Some symptoms might include a runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and respiratory complaints. Symptoms often resemble those of allergies and asthma.

The mold glossary (located at the end of the "Mold FAQ" section) has pictures of mold, types of mold, mold exposure, and effects of mold, in a general informational format. References and acknowledgments are provided so the viewer can also locate additional and more detailed information about mold from various sources.

Allergic reactions are the most common health problems associated with biological pollutants. Symptoms often include watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness, lethargy and fatigue, fever and digestive problems. Dust mite residues have been identified as an important trigger for asthma attacks.

Molds can cause many health ailments. The most common symptom associated with exposure to elevated levels of fungal spores or mold is Allergies. Other symptoms are; asthma, edema, bronchiospasms, pulmonary emphysema, candida vaginitis, thrush, infections in the human skin, nails, eyes, nose, sinuses, tongue, throat, esophagus, and the entire digestive tract and fungal related ear infections. Molds can also be acutely toxic to the liver, brain, kidneys, lungs and heart.

People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.

Asbestos exposure is responsible for a number of diseases that range from being debilitating to incurably fatal. Some of the more common asbestos-related diseases include: Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer are the only two asbestos-related diseases that are directly fatal. Asbestosis is a type of inflammatory lung disease that can cause a decrease in total lung capacity and lead to heart failure; however, the disease itself is not a direct cause of death.

There are many symptoms of mold exposure. As a rule, the extent of symptoms depends on the sensitivity of the exposed person and the amount of time exposed. Allergic reactions are the most common and typically include: chronic clogged throat; wheezing and difficulty breathing; nasal and sinus congestion; burning, watery, reddened eyes or blurry vision; sore throat; dry cough; nose and throat irritation; shortness of breath; nausea; and skin irritation.

Molds produce health effects through inflammation, allergy, or infection. Allergic reactions (often referred to as hay fever) are most common following mold exposure. Headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds, body aches and pains, and fevers are occasionally reported in mold cases, but their cause is not understood.

No immediate symptoms. Based on an updated Assessment of Risk for Radon in Homes, radon in indoor air is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer. Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure. Lung cancer would usually occur years (5-25) after exposure.

Secondhand smoke exposure is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult non-smokers in the United States as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is also linked to nasal sinus cancer. Some research suggests an association between secondhand smoke and cancers of the cervix, breast, and bladder. However, more research is needed in order to confirm a link to these cancers.

Symptoms include cough (without phlegm) and shortness of breath on exertion. Other symptoms include fever, night sweats, and weight loss, as well as eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation. Symptoms typically do not improve even when a worker spends time away from a factor or plant that produces, uses, or processes flavoring chemicals. While there may be a gradual reduction of cough years after exposure, shortness of breath on exertion persists.

The Surgeon General has warned that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. Only smoking causes more cases of lung cancer. Smokers exposed to elevated Radon levels have a much higher risk of lung cancer. Radon exposure does not cause any short-term health effects such as shortness of breath, headaches, respiratory illnesses, coughing or headaches. Water with high levels of radon may also pose a risk.

Yes, the malnourishment and purging associated with Anorexia often cause other significant health problems. People with Anorexia are often diagnosed with anemia, cardiovascular (heart and blood circulation) problems such as hypotension (low blood pressure) and irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), tooth decay from repeated vomiting, poor kidney functioning, and osteoporosis (a decrease in the size and strength of bone).

There are three exposure routes for asbestos fibers: (1) inhalation via the respiratory system (2) ingestion via the mouth associated with asbestos fibers in drinking water and (3) skin contact. Asbestos has been known to cause a number of disabling and fatal diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and pleural plaques. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos; therefore, all exposure to asbestos should be avoided.

In order to be exposed to PAHs at the school, you must come into direct contact with the contaminated soil (for example, touching the soil, eating soil particles on hands or food, or breathing airborne soil particles). Several PAHs have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals and in people after long periods of exposure at high levels. Studies in animals have also shown that PAHs can cause harmful effects on skin, body fluids, and the immune system.

We are exposed to mould and mould spores throughout our day in our natural environment. This does not mean that if you find mould that you should not take basic precautions such as gloves and a mask, but the concern is greater for people with compromised or suppressed immune systems where exposure can lead to problems with allergic reactions or infection. The type and concentration of mould and the method of exposure will have an effect.

While many types of mold growths can cause an allergic reaction, stachybotrys has been blamed for much more severe health issues. The most well known case attempted to draw a correlation between stachybotrys and pulmonary hemosiderosis in a small number of infants.

No one knows the answer to this question for several reasons. Individuals are very different with respect to the amount of mold exposure they can tolerate. Children under the age of one year may be more susceptible to the effects of some molds than older individuals. Measuring or estimating “exposure” levels is very difficult.