Some molds release volatile compounds into the air, produce unpleasant odors and have been associated with a variety of specific health problems. Scientists label these compounds “microbial volatile organic compounds” or “mVOCs”. Exposure to mVOCs has been associated with headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Molds and other fungi can impact human health through three processes:
1) allergic reactions;  2) infections;  and 3) toxic poisoning.

Everyone is exposed to moderate levels of mold in the outdoor air. However, exposure to high levels of mold in enclosed areas such as indoors is not healthy for anyone.

How does mold affect people?
There are many reactions to mold exposure, the severity of which depends on the sensitivity of the exposed person. Allergic reactions are the most common and typically include: chronic clogged throat; wheezing and difficulty breathing; nasal and sinus congestion; burning, watery, reddened eyes or blurry vision; sore throat; dry cough; nose and throat irritation; shortness of breath; nausea; and skin irritation. A person may experience these reactions while in a moldy environment and feel perfectly fine outdoors or indoors where mold levels are not elevated. People with serious allergies to molds may have more severe reactions such as fever and shortness of breath and asthma attacks. Additionally, people with chronic lung illnesses, such as bronchitis, emphysema and other obstructive lung diseases can develop severe infections in their lungs and breathing passages.

Mold is an Asthma Trigger
Not all of the health risks that are said to be caused by molds have been substantiated. But one thing the scientific and medical communities completely agree on is that mold is an asthma trigger. Over 5,000 asthma related deaths are reported in the U.S. alone each year, (mostly children). For that reason, periodic home inspections and mold testing is prudent. All indoor mold issues should be addressed immediately. People with asthma should avoid contact with molds and limit their exposure to moldy environments. 

* For more information on indoor asthma triggers, see click here.
* For information on respiratory issues caused by indoor dampness click here.

Adverse reactions to molds are most likely to occur when we are exposed to elevated levels of airborne spores in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments such as indoors. High concentrations of airborne mold spores are commonly found in homes that are damp or have experienced some sort of water intrusion. People may also experience adverse reactions to mold through skin contact and eating.  For more information about the damaging effects of mold see Mold & Property Damage.

How much mold can make me sick?
It depends. For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can cause reactions ranging from minor to severe. Other people may experience little to no reaction. Some people will react immediately, some over a longer period of time, and some never. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to reactions to mold. If you are sensitive to molds, anything more than the amount naturally present in outdoor air can make you sick. The basic rule is, too much of anything is not good. If you can see or smell mold, take steps to accurately assess the severity of infestation and the airborne concentrations.

Nasal Polyps

Fungal Infection in Nose

Infection Being Removed

Surgically Removed
Fungal Balls

  infants, children, and the elderly

  immune compromised patients (people with HIV infection, cancer chemotherapy, liver disease, etc.)

  pregnant women

  individuals with existing respiratory conditions, such as allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and asthma

People with these special concerns should consult a physician if they are having health problems or suspect indoor mold growth.

What symptoms are common?
Allergic responses vary in a person's sensitivities to mold, both as to amount and type needed to cause reactions. For asthma sufferers, the most common reaction to mold is an asthma attack. In addition to causing asthmatics to suffer an attack, mold may also give asthma to people who don't have it.

Other than asthma attacks, the following symptoms from mold exposure are often reported by people who live or work in areas where high concentrations of airborne mold spores have been confirmed:

  respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty in breathing
  nasal and sinus congestion
  eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity
  dry, hacking cough
  sore throat and throat tightness (closing up)
  nose and throat irritation
  shortness of breath
  skin irritation and staff infections
  central nervous system problems
  constant headaches, memory problems, and mood changes
  flu-like symptoms, i.e. aches, pains and fever

If you have any of these symptoms, and they are reduced or completely gone when you leave the suspect area, chances are you have been exposed to some sort of allergen, quite possibly mold.

If you or your co-workers, school mates or family members show signs of unexplained chronic fatigue, daily headaches, persistent cold-like or flu-like symptoms, you could be suffering from exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) and should see a physician.

Three Common Misconceptions About Mold.

#1:  "BLACK MOLD"
The truth is, there are thousands of kinds of molds and many of them are black. Additionally, molds tend to change colors at different stages of their growth. Some molds can be gray one day, black the next day, and green the day after that. The mold that most people are referring to when they use the term  "BLACK MOLD" is a mold called Stachybotrys, pronounced STACK-EE-BOT-TRIS.

#2:  "TOXIC MOLD"
Contrary to the widely-used term, "toxic mold", there is actually no such thing as toxic mold. Certain types of molds produce poisonous chemical compounds called mycotoxins, which are toxic, but the mold itself is not literally toxic mold. Mycotoxins are poisons that some molds produce to inhibit or prevent the growth of other organisms. Mycotoxins can be found in both living (viable) and dead (non-viable) mold spores. While non-viable mold is not a threat to building materials, both viable and non-viable mold spores can have the same allergic and toxic health effects on humans. Exposure to mycotoxins may present a greater hazard than that of allergenic or pathogenic molds.

Once mycotoxins or spores are airborne, they can rest on clothing or skin and become trapped in mucus membranes from normal breathing. They can affect humans in many different ways. Some people may have immediate reactions, and others may not notice or exhibit symptoms for several days or weeks. Mycotoxins, although unseen by the naked eye, are most often inhaled but can enter the body through the skin, mucous and eyes. Once inside the human body, mold has all the requirements it needs to colonize and spread, compromising the immune system and damaging everyday processes of the body.

#3:  "ALLERGY SHOTS PROTECT AGAINST MOLD"
A common misconception among allergists who are untrained in mold-related toxicity levels in humans, (which is technically not their area of expertise unless they have trained specifically in environmental medicine with their background in immunology), is to do general allergen testing. Most tests usually result in an 2+ or less. Because many doctors are not trained in this field, they may try to "guess" at a diagnosis. Some physicians response is to order allergy shots. However, allergy shots are virtually worthless (and could possibly be harmful) to a person who has been heavily exposed to mycotoxins since they are already in a state of toxicity. If anything, this could exacerbate the problem.

Fungi, or microorganisms related to them, may cause other health problems similar to allergic diseases. Some kinds of Aspergillus may cause several different illnesses, including both infections and allergy. These fungi may lodge in the airways or a distant part of the lung and grow until they form a compact sphere known as a "fungal ball." In people with lung damage or serious underlying illnesses, Aspergillus may grasp the opportunity to invade the lungs or the whole body.

In some individuals, exposure to these fungi can also lead to asthma or to a lung disease resembling severe inflammatory asthma called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This latter condition, which occurs only in a minority of people with asthma, is characterized by wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up of brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs. Skin testing, blood tests, X-rays, and examination of the sputum for fungi can help establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroid drugs are usually effective in treating this reaction; however, immunotherapy (allergy shots) is not a reliable "one-shot-fix-all" treatment.

Why take chances?

Life is too short to not live it well. If you suspect you have a mold problem in your home or workplace, address it early. Call today to discuss services available to you to help accurately asses mold problems and resolve them.

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