Black mold, scientifically known as Stachybotrys atra, is a greenish-black fungus that grows in humid, damp environments. It commonly grows in places that are not easily seen, such as behind ceiling tiles and in basements. Black mold can become proliferate in the right conditions. Exposure to black mold, or any mold, may trigger health reactions in some people; however, definitive effects of mold on human health have not been thoroughly studied, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Allergic Reaction
Black mold spores are thought to cause an allergic reaction in some people. A person sensitive to mold may develop coughing, headache or nosebleeds. Reactions can mimic other allergic reactions, such as hay fever, and produce itchy, watery eyes; irritation in the nose or throat; and an itchy skin rash. The CDC states that mold exposure can trigger wheezing in normally healthy people, a condition caused by tightness in the lungs and sinus and upper respiratory infections.
Respiratory Illness
Adults and children with asthma may experience an increase in asthma-related symptoms from exposure to black mold, or any mold. Symptoms may include increased wheezing and difficulty breathing. The Environmental Protection Agency advises that people with chronic lung disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, may have increased risk for developing fungal infections in the lungs or other opportunistic infections of the lungs due to mold exposure.
Pulmonary hemorrhage, or bleeding of the lungs, in infants has been loosely linked to exposure to black mold. The CDC explains that while this condition has been connected to mold exposure, the evidence is limited to prove mold actually increases an infant's risk of developing pulmonary hemorrhage.
Neurological Changes
Black mold may cause neurological changes in some people, including personality changes, insomnia and other sleep disorders, inattention, and memory loss. However, the Cleveland Clinic states that further studies are needed to determine whether exposure to black mold actually prompts these changes.
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