Over the past few years, household mold has become a victim of harsh criticism, with many claiming that it causes serious health problems, costing Americans millions of dollars in health bills every year. In fact, the national cost of mold-related asthma checks in at around $3.5 billion every year.
But what if we told you that some claims made against mold are just myths?
The Facts: Mold can enter a home through open doorways, windows, vents, heating, and air conditioning units. Household mold consists of microscopic mold spores that colonize on moist surfaces, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, pipes, or places of recent flooding. These fungi come in all shapes, from black to white, green to orange and everything in between.
The Myths: Hopefully after debunking a few myths about household mold, you will feel more at ease if you end up finding a colony or two in your house.
- Toxic Mold: The media loves a great story, and whenever an incident of mold is found in a communal space, they slap the “toxic mold” label on it. Also known as black mold, the myth here is that all mold that is black is bad. In reality, black mold health risks are the same as any other species of mold.
- Mold-Related Asthma: Of the 21.8 million people in the United States with asthma, around 4.6 million cases are attributed to mold exposure in the home. In reality, however, asthma issues related to outdoor mold are way more likely that suffering symptoms from indoor mold exposure.
- Mold-Related Allergies: It is estimated that anywhere from 10 to 20% of the world’s population is allergic to mold. This estimate is a very broad one, mostly because researchers aren’t quite positive of the connection between mold and allergies. Current research does not provide enough substantial evidence stating a link.
- Mold and Sinusitis: Studies have suggested that 93% of all Chronic Sinus Infections are due to mold exposure. There is no clear evidence that a mold sensitivity can cause chronic sinusitis. Mold-killing drugs have also not been proven to make much of a difference in health.
- Mold-Related Irritation: Even when found inside damp buildings and people are exposed to mold spores for long periods of time, it is not likely to cause irritation of the eyes or throat. If it does, the side-effects are short-lived and subside after leaving the affected area. Chronic symptoms cannot always be pinned to mold exposure.
Although these myths may help you sleep better at night, you should still call a mold inspection company if you find or smell mold because if it can’t fully damage your health, it can certainly damage your house. Opt for indoor air quality testing to determine how much mold you are dealing with. Continue reading here.