Mold in the home

Mold and health
Mold can pose a health problem, especially for people with an allergy, an existing respiratory problem, or a weakened immune system.

Breathing problems
As mold grows, spores, cells, fragments, and unstable organic compounds can enter the air. They can produce allergens, irritants, and mycotoxins. Some of these can be toxic, especially to individuals who have a sensitivity to them.

Also, dampness encourages materials to break down, increasing the volume of particles, or dust, in the air.

These particles can irritate the lungs, nose, and throat, especially in a person who already has a breathing problem, asthma, or a chronic lung condition.

Allergy
A person with a sensitivity or allergy to any mold-related particles may react.

Mold allergies can produce similar symptoms to other allergies, such as hay fever, or seasonal allergy. In these, too, airborne substances can affect the upper respiratory tract.

Symptoms include:

a blocked or runny nose
an itchy nose
an itchy throat
sneezing
watery eyes
People with a mold allergy as well as asthma have a higher chance of having an asthma attack when there is mold in the environment.

A higher volume of dust can increase the risk of dust mites, which can also trigger an allergic reaction in some people.