Can House Mold Be Deadly?

Although house mold isn’t normally considered to be deadly, it can however exacerbate respiratory issues for anyone living where mold is growing. For those who are unfamiliar with house mold, it is essentially a type of fungus that grows within homes and consist of various different types of mold, each of which has its own distinct set of characteristics. House mold is a common issue that pretty much anyone living in a home has to deal with, but it’s key to remember that mold, especially certain types of it, can actually be quite dangerous and must be dealt with accordingly before they end up having hazardous implications on a person’s health. When dealing with mold, it’s always best to leave the mold removal in the hands of mold experts who are familiar not only with the various types of mold, but understand the correct procedures for removal. For today we’ll consult with the mold remediation experts at Elite Moisture Control to get a better understanding of the various types of mold that can be the most dangerous.
There are various different types of house mold, but most molds can be divided into three distinct categories depending on their characteristics. These categories include the following:
Allergenic: Allergenic molds are no doubt among the most common, and as the name suggests, these molds are those that can end up causing allergic reactions to not only those with respiratory issues, but just about anyone.
Pathogenic: Pathogenic molds are those that aren’t particularly dangerous by themselves, but can end up causing trouble by propagating the illnesses of those who already have them.
Toxigenic: Toxigenic molds are among the most dangerous types of molds because these release toxic substances that can have a variety of harmful effects if the mold isn’t dealt with. These molds are often referred to as toxic molds given how dangerous they are.
Although it’s believed that there are hundreds of thousands of mold types that exist currently, there are a few common types that are usually found across most homes, and if you’ve had your share of issues with mold before, chances are that you’ve dealt with one of these particular types of mold. The most common types include the following:
Stachybotrys
Stachybotrys, also known as black mold, is without a doubt among the most common types of mold that exist, and is also one of the most dangerous as well. This is a mold that, when it isn’t dealt with swiftly, has been known to cause a vast variety of issues like headaches, memory loss and even long term respiratory damage.
Chaetomium
Chaetomium is a type of mold that’s usually located in places with water damage as it requires wet and dark environments in order to thrive. This type of mold is generally known to trigger allergic reactions, and even end up causing neurological damage in particularly severe scenarios.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is yet another type of common mold, and while it isn’t particularly dangerous to most people, it can still cause trouble for those who have compromised immune systems or have allergies.
Penicillium
Penicillium is actually quite widespread across a variety of environments which is why it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s a common type of mold as well. It isn’t particularly deadly on its own but is known to trigger asthmatic symptoms and cause various other respiratory problems. If you’ve experienced any of the aforementioned mold symptoms, there are some common places you should check for mold growth such as the basement or crawl space that might have flooded, below carpeting, near air-conditioners, beneath refrigerators, and in areas such as the bathroom, or in the attic where a leaky roof might be causing issues that you can’t see.