Dear George,
I have molds, black, white, copper and shades in between. how do I determine health risks?
Signed,
black, white, copper, etc…
Dear Etc,
I hate to say this because it is so inconclusive, but…it depends.
Mold has more characteristics than color. Certain types of mold tend to grow in certain locations, and have other characteristics, such as growth patterns, reproduction patterns, whether or not they are pathogenic, if they are dimorphic (two different growth forms) etc…
A professional mold assessment can determine the specific species of molds which have infiltrated your home. Certain molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum are well documented to have negative health effects, and this should be noted in the lab reports; mycotoxins make everyone sick. Some molds which do not create mycotoxins, still cause people to frequently develop varying degrees of allergy (anyone can develop an allergy if one is exposed over time, so that responses to different types of mold vary depending on the individual. So in addition to relying on the lab report, an allergist or specialist can help you determine which of the molds you specifically are responding to. Be aware that mold exposure–like any antigen– will often cause an immune response to exist where none existed before.
