Mold is the name given to microscopic fungi that is not an animal or a plant. Molds contain enzymes which are used to eat dead and decomposing matter, such as plants and animals. These fungi thrive in a damp and moist environment. When these conditions are right mold can grow and contaminate your house. If there are areas in your home that are warm, moist, and dark, you can end up with a mold problem in places you might not expect. If the building materials in your home become wet, from water leaking into your home or high levels of humidity in the air, mold can attach to and destroy drywall, carpet, wallpaper, wood, gypsum board, fiberboard, particle board, and almost every other type of building material. The space between your walls, under your floor boards, in your basement and attic, and other unseen locations can help contribute to mold contamination that you may not even know is there. This can lead to health problems in some people, ranging from mild to severe depending on the exact type of mold growing and your individual health conditions, as well as how severe the contamination is around your home.
Mold can cause problems in many ways. Some molds can cause infections, and in an infection the mold itself will grow on or in your body. This can be caused by coming into contact with the mold through your skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or by inhaling the spores or particles of the mold into your lungs. There were reports of people getting mold infections in their eyes from a contact lens solution that was contaminated just a few years back, and the infection resulted in blindness for some people who used the contaminated lens solution. Mold infections are rare, but they can be a serious health problem for the few people who contract diseases from mold contamination.
When a mold is called toxic, the mold itself is not the problem. These types of mold release a substance called mycotoxins, and these toxins are the cause of the medical problems. When certain people come into contact with the toxins that are released by the mold there can be many symptoms and health problems that can occur. The exact symptoms you experience will depend on the types of mold present, how long you were exposed, and how much mold is present, along with other factors. In addition, many mold types can cause mild symptoms which are not serious, such as allergy or flu like symptoms, even though these molds may not be considered toxic molds. If you have a mold contamination problem, you may experience some of the following symptoms: ongoing flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever, wheezing, coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, a stuffed up nose, asthma, sinus problems, skin rashes, diarrhea, pneumonitis, poor immune responses and disorders, hypersensitivity, and other symptoms.
Mold can affect some classes of people more severely than others. Healthy adults usually have no problems with mold, but anyone who is elderly, young, or has a weak immune system can be affected much harder because their body can not fight off the toxins from mold as efficiently. Some strains of mold, called toxic molds, can have a serious affect even on many healthy adults, because the toxins released can cause serious complications and be harmful to your health.
What is mold? In the world of science, mold is named filamentous fungi, and there are over one hundred thousand types of these fungi. More than one thousand of these mold types are commonly found in America. Even if mold is not seen, the spores are always present, and all a spore needs to become mold is food and moisture. Mold is present both inside and outside of your home, and can get in your home many ways. Spores are carried on the wind, and can blow in with the air when you open the doors or windows. Mold spores can also land on your clothing or shoes, and then be carried unknowingly into your home when you enter. Bags, such as those containing groceries or other shopping purchases, may capture mold spores and then carry them into your home.
Mold can be a serious problem if it is growing undetected in your home. If you have leaks or plumbing problems, these can create the perfect breeding ground for mold that is hidden, but can have serious health consequences for you and your family if untreated. Olympian offers a home mold testing kit that can help you determine if your home is contaminated by mold. If you want a home mold inspection done by a mold inspector who is certified, and you live in New York or New Jersey, Olympian can help you!
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