What is mold? Mold is a type of fungus that often looks like fuzzy spots of different colors, including green, gray, or black. More than 100,000 mold species have been identified. Exposure to molds can be linked to negative health effects, depending on the type of mold and the health status of the person.

You may have heard or read about “toxic mold.” Molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous. However, there are mold species that are “toxigenic,” meaning they produce mycotoxins (myco- is a prefix that means fungal).

Mycotoxins are chemical byproducts of metabolic processes – any process performed to maintain life, such as converting food into energy or cellular respiration. Some mycotoxins can cause a toxic response in humans and animals, even in small amounts(1).

Molds reproduce by creating spores that can be too small for the naked eye to see. The spores vary in shape and range from 2 to 100 microns in size (for comparison, a strand of a human hair ranges from 17 to 181 microns in diameter). Molds release reproductive spores, which can spread through the air, water, or on animals. Mold spores can cause health issues by triggering allergies or asthma attacks.

When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on to survive. Molds can reproduce in any moist place. They can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and other surfaces.

General mold categories

Mold species are generally categorized as one of three types:

1. Allergenic – Unlikely to cause illness (though it may aggravate mild allergies)
2. Pathogenic – Can cause infection in people who are immunocompromised
3. Toxigenic – Toxic to all humans and animals who encounter it

Allergenic molds

Everyone breathes in airborne mold spores, but some have an allergic reaction or experience asthma symptoms. Airborne mold spores can get into the nose, causing similar symptoms to other common airborne allergens, such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, congestion, and dry skin. Mold spores can also enter the lungs, triggering an asthmatic episode.

The most common molds whose spores can act as allergens include:

• Alternaria – This genus of molds comprises approximately 50 mold species. It is a common outdoor mold, and its spores are a common allergen. Alternaria species often appear as dark gray spots. The mold genus can grow indoors, especially on damp surfaces with a food source, such as wood. The most common Alternaria species are Alternaria and A. alternate. A. alternate is often found growing on the following indoor materials if they are damp: iron, tiles, bricks, plaster, wallpaper, paper, and canvas (2).
• Aspergillus – This genus of mold grows worldwide and is one of the most commonly occurring molds in hospitals. Its spores can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Aspergillus is so abundant that it is probably impossible to avoid breathing in at least some of its spores. For most people with healthy immune systems, breathing Aspergillus is not harmful. There are a few species of the genus that can cause serious illness when inhaled by people who are immunocompromised, have a lung disease such as COPD, or have asthma. The range of health issues Aspergillus may cause is known as aspergillosis. Some people will have a severe allergic response to inhaling spores of the species Aspergillus fumigatus. This immune response is called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which causes airway inflammation (3).
• Cladosporium – The Cladosporium genus is one of the most widespread molds. Its spores can act as allergens, triggering reactions in sensitive people. C. herbarum is the most commonly identified allergenic species of Cladosporium(4).Indoors, Cladosporium is common on wet building materials, such as gypsum board, acrylic painted walls, wood, wallpaper, carpet and mattress dust, HVAC fans, and wet insulation in mechanical cooling units (5).
• Penicillium – This mold genus includes hundreds of species, some of which are used to produce the antibiotic penicillin. It is a blue-green mold that many people have seen growing on food. Some Penicillium species produce airborne spores that can act as allergens and asthma triggers for sensitive people (6).

Other common molds that produce spores that can act as allergens include the genera Epicoccum, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Pullularia.

Pathogenic molds

A pathogenic mold is one that can cause an infection in humans, even if they are in good health. Some genus of molds include species that fall into the allergenic category, as well as species categorized as pathogenic. One such example is the Aspergillus genus. This genus includes several allergenic species, as well as one very pathogenic species, fumigatus.

The most common pathogenic molds include:

• Aspergillus species: A. fumigatusand A. flavus – A. fumigatusis the most prevalent species of the genus and is the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis and can cause chronic pulmonary infections. Although airborne A. flavus is more prevalent in some hospitals and locations, it is far less studied than A. fumigatus. A. flavus is also known to produce mycotoxins (7).
• Cryptococcus neoformans – This mold lives in environments worldwide. People can develop an infection after inhaling its spores, although it is extremely rare for those with healthy immune systems. If an immunocompromised person inhales spores, they can stay in the body and cause a later infection if the immune system becomes even weaker. Most cases of cryptococcal meningitis (a form of fungal meningitis) are linked to C. neoformans (8).
• Histoplasma capsulatum – H. capsulatum causes the infectious disease histoplasmosis. It’s acquired by inhaling airborne H. capsulatum spores. Inhaled spores can also cause a lung infection (pneumonia). Those with a weakened immune system risk the infection spreading throughout the body which can be life-threatening. This mold is usually found in soil; however, it is also found where there are bat and bird droppings. Spores usually become airborne from soil disturbances like digging or building demolition. Outbreaks are most often caused by large-scale construction projects (9).

Toxigenic molds

The toxigenic molds are the misnamed “toxic mold” species that may create the chemical metabolic byproducts called mycotoxins, which can cause a toxic response in humans and animals. Mycotoxins are separate from the spores molds produce for reproduction. However, these chemicals can become airborne and travel with mold spores. Researchers have demonstrated that mycotoxins also travel through the air on very small particles of dust or tiny pieces of wallpaper, which can easily be inhaled (10).

It should be noted that the presence of a toxigenic mold species does not necessarily mean the presence of mycotoxins. Also, it’s not possible to know if a mold is producing mycotoxins just by looking at it (11).

Some of the most commonly found toxigenic molds found growing indoors include (12)(13)(14):

• Fusarium species– F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme
• Penicillium species– P. brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. corylophilum, P. cyclopium, P. expansum. P. fellutanum, P. spinulosum, and P. viridicatum
• Aspergillus species– A. versicolor, A. niger and A. flavus
• Stachybotrys chartarum– This is the notorious “black mold” that is often referenced in the media. Learn more about Stachybotrys chartarum.

What you can do about mold in your home

The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. Other actions you can take include:

• Fix any sources of water leakage. Homeowners may need a plumber or an HVAC contractor to eliminate water leaks (which is the most likely cause of the moisture on which mold is feeding).
• Reduce indoor humidity (optimal indoor humidity is around 40%).
• Use exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
• Use soap and a sponge to remove visible mold.
• If any moldy areas are dry, lightly spray a water mist on them. This will prevent you from sending mold spores into the air during cleaning.
• If you use bleach, make sure it won't cause discoloration. Never mix bleach with ammonia. It will create toxic fumes.
• If there is excessive damage to a building or home after a flood and you are cleaning, be sure to put all cleaning materialsin a heavy duty garbage bag and seal it. Take the bag outside through the closest exit. You don’t want any spores to become airborne.

How to protect yourself from mold spores and mycotoxins

• Wear respiratory (nose and mouth) protection when handling moldy materials. An N95 particulate respirator is recommended.
• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs to avoid contact with mold spores. Wash or discard the clothing after every cleaning.
• Wear gloves and protective eyewear.
• Wear an air pollution mask, such as the KN95-certified IQAir Mask, to protect yourself from inhaling mold spores or other airborne pollutants.
• Using a high-performance HyperHEPA air purifier for mold can help clean the air, even as work progresses. For example, the IQAir HealthPro Plus can dramatically reduce airborne particulates including mold, and can also reduce or eliminate any musty odors.

The takeaway

Is mold dangerous? Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. However, if you are aware of the potential dangers and are taking the proper precautions, you can limit your risk of experiencing health effects from mold spore and mycotoxin exposure.