I Think I Am Allergic To Mold Spores?

Question

Should i stay outside or inside? Should i get a dehumidifier going? Should i leave my windows open or put the a/c on?

Answer 1

mold and mildew grow best in the fall and winter inside because of the warmth and moisture, a dehumidfier might help a little, ac won't in the cold months, just make it worse.
I use a sharper image air filter, it keeps all the allergens at minimal levels.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I Think I Am Allergic To Mold Spores?
Should i stay outside or inside? Should i get a dehumidifier going? Should i leave my windows open or put the a/c on?

Answer 3

then you probably are. and a dehumidifier might help some, but it won't give you a lot of relief.
I'm allergic to so many things I won't waste your time listing them, but mold is one of them. and I take allergy shots to help with my symptoms along with the prescription drug Alegra.
so you might want to get yourself an appointment with a good allergist and get tested to see what all you are allergic to. mold may not be the only thing bothering you. and if you do end up needing to be on allergy injections, please trust me, they will bring you so much relief, they're well worth the money, and the pain.
until you get checked out by an allergist try spraying around your toilet, in the tub, under sinks, inside the washing machine, and your clothes basket or hamper, and the inside of the shower curtain with Lysol twice a day. it will help kill and cut down on mold and mildew. keep your windows closed, mold spores are in the air, inside and outside, and use the air a/c if it seems to help you.
hope you feel better soon. = )

Answer 4

I think you are allergic also..See your doctor!!!!

Answer 5

While Mold is an Allergy Source ( See Below )..
it is typically " Just not Mold" to which you may be allergic...

Suggest a General Allergy IgE Blood Test for the most Common Seasonal & Year-rropund Allergens specific to Your Geo-Region ( Approx. 4 Molds should be on Test Panel )...

Once you know What & To What Degree you may or may not have Allergies ( including mold ) ...
you can go from there ...

Allergy ImmunoTherapy is the Only clinically proven Methodology whish Neutralizes the Allergy Disease Source.

Good Health

>> Airborne Mold Spores Increase Kids' Risk For Multiple Allergies

>> Mold Allergy a Bigger Health Concern than Toxic Mold




Mold Allergy a Bigger Health Concern than Toxic Mold

March 2005 – Mold is normally present in all homes, but is usually harmful only in large concentrations to allergic or sensitive individuals, according to a report published in this month’s Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
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"Although toxic mold has received much media attention lately, toxic reactions caused by fungal exposure have not been found to be a significant health problem," said lead author Jay M. Portnoy, MD, of the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. "The more common household molds, when in the presence of moisture, can proliferate and cause problems and health effects that are generally due to allergy or irritation to fungal substances."
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Fungi, including molds, are spore-producing organisms that comprise some 25 percent of the earth’s biomass and function as decomposers of organic material. The most common fungi found in homes include Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Basidiospores, Chaetomium, Periconia and Stachybotrys.
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According to the report, fungal allergy is best identified by testing for the presence of mold-specific IgE antibodies, combined with a history of symptoms following exposure. Once the specific IgE has formed, subsequent exposure to the fungus can result in an allergic reaction. Exposure to fungi has been linked to a wide range of illnesses, including asthma and rhinitis. More than 80 types of mold have been associated with respiratory tract disorders.
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"A number of studies have suggested that exposure to indoor fungi can trigger allergy symptoms. Fungal exposure is also associated with exacerbations of asthma, although it remains unclear that this exposure causes the disease," Dr. Portnoy said.
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Adverse health symptoms associated with fungal contact also include fungal infection, irritant reaction to spores or fungal metabolites, and toxic reaction to mycotoxins, described in the report as follows:
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· Infection: Most common indoor fungi grow near room temperature and do not easily grow inside the human body. Aspergillus is the most likely to cause respiratory infections, where most other fungi tend to infect the skin, nails and other areas of the body that function a lower temperatures.
· Irritant: An irritant reaction to fungi exposure causes inflammation and can happen without previous hypersensitivity. Substances produced by fungi that are suspected to cause irritant reactions include microbially derived volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), ergosterols and glucans. MVOCs are produced by fungi as a byproduct of their metabolism, and their health effects are undetermined. They may cause nontoxic adverse effects as irritants or trigger psychological effects because of their odor. Toxic reactions do not likely occur as a result of MVOC exposure due to the low concentrations present in even the most contaminated environments.
· Toxic reaction: Most toxic reactions to fungi occur as a result of eating mold-contaminated foods. A toxic reaction is unlikely to occur from inhalation of fungi since the amount of exposure generally is too low to cause health effects.
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Indoor levels of airborne fungi are generally below outdoor levels of similar species in a well-constructed home without water damage. There can be some contribution from indoor sources, such as plants, pets and mold contaminates brought in on footwear and clothing.
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"The best known management of indoor fungal contamination is prevention," Dr. Portnoy said. "Regular inspection for sources of moisture and their elimination is the most important strategy to control indoor fungal growth. Since fungal growth depends on moisture and a carbon source, the most important strategy for reducing or eliminating its growth is controlling the amount of moisture present."
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Although the presence of damp conditions and carpets increases spore counts, forced air-heating systems, dehumidifiers, air filters, and air conditioners reduces them. The authors suggest the following additional steps to prevent mold growth: maintain indoor relative humidity at no greater than 50 percent; seal all leaks to prevent water accumulation and use a sump pump in basements prone to flooding; and increase the use of bathroom and kitchen ventilation by using exhaust fans.
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"An individual should not panic at the first sight of mold growing in their home," Dr. Portnoy said. "Small areas of visible mold growth should be cleaned with a dilute bleach/detergent solution, which kills viable colonies and removes fungal allergens. Commercial products are available for this purpose," he said.
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Citation:
Portnoy, JM, et al. Health effects of indoor fungi. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2005;94:313-320.
This study was supported in part by a grant from the Clorox Corporation.






