Molds are often categorized into 3 groups according to the human response to them:
ALLERGENIC, PATHOGENIC, AND TOXIGENIC
Allergenic Molds
Allergenic molds do not usually produce life-threatening health effects and are most likely to affect those who are already allergic or asthmatic. The human system responses to allergenic molds tend to be relatively mild, depending on individual sensitivities, typically producing scratchy throats, eye and nose irritations and rashes.
Pathogenic Molds
Pathogenic molds frequently produce infection of some type. They can cause serious health effects in persons with lowered immune systems. Healthy people can usually resist infection to these organisms regardless of dose. In some cases, high exposure may cause hypersensitivity / pneumonia (an acute response to exposure to an organism).
Toxigenic Molds (mycotoxins)
Mycotoxins or Toxigenic mold can cause serious health effects in almost anybody. These agents have toxic effects ranging from short-term irritation to immune suppression and possibly cancer. Therefore, when toxigenic molds are found further evaluation is recommended and remediation by professionals is highly recommended.
Common Indoor Molds
➢ Some of the most common types of indoor molds include:
Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Stachybotrys (Wrongly referred to as “Black Mold”)
Often, mold spores, whether dead or alive, cause adverse health effects, primarily of a respiratory nature, including hay fever-like allergic symptoms.
When you receive the labs mold sample results from us, each mold found in the sampling will be listed along with a description of its category & concerns if any!