Why is Mold so Dangerous?

Mold

We all know that mold is a fungus, a microscopic organism found both outdoors and indoors. Molds primary job is to break down dead organisms found in the environment like dead leaves and trees. Molds need 2 things: water and oxygen.

There are over 100,000 different types of mold species. These molds come in different colors and often are hard to see. If you don’t know what you’re looking for or smell a musty, old smell then mold testing might need to be done to figure out if you do have active mold spores in your home/business. Often mold experts can find visible mold because they are trained on what to look for. Mold loves moisture and will grow on the following building materials inside your home. These materials are wood, insulation, paper, drywall, carpet and food.

When your home has high humidity or you have active or recent water damage, mold spores can attach to these building materials and begin to grow within 24-48 hours. If moisture prevails, the mold will continue to grow. It digests the building materials to survive. Mold spreads through producing spores that waft in the air. Some spread easily through disturbance, and other molds have sticky spores that cling to surfaces or by brushing against them.

Why is mold dangerous and harmful to individuals air quality and health?

There are three classifications of mold found in homes: allergenic mold, pathogenic mold, toxigenic mold. Here is the breakdown of the different types of molds and how it impacts your health and indoor air quality.

Allergenic Mold

These are most found in homes. This type of mold is not toxic but can cause allergic reactions. These allergic reactions depending on how allergic one is to the mold can be mild to severe. Symptoms that individuals can feel are: sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, skin irritations, sore throat and asthma symptoms. Depending on how sensitive you are to this classification you might not even know you have mold. However, other family members, and or visitors might be affected by this when they enter your home even for a short amount of time.

Pathogenic Mold

Pathogenic mold is less common than Allergenic mold. This can cause infections in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Pathogenic mold actually grows within the human bodies’ tissues and organs. Individuals can experience severe coughing, shortness of breath, skin infection, lung infection and moderate to severe allergic symptoms.

Toxigenic Mold

Toxigenic Mold is the most severe but are rare but are harmful and would need medical attention. One thinks of black mold, however though that is true mold color is not always a detector of severe toxicity because mold color can change overgrowth time. Individuals that experience symptoms would experience respiratory failure.

Conclusion

No matter if you and your family are allergic to mold, remember mold will eventually destroy the building materials it is living on due to breaking it down as it digests it for survival. If you suspect that you have mold, it is advised that you contact a mold specialist. The mold specialist can determine if and where you have mold, why you have mold and then design a plan on what needs to be remediated to get rid of the mold as well as how to maintain a healthy home going forward. 

 

Schedule an Appointment or Call (301) 695-0458

To request a service call, please fill out the form below and we will contact you via phone, email or text as soon as possible to confirm an appointment time. You will receive an email confirming your service request. 

*All fields required. By submitting this form, you agree to receive calls, text messages, or emails at the contact information provided. Message rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out at any time. We won’t share your information. Not all locations provide the same services. View our Privacy Policy.

(301) 695-0458
Categories