• April 17, 2020

Is Mold Dangerous?

If you are looking for an answer to this question, you’ve probably seen something on the internet or perhaps the news warning you about the dangers of mold. It might seem like a silly or strange topic if you are unfamiliar with indoor air quality issues. While some growth is harmless, it is true that certain species of mold can pose a danger to your health. MI&T is here to dispel all the myths and give you the facts about the fungal world and how it could impact your health.

 When mold is present, it releases spores into the air. These spores are inhaled or absorbed by the skin and eyes by humans. Some species of mold cause little to no negative implications to humans, while others can have some serious health consequences.

Mold is all around us, indoor/outdoors; its everywhere. So if we are surrounded by fungus, why should you be concerned about a little bit in your house you ask? The short answer to that is some species of mold can be harmful to your health. Typically the fungus growing outdoors on organic materials like trees and such is that of the non-toxic variety. Cladosporeum and Basidiospores are common species of mold that is seen outdoors as well as inside a home or business which you should NOT be concerned about. These species of mold can also be found commonly in places inside a home. Bathrooms, vents, window sills, and other places that have moisture will often grow some of these types of mold. This kind of growth is normal, acceptable, and nothing to worry about.

So what types of Mold Should I worry about?

Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetoneum, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys are all species of mold that produce mycotoxins and raise cause for concern if found within an indoor environment.  These species of mold can be found outdoors, but it is not in a confined area where the mold spores have the opportunity to build up to the level that can cause problems. The side effects of being exposed to mycotoxins produced by these species varies from person to person. Some may experience severe reactions while another individual in that environment is perfectly fine; very similar to allergies.

Health concerns stemming from mold growth is a relatively new topic (15 years or so). Whenever something new comes out, there will always be people arguing against it. Here at MI&T, we have seen the problems that indoor mold growth has caused first hand. More and more we are being referred to people by doctors as a possible solution to strange health problems. While some of these people’s issues were not caused by mold, others have been very grateful that we’ve come out to discover a problem and their issues subside; this is not a coincidence.

The best way to keep you and your property safe from indoor air quality problems is to be active in preventing problems from starting. Take a look at our article on preventing mold growth. There you can find specific places and things to look for in an effort to find a problem before it gets out of control. Most issues can be found and addressed before it gets to a point where it is causing health problems. If you have any more questions about the dangers of mold, please give us a call at 855-600-6653 to speak with an expert directly.