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Mold & Health Issues

 
       
 

 
 

IMPORTANT
This is not medical advice!

Consultation with qualified physicians or other medical experts should be your first step in dealing with any healthcare issue.  

Symptoms of mold exposure can also be attributed to many other health-related issues and you should always seek the appropriate expert advice.
 
 


Overview

Fungi are a natural part of the environment with outdoor airborne levels subject to numerous ambient conditions. Indoors, airborne levels of mold are primarily influenced by outdoor organisms unless a colonies are established within the structure.

When indoor areas have mold problems, fungal components can be dramatically elevated over outdoor levels. These elevated levels are generally believed to be the cause of problems with otherwise healthy individuals.

Unfortunately, healthcare professionals lack comprehensive data on human exposure to all types of fungi. Much of what is known has been extrapolated from observations of animals exposed to mold both in the laboratory and as livestock; or from studies of human exposure in agriculture environments.  

With tens of thousands of species and considerable differences in human sensitivity, the task of qualifying and quantifying health data is substantial.

Many molds are classified as opportunistic pathogens meaning the organism is disease-causing given the opportunity to infect the host.  

Some mycotoxins are documented carcinogens, implying they are suspect cancer-causing agents.

People suffering from fungal exposures are faced with difficulties.  With science lacking definitive answers to many questions, there appears to be no shortage of conflicting opinions.  

 

  
 
Exposure Routes
Mold needs access, or what is called a pathway, into the human body in order to be problematic.  The most obvious pathways are:

Inhalation - Breathing volatile organic compounds (VOC's), spores and/or fragments of mold is generally considered the primary means of exposure to indoor mold.  Inhalation can expose the upper and lower respiratory tracts and allows pathways into the blood system via the lungs.

Ingestion -  Eating food contaminated by mold allows direct exposure of the digestive tract to mold components. Studies of people and livestock that consumed mold-contaminated food has contributed a significant amount of data on infectious and toxic molds.

Contact - Touching mold or items contaminated by mold can also provide a pathway.  Whereas the skin provides good protection, transfer to mucus membranes (e.g. eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) is possible.  Openings in the skin (wounds, burns, sores, etc.) can provide a direct pathway into tissue and the bloodstream.  Certain types of molds are responsible for infections including ringworm, athletes' foot, jock-itch, and other forms of skin, hair and nail diseases.
 
 


High Risk Individuals
Mold is considered especially problematic to infants/children, the elderly, pregnant women, immune-compromised individuals (HIV infection, cancer chemotherapy patients, liver disease, bone-marrow transplants, post-surgical patients, etc.), and persons with unique sensitivities or existing respiratory conditions.

Persons with such conditions are advised to be extra careful concerning mold exposure and should not to perform mold cleanup activities without special precautions.
 

 
Health Issues
The health affects of mold are generally grouped in the following four categories. Numerous conditions including type and species of mold, exposure levels and methods, environmental conditions, individual sensitivities, etc. are all considered to be factors in the response.
 
Irritation For some people, the "moldy odor" can be irritating to mucous membranes, cause headaches and other symptoms. This odor comes from volatile organic compounds (VOC's) produced by mold as it degrades organic substrates and is generally considered one of the primary causes of irritation.  
Allergy Allergic reactions are typically the most common health problem. Symptoms include respiratory problems and difficulty breathing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning/watery or reddened eyes, dry hacking cough, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, skin irritation, headaches, memory problems, mood changes, aches and pains, and possible fever.
Infection There are an estimated 100 species of mold known to cause infections in humans and immune suppressed individuals are especially at risk. Infections can be localized or systemic. Aspergillosis is a common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the U.S.  Other fungi can infect hair, skin and nails.
Toxicosis Many species of mold produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins which are believed to be most prevalent in spores (both living and dead spores). Mycotoxins are of special concern since some may present a greater hazard to humans than all other conditions including nerve damage, organ damage, and cancer. Symptoms of toxicosis from mold include cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, nosebleeds, memory problems, fatigue, dermatitis, immune suppression, etc.

 
 
Reported Symptoms
The following list represents some of the symptoms reported in literature relative to mold exposure. Other symptoms specific to infectious and/or toxic molds may be experienced.
  • Respiratory problems
  • Nasal & sinus congestion
  • Burning, watery or reddened eyes
  • Blurry vision or light sensitivity
  • Dry, hacking cough
  • Nose and throat irritation
  • Shortness of breath
  • Skin irritations
  • Headache
  • Memory problems
  • Mood changes
  • Aches & pains
  • Nosebleeds
  • Dermatitis
  • Immune suppression
  • Fatigue
  • Chills/fever

As with any health issue, numerous causative agents can elicit similar symptoms; therefore, the presence of such symptoms is not exclusive to mold exposure.
 

  
 

If you have concerns about your health and mold,
Contact your Healthcare Professional
     
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