When your home has mold, it can cause several health problems. The most common ones include allergies and asthma, depending on the time and extent of exposure. However, most people are also worried about whether mold exposure can cause lung cancer. While the research on this issue is still limited, some information is available to address this issue. Let’s have a look at whether mold can cause cancer.
What is Mold?
Mold is a specific type of fungus that thrives in damp, humid areas. This could include both indoor and outdoor spaces that are damp and have warmth. In these conditions, mold can spread quickly through tiny spores that float in the air.
Mold, by itself, is not a toxic compound. In fact, mold is found everywhere all the time, as it plays an important role in decomposition. When the spores land on surfaces such as in the basement, bathroom, or a pile of leaves in your backyard, they can quickly grow and spread. However, some types of mold, such as black mold, are toxic, with excessive exposure being associated with certain respiratory conditions.
Does Mold Cause Cancer
While this is a major concern, there is no evidence linking exposure to mold with cancer. Even with the toxic indoor black mold, no research has established a link to cancer yet. Mold is associated with other health problems with long-term, high-concentration exposure. This usually includes allergies and asthma, which are more common, and in some cases, upper respiratory complications.
Being the most toxic type, exposure to black mold can make you sick. This type of mold produces microbial volatile compounds (mVOCs), which are responsible for the unpleasant musty or moldy smell. For people with allergies, breathing the spores of this mold can worsen allergy symptoms. You may experience symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, red eyes, and postnasal drip. In the case of the more toxic black mold exposure, symptoms such as dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness are common.
The allergic reaction associated with mold is because the human immune system is hypersensitive to the spores. Once exposed, the immune system releases chemicals that cause inflammation in the lungs, eyes, and nose. Even for people without any allergies, this exposure to mVOCs still causes irritation.
If your immune system is weak or compromised, the symptoms can become worse. For example, people taking medications that suppress their immune systems or who already have an immunodeficiency disorder, exposure to black mold can lead to mycosis (fungal infection) in the airways or other parts of the body. However, even with such exposure, mold has not been shown to cause cancer.
Can You Get Cancer from Mold?
Generally, you cannot get cancer from mold. The possible link associated with mold exposure is pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This is a condition associated with scarring in the lungs. Although not a major cause of cancer, having PF for a long time can lead to lung cancer. However, most people do not usually know how they got PF, and it is not always caused by mold.
Despite the growing concern, it is not yet scientifically proven that you can get cancer from mold exposure. All types of mold affect people by making their allergic reactions worse and increasing the likelihood of developing upper respiratory complications.
Get Rid of Mold in Your Home
Although no research has currently shown a link between exposure to mold and cancer, exposure can cause serious respiratory and other health issues. If left unchecked, mold can cause destruction to your home as much as it can affect the health of its occupants. To avoid this and ensure that your home is safe, it is best to work with mold experts. Get in touch with us today at the Mold Inspection Canary. We will thoroughly inspect your home and provide the right guidance for mold remediation.