June 2006: University of Cincinnati ( UC ) researchers say exposure to a certain group of fungal spores--abundant in the air that we breathe every day--can make young children more susceptible to developing multiple allergies later in life.

The team found that infants who were exposed to basidiospores and other airborne fungal spores--specifically penicillium / aspergillus and alternaria--early in life were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and certain foods as they grew older.

This is the first study to show a relationship between specific airborne fungal spores and an increased risk for multiple allergies in children, the UC team reports in an upcoming edition of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

A fungus is a plantlike organism that grows by releasing tiny reproductive cells (spores) into the air. Mold is a type of fungus that can grow on any moist surface--including wood, drywall and cement.

Previous allergy studies focused on visible mold or total mold concentrations, not the identification of specific airborne fungal spores. The UC-led study showed that exposure to specific airborne fungal spores may increase allergic reactions and others could help reduce them.

These findings reinforce the idea that not all fungi are created equal, says Tiina Reponen, PhD, professor of environmental health at UC and corresponding author on the study.

"It turns out that the health effects of airborne fungal spores are more complicated than we thought," she says. "It's not enough to look just at total mold in our homes and offices. We need to understand how specific types of mold interact with each other in the environment to affect our respiratory health. Some fungi can have harmful effects on the body, but others may be beneficial."

"There are literally thousands of different types of mold in the air we breathe," adds Melissa Osborne, a graduate of UC's environmental and occupational hygiene program and study lead author. "But because mold exists naturally in the outdoors, it's very difficult to completely remove mold spores from the air."

Osborne conducted this research while pursuing her master's at UC and is currently employed as an environmental consultant at Quantus Analytical, a mold and allergen laboratory and consulting group in Cincinnati.

Using a small air sampling device, the UC research team collected fungal spores from the homes of 144 infants enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS). The CCAAPS, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is a five-year study examining the effects of environmental particulates on childhood respiratory health and allergy development. Air samples were collected for a total of 48 hours in the child's primary activity room and in the child's bedroom during sleep. Samples were analyzed for both total and individual spore counts.

"We found that, at least in children, some fungi may cause allergic sensitization while other fungal types may actually inhibit the development of allergies," explains Osborne.

"But very little is known about how infant allergies to environmental allergens develop," she adds, "and more research is needed before we will fully understand the impact of fungi as an allergen in infants."

If mold is found in the home, the UC team recommends following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-accepted guidelines for removing it. They also say any moisture issues, such as roof or plumbing leaks, should be resolved immediately to avoid mold development.
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Collaborators in this study include UC's Atin Adhikari, PhD, Sergey Grinshpun, PhD, Linda Levin, PhD, David Bernstein, MD, and Grace LeMasters, PhD, principal investigator of the CCAAPS and Seung-Hyun Cho, PhD, of the EPA.