Effects of Mold Exposure on Health  

By Your Health Magazine Health Information Team

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Effects of Mold Exposure on Health  

The health effects of short-term and long-term exposure to mold, which is most susceptible to their effects and what can be done to reduce exposure will be discussed.

According to the CDC and a reputable company for mold removal in Miami, exposure to mold is a problem when the mold concentration is above the acceptable amount in an enclosed area. Mold can have a negative impact on human health in three ways when it comes into contact with the human body:

• By reacting to spores allergically,
• By irritating the respiratory tract, and
• By generating mycotoxins which are harmful to the internal organs.

From the mechanisms described above, these effects are experienced in varying ways depending on the duration of exposure, the degree of mold toxicity and individual factors.

The health responses to acute exposure to mold.

Typical short-term exposures are after a few hours of being in the contaminated area. Early signs of mold poisoning can be related to common cold and flu. If the cause of these symptoms is mold, however, then you are likely to see them after you come back into contact with the moldy environment and then they will go away when you go away.

Effects on the respiratory system

Mold spores cause irritation of mucous membranes resulting in nasal congestion, a runny or stuffy nose, and cough. Sneezing, asthma attacks, wheezing or breathlessness are also the causes of mold. These symptoms should go away within a few hours of being removed from the polluted area. Otherwise, it may be advisable to see if your home is moldy because these symptoms can also be caused by pneumonia and bronchitis.

Other signs of acute exposure are:

• Rashes, redness of the skin or irritation of the skin.
• Eyelids swelling and eyes becoming red in colour.
• Headaches, brain fog and fatigue

The first three symptoms are very typical following exposure to mold, but the last may seem too far-fetched. However, there is a scientific explanation for each of them. The headaches and fatigue are caused by the VOCs present in mold-infested areas. The WHO states that there is an increased risk of falling ill due to long-term exposure to these substances. Although brain fog is not officially a medical condition, many patients say that just getting rid of mold in the house, these symptoms disappear.

Asthma and mold exposure. 

People with Asthma or a weak immune system, must go to their doctor after being exposed to the mold to minimize their risks of complications. 

Ingesting mold for long periods of time may harm us badly. However, the major harm comes from Mold dwelling in our house affecting the internal functions of our organs. Exposure to it can also damage nerves, because of an allergic reaction and it will affect our airways. Though, these damages can be negligible and go unnoticed for quite some time that could bring the house a great danger in the future. 

Chronic respiratory disease

Also, a long and heavy penetration into lungs may also cause the house owner to have COPD, Asthma, Reactive airway diseases or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an immunologic disorder that can result in shortness of breathing and a dry cough. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis can occur due to a combination with other lung disorders. Studies show that exposure to the wet environment in childhood will result in reduced pulmonary capacity when in adulthood. 

How does mold have an effect on the immune system?

In the long run, it can also cause immunological issues. When the immune system is compromised, it is unable to effectively fight against the invasion of pathogens and other foreign organisms into the body. Intriguingly, allergy can also be acquired by prolonged exposure to mold. Mold infections can be life threatening and severe in people with weakened immune systems, including those with organ transplants, patients receiving chemotherapy and those with HIV infection.

Toxic Mold Syndrome

There is some research indicating chronic neurological symptoms of muscle pain and weakness, fatigue and endocrine dysfunction are associated with Toxic Mold Syndrome. They note that little is known about this disease since there are few tests for detecting mold toxins.

Is anyone susceptible to being impacted by mold?

While almost all people can be subjected to the damaging effects of mold, each person’s response to mold exposure is unique. Individual sensitivity can be caused by the following factors:

• Biological age
• General health
• Immune response
• Genetic makeup
• As well as the type of mold.

Therefore, children, elderly persons, pregnant women, persons with asthma, and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of being more susceptible to exposure to mold.

Symptoms/Signs of Mold Contamination.

Many mold inspection companies including Mold Testers 561 have stated several times that mold can be invisible to the naked eye in some cases. For example, if mold is growing at any hidden place, it can release spores in the air. These spores are not visible to the naked eye. Since visible mold also sometimes grows behind drywalls etc. So, people can rarely notice it. Still it releases spores in the air that can spread everywhere especially with your HVAC. If you are noticing very frequent allergies, strong earthy or musty smell, just go for a mold inspection for your peace of mind. 

 Spores inhaled in the presence of mold are the most common cause of health problems from mold exposure. Even with cleaning, and no visible mold, the following are warnings that there is mold in the home:

• An obnoxious mousy smell,
• Stains on walls of various colors,
• Removing paint or wallpaper from walls, or covering with paper or paint, and
• Condensation on the windows,
• Recent water damage.

An important thing to keep in mind is that exposures can be prolonged when occurring on a daily basis for over seven days or every month.