Research and Further Reading

This is a curated list of some of the sources that informed our research, experimentation, and the development of Hellbender Solutions.

Mold & Mycotoxins

• Shoemaker, R. “Mold Warriors.” (2005)

  
  
  
  

  Early patient case studies documenting the systemic impact of water-damaged buildings and biotoxins.

  
  
  
  

• Nathan, N. “Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness.” (2018)

  
  
  
  

  Clinical insights on overlapping mold and infection syndromes, grounding avoidance and treatment strategies.

  
  
  
  

• Hope, J. “A Review of the Mechanism of Injury and Treatment Approaches for Illness Resulting from Exposure to Water-Damaged Buildings, Mold, and Mycotoxins.” Scientific World Journal. 2013.

  
  
  
  

  Peer-reviewed synthesis of how mycotoxins injure human biology and treatment approaches.

  
  
  
  

• Andersson, M.A. et al. “Toxic Metabolite Production by Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Fungi from Damp Buildings.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1997.

  
  
  
  

  Established the danger of trichothecene toxins in indoor environments.

Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT)

• Miller, C. “Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance—An Emerging Theory of Disease?” Environmental Health Perspectives. 1997.

  
  
  
  

  The foundational paper describing TILT as a unifying model for chemical and mold sensitivity.

  
  
  
  

• Miller, C., Palmer, R. “Environmental Exposures and TILT: A Case-Control Study.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2010.

  
  
  
  

  Demonstrated how environmental exposures create sensitization leading to chronic reactivity.

Mast Cell Activation & Immunology

• Afrin, L. “Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity.” (2016)

  
  
  
  

  Groundbreaking text connecting mast cell dysfunction to widespread unexplained illnesses.

  
  
  
  

• Theoharides, T. et al. “Mast Cells, Neuroinflammation and Pain in Fibromyalgia Syndrome.” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2019.

  
  
  
  

  Shows how mast cell mediators drive neuroinflammation — key to understanding overlap with mold reactivity.

Metals, Chelation & Mineral Balance

• Klaassen, C., Watkins, J. “Casarett and Doull’s Essentials of Toxicology.” 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill; 2015.

  
  
  
  

  Classic toxicology reference on how metals interact with detox pathways and how chelators intervene.

  
  
  
  

• Walaszek, Z. et al. “Metabolism, uptake, and excretion of D-glucarate in humans.” Cancer Letters. 1996.

  
  
  
  

  Key study showing CDG’s role in supporting glucuronidation, relevant to toxin clearance.

  
  
  
  

• Flora, S. “Chelation in Metal Intoxication.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010.

  
  
  
  

  Comprehensive review of chelators like EDTA and their function in binding metals.

  
  
  
  

• Prasad, A.S. “Zinc in Human Health: Effect of Zinc on Immune Cells.” Molecular Medicine. 2008.

  
  
  
  

  Explains how zinc protects binding “parking spots” from being hijacked by lead, mercury, and other metals.

  
  
  
  

• Rayman, M. “The Importance of Selenium to Human Health.” The Lancet. 2000.

  
  
  
  

  Selenium’s role in antioxidant defense and binding of heavy metals.

Probiotics in Remediation

• Xu, J. et al. “Biocontrol of Molds by Bacillus Species: Mechanisms and Applications.” Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. 2019.

  
  
  
  

  Shows how Bacillus probiotics suppress pathogenic fungi — the basis for structural bio-competition.

  
  
  
  

• Higa, T., Parr, J. “Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms for a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment.” (1994).

  
  
  
  

  Original work on “effective microorganisms” as applied to soil and environmental cleaning.

Radiological Binding & Borates

• International Atomic Energy Agency. “Use of Borates in the Mitigation of Nuclear Accidents.” Technical Reports Series, 2002.

  
  
  
  

  Documents boron’s neutron-absorbing and radiological binding roles, as used at Chernobyl and Fukushima.

  
  
  
  

• EPA. “Handbook of Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites.” (1985).

  
  
  
  

  Includes practical applications of borates and alkaline solutions in radiological and heavy-metal contexts.

Agricultural Research on Mycotoxin Neutralization

• Doyle, M.P. et al. “Control of Aflatoxin in Animal Feeds.” Journal of Food Protection. 1982.

  
  
  
  

  Classic work on how binders and adsorbents reduce aflatoxin impact in feed — foundational for understanding environmental carryover.

  
  
  
  

• Phillips, T.D. et al. “Novel Approaches to Aflatoxin Sequestration in Animal Feeds.” Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews. 2002.

  
  
  
  

  Describes how clays, mineral adsorbents, and chelators are used to trap aflatoxins before they cause harm.

  
  
  
  

• Kabak, B., Dobson, A. “Biological Strategies for Mycotoxin Decontamination of Foods and Feeds.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2009.

  
  
  
  

  Explores enzymatic degradation, microbial competition, and binding agents — many of which incorporate directly into Hellbender’s multi-step design.

  
  
  
  

• Sinha, K.K., Sinha, A.K. “Impact of Storage Conditions on Mycotoxin Production in Maize.” Food Additives and Contaminants. 1991.

  
  
  
  

  Demonstrates how environmental factors (moisture, pH, microbial competition) affect toxin persistence — reinforcing why destabilization + neutralization + protection is necessary.

  
  
  
  

• Shetty, P.H., Jespersen, L. “Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactic Acid Bacteria as Potential Detoxifiers of Mycotoxins in Food and Feed.” International Journal of Food Microbiology. 2006.

  
  
  
  

  Shows probiotics binding and metabolizing mycotoxins (Solution #3’s probiotic stabilization strategy).

  
  
  
  

• Galvano, F. et al. “Dietary Strategies to Counteract the Effects of Mycotoxins: A Review.” Journal of Food Protection. 2001.

  
  
  
  

  Broad overview of chelators, clays, antioxidants, and enzymatic approaches — the “ag playbook” that influenced environmental avoidance tools.

  
  
  
  

• Phillips, T.D., Clement, B.A. “Mycotoxin Adsorption in Animal Feeds: Practical Applications of Mineral Clays.” Journal of Animal Science. 1994.

  
  
  
  

  Demonstrates how bentonite and aluminosilicates bind toxins like aflatoxin B1 in grain — a model for how mineral scaffolds in Solution #3 adsorb contaminants in the built environment.