Check out this answer from Consensus:
The evidence is clear that house mold poses significant health risks, ranging from respiratory issues and allergic sensitization to non-respiratory symptoms and reduced quality of life. Addressing mold problems through both immediate and long-term strategies is essential for safeguarding public health. Further research and policy measures are needed to mitigate the risks associated with indoor mold exposure.
House mold is a common issue in many homes, often resulting from dampness and poor ventilation. While it is widely recognized that mold can cause structural damage to buildings, its impact on human health is a growing concern. This article explores the health risks associated with indoor mold exposure, drawing on findings from multiple research studies.
Health Risks of Indoor Mold
Respiratory Issues
Numerous studies have established a link between indoor mold exposure and respiratory health problems. For instance, a meta-analysis of various studies found that building dampness and mold are associated with a 30-50% increase in respiratory and asthma-related health outcomes2. Another study conducted in Finland reported that exposure to mold significantly increased the risk of sinusitis, acute bronchitis, nocturnal cough, and other respiratory symptoms3.
Allergic Sensitization
Mold exposure is also a significant risk factor for allergic sensitization. Research involving German school children found that higher fungal spore counts in house dust were associated with an increased risk of allergic sensitization, particularly to molds like Cladosporium and Aspergillus1. Sensitized children exposed to high levels of mold spores were more likely to suffer from symptoms such as rhinoconjunctivitis.
Non-Respiratory Symptoms
In addition to respiratory issues, mold exposure can lead to various non-respiratory symptoms. A study in France identified a range of symptoms, including fever, cough, dyspnea, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and dizziness, associated with exposure to specific mold species like Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium chrysogenum5. Another study highlighted that mold exposure could lead to psychological responses such as fatigue and nausea due to the unpleasant smell of volatile substances released by fungal colonies7.
Health-Related Quality of Life
The presence of visible mold in homes has been linked to a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys indicated that visible in-house mold is independently associated with increased mentally and physically unhealthy days among adults8. This suggests that mold not only affects physical health but also has a significant impact on mental well-being.
Risk Factors for Mold Growth
Several factors contribute to the growth of mold in homes. A national survey in New Zealand identified poor house condition, older house age, lack of sun exposure, and absence of insulation as significant risk factors for mold growth6. Behavioral factors such as the frequency of baths, showering, and clothes washing also played a role.
Mitigation and Prevention
Reducing indoor mold exposure can significantly improve health outcomes. Effective measures include removing moisture from indoor environments, maintaining air filters, and cleaning small areas of mold contamination with a dilute bleach solution7. However, long-term solutions require designing houses to prevent dampness and mold growth from the outset, rather than relying on post hoc interventions4.
Is house mold unhealthy?
Juha Pekkanen has answered Likely
An expert from University of Helsinki in Medicine, Epidemiology, Environmental Science
There are several cohort studies that show that among children having a moldy home (by visual inspection) increases the risk of getting new asthma, i.e. not only asthma flare ups. The evidence is, however, not so solid that this association would have been consider causal by any recognized organization or group. The problem is that in studies which have measured the amount of mold, the results have been very conflicting. So we don’t know if it is the mold itself which causes increased risk of asthma or some other aspect associated with having moisture problems in the home.
At high concentrations, e.g. in the farming environment, mold has several adverse effects. The problem is extrapolation the findings to low concentrations typically found in moldy homes in the developed world, especially as we don’t know the causal agent (see above).
Is house mold unhealthy?
John E Linz has answered Likely
An expert from Michigan State University in Microbiology
For an excellent discussion of this topic see: James McIntosh, “Mold in the home: how big a health problem is it?”; Medical News Today, Jan. 28, 2015.
There are several different molds that can cause potential problems in indoor environments including Aspergillus and Stachybotrys. In general mold growth indoors is strongly associated with moisture accumulation due to high humidity, water leaks from pipes, or storm damage. Potential problems associated with these molds include respiratory infections, allergies (predominantly due to mold spores), and possible issues associated with mold toxins, also called mycotoxins. For example, Stachybotrys, or black mold, was initially associated with the death of a small number of infants in builidngs which had been subjected to water damage in the Cleveland area. A mycotoxin associated with Stachybotrys growth was suspected to be at least in part associated with these deaths. However, to my knowledge, the proposed link between Stachybotrys and infant deaths has not been confirmed. So allergies and respiratory infections likely remain the most important potential health issues related to molds indoors.
Is house mold unhealthy?
Nkosana Jafta has answered Likely
An expert from University of KwaZulu-Natal in Environmental Science, Epidemiology, Public Health
According to the study we published in 2019, the findings show an association of dampness/mold with tuberculosis in children.
Is house mold unhealthy?
Nicholas Osborne has answered Near Certain
An expert from University of Queensland in Public Health, Allergology, Asthma
Select item 26546982
2.
Identifying risk factors for exposure to culturable allergenic moulds in energy efficient homes by using highly specific monoclonal antibodies.
Sharpe RA, Cocq KL, Nikolaou V, Osborne NJ, Thornton CR.
Environ Res. 2016 Jan;144(Pt A):32-42. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.10.029. Epub 2015 Nov 5.
PMID: 26546982
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Select item 26492877
3.
Indoor Fungal Exposure and Allergic Respiratory Disease.
Osborne NJ, Thornton CR, Sharpe RA.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2015 Dec;15(12):71. doi: 10.1007/s11882-015-0572-7. Review.
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Variable risk of atopic disease due to indoor fungal exposure in NHANES 2005-2006.
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Clin Exp Allergy. 2015 Oct;45(10):1566-78. doi: 10.1111/cea.12549.
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Fuel poverty increases risk of mould contamination, regardless of adult risk perception & ventilation in social housing properties.
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Higher energy efficient homes are associated with increased risk of doctor diagnosed asthma in a UK subpopulation.
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Indoor fungal diversity and asthma: a meta-analysis and systematic review of risk factors.
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J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015 Jan;135(1):110-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.002. Epub 2014 Aug 23. Review.
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