How does mold cause health problems?
Mold-related health problems can be divided into the following categories: Irritation: Molds produce chemicals called microbial volatile organic compounds. These are released into the air, causing the musty smell. When present in very large quantity, MVOCs can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, and headaches. These illnesses tend to be short-lived and resolve when the person is removed from the contaminated area. Allergy: Approximately 30 percent of the population has the genetic predisposition to develop allergies. Unlike irritation, allergy can result from exposure to even minute quantities of mold, and can present with symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sinusitis, asthma, and wheezing. Whether someone is allergic to a specific mold can be diagnosed by allergy skin testing. Infection: While superficial fungal infections of the skin are common, deep or serious fungal infections are uncommon and are typically seen in individuals with immune deficiency. Toxic: Duri
