Interpreting Your Mold Report

General Categories of Mold

Mold species are generally categorized as one of three types:

Allergenic - Unlikely to cause illness (though it may aggravate mild allergies)
Pathogenic - Can cause infection in people, especially if immunocompromised
Toxigenic - Toxic to all humans and animals who encounter it

Some species of mold fit into multiple categories (e.g., both Allergenic and Pathogenic)

Allergenic Molds

Everyone breathes in airborne mold spores, but some people have an allergic reaction or experience asthma symptoms. Airborne mold spores can get into the nose, causing similar symptoms to other common airborne allergens, such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, congestion, and dry skin. Mold spores can also enter the lungs, triggering an asthmatic episode.

Common molds whose spores can act as allergens include:

Alternaria - This genus of molds comprises approximately 50 mold species. It is a common outdoor mold, and its spores are a common allergen.
Aspergillus - Aspergillus mold can cause allergic reactions in some people. The most common species of Aspergillus that can cause allergic reactions is Aspergillus fumigatus, which is often blue-green to gray in color and has a cotton-like texture. It's found worldwide and can grow on decaying vegetation outdoors and in indoor environments like air conditioning systems.
Cladosporium - Cladosporium is a common mold that can cause allergic reactions in some people. It's a seasonal outdoor mold that can be found on plants, in soil, and on food, but it can also grow indoors in damp areas like bathrooms, basements, and attics. Cladosporium can appear as black, brown, or green spots that spread quickly if left uncleaned
Ulocladium - Ulocladium is known to cause allergies. Symptoms of exposure include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headache, sinus congestion, and itchy, watery eyes
Penicillium - This mold genus includes hundreds of species, some of which are used to produce the antibiotic penicillin. It is a blue-green mold that many people have seen growing on food. Some Penicillium species produce airborne spores that can act as allergens and asthma triggers for sensitive people.

Pathogenic Molds

Pathogenic molds are fungi that can cause disease in humans or other organisms. They can produce infections that can have serious health effects, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Healthy people can usually resist infection, but high exposure may cause problems.

Common pathogenic molds include:

Aspergillus / Penicillium

Aspergillus and Penicillium are both types of mold that can cause health issues:
Aspergillus: This mold can be white, green, or gray with dark spots and a powdery appearance. It can grow in many places, including fabrics, walls, attics, basements, and on dry food.
Penicillium: This fuzzy mold can be blue, green, or yellow. It's often found in basements, under carpets, and in insulation, especially in areas with water damage  Symptoms of an Aspergillus infection, called aspergillosis, can vary depending on the type of infection and the organs affected. Common symptoms include:
Coughing up blood or mucus
Fever and chills
Headaches
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Skin lesions
Eye symptoms
Joint pain
Weight loss
Malaise or general feeling of illness 

Trichoderma

Exposure to Trichoderma mold spores can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
Coughing
Sneezing
Sore throats
Asthma
Lung infections
Allergic reactions, such as breathing problems, skin issues, rashes, or hives

Scopulariopsis

Scopulariopsis is a fungus that can cause various infections in humans, including pulmonary infections. Symptoms of a pulmonary infection from Scopulariopsis include: productive cough, fever, weight loss, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis.

Other symptoms include:
Nasal and sinus congestion
Eye irritation, such as itchy, red, watery eyes
Wheezing and difficulty breathing
Throat irritation
Skin irritation, such as a rash
Headache  
Invasive Scopulariopsis infections are more common in immunocompromised people, such as bone marrow transplant recipients, and can be highly fatal.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium is a common indoor mold that can cause allergic reactions in people. Symptoms include:
Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Sinus congestion
Coughing
Postnasal drip
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Skin rash or hives
Headache
Fatigue  
Chaetomium can be especially harmful to people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or organ transplants. People who live in damp or water-damaged environments are also at higher risk.

Chaetomium thrives in cellulose-rich areas of a home that have been damaged by water, such as damp attics, leaky pipes, and areas around sinks. It can also grow on soil, plant debris, and animal dung in backyards.

