Types of Mold

There are numerous types of mold, and some of these are benign meaning they have no effects on humans and animals. However, others can cause mild symptoms and allergies. There is a mold type which excretes mycotoxins or poses an infection risk, and can be very harmful to your health. Some molds are classified as cosmetic mold, and these are generally considered harmless to your health and home. One type of cosmetic mold is found on framing lumber used in the construction industry, and can also be referred to as blue stain fungi. These molds may be visible but do not pose a health risk, and may be cleaned for a better appearance, but do not require extensive efforts to remove or a large scale mold remediation using extreme caution which is used to remove the black mold Stachybotrys. Stachybotrys mold excretes toxins and causes severe health problems in some people. Cosmetic mold can include molds in the group called Ophistomacae.

Allergenic molds are another mold type, and molds in this group can result in mold allergies, and asthma problems in individuals who are more sensitive to these allergens. These molds do not normally pose a health threat when they are in small concentrations, but to anyone who is sensitive even small amounts of these molds can cause health problems that can be mild to moderate. In rare cases, a person may be highly sensitive to a mold, and exposure can cause severe allergy symptoms to develop which may need immediate medical attention. This mold can be cleaned and removed by individuals who are not sensitive, but even then the proper personal protection equipment, including a N95 respirator, gloves, and goggles, should be used to prevent any problems with exposure to mold particles and spores. If the contaminated area is large, and covers thirty square feet or more, it is not advisable to attempt to clean up the mold yourself. Instead, professional mold remediation should be used to ensure a safe, complete, and proper cleaning and removal of the mold.

A third type of mold consists of infectious, toxic, and pathogenic molds, which are known to be harmful to your health. These molds pose a risk not just to the young, elderly, and those who suffer from a compromised immune system, but also to healthy individuals who have no medical conditions or problems. The most common type of mold that causes medical problems in humans are the molds which belong to the Aspergillis genus, of which sixteen different types of this mold can have health risks involved with exposure. The three most common Aspergillis molds are; Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger. These mold types can cause severe allergic reactions requiring medical treatment, fungal balls in the lung requiring surgical removal, and many other health problems. Aspergillus flavus is considered a toxic mold, because it excretes a mycotoxin called aflatoxin. This toxin is considered one of the most cancer causing toxins ever found. In the early sixties, turkeys in Britain were fed food that was contaminated with this mycotoxin, and one hundred thousand turkeys died from eating it.

Stachybotrys Chartarum is another mold type, one that is considered very harmful or toxic. This mold grows in places that are very moist and dark, and the mold grows slowly. This mold is black in color and appears extremely slimy. The mycotoxins released by these molds are very potent and very toxic to humans. These toxins are associated with certain cancers, suppression of your immune system, and many flu like symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, nosebleeds with no underlying medical reason, and general lethargy as well as others. This mold type can be very serious, and should be professionally removed if it is found in your home.

Cladosporium spp and Fusarium spp are two other harmful mold types that should be avoided if possible. The Cladosporium genus contains more than thirty mold species, and some of these can cause nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, skin lesions, pulmonary infections, keratitis, bronchiospasms, edema, and even pulmonary emphysema. Fusarium spp is found in soil and on plants outside. This mold can also contaminate your home and cause many health problems, including infections of the nail, skin, and eye tissues. In more severe exposures, this mold type can cause alimentary toxic aleukia. It is also called hemorrhagic syndrome, this has symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, massive internal bleeding, and dermatitis. Some species of this type of mold produce mycotoxins called trichothecene, and these toxins attack your skin, nervous system, circulatory system, and alimentary system. One of these toxins, Zearalenone, attacks the sex organs, and another, called Vomitoxin, causes acute gastrointestinal sickness.

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