There are a lot of common mold misconceptions out there.
These are very common comments I hear from people every week:
- Mold is everywhere
- Everyone has mold in their house
- Years ago, no one worried about mold
- Black Mold can kill you, but all the other molds are harmless
- If It’s Not Black Mold, I Don’t Have to worry, right?
While the first 3 comments are, in a sense, true, the insinuation is not true. I want to briefly address these common misconceptions about mold.
Common Mold Misconception 1 – Mold Is Everywhere
Yes, this is for the most part, true.
In most places on earth, where it is not arid, mold grows naturally outside. The mold spores enter our house when we open our windows and doors. So, in that sense, mold is everywhere.
But skeptics will tell me this to insinuate that, since mold is everywhere, it is harmless.
Mold growing in a house is not a good thing. When any mold grows inside our home, the mold count can become very high compared to outside counts.
Very high mold counts can affect us in a negative way.
Common Mold Misconception 2 – Everyone Has Mold In Their House
As stated above, this is true.
Mold spores entering our house from outside and floating around in our home, is usually harmless.
But, as also noted, mold growing in our home is not a good thing. There is a clear difference.
For example, if the mold count for one kind of mold is 50 spores pcm (per cubic meter), but 5000 pcm inside, it can definitely be a health hazard. That is not even taking into consideration whether it is allergenic, pathogenic, or toxigenic.
Common Mold Misconception 3 – Years Ago No One Worried About Mold
This is true. But it’s a stupid comment.
Years ago, no one worried about smoking or asbestos, or lead, or many other things that we now know are very harmful.
Modern science and medical research has alerted us to many things that we did not know were harmful years ago. The same it true with mold.
Common Mold Misconception 4 – Only Black Mold Can Kill You
I have also heard – If it’s not black mold I don’t have to worry, right? OR I just want to know if it’s black mold, I’m not worried about the others.
Black Mold (stachybotrys) is the most feared mold. With good reason. Stachybotrys is an extremely toxic mold that produces mycotoxins that can cause serious breathing problems and even bleeding of the lungs.
But does this mean that other molds are harmless? No, absolutely not.
For example, lets say you have one glass full of bleach, and another glass that has 50% bleach and 50% water. The one full of bleach is more toxic. Does that mean you can drink the other glass, that it is harmless? Of course not.
Other mold varieties – even ones commonly found outside – can be harmful to your health, especially if you are breathing them into your lungs in large volumes.
That is why home inspectors will flag ANY mold they find growing in a home, not just black mold. No one wants to buy a home with visible mold growing in it, regardless of it is black, white, green, yellow or any other color.
In Conclusion –
Don’t get frustrated. Do your research on mold. The internet has it’s share of common mold misconceptions just as it does on most other subjects.
But don’t rely on what you have always heard your whole life, when it comes to mold. Search reputable sites and make informed decisions.
The health of you and your family could be at stake.
