Is Mold Dangerous?

Mold and mildew come in many forms with over 65,000 species. Mold grows quickly, feeding on moisture at building materials. Indoor mold issues must be dealt with swiftly and correctly to protect from adverse health effects. While it is usually not harmful in small quantities, it can create numerous heath issues when mold gathers in schools, homes, and offices.

Some molds cause respiratory problems and allergies, while toxic molds can cause cancer and neurological issues that can be fatal.

Allergies and Asthma

Mold is a plant and its ‘seeds? are called spores. Spores are released into the air and are inhaled by humans. Just like pollen, they cause allergies but often times are more dangerous due to mycotoxins and aflatoxins. Symptons may include skin rash, running nose, eye irritation, cough, nasal congestion, aggravation of asthma or difficulty breathing. Usually if you have allergy like symptoms but do not know why you should consider mold.

Mold and Cancer

The University of Iowa research department has found that a group of cancer causing chemicals called aflatoxins are found in certain molds. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, for example, contain aflatoxins and are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Surprisingly, this mold type is found regularly in homes and commercial buildings.

Too Much Mold

How much mold is too much mold? It really depends on the individual. Like the flu or osteoporosis, some people are more susceptible than others. Usually, infants, elderly, immune suppressed and those with asthma are more harmed by smaller amounts of mold that the ?average joe.? No matter the person, however, mold over time can be harmful to anybody.

Mold grows in spores that group into hyphae and mycelium. Considering a mold spore is 1/25,000 of an inch, millions of spores are present when you can see mold. Mold inspection professional specialize in testing the type of mold and quantity using ?certified laboratories. Once mold is confirmed, specialized removal techniques are used to prevent spreading mold spores throughout the structure.