Mold exposure has been linked to headaches, allergies, irritation, and all kinds of other health problems. Learn more about the negative effects of mold here.<\/p>\n
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Molds are fungi. They can grow inside houses or other buildings, and some researchers and doctors believe that exposure to mold can cause health problems. The harmful effects of mold can be caused by exposure to mold directly, mold odor, mold byproducts, or dampness.<\/p>\n
Headaches, fatigue, allergies or other unexplained symptoms are sometimes associated with the amount of time spent in a specific building or room. Some call this \u201cSick Building Syndrome,\u201d and some researchers have attributed it to mold exposure [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Breathing mold or mold-derived byproducts into your lungs can be harmful in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n A meta-analysis showed that building dampness and mold increase the incidence of respiratory infections and asthma by 30 – 50% [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A similar study on residential home dampness and mold showed an 8 – 20% increase in the incidence of respiratory infections and bronchitis [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In children, exposure to indoor mold was associated with up to 50% more coughing. Moreover, stronger effects were seen for asthma in more crowded households [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A study on infants showed lung iron<\/a> overload and lung bleeding disorders were significantly more abundant if they lived in homes with higher levels of fungi in the air and surfaces [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In buildings with water damage, respiratory illness was significantly associated with the presence of fungi and fungal metabolites [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Mold odor at home or work was associated with reduced lung function, especially in women [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Exposure to dampness and mold is associated with a significantly increased incidence of asthma [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Asthmatic children living in mold-contaminated homes had a higher proportion of blood neutrophils<\/a> compared to people who were not exposed to mold [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In patients with asthma, exposure to mold odor is associated with significantly reduced lung function [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In people who are allergic to mold, asthma is more common and much more severe [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The presence of visible mold in the home was associated with a worse quality of life, as measured by taking more sick days – both physical and mental [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Also, in patients with asthma, exposure to workplace dampness and mold was associated with a reduced quality of life [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Mold produces toxic byproducts including aflatoxin, ochratoxin, orellanine, and zearalenone.<\/p>\n A questionnaire study was performed with 36,541 randomized parents. It found that moldy homes were associated with inflammation in the eyes, nose, throat, and skin [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A study was done measuring reported symptoms and indoor air quality by teachers in New York State [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Reported mold or mold odors were associated with a 70% increase in reporting one of the following symptoms [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n1) Respiratory Damage<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Asthma<\/h4>\n
2) Lower Quality of Life<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
3) Kidneys and Liver<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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4) Eye, Nose, Throat, and Skin Inflammation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n