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Health Issues From Mold

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all types of mold can have a negative effect on the health. The most common issue caused by mold is an allergic reaction that can include breathing issues and itching. Mold can also induce asthma attacks and act as irritants and toxins. Mold is not only harmful to humans, but also to pets.

  1. Allergic Reactions

    • When people are allergic to mold, the immune system overreacts when they inhale spores. Their bodies will think these spores are invaders and release histamines to fight them. Symptoms include coughing, itchy eyes, sneezing and breathing difficulties. The Mayo Clinic reports that the symptoms of a mold allergy vary from person to person. Some people will have seasonal mold allergies, while others may feel bad year-round. Mold tends to build up when the weather is wet because a damp climate provides ideal conditions for growth. Mold can also trigger an asthma attack. Depending on the mold, these attacks can be severe. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing. According to the Mayo Clinic, the molds that cause the most allergic reactions include aspergillus, penicillium, alternaria and cladosporium.

    More Serious Symptoms

    • According the Mayo Clinic, certain molds called "black molds" are thought to cause even more serious symptoms such as digestive problems, headache, fever and rashes. Even more worrisome is the development of acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage, which induces bleeding in the lungs of babies. However, the Mayo Clinic states that it is not 100 percent certain molds are the cause of these symptoms, because living in a damp environment can also breed bacteria and release harmful chemicals from the materials used to build the structure.

    Moldy Food and Digestive Issues

    • Some molds, if eaten, can also cause health issues. Molds that grow on meat and poultry can result in digestive issues such as cramping, diarrhea and vomiting. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is best to discard all moldy meat and poultry. If mold grows on hard cheese, it is safe to cut off the moldy bits and eat the parts not affected. However, the USDA reports that poisonous substances produced by molds called mycotoxins can grow on grain, nuts and other produce. Some of these toxins can cause cancer and other diseases.

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