7 Health Hazards of Mold

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Jennifer Larson on October 3, 2021
  • vacuum cleaning up water in flooded basement
    The clock is ticking to prevent mold growth.
    After a hurricane or tropical storm, one of the most serious consequences for homeowners whose houses have flooded is mold. After the water recedes and you take stock of the damage, the clock starts ticking. Mold growth requires moisture. You need to clean up and dry everything that got wet—or tear out and get rid of the materials that can’t be cleaned—to prevent mold growth. Mold growth will occur within 24 to 48 hours, and it can pose a significant health hazard to you and your family. Learn more about some of the health risks that mold can cause.
  • man wiping nose
    1. Hay Fever Symptoms
    Your throat is scratchy. Your nose itches. You may even be wheezing slightly. You might be tempted to write these symptoms off as hay fever, but they’re actually a reaction to mold exposure. People who are sensitive to mold typically develop these kinds of symptoms, along with some nasal congestion, when they encounter mold.
  • Allergic Reaction Itchy Skin
    2. Skin Irritation
    Your eyes are weepy and itchy, you’re wheezing a little, and wait, what’s that? Now you’re noticing that other parts of your skin are getting red or itchy and inflamed? Again, this is a fairly common reaction from someone who is sensitive to mold. If you are going to be cleaning out your home or another building that recently flooded, it’s worth wearing protective gloves.
  • Blonde man rubbing eyes under eyeglasses
    3. Eye Irritation
    Your eyes are watery or itchy—or both. Another symptom of hay fever, or another symptom that you’ve been exposed to mold? You don’t even have to be allergic to mold to have tears welling up in your eyes. If your eyes are reacting to the mold, you may want to don a pair of protective goggles when you spend any time in a building that has mold growing in it.
  • Sick woman taking her temperature
    4. Fever
    Beyond the hay fever-like symptoms, people who are very sensitive to mold may also develop fever and shortness of breath after being exposed to large amounts of mold.
  • woman-using-inhaler-outside
    5. Asthma Exacerbations
    People with asthma should be extremely cautious when spending any time in a house or other building that has become infested with mold. If you have asthma and you inhale the mole spores that are in the air, those spores can get down into your lungs and trigger an asthma attack. If you have an allergy to mold, it might be even more severe.
  • man-coughing-into-napkin
    6. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
    The name of this condition is a mouthful to say, but allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a serious illness that can affect people with lung diseases like asthma or cystic fibrosis. In response to mold exposure, this condition tends to show up in the form of severe wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Fortunately, it’s not very common. However, if you or a loved one start developing these symptoms, don’t brush them off.
  • Close-up of a woman coughing
    7. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
    Also known as allergic alveolitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when you inhale mold, dust or other allergens, causing your lungs to become inflamed. Some of the symptoms include a dry cough, tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, fever and chills. You might feel like you’re coming down with the flu. It should be noted that it’s not a common disease, and there may be genetic factors that predispose certain people to getting it. But if you develop any of the symptoms, check with your doctor. If not treated, hypersensitivity pneumonitis can cause scarring of the lungs.
7 Health Hazards of Mold
  1. Bush RK, et al. The medical effects of mold exposure. AAAAI Position Statement. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Practice%20and%20Parameters/Mold-2006...
  2. Facts about Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm
  3. Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-08/documents/mold._homeowners_and_renters_guide_to_c...
  4. Learn About Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. American Lung Association. http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis/learn-...
  5. Mold Allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/page/mold-allergy.aspx
  6. Mold Cleanup After Floods. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-after-floods
  7. Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-08/documents/mold_worker_and_employer_guide._disaste...
  8. Ten Things You Should Know About Mold.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/mold/ten-things-you-should-know-about-mold
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Last Review Date: 2021 Oct 3
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.