This list covers some of the most common potential physical signs or symptoms of mold exposure at home.
We see and treat mold problems in homes all across Tampa Bay. But as such, we’re a mold remediation company (and not doctors or medical personnel, of course). That’s why we’ve created this list based on our own professional opinions and experience, but have included only official statements and descriptions from qualified educational and governmental groups, including:
- The NIH (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
- NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- U.S. CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
- The Mayo Clinic
1. Allergic Reactions: Congestion, skin rashes, headaches.
“Allergic reactions to molds are the most common health effects in people, including symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. People without allergies, but who are exposed to mold, likewise may experience symptoms, including eye irritation, sore throat, congestion, skin rash, and headaches.” — National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), “Mold and Your Health,” November 2021
2. Asthma
“Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by inflammation. Exposure to mold and dampness indoors is associated with increased risk of developing asthma in young children, and more severe asthma in people who have the disease.
“Many studies show that mold exposure can worsen asthma symptoms, especially among young children. Some examples of findings follow.
• Infants who live in moldy homes were three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7.
• Babies exposed to mold were more likely to have asthma as young children.
• Some children may be exposed to mold in school, which can cause significantly more asthma symptom days than in school children who were not exposed.” — National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), “Mold and Your Health,” November 2021
3. Asthma Symptoms.
“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.” — National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Indoor Environmental Quality,” last reviewed February 25, 2022
4. Brain Fog, Depression, Anxiety.
“Mold toxicity can manifest in different ways in people. It’s more commonly linked to physical problems, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headaches, but research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way, too. This includes brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia. Some people present just physical or psychiatric symptoms, while others can get a mix of the two. This means that people are seeking and receiving treatment for a mental illness that only exists because of their exposure to mold. Research has also found that a vulnerability to mold toxicity is present in 25% of the population, which is often due to a genetic predisposition. Due to this, a family can be living in the same home and only one person presents symptoms.” — Mental Health Connecticut, “Could Mold Be Affecting Your Mental Health?,” March 26, 2020
5. Burning, itchy, red, or watery eyes.
“Exposure to substances such as pollen or mold spores can cause your eyes to become red, itchy, and watery. These are symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
“Allergic conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation resulting from an allergic reaction to substances like pollen or mold spores.” – Healthline, “Allergic Conjunctivitis,” Updated May 16, 2022
“Mold can cause many health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash.” – U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “Mold,” Last Reviewed Nov. 14, 2022
6. Coughing or wheezing.
“Mold can cause many health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash.” – U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “MOLD,” Last Reviewed Nov. 14, 2022
7. Dry, scaly skin.
“A mold allergy causes the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of upper respiratory allergies. Signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by a mold allergy can include:
• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough and postnasal drip
• Itchy eyes, nose and throat
• Watery eyes
• Dry, scaly skin” — Mayo Clinic, “Mold Allergy,” June 21, 2021
8. Feeling miserable physically.
“If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.” — Mayo Clinic, “Mold Allergy,” June 21, 2021
9. Hay fever-type symptoms.
“Allergic responses [to mold] include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.” – U.S Environmental Protection Agency, “Mold and Health,” Last Update May 5, 2022
10. Inflammation and immune system changes.
“Inflammation and immune system changes may be caused by long-term exposure to mycotoxins.” — National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), “Mold and Your Health,” November 2021
11. Nasal stuffiness.
“Mold can be found indoors and outdoors all year round. Exposure symptoms include nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, or wheezing.” — U.S. Dept of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), “Mold”
12. Nose, throat, and lung irritation.
“Mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.” – U.S Environmental Protection Agency, “Mold and Health,” Last Update May 5, 2022
13. Respiratory problems and sickness.
“Some molds cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. And a few molds, in the right conditions, produce ‘mycotoxins,’ poisonous substances that can make people sick.” — US Department of Agriculture, “Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous?,” Last updated August 22, 2013
14. Shortness of breath or chest tightness.
“If you have a mold allergy and asthma, your asthma symptoms can be triggered by exposure to mold spores. In some people, exposure to certain molds can cause a severe asthma attack. Signs and symptoms of asthma include:
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness.” — Mayo Clinic, “Mold Allergy,” June 21, 2021
15. Stuffy nose or sore throat.
“Mold can cause many health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash.” – U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “MOLD,” Last Reviewed Nov. 14, 2022
16. Upper respiratory allergies.
“A mold allergy causes the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of upper respiratory allergies. Signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by a mold allergy can include:
• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough and postnasal drip
• Itchy eyes, nose and throat
• Watery eyes
• Dry, scaly skin” — Mayo Clinic, “Mold Allergy,” June 21, 2021
As stated above, Mold Solutions is solely a mold remediation and water damage mitigation company, and is not a medical provider or doctor of any kind. We do not offer medical treatments or medical advice of any kind.
We’re providing this list merely as a helpful and hard-earned collection of official sources (Universities and Government Agencies) and for informational purposes only and not as personal or health advice.
If you suspect you have a mold problem at home, the potential health effects of mold might help point you in the right direction. We offer Mold Testing and Mold Remediation across the Tampa Bay, Florida area and are ready to help.
For more on this subject, please see our most comprehensive page, “Can Mold Make Me Sick.”
(Featured image, credit Gundula Vogel via Pexels.com).
