Mould grows everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Most
often mould found indoors comes from outdoor sources.
Outdoor mould spores travel indoors through windows, cracks
crevices or are carried inside on shoes and clothing. It
is very common to find mould spores in the air of homes and
growing on damp surfaces. We are all exposed to mould on a
daily basis without evident harm. However, health problems
arise when mould spores enter the body in large numbers.
For some people a relatively small amount of mould spores
can cause health problems, and yet for others it may take
a considerable larger amount.
Statistics on mould in the United States show that 50% of
homes contain mould. Medical studies attribute over 90% of
chronic sinus infections to mould. There has been a 300%
increase in the asthma rate in the past 20years directly
linked to mould.
As published by the MayoClinic, some experts believe
that the cause of chronic sinusitis is due to inflammatory
reaction to certain types of moulds, and allergic type
reactions to pollen, pet dander and dust mites. The most
frequent health symptoms from Mould exposure are:
Chronic fatigue
Headaches
Memory loss, loss of concentration
Difficulties in logical thinking and
learning
Clear, thin watery mucus drips from
the nose
Thick green slim coming from the nose
Coughing, sore lungs and chest
Difficulty breathing
Hives
Itching of the nose, mouth, eyes,
throat or skin.
Redness of the white part of the eyes
Skin rashes and open sores
Skin redness
Sneezing and sneezing fits.
Although many moulds
are harmless, there are now over 100 identified species
that are known to cause infections in humans. Also, many
mould fungi produce what are called mycotoxins. Dramatic
and carcinogenic effects have been recorded for animals
and humans exposed to high levels of mycotoxins in
laboratory studies. Symptoms of exposure to mycotoxins may
include cold and flu like symptoms, headache, nosebleeds,
dermatitis and immune suppression. Many mycotoxins are
highly disease causing.
