Mold and Your Health |
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Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Once inside your house, molds have the potential to cause health problems.
What kind of health problems?
Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irratants, and in some causes, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as:
sneezing,
runny nose,
red eyes, and
skin rash (dermatitis).
Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Mold can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.
In addition, mold exposure in both mold-allergic and non-allergic people, can cause the following:
eye irritation,
skin irritation,
nose irritation,
throat irritation, and
lung irritation.
Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. For more detailed information consult a health professional or state or local health department.
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