HEALTH EFFECTS OF MOLD EXPOSURE

Does exposure to mold cause respiratory illness and other health problems? The answer is more complicated than you might think.

Wet, Damp Spaces

Numerous studies, including a 2004 report by the Institute of Medicine, have found that being in a damp, indoor environment is associated with respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and the development of asthma. However, the studies could not specify whether these health problems resulted from mold itself or from other contaminants found in similar environments.

Mold Exposure in Children

Still, other studies have shown a stronger correlation between mold and respiratory illness, particularly among children. One 2011 study of 176 children specifically found that 1-year-old children who lived in homes with higher mold levels were more likely to develop asthma by the time they reached age 7.

Luckily, if you do live in a home with mold, you and your children do not have to suffer. A mold removal expert can help treat the damage and prevent the growth of additional mold in the future.