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“The degree of risk from exposure to mold is determined by a person's general health and pre-existing sensitivity to mold, as well as the concentration of the mold bloom.”
Harvard Preserve January 16, 2007
Like any allergic response, how one person responds can be different from others exposed to the same allergen. Consider a family of five whose 10 year old daughter has a known allergy to cats. The family visits friends who have 3 cats lounging around and within an hour the daughter may end up coughing, sneezing or has watery, irritated eyes. Other family members can be around cats with no problem but no one denies the daughter's obvious allergy.
Mold exposure can also trigger allergic responses but unlike the cats wrapping themselves around your legs, mold isn't always so easy to see. A family can live with mold exposure and only one or two family members may respond. That sometimes makes it hard for family members not experiencing allergic reactions to understand how they could possibly have a hidden mold issue since they are living in the same environment and not having any problems.
There are a variety of allergic type reactions a person can have to mold exposure depending on the genus and species mold (for example, a common problematic mold is the Aspergillus genus, which has hundreds of different species though not all of them are allergenic), how much mold growth there is, how many hours a day they spend in close proximity to the growth and whether the individual's immune system is compromised by an illness, chemotherapy or an immunodeficiency disorder. The lists below, while not exhaustive, give an indication of the variety of symptoms that mold exposure can trigger.
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Chronic Cough
Sneezing and Runny Nose
Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
Difficulty breathing
Hoarse voice
Sinus Infections
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Irritated eyes
Hives
| Migraine or daily dull headaches
Flu-like symptoms
Excessive fatigue
Tremors
Cognitive difficulties
Trouble remembering words
Unexplained forgetfulness
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Texas is a Perfect Environment for Mold Growth
Texas has perfect weather for mold growth nearly all year round with high humidity and moderate temperatures. If you get any kind of moisture problem then new mold will grow within a few days. Existing mold growth on building materials from previous leaks that was not removed will re-grow within 20 minutes of getting moisture.
So if you've noticed chronic or on-going allergy-type symptoms, as opposed to seasonal allergies that start and stop, among your family and visitors when they are in your home, then there is a good chance you have hidden mold growth. Exposure to mold growth can cause overt health problems - but it can also cause less obvious health problems - so my advice to all my clients is to remove mold growth because there is no reason to expose yourself and your family to potential allergens or toxins that can harm your health. I can make it simple for you to locate and remove mold growth so your home or office provides a safe and healthy environment.
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