The Best Home Inspection LLC

Mold & Your Health

So - how does mold affect you ? Irritation? Allergy? Infection? Toxicosis? All four?!! There are many factors that impact the way mold affects you. Factors pertaining to the mold (conditions of growth, species) and factors pertaining to you (how you got exposed, your exposure level, your sensitivity).

Exposure or How Mold Finds You!

Routes to Exposure
Mold can't bother you, if it can't get to you. Simple. But, unless you're hidden in a sealed bubble, mold has its ways-or pathways into your body. So, what is the mold equivalent of Route 66?

Contact
So, don't touch it! Yes, touching certain types of mold can lead to infections such as ringworm, athletes' foot, jock-itch or other forms of skin, hair and nail diseases. Your skin generally provides good proteciton, but cracks, burns, sores or other small undetected openings in your skin can allow for a direct pathway into tissue and the bloodstream. Transfer can also occur via mucus membranes such as eyes, nose, mouth. Also touching items contaminated by mold can provide another opportunity for access to you. provide a pathway.

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 exposes the upper and lower respiratory tracts and allows pathways into the blood system via the lungs.

Ingestion
Ok, all you guys who think your tougher than a little mold - eating food contaminated by mold allows direct exposure of your digestive tract to mold. Studies of people and livestock (for those of you who are "bull-headed") who have consumed infectious or toxic mold-contaminated food have found that eating mold is not a good idea.

Some molds cause allergic reactions and/or respiratory problems, while others, under the right conditions, produce mycotoxins (poisonous stuff that can cause illness).

Still Thnking About Eating the "Not-Green" Hunk of that Cheese?

Mold has "roots" that may go deep into that cheese hunk - so just lopping off the moldy part and eating the rest of it probably not worth it. You could still eat part of the mold or the mycotoxins it produced. While you might not notice the effects, others with allergies, young children, elderly people or someone with immune system issues sure might - might even be at increased risk from ingesting the mold or mycotoxins.

What Should You do with Moldy Food?

Avoid cultivating mold!! How? Store food properly and use it within before the "good until date" passes. But, if you spot a hold-out deep in the recesses of your fridge: Don't sniff it (What! You think nobody would do this? Inhaling mold spores can give the mycotoxins an easy path to your respiratory tract.

So, you've found the forgotten half-loaf of your great-aunt Irma's whole grain bread she gave you to take home after her winter equinox celebration five months ago - at least you think that's what's in plastic bag. . . Do Not Open the Bag! Do not disturb the mold - bother it and it gets irritated and might irritate you! Best mot to let the mold into the air or onto food handling surfaces - or on you. If the bag great-aunt Irma put the bread in is not intact - put it in a paper or plastic bag and throw it out! (This is bascially for help animals and garbage-curious children from easily getting into it.

Next? Yes, the dreaded - Clean the refrigerator - or wherever you stored that moldy food. And, then - check all the other food nearby. Molds spread quickly and particularly like fruits and vegetables.

Still Believe in the "5 Second Rule"?

Believe it or not - there's been a study done about this popular legend. The consensus is that - if there's microbial growth on the floor where you drop the food - the length of time until you pick it up makes no difference. The good news? Dry floors don't support microbial growth. Learn more here

How Mold May Affect You

For some people, when they detect a moldy odor, the mold has reached a stage where it can be irritating to their mucous membranes, cause headaches and other symptoms. Moldy odor comes from volatile organic compounds produced by the mold as it degrades the surfaces on which a plant or animal grows or is attached. It is generally considered one of the primary causes of irritation.

Allergic Reactions

Allergies to mold are fairly typical. You may experiene burning and watery or reddened eyes, nasal and sinus congestion, nose and throat irritation, skin irritation, headaches, or aches and pains. Some people develop respiratory problems, difficulty breathing or memory problems. Other symptoms may be dry hacking cough, shortness of breath, mood changes and fever.

Infection

There are an estimated 100 species of mold known to cause infections in humans. Those indiviuals who are immune suppressed are especially at risk. In general, Alternaria and Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Some molds attach to grains such as wheat, oats, barley, and corn, making farms, grain bins and silos likely places to find mold. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are also common. Other fungi can infect hair, skin and nails. Infections can be localized or systemic. A person who inhales the fungus may become sensitized and develop allergic asthma.

Aspergillosis, a commonly found mold growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles or in other decaying vegetation, can cause infection or an allergic response. If the Aspergillosis fungus affects the lungs, treatment may require hospitalization .