Health Risks from Mold

In spite of mold’s prevalence both indoors and outdoors, one of nature’s most profligate creatures is rarely considered to be among its deadliest.  It may be disgusting to look at and may induce sneezing if you’re around it longer than you should, but for the most part, mold is a fairly harmless organism whose spores and residue form part of daily household dust and the air that we breathe.  However, due to neglect or other environmental factors, mold can sometimes breed far out of control, creating conditions that may cause a number of health issues in humans, and in rare cases, lead to serious ailments. 

The most common affliction associated with the presence of mold is that of allergies.  Mold spores in the air are irritants in substantial quantities, and trigger reactions regardless of whether or not a person is actually sensitive to the mold allergens.  These reactions range from eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, to bouts of sneezing, runny nose, asthma attacks and coughing spells.  In certain situations, the mold spores may attach to cells in the respiratory tract and begin growing, causing further invasive fungal infections.  

More severe reactions may occur when a person is continuously exposed to mold through one’s occupation, such as in the case of farmers who have to work with hay that is mold-infested.  These person may suffer from fever, chronic shortness of breath.  The chances of developing mold infections in one’s lungs also increases with the level of exposure. 

Contact with mold can be just as problematic as inhaling it.  Molds can cause skin infections, such as athlete’s foot and tinea cruris.  Of greater concern, however, is the presence of mold toxins, which can enter the body through contact, inhalation or ingestion.  These toxic compounds, known as mycotoxins, are a particularly potent by-product of certain molds, though they are only excreted when the mold population is extremely high, indicating ideal circumstances for mycotoxin production.  Mycotoxins strike the immune system, significantly compromising it or causing it to behave abnormally, resulting in a wide range of complications.  Severe illness or death only results, however, in critical exposure levels, and even then, only individuals whose immune systems are already malfunctioning, such as people with AIDS, are especially susceptible to a lethal toxic mold affliction. 

It goes without saying that, as mold grows quickly on food that is spoiled or not stored properly, one should not be eating food that may have been the target of mold infestation.  Food poisoning is typical for those who end up eating infected food, and for particular mold strains, such as those associated with mycotoxin production, deaths have resulted from the consumption of large quantities of food that was compromised by these types of mold. 

It must be noted that many of these conditions are worst-case scenarios, as even homes with significant mold damage do not approach toxic mold levels.  Nonetheless, every person could have a different reaction to varying levels of exposure.  Thus, it pays to be safe, by being aware of the potential hazards of mold, and taking the appropriate measures to prevent them.

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