Is mold in one's home truly a danger, or just a foul smelling eyesore?

There seem to be conflicting opinions about mold. I would really like to hear hardcore scientific evidence, but opinions are also welcome.

Is mold dangerous? Does it have a deletirious effect on the health of humans?

Or, are the dangers of mold exaggerated?

yes. my family and myself have been a victim of mold in the household. one time i was having breathing problems. i was taking allergy shots for years. but this mold started creeping up the walls in the bedroom, i could hardly breathe. the doctor put me on predisone (medication), which was horrible. i felt death crawling within me. after (2) two doses of that i stopped it. i got out my herbal books and searched for what i might have, or close to it. i settled for influenza. made up the tea concoction and less than (20) twenty minutes, i was up jumping around doing a jig. the next day i took the remainder of that medication back to the doctor and threw it at him, and never went back. just recently (2) two years ago, my household flooded, the manager refused to remove the carpet and mold set in. my family and myself could not breathe and was rushed to the emergency room. the doctor told us not to go back into that residence. who became homeless for (6) six months, and had to move to a different county. yes it is serious and real. it has been known to have a bearing on the mental development.

It is truly a danger. move out and get it removed.

It depends on the mold.
Do a search on Black Mold. It can kill you.
On one of the Extreme Home Makeovers, the ladies husband had died from exposure to mold while re-doing their basement.
They were not aloud back into the house. They lost everything, hence the reason Extreme Home Makeover stepped in to help.

It depends on the type of mold as to how dangerous it is to humans. However, any mold can cause health problems such as sinus infections and other molds can be deadly. Some contractors specialize in testing mold in your home. You can have it tested and the contractor should be able to tell you how to get rid of it or how much it will cost for them to get rid of it.

Good luck!

My boyfriend has certifications in everything since he was the Director of Operations at a large school system here in NJ. Had to know about mold as well.. He said for the most part, mold is usually harmless, but can cause ugly pungent odor and look yucky.. Some people could be slightly alergic, but the mold spores that grow outside are usually the offenders. In rare instances, if the conditions are right and water from a leak somewhere in the home soaks into some types of wood, then you could have toxic mold which could be very deadly and cause illness and or death. It's not all that common, but is a possibility. Therefore, all leaks should be taken care of quickly and then wood and wallboard checked for any growth of mold.. If detected, call an expert to test just in case.. Ordinary mold is not a reason to freak out tho..Damp basements etc. can cause that and for the most part it's harmless. As for moldy food, throw it out! BTW, yogurt is made from a mold.. lol.. It's of course fine to eat and very good for you.. :-)

Yes, mold is dangerous. All molds have the potential to cause a variety of health issues. Mold can bring on asthma attacks, cause allergic reactions and cause pneumonia. Research on the effects of mold is still ongoing, however, the above problems are confirmed to be mold related health problems. Mold can lead to conditions that are fatal, such as pneumonia and interstitial lung diseases (similar to black lung, and from chronic exposure to mold). If you have mold in your home, have a specialist come in and instruct you on how to remove it, or have them remove it. The potential for mold to be harmful increases the longer you are exposed to it (it is nearly impossible to remove all mold, but they can show you how to remove most of it and how to prevent it from coming back). Mold also has more potential to hurt immuno-suppressed people, very young people and older people.

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

A mold health risk requires four conditions to grow and flourish: moisture, a food source, warm temperatures and receptive surface.

Almost all single cell microbes, including mold, bacteria, algae, and fungi are negatively charged.

The Mold Shield Antimicrobials molecularly change the surface on any substrate that they are applied to, creating a positively charged polymer surface that kills mold, bacteria, algae and fungi and contact. This new surface electromagnetically draws microbes to its surface and is a safe mold cleaner.

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

The most practical way to stop mold growth and mold spores in the indoor environment is to control moisture.

If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.

Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth:
Vent bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
Use air conditioners and de-humidifiers.
Increase ventilation.
Use exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing or cleaning.

Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely. Absorbent materials that are moldy, such as ceiling tiles, may need to be replaced.

Prevent condensation:
Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation (e.g., around windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors).
In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (e.g., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).

Causes of Molds can be found almost anywhere--they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods.



Either way , it looks pretty bad so just get rid of it if you can, maybe strip paint and reapply a anti mold coat.