them in the laundry after using 2 cups per

> > load and I have recommended this to many people here. A " mold " friend

> > of mine just came back from an appointment with Dr. Gray in

> > Arizona who is a " mold " specialist apparently and he told her that

> > ammonia did NOT kill or control mycotoxins. I would like your opinion

> > here as you have so much knowledge about mycotoxins. Do you all use

> > ammonia or have I been mistaken in thinking if was helping...Thanks-

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I don't know anything about ammonia, but I don't think I could stand

the strong odor with chemical sensitivities.

[Guest guest]

ammonia gets rid of smells, mold,mildew,grease,animal poo,ect.

I dont think Croft ever said it kills mycotoxins, he told me it only

nutralizes it temp. what exactly that means I dont know. all I know is

that it gets rid of smells. in laundry it gets rid of the smell, smell

when it comes to mold, what does that mean? fumes?

if it's the smell that you cant toleraye than maybe ammonia well help

and maybe after washing cloths enough times, ammonia or not, the

mold/myco's will be washed out. supposedly cottons wash out faster than

some other materials. I dont think you have to keep useing it forever

but you may find that it leaves cloths smelling nice and fresh and

clean. it's not like your left smelling ammonia instead of mold. if

really doesn't leave a smell.

a tiny bit in a spray bottle full of water is a good air freshener, I'm

pretty chemical intolerant so I hold a wet washrag over my nose to not

inhale it straight. it loses its strength of smell when diluted.

as far as trying to use it straight anywhere I wouldn't, seems the off

gasing would not be good to inhale.

--- In , " ldelp84227 " <ldelp84227@...>

wrote:

>

> I don't know anything about ammonia, but I don't think I could stand

> the strong odor with chemical sensitivities.

>