Molds & Asthma
Mold spores are literally as old as dirt. Check out Leviticus Chapter 14 (written over 3000 years ago) for mold remediation instructions. In recent years more people have become sensitive to mold. To some mold can be toxic. Yet some people aren’t sensitive to mold at all. Today’s homes are better insulated and tighter. There’s more potential to trap the moisture that can promote biological growth.
There is evidence that documents an association between molds and asthma. Some people’s asthma can be triggered by mold. Fungi can act as allergens, toxicants (toxic agent), irritants or infectious agents. It is believed that all forms of fungi are potential allergens to man. Some fungi species are known to produce specific metabolic products (mycotoxins) which are toxic to man and animals. Some (if not most) fungal species can produce metabolic products that are irritating to the mucus membranes (eyes and the lining of the nose and throat). Some fungal species are known to be infectious to humans and animal.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. The best way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Clean up the mold and get rid of excess water or moisture. Lowering moisture also helps reduce other triggers, such as dust mites and cockroaches.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, molds can cause illnesses in situations other than humid indoor environments. They have documented that molds can cause infections in susceptible people, particularly in hospital settings where 9% of hospital-acquired infections are caused by fungi. Respiratory infections due to inhalation of the fungus Aspergillus have been documented mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Molds also have been associated with some cancers. Two mold-produced toxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) have been classified by the National Toxicology Program as human carcinogens. Chronic ingestion of these toxins from eating contaminated foods has been associated with liver and kidney tumors in animals and people. In addition…in industrial and agricultural settings, various forms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (e.g., farmer’s lung, woodworker’s lung, malt worker’s lung), and other allergic responses and infectious respiratory diseases (e.g, aspergillosis) have been reported.