Mold Symptoms & Exposure: Is Mold Making you Sick?

Mold related health issues are difficult to diagnose. Some individuals are extremely sensitive to mold, while others in the same environment are completely unaffected. Therefore, scientists and doctors cannot state that a moldy environment causes illness. Unlike contaminants such as asbestos and lead, human exposure to indoor mold growth is not regulated; there are no standards or laws specifying acceptable limits or exposure levels.

Can Mold Make You Sick?

You should always consult your medical provider about any health issues, including allergies or illness related to mold exposure. The Indoor Air Quality staff at ARA are highly trained mold investigators but only your doctor can diagnose mold related illness.

If you suspect an environmental cause to your suffering, an Indoor Air Quality Professional can help you address your environment, but only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem.

Here are some of the questions that our staff will typically ask when assessing a mold complaint:

• Do you see the mold? Smell the mold? Both?
• When there are odors, are they more biological, or could it be a chemical? Follow your nose!
• Are there health complaints without odors?
• Have you had a recent “water intrusion event”? (overflow, leak, burst pipe, etc.)
• Is the issue confined to a certain part of the building/home?
• Do the symptoms go away or get better when away from the building in question?

Potential symptoms of mold exposure:

• headaches
• allergy symptoms
• itchy eyes & nose
• runny nose
• sneezing, coughing
• skin rashes
• asthma attacks

Do not Disturb!
If you are certain that you have mold in your dwelling, and it is causing someone to become ill, please do not attempt to clean or remove it yourself! By disturbing the mold you are potentially making the problem much much worse. Please call ARA or another certified Mold Professional to address the problem safely and professionally.

Mold Symptoms are Hard to Diagnose

If you are concerned about the health effects of mold exposure, you should be aware that Indoor Environmental Professionals who investigate indoor mold on a daily basis are not able to tell a person that mold is causing their illness. Additionally, some doctors are reluctant to state that molds are causing a particular set of symptoms, as mold related illness varies by individual, type of mold, level and duration of exposure, and many other factors. This can be extremely frustrating for the person who is suffering.

Exposure to indoor mold can be a very serious health concern for certain humans, especially the very young, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. Black mold exposure can be particularly concerning. If you suspect mold exposure is making you sick, call your doctor to address your symptoms, and call an Indoor Air Quality professional to address concerns within your indoor environment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is sufficient evidence showing an association between indoor dampness – related agents and the following health outcomes:

• Asthma exacerbation
• Upper respiratory tract symptoms
• Coughing
• Wheezing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor mold can cause a variety of health issues. Mold Symptoms / Mold Allergy Symptoms can include:

• Sneezing
• Runny Nose
• Red Eyes
• Skin Rash
• Asthma attacks