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this pageAre Toxic Molds Dangerous?
Sneezing, wheezing, red eyes, headaches, fatigue, lung infections, breathing difficulty. These are just some of the symptoms, from mild to serious, that may be caused by exposure to molds. The culprits are mold spores, fragments, mycotoxins, and volatile organic compounds (see A Mold is a Water–Loving Fungi).
Whether or not you develop health problems due to mold depends upon the extent of your exposure, your sensitivity to mold, your current state of health, and your exposure to other pollutants. The elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems may be most susceptible to toxic mold injuries.
Allergic Reactions
Inhaling or touching mold spores may cause sneezing, runny nose, eye irritation, and skin rash or dermatitis in allergic individuals. Repeated or continual exposure may increase your sensitivity to mold or aggravate existing conditions such as asthma.
Other allergic reactions include developing sinusitis and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. A rare disease that resembles bacterial pneumonia, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) results from either short–term or long–term exposure to mold and may lead to permanent lung damage. Farm workers are most likely to come down with HP from mold on hay, straw, or grain dust. However, office workers have also developed the disease through exposure to mold–contaminated humidifiers and ventilation systems (Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 2001, Appendix B; State of the Science on Molds and Human Health, Stephen Redd, M.D., Chief of Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control, July 18, 2002).
Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome
Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS) is another mold–related disease. Fever, respiratory and flu–like symptoms follow a single, heavy exposure to dust containing organic matter including fungi. Farm workers and construction workers performing renovation work are most likely to develop this disease.
Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Some scientists associate pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding of the lungs in infants less than six months old with exposure to the toxic mold Stachybotrys chartarum (Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health?, Harriet M. Ammann, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Senior toxicologist, Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, Washington). In 1998, The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health stated that doctors should make every effort to ensure that infants less than one year of age avoid moldy environments (Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments, New York City Department of Health). Although the Centers for Disease Control has not confirmed a link between pulmonary hemorrhage in humans and Stachybotrys chartarum, it is undertaking further research projects to study the problem (see Case Definition For Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Infants, Centers for Disease Control).
Aspergillosis
“Aspergillosis,” a lung infection caused by certain molds of the Aspergillus genus, causes fever, cough, and chest pain. Organ transplant patients, individuals undergoing high–dose corticosteroid therapy, and others with weak immune systems may be susceptible to aspergillosis, but healthy people are unlikely to get these infections (Centers for Disease Control, Disease Information, Aspergillosis).
Continuing Research
The study of how molds effect human health is still in its infancy. For recent summaries of mold research, see:
- Mold, Toxic Molds, and Indoor Air Quality, Pamela Davis, March 2001;
- State of the Science on Molds and Human Health, Stephen Redd, MD, Chief of Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control, July 18, 2002
For details about mold lawsuits and legislation, see Toxic Mold Claims.