Mold | CDC (2024)

FAQs

What are the responses to mold? ›

Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause a person to become allergic to mold. Molds can trigger asthma symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough in people with known allergies. People who do not have allergies can also become irritated.

The results will likely be given in spores per cubic meter of air (sp/m3). Generally speaking, a concentration of mold spores below 500 sp/m3 is considered normal. A concentration of mold spores above 500 sp/m3 is considered high.

To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency's book A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf [PDF – 1.38 MB]. Should I get my Home Tested for Mold? CDC does not recommend mold testing.

At this time, it is unknown what level of mold is “safe” or how much is necessary to cause health problems. Mold tests cannot measure all the molds in an environment or how much occupants are exposed to. Such testing can also miss evidence of problems and results may mislead or be misused.

Long-term mould exposure can cause severe issues that can last for a long period of time and may cause irreversible damage to the human body, so it is important to never ignore that bit of mould growing.

MVOC results may come with lab interpretation such as this: “Levels below 8 ng/L are typical for most homes and should not cause great concern for healthy individuals. Levels between 8 and 30 ng/L indicate a low level of mold which, generally, affects people who are sensitive to molds.

A quick test for this is to dab drops of diluted bleach on the area. If the area lightens after a few minutes, it's a positive result for mildew. If it stays dark, then there's probably no mold.

Seal Off Ventilation. One area homeowners often forget about is ventilation. Any air movement throughout your home can release additional mold spores into the air, affecting the results of your mold inspection. Before your mold inspection, make sure you seal off all vents that are in the area that tested.

Mold symptoms usually begin 2 to 9 hours following exposure, and these symptoms will likely remain on and off until the mold is officially removed. That said, certain variables may affect how long your mold symptoms will last.

What kills mold spores in the air? ›

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it in the air to help kill mold spores. Vinegar: Vinegar is an effective natural cleaner that can help kill mold spores. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it in the air to help kill mold spores.

Using an air purifier can help improve indoor air quality by trapping mold spores. However, you will still be subjected to the other indoor air pollutants that were not trapped. Due to this fact, an air purifier may remove mold from the immediate environment but it will not get rid of all of the spores in your home.

It Can Severely Damage Your Property

If the mold growth is severe, it can cause thousands of dollars in damage and even make certain systems, such as the HVAC system, stop working. Depending on the level of mold damage that occurs, it can even lower the property value of your home.

What is Considered A Normal Mold Count? A normal mold spore count in a room is typically 200-500 spores. Anywhere between 1-1500 mold spores in a room is normal and safe as long as mold colonies are not visibly growing and no water damage is present.

Molds play an important ecological role in breaking down dead organic matter and returning nutrients to the environment. They require moisture and food to grow, and they typically thrive in warm, moist environments.

What are the symptoms of mold toxicity? The symptoms of mold issues can be divided into two main categories. According to McElroy, the first is an immune reaction to mold, which typically involves allergy-like symptoms such as sinus issues, runny nose, itchy skin and eyes, asthma, shortness of breath, and more.