Effects of Mold

Not all molds are grown equal.  The thousands of different species of mold that exist in the world today are composed of distinct attributes, which distinguish their effects on animals and human beings.  The type of mold that a person encounters can either be completely harmless, or potentially place that person in a life-threatening situation.  It helps to be knowledgeable about these mold classes, in terms of the degree of their adverse effects on the people who become exposed to them.

Cosmetic mold is mold that may seem disgusting or filthy at first glance, but does not actually pose any danger to a human being.  This type of mold is also harmless to building structures, and does not eat away at reasonably sturdy material, deriving nutrition without causing destruction from the material’s surface.  There are species of black-colored mold that are far removed from the dreaded toxic “black mold” that has become infamous among laymen and mold remediator alike.  These are residual organisms that are found on framing lumber that is used for construction purposes.  There are also molds referred to as “blue stain” fungi, because of their appearance.  They may linger even after a building has been completed, and though leaving them alone should not cause any problems, people tend to wipe them away or use basic cleaning implements on them for cosmetic reasons.  More expensive procedures are usually not employed.

Allergenic mold is so named because of its tendency to cause allergic reactions in people, typically in the form of rhinitis or asthmatic attacks.  In small amounts, it is not very threatening except to people who are particularly susceptible, such as those with respiratory illnesses or compromised immune systems.  A number of mold types that are found indoors, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium, have all been linked to the onset of asthma or the triggering of an asthma attack.  Aspergillus, specifically, is so pervasive that people sometimes develop an inflammation of the air pathways, which is known as aspergillosis, due to repeated exposure and growing sensitivity to the mold.  Allergenic molds should be cleaned away as soon as they are discovered, to avoid the chance that they will cause harm to the location’s inhabitants.  If the total area affected by this type of mold is greater than 30 feet, a professional mold remediatior may have to be called in.

Pathogenic mold is the type that causes the most harm, infecting not only people who are more vulnerable to mold ailments, but also people who are otherwise perfectly healthy.  Toxic molds are often lumped into this category, although they are more properly defined as an even more potent species than the typical pathogenic type.  These molds can cause a wide variety of serious conditions, including long-term illness, neurological defects, the collapsing of one’s immune system, and even cancer.  These types of mold are quite harmful even in low concentrations, and practically lethal in larger amounts.  A person encountering these types of molds should not attempt to clean or remove them himself, but instead obtain the assistance of a qualified mold remediator. 

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