Artist Ethan Gold‘s new album, appropriately titled “Songs from a Toxic Apartment” was literally written and recorded by Gold while he was living in a toxic apartment. The album, complete with 12 songs, is an interesting mix of emotions and sad lyrics all that came about while Gold was hallucinating from exposure to mold in his dilapidated apartment.
The album is a combination of natural and electronic sounds, and talks of feelings about isolation and angst.
Though Gold was forced to eventually vacate the apartment because it was condemned, it’s very clear when listening to this album that the toxic mold in his apartment was severely harming his health and mental state. There is no telling what damage could have been done if he stayed in that toxic apartment, even if it did make a good story line for his music.
Mold cause of Bird Deaths?
Gulls in the San Francisco area have been dying at an alarming rate over the past decade. Several dead birds have been found along Pier 94 which prompted a state investigation that turned up some very interesting results. Researchers found deadly mold inside all the dead bird’s lungs.
Residents are blaming waterfront rendering plant, Darling International, which makes biodiesel as the reason for the death of the birds. However, a preliminary California Department of Fish and Game investigation claims that the plant is not the cause.
According to the California Fish and Game Warden William O’Brien, the department finds 15 to 20 dead or dying gulls every month. When the department performed autopsies on several dead birds, they found a mold called Aspergillus growing inside their lungs which means all of the gulls died from suffocation. Aspergillus mold can cause serious respiratory problems along with chest pain in human beings, just imagine what it could do to small animals in large quantities.
The mystery remains as to where the source of the mold is coming from. Warden O’Brien believes the mold is coming from a number of industrial businesses along Pier 94, but because of the wide stretch of territory that is covered by the gulls, it’s very difficult to locate where exactly the birds are inhaling the mold from. The birds are dying because they are either eating or inhaling the large amounts of the mold.
No matter where the deadly mold source is, there most likely is an underlying problem that is making the animals susceptible to the mold. Does this problem have something to do with a poor eco-system? Can air sampling be done at the plants in the area to help determine the mold source? Could the EPA get involved in this matter? There are a number of thoughts that come to mind when I think about this situation.
Most of the bird rescuers are convinced it’s the Darling International plant due to finding a number of birds near the plant with oil covered feathers. But there is no real answer or solution yet, hopefully they will find the source soon before more innocent birds die due to toxic mold.
Happy Meal = mold free (forever?)
I’ve seen mold eat just about everything; wood, fabrics, plastics, concrete, and even metals. The more organic and natural, the tastier it is to mold. Right now we’re seeing quicker mold growth in our homes because more organic materials, such as gypsum wallboard and dry wall, are being used in home construction. This is costing home owners a lot in mold remediation and mold removal products. Now, it looks like we found something that not even mold will eat. A New York photographer bought a Happy Meal from McDonald’s six months ago and has photographed its decomposition every few days. So how does the fried food hold up? Well, it appears to be unchanged and undisturbed by molds and bacteria. It’s a little scary when nature itself does not consider the Happy “Meal” to be food at all. Or, as Mike Adams of Natural News puts it, “There is only one species on planet Earth that’s stupid enough to think a McDonald’s hamburger is food.” But let’s give McDonald’s a break here. It’s true that many processed foods won’t decompose. For example, margarine never becomes moldy and potato chips can last for decades. Also, the primary reason why a hamburger patty wouldn’t decompose is that it has such high sodium content, and McDonald’s meat patties are loaded with them. Of course, there are also the unnatural chemicals that are put into the food. Okay, that might cut the meat a break but what about the bun and fries? That’s where things get scary. Bread typically gets moldy within three days, but Mother Nature’s little decomposers haven’t touched this food for over six months. I’m willing to bet even the toy that came with the Happy Meal is starting to show a little mold by now. Although this story may or may not surprise you, do not be surprised to find mold growing on things on your home. It loves to grow in dark, unseen places.