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Black Mold Health Issues
Black mold--the species Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra--has been blamed for health problems ranging from infant lung hemorrhaging to neurological effects. However, because scientists haven't conducted many human studies to assess the specific damage this variant of mold can do, many of the links between health problems and black mold remain unproven.
Allergies
Like any mold, the spores of black mold can cause allergies in susceptible individuals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency 2. The signs of a mold allergy include a runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, coughing and congestion. A black mold allergy may also lead to red, itchy or watery eyes. Skin irritation is another possibility, and can occur from mold spores in the air, even if the person doesn't directly touch the moldy surface.
- Like any mold, the spores of black mold can cause allergies in susceptible individuals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency 2.
- The signs of a mold allergy include a runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, coughing and congestion.
Respiratory Issues
Symptoms of Black Mold in Children
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In individuals with asthma, black mold may trigger an attack. People with other respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or emphysema, may notice an increase in symptoms during exposure to black mold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 2004 study by the Institute of Medicine established a link between indoor exposure to mold and upper respiratory illnesses in otherwise healthy children and adults, as well as asthma symptoms in people with asthma 1.
Health Problems in Infants
The Cleveland Clinic states that babies living in a home with black mold may be more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, although scientists have not conducted sufficient research to label the mold as a cause. A condition in infants called acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage, characterized by bleeding in the lungs, also be linked to the inhalation of black mold spores, according to Berlin D. Nelson, a plant pathology professor at the University of North Dakota. In a 2001 article published by the American Phytopathological Society, Nelson noted that the release of mycotoxins into the air by mold colonies may be a potential mechanism for producing hemorrhagic symptoms. However, the studies suggesting this linkage have has methodological problems, so whether black mold truly causes lung bleeding in infants remains inconclusive, Nelson wrote.
- The Cleveland Clinic states that babies living in a home with black mold may be more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, although scientists have not conducted sufficient research to label the mold as a cause.
- However, the studies suggesting this linkage have has methodological problems, so whether black mold truly causes lung bleeding in infants remains inconclusive, Nelson wrote.
Effects on the Brain
Diseases Caused by Black Toxic Mold
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However, these links between brain disease and black mold also remain unproven--and mostly unstudied.
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References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Molds
- Environmental Protection Agency: Mold Resources
- Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini, Husam AlWaer, Hossein Omrany, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini, Chaham Alalouch, Derek Clements-Croome & John Tookey (2018) Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?. Architectural Science Review,61:3, 99-121.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Mold Allergy. Reviewed April 23, 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungal Diseases. Reviewed May 6, 2019.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mold. Basic Facts. Reviewed December 20, 2017
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Mold Allergy. Reviewed October 2015.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Molds in the Environment. Rreviewed December 20, 2017.
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Mold Allergy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mold, Basic Facts
- Rudert A, Portnoy J.Mold allergy: is it real and what do we do about it?Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017 Aug;13(8):823-835. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2017.1324298. Epub 2017 May 17.
Writer Bio
Bridget Coila specializes in health, nutrition, pregnancy, pet and parenting topics. Her articles have appeared in Oxygen, American Fitness and on various websites. Coila has a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati and more than 10 years of medical research experience.