Singtao EP68 Moldy Pillows An Invisible Threat to Your Health 枕頭內的黴菌：悄悄改寫你健康的隱形威脅

https://youtu.be/fa8RMK6q7Vc我們常把睡房視為療癒與休息的港灣。但你枕頭裡面，可能隱藏住一個你每日都會吸入、而且足以改寫你基因表現嘅健康炸彈──黴菌。🧬 黴菌唔止係致敏原，更係「基因干擾者」黴菌係一種喺潮濕、有機環境裡容易滋生嘅真菌。唔少品種例如 Stachybotrys chartarum（黑黴）、Aspergillus、Penicillium 及 Fusarium 都會釋放出黴菌毒素（mycotoxins）。呢啲毒素可以經呼吸、皮膚或者食入途徑進入人體，對健康造成長遠而深層嘅傷害。🧠 黴菌毒素嘅長期影響包括：神經系統干擾：記憶力衰退、集中力下降、情緒波動慢性發炎：引發免疫問題、自體免疫疾病、氣喘等粒線體功能下降：導致持續性疲勞荷爾蒙失調與內分泌混亂呼吸系統慢性病惡化但更深層嘅威脅係：黴菌毒素可以影響「表觀遺傳」調控，改變你基因啟動與關閉嘅方式。🔬 黴菌點樣改寫你嘅表觀遺傳程式？表觀遺傳（Epigenetics）係唔改變 DNA 順序，但會改變基因點樣運作嘅機制，例如：DNA 甲基化（Methylation）組蛋白修飾（Histone modification）非編碼 RNA 調控以下係幾項已發表嘅研究：黴菌毒素 表觀遺傳效應 出處DON (由 Fusarium 產生) 改變免疫細胞 DNA 甲基化，干擾免疫功能 Pestka JJ, Toxicology Letters (2009)Ochratoxin A 擾亂神經細胞組蛋白乙醯化，與腦退化病變相關 Fischer A et al., Toxins (2010)黃麴毒素（由 Aspergillus） 全球性 DNA 去甲基化，與肝癌風險有關 Wang et al., Cancer Letters (2016)🛏️ 枕頭點樣成為黴菌毒素來源？根據曼徹斯特大學 2005 年一項研究（Woodcock et al.），使用超過 1 年嘅枕頭都發現含有至少 4–16 種黴菌，包括：Epigenetics: How Mold Toxins Modify Gene ExpressionEpigenetics refers to the regulation of gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. This includes changes such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation. These molecular mechanisms determine how your genes are turned on or off—and mold toxins can hijack this process.🔬 Key findings from the scientific literature:Fusarium mycotoxins and immune suppression:Deoxynivalenol (DON) from Fusarium molds has been shown to alter DNA methylation in immune cells, reducing their ability to respond to pathogens.Source: Pestka, J. J. (2009). Toxicology Letters, DOIOchratoxin A and neurodegeneration:Exposure to ochratoxin A, produced by various molds, disrupts histone acetylation in brain tissue, mimicking effects seen in degenerative neurological conditions.Source: Fischer, A. et al. (2010). Toxins, DOIAflatoxins and cancer epigenetics:Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxins that lead to global DNA hypomethylation, a process linked to the early stages of liver and lung cancers.Source: Wang, H. et al. (2016). Cancer Letters, DOIThese changes don't just vanish after the exposure ends. Epigenetic reprogramming can persist—affecting immune resilience, detoxification ability, and disease risk even years later.The Pillow Connection: Where Mold Meets Your GenomeYour pillow is one of the closest, most prolonged points of exposure to potential mold. Night after night, your head rests in a warm, humid pocket—moistened by sweat, exhaled moisture, saliva, hair oils, and environmental humidity. Over time, this moisture soaks deep into the pillow’s inner core, especially in foam and feather pillows, creating the ideal environment for mold colonies to thrive unseen.A 2005 study by Woodcock et al. from the University of Manchester found that every tested pillow—synthetic or feather, aged 1.5 to 20 years—contained multiple species of fungi, including:Aspergillus fumigatusPenicillium spp.Rhizopus oryzaeIn total, up to 16 different fungal species per pillow were identified, and most were deep inside—beyond reach of surface cleaning.Given that we inhale deeply into our pillows for 6 to 9 hours each night, this represents one of the most consistent and intimate mycotoxin exposures in modern life. This means that the pillow isn’t just a comfort item—it can become a vehicle for long-term respiratory, neurological, and epigenetic disruption.High-Risk PopulationsChildren and infants: Developmental epigenetics are most malleable in early life.Pregnant women: Maternal exposure can influence fetal gene expression, increasing childhood asthma, allergies, and immune disorders.People with asthma, autoimmune issues, or chronic fatigue: Mold exposure exacerbates symptoms and may reduce effectiveness of conventional treatments.Urban dwellers and those in humid climates: Mold risk is higher in homes with poor ventilation, wall-to-wall carpeting, or synthetic bedding materials.#drgordonchiu #趙汝威博士 #podcast #singtao #hongkong #unitedstates #wellness #health #pillow #mold