Responding to Indoor Mold Concerns: A Resource for Environmental Public Health Professionals
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that is part of the natural environment and grows both outdoors and indoors. Molds reproduce by spores that are not visible without magnification and are present in outdoor and indoor air. While all molds are fungi, not all fungi are molds. Other fungi include single-celled yeasts or macroscopic forms, such as mushrooms, and do not typically exhibit the same indoor surface growth or spore dispersal. Mold growth occurs when spores land on surfaces with sufficient moisture and nutrients. Mold can develop on a wide range of materials, such as paper, wood, drywall, insulation, carpet, dust, and fabrics. Indoor mold growth is commonly associated with water intrusion, high humidity, or inadequate moisture control. Does mold impact health? Mold in damp indoor environments can contribute to health problems such as allergies, transient mucous membrane irritation, and in rare instances, infections among people with compromised immune systems. Damp indoor spaces might also contain other organisms and substances that contribute to health problems, such as dust mites, bacteria, and cockroaches. It is often difficult to attribute health effects associated with damp indoor environments specifically to mold alone. The primary health effects of concern associated with indoor mold include allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma. Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose, are frequently reported as well. Other nonspecific symptoms can include headache and dizziness. Typically, these symptoms improve when the individual leaves the damp environment. Some mold species produce natural compounds called mycotoxins that can be poisonous to humans if ingested. Certain mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, trichothecenes, and ochratoxins, are produced by molds that grow on crops such as grains, nuts, and coffee, causing food contamination and potential outbreaks of illness.
There are many misconceptions about so-called "toxic mold" in indoor spaces causing illness. Scientific evidence does not support the idea that inhaled mycotoxins actually cause measurable human health effects. Mycotoxins are large, complex molecules that are not volatile, and their concentrations in air are very low. In the 1990s, the mold Stachybotrys chartarum gained notoriety as a suspected cause of pulmonary hemorrhage (i.e., bleeding in the lungs) among infants, and other severe health effects based on preliminary epidemiologic studies. As such, the mold earned the nickname, "toxic black mold." Subsequent studies do not support a conclusive link between Stachybotrys and human illness. Mold can also produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause a musty odor. At high doses of exposure, VOCs are associated with eye, nose, and throat discomfort and subjective headache and dizziness. The health effects of VOCs are transient, and symptoms usually resolve once an individual is no longer exposed or leaves the immediate area. When individuals report persistent nonspecific symptoms such as neurologic or cognitive effects (e.g., brain fog) they should not be attributed to mold exposure. Further medical workup for other causes of these symptoms could be warranted. What are some signs that my home might have mold? Common signs of mold include visible moisture and mold, musty or earthy odors, water stains, recent flooding, or known moisture issues such as leaks or condensation. Detecting hidden mold requires a more thorough assessment, including help from a trained professional.
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