Online Communities Fuel โขRise of ‘Black Mould Truthers’ Linking Illness to Fungal Exposure
A growing online movement attributes a wide range of ailments,from neurological issues to ideological shifts,to โขchronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) triggered by black mould exposure,despite limited scientific backing. The phenomenon,dubbed “mouldies” by some,is gaining traction across social media platforms,sparkingโค debate and concern among medical professionals and science communicators.
The interest with mould’s potential impact on health and even worldview isn’t new. Historically, ergot poisoning – caused by grain infected with a fungus – induced mass delirium in medieval villages, a condition knownโ as St. Anthony’s Fire. More recently, the BBCโข podcast Uncanny featured a case where a man attributed perceived ghostly encounters to potential mould exposureโ in hisโข flat, though experts note โthat simply inhaling mould spores isn’t โขtypically sufficient โto โcause neurological effects like โthose associated with CIRS. Though, the idea of hidden โtoxicity and creepingโค corruption resonates powerfully online.
Theโฃ trend gained further visibility with claims surrounding author J.K. โขRowling, with some online users jokingly suggesting โขher controversial views stemmed fromโข “TERF brain โworms” caused by black mouldโ purportedlyโ visible โin a photograph of her living room. The alleged infestation was later revealedโค to be an unusual wallpaper pattern. This incidentโ exemplifies the allure of CIRS: a seemingly simple description – identify and eliminate the mould – for complex problems.
However, experts warn that โpursuing unproven treatmentsโค to “removeโข fungus fromโฃ theโ blood” is scientifically โฃunsound and perhaps harmful.The rise of “mouldies” coincidesโข with broader anxieties surrounding conditions like Long Covid, which, while also subject to debate, has a stronger basis in medical research. Critics โขargue that the spread of unsubstantiatedโข claims about mould represents a “creeping degradation of science and trust in establishments,” echoing a return to “fact-free paranoia.” โคA recent Instagram post ridiculed Violet Affleck for advocating mask-wearing andโฃ raising concerns about Long Covid’s impact on future generations, highlighting theโ culture war surroundingโข these health issues.