Did you know that there are many different type of mold? And yes, they’re all bad, but to different degrees. In our mold removal profession we’ve come across hundreds of mold species! Read on to learn which ones are the most hazardous to your health and how to better protect yourself.
There are many different types of mold, and some can be more harmful than others. By identifying which mold species are the most hazardous to your health, you can start reducing your exposure to them.
Every day, Coastal Pure Air speaks with home owners and business owners on Vancouver Island about what mold species can be harmful to their families and themselves. So we’ve decided to write a blog to help clear up this confusion.
One of the main reasons why so many people are confused about mold is that it affects each and everyone differently, individuals can either have a high mold intolerance or a low mold intolerance just like allergens. Some individuals can have severe health affects and others can have mild reactions. For this reason, we have broken the types of mold into three categories.
Types of Mold differentiated by health effects
- Allergenic Molds- These molds affect people who have certain allergies, asthma or respiratory issues. When people who are allergic to mold are exposed to the physical mold and airborne mold spores, they have a hypersensitive reaction, during at which an excessive number of mast cells are activated, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response to the respiratory system. Roughly 20%-30% of the population is susceptible to mold, mold spores and or other allergens, which can lead to symptoms like allergic rhinitis. Individuals without allergies are unaffected by allergenic mold in small amounts for the majority of the time.
- Pathogenic Molds- These types of mold are capable of causing certain infections or even diseases. Majority of the time individuals who have healthy immune systems, are in good shape and can regularly fight off pathogens aren’t affected. However, pathogenic mold are dangerous to people who have compromised or weakened immune systems, including infants, seniors, expecting mothers and individuals with a history of health issues. This is why pathogenic molds are considered to be an opportunistic pathogen affecting people with compromised and suppressed immune systems.
- Toxic Molds- Theses types of mold produce mycotoxins, poisonous chemicals that are extremely dangerous to humans. Unlike allergenic and pathogenic molds, toxic molds intentionally harm other living things rather than the harm merely being a small side effect. Some of the most dangerous and deadly chemicals on the planet are mycotoxins. People can suffer exposure to mycotoxins through ingestion, inhalation and dermal exposure (skin contact). This can lead to a variety of negative health symptoms or even long-term illness depending on the individual.
Regardless of what type of mold you’re dealing with, its best to remove the problem as soon as possible, even if no one has fallen sick yet. Also, if you have mold, then its extremely like you have a moisture problem that will eventually contribute to more mold growth and potentially cause structural damage to your home or business.
Protect yourself and protect your family from toxic black mold. If you suspect it’s present in the space you live and breath, promptly have a inspected and removed professionally. The term “toxic mold” and its meaning can often be misunderstood. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), mold that’s referred to as toxic mold is not toxic on its own. However, this species is capable of producing chemical substances called mycotoxins, which are harmful to the human body. Contact Coastal Pure Air to learn more about how mold is affecting you and your families health.