Maybe it’s not Mold: the hidden, but prevalent and potentially problematic, bacteria, Actinomycetes.
Wow. What a horrible title for a blog. 😂
Try saying that title 3 times in a row. Did I capture your attention?
Buckle up, buttercup. This blog post is one part biology, one part building science, and a whole lotta stuff YOU need to know.
Actinomycetes are a group of soil-dwelling bacteria that play an important ecological role, yet most people have never heard of them. According to mycologist John Banta, actinomycetes break down tough plant polymers like cellulose and chitin, making their nutrients more available to other organisms.[1] They are saprophytes, meaning they feed on dead or decaying organic matter.
Actinomycetes produce a wide array of antibiotics and are responsible for the characteristic “earthy” smell of soil.
Microbiologist Larry Schwartz notes that over two-thirds of naturally occurring antibiotics used by humans are derived from actinomycetes.[2] For example, streptomycin comes from the actinomycete Streptomyces griseus.
Actino antibiotics help suppress pathogenic bacteria, contributing to healthy soils. Their decomposition activities recycle nutrients to be taken up again by plants and other soil dwellers. They also form mutually beneficial relationships with some plants by enhancing the plant’s access to nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates from the plant.
The next time you work in the garden or smell that rich earthy scent after a rain, think of the actinomycetes. Though largely invisible to us, these soil bacteria work behind the scenes to make terrestrial ecosystems function properly.
But, here’s the bad news…
Despite their small size, and purposeful nature when outside in soil, actinomycetes can have a big impact on our health and the health of our indoor environment. In fact, Dr. Richie Shoemaker even now believes that CIRS is primarily caused by actino; not mold!
The research is showing that the actino in homes may come in from about thirteen (13) species of actinos that are generated in common soils and/or may come in from water damage that has occurred in the past or present in the building itself (“Soil Habitat” actino). Additionally, there are 33 species of actinos that are coming from our bodies (“Human Habitat” actinos).
Of the thirteen (13) soil habitat actino species and the thirty-three (33) human habitat species, five (5) species can impact vulnerable patients. Bathrooms and drains can be a problem due to the proliferation of bacteria and the stack effect.
According to Green Building Advisor, hot air is less dense than cool air, so it rises. During the winter, the warm air near the top of a house is pressurized with respect to the outdoors, while the air near the bottom of the house is depressurized. The air at high pressure escapes though cracks, drawing outdoor air into the house through cracks near the bottom of the house (and sometimes plumbing and drains). This phenomenon is called the stack effect[3].
Are you starting to see the potential issue?
Understanding actinomycetes allows us to better appreciate the complex web of life in soil and our interconnectedness with even the smallest of organisms and, the importance of bringing the numbers down in our indoor environment, especially for people with environmental sensitives and propensity to inflammation (like Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). Similar to mold, actinomycetes is not doing us any favors proliferating in our indoor environment.
This topic was on my mind because I had MULTIPLE people reach out to me recently looking for resources and information.
Since my family dealt with actino in our rental a few years ago, I had some information compiled, but it was not as up-to-date as I would like. Once my second follower ran into walls trying to find out how to manage this, I hit the books, dusted off my resources, and polished them up to ensure they’re up-to-date, accurate, and organized in a way that will be valuable for you to use.
Big thanks to Dr. Lacey Venanzi, a certified Shoemaker Practitioner and friend who generously gave her time and energy to review this guide for accuracy, completeness, and value. You can find her practice at Awaken Wellness https://www.drlacey.org/
I present to you… All of the best research and steps to address actino in your home in a sixteen (16) page guide curated with your needs in mind.
I know the feeling of overwhelm that comes with yet ANOTHER protocol. My hope is that the example cleaning schedule and supplies list will help you break it up and tackle each step (or just as much as you can).
When you check out this guide, it’s a small sliver of the type of specialized information you can also expect soon in the “Ultimate Home Maintenance Guide”.
Since I had zero intent to create a guide, and a blog, and update the website, I’m waaayyyy behind on my own weekend cleaning and maintenance schedule so I better get going.
Stay conscious and curious, my friends.
❤️C
[1] https://www.johncbanta.com/
[2] https://safestartiaq.com/
[3] https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/understanding-the-stack-effect