Molds are microorganisms that belong to a group known as fungi. These microorganisms are found anywhere, both inside and outside of our homes. Biologists and microbiologists argue as to the exact number of species of fungi. The best estimates that scientists can offer is a range from tens of thousands to probably near half a million species. These microorganisms grow and live best in warm, moist, damp and humid environments. Molds spread and reproduce by making mold spores which are very resistant to even the harshest environmental conditions. Mold spores can survive even in dry conditions, conditions that do not support normal mold growth.
There are some individuals who are overly sensitive to molds. In mold-sensitive individuals, complaints such as nasal stuffiness, runny nose, eye and skin irritation, and wheezing are common. However, in hypersensitive individuals, molds can produce a variety of severe reactions such as hay fever and shortness of breath. In immunocompromised individuals, death can also ensue unless prompt treatment is administered early on.
Of the countless species of mold, several genuses have been considered of human, and medical, importance. Among these are cladosporium, penicillium, alternaria, and aspergillus.
Cladosporium is a very common mold which form and grow from the damp walls of our homes, especially those in constant or frequent contact with water, vapour, or humidity. It can also be found outdoors mostly on plants, either living or dead. The mold produces olive-green to brownish black colonies of cladosporium. The spores of cladosporium are spread by the wind and are often very abundant in the outdoor atmospheric air. Because of this characteristic, cladosporium spores are significant allergens that adversely affect people who have asthma, other respiratory conditions, and chronic obstructive airway disorders. Also, chronic exposure to cladosporium spores can weaken the immune system. Cladosporium molds are rarely likely to cause disease in man although there have been reports of infections of the skin and toenails, sinuses, and the respiratory passages.
Penicillium molds have one of the widest numbers of species belonging to the genus. Penicillium molds are found virtually anywhere. They are often found in aerosol samples and commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, paints, grains, compost piles, carpet, wallpaper, and interior fiberglass duct insulation. Some penicillium species are used to produce cheese like Camembert, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Danish Blue and Brie while others are used in the production of broad-spectrum antibiotics (the penicillin). Some species serve as agricultural inoculants while others produce some forms of toxins and other disease-producing substances. These toxins and substances include ochratoxin, citrinin, gliotoxin, and patulin. Ochratoxin damages the kidneys and liver, has cancer-producing effects, and impairs the immune system. Citrinin damages the kidneys, produces blood vessel dilation, and causes constriction of the bronchi. Gliotoxin affects primarily the immune system by suppressing its protective function. Patulin has been documented to cause unnecessary bleeding in the brain and the lungs. This is usually associated with the spoilage of apples and grapes. Penicillium molds are less likely to cause allergy compared to other molds but they can induce skin allergies, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and allergic alveolitis in vulnerable individuals. Penicillium molds have also been reported to cause keratitis, penicilliosis, and otomycosis.
Alternaria molds are considered to be major disease-producing molds in plants. The species of molds that belong to Alternaria are known to cause hay fever or hypersensitivity reactions which can lead to asthma among susceptible individuals. The species of Alternaria mold can cause opportunistic infections in severely immunocompromised patients such as those with AIDS. Alternaria molds are ever-present in the environment because they are a natural component of fungal plant life in almost anywhere. These molds are also the usual agents of decay and decomposition. Alternaria spores are airborne and can be found in the soil, water, indoors, and on objects. Alternaria species cause about twenty to 25% of spoilage in agricultural products. Because alternaria molds grow on skin and mucus membranes, allergies can be produced in some susceptible individuals. What makes the alternaria mold deadly is its pathogenecity among individuals with compromised immune system or those with low levels of body resistance and those individuals with open wounds.
Aspergillus species of mold is commonly found in soil, plants, household dust, building materials, spices, some food items such as bread and cheese, and decomposing and preserved fruit. Aspergillus mold grows rather fast in moderately moist bread and in relatively cool temperatures of about 22 to 30 degrees Celsius. Aspergillus mold account for a medical condition known as aspergillosis. There are many types of aspergillosis but majority of them are respiratory in nature. These include allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, invasive aspergillosis, aspergilloma, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and aspergillus sinusitis.
In allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Aspergillus spores produce allergic pulmonary symptoms like wheezing and coughing. However, the condition does not actually invade and destroy respiratory tissues. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is common in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. Invasive aspergillosis affects individuals who have a compromised or weakened immune system such as those who have recently undergone bone marrow transplant, cancer chemotherapy, and treatment for AIDS and massive burns. The Aspergillus mold invades and damages various body tissues as those found in the lungs. As such, the individual can have pulmonary symptoms like cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing or a sense of breathlessness. In patients with severely compromised immune systems, the Aspergillus mold can move and transfer from the lungs through the bloodstream and into other body organs like the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, and the skin. Should this happen, the patient’s condition generally gets more severe and worse and there is a higher likelihood that death may ensue.
In the event the Aspergillus mold travel from the lungs and into the other body organs, the sinuses may also be affected, leading to aspergillus sinusitis. The disease is associated with a long history of runny, often blocked-up, nose and the development of nasal polyps. Like invasive aspergillosis, the disease is particularly threatening to immunocompromised patients. Aspergilloma is a very different disease condition that is caused by the Aspergillus mold. In this condition, the Aspergillus mold grows within a cavity of the lung. This cavity may have been previously damaged by another disease condition such as tuberculosis and or sarcoidosis or any lung condition that leaves or causes cavities in the lungs. Thus, any person who may have had any of these cavity-producing lung diseases is also at risk for developing aspergilloma. Aspergillus spores infiltrate through the cavity and grow into a fungal ball within the cavity. This fungal ball can then produce and release toxic, allergic, and other disease-causing substances that may make the person lose weight, have chronic productive cough, feel generally heavy, fatigued and rundown, and sometimes cough out blood, known as hemoptysis.
Generally, individuals who are sensitive to one, some, or all of these molds can observe some very simple steps to decrease their exposure to these molds and consequently decrease the risk of developing some of the health conditions we have presented so far. First and foremost, sensitive individuals should avoid areas that are likely to have molds. These areas include compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas. Airconditioning, keeping humidity levels in the 40-60% range, and ventilating cooking areas and the shower can also decrease the rate of mold growth. During very hot and humid months, a dehumidifier can be installed or used. You can also add mold inhibitors in the paints that you use to color the walls and other surfaces of your home. Cleaning the bathroom with mold killing products is also a useful way to prevent mold growth. Other things that you can do include leaving the bathroom and basement floors un-carpeted and removing or replacing immediately the previously soaked or damped carpets and or upholstery.
Secondly, should mold growth be observed in any part of the house, immediately cleaning the mold colony and fixing the water problem almost always does the trick. In order to effectively remove the mold growth from the surfaces of your homes, you can vigorously rub the affected hard surface with commercial scrubbers, soap and water. Bleach solution can also be used to remove the mold growth. For bleach solutions, mix a cup of bleach to a gallon of water. It is important that you do not mix bleach with other household cleaners like ammonia because this can produce dangerous toxic fumes. In bleach-cleaning the mold area, always open the windows and doors of the house to provide adequate ventilation and fresh air. Also do not forget to put on your non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
Third, should you be exposed to molds and have observed some of the symptoms of mold-related conditions, try to consult your family physician first. If you do not have a family physician, a general practitioner can also help you decide whether a visit to a specialist is needed. An allergologist or allergist can treat individuals with mold allergies while an infectious disease physician can treat and manage mold infections. In cases where the symptoms have indicated pulmonary complications, a pulmonogist or pulmonary physician can manage the condition. In work-related mold conditions, referral is usually to an occupational physician.
And lastly, reading and updating yourself about things that can affect your health and lifestyle can also bring in much-needed understanding of the many things around us. Knowing about molds is one thing; doing something about it is another.