Toxigenic Molds

The toxigenic molds are the misnamed “toxic mold” species that may create the chemical metabolic byproducts called mycotoxins, which can cause a toxic response in humans and animals. Mycotoxins are separate from the spores molds produce for reproduction. However, these chemicals can become airborne and travel with mold spores. Researchers have demonstrated that mycotoxins also travel through the air on very small airborne particulates which can easily be inhaled.
It should be noted that the presence of a toxigenic mold species does not necessarily mean the presence of mycotoxins. Also, it’s not possible to know if a mold is producing mycotoxins just by looking at it.

Some of the most commonly found toxigenic molds found growing indoors include:

Fusarium

Fusarium is a genus of fungi that can produce secondary metabolites called fusariotoxins, which can have adverse effects on humans and animals.

Some common fusariotoxins include:
Trichothecenes: Can cause skin irritation, intestinal mucosa irritation, and diarrhea
Fumonisins: Associated with esophageal cancer in humans and liver and kidney toxicity in animals
Zearalenone (ZEN): Can have hormonal, estrogenic effects and cause infertility in pigs  
Other effects of fusariotoxins can include:

Altered intestinal defense mechanisms
Nose and throat pain
Nasal discharge
Itching and sneezing
Cough
Dyspnea
Wheezing
Chest pain
Hemoptysis  
Fusarium mold is commonly found in soil and on plants, but it can also grow in homes through moldy food, indoor plants, or airborne spores. If conditions are right, the spores can form colonies and visible growth on surfaces such as drywall, wallpaper, and carpeting

Penicillium

Penicillium is a genus of mold that includes over 300 species, some of which can produce toxins under certain conditions. These toxins can have toxic effects on humans, including: cytotoxic, nephrotoxic, tremorgenic, immunosuppressive, and carcinogenic.

Penicillium is a common indoor mold that can be found growing on food, in soil, and in water-damaged environments. It's named after the Latin word penicillus, which means paintbrush, because of its brush-like structure. Penicillium is often blue-green or yellow in color and has a velvety texture. It can survive in cool to moderate climates and in areas with relatively low humidity, and it can even grow at refrigeration temperatures.

Some species of Penicillium are also known to cause allergic reactions and asthma in sensitive people. When mold spores reach the air, they can trigger allergy symptoms like coughing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. The Penicillium chrysogenum species is particularly associated with asthma and can cause infections in people with weakened immune systems.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus mold is a highly toxic mold that can produce carcinogenic mycotoxins. Some species of Aspergillus mold can produce aflatoxins, which are among the most poisonous mycotoxins.

Aspergillus mold is also common indoors and outdoors, and most people breathe in its spores every day without getting sick. However, in some people, Aspergillus can cause allergic reactions, chronic lung conditions, and invasive diseases that can spread to other organs. For example, people who are frequently exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus can develop hypersensitivity and severe allergic reactions. Prolonged exposure can also cause headaches, trouble sleeping, itching, rashes, fatigue, sneezing, and coughing.

Symptoms of aspergillosis include:
Fever and chills
Coughing up blood
Shortness of breath
Chest or joint pain
Headaches or eye symptoms
Skin lesions

Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold or toxic black mold, is a fungus that can produce toxic chemicals called mycotoxins. These chemicals are found in the mold's airborne spores and fungus fragments.

Stachybotrys chartarum is naturally found in nature, but it can also grow on damp materials that contain cellulose, such as cotton, wood, and paper products. It's often associated with poor indoor air quality in homes and buildings that have water damage. In fact, some evidence suggests that Stachybotrys chartarum may be a cause of "sick building syndrome" and has been linked to outbreaks of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants.

Symptoms associated with exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum include:

Respiratory complaints, such as headache, eye irritation, nasal congestion, cough, and "cold and flu" symptoms
Dermatological symptoms
Gastrointestinal complaints  
Symptoms may be more severe for people with allergies, asthma, or weakened immune systems.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium is a genus of fungi that includes about 95 species, some of which produce toxic mycotoxins. Chaetomium is a dangerous mold that can trigger infections in humans and is considered one of the most destructive and prominent mold types. It's commonly found in soil, plant debris, compost, and other materials that contain cellulose, such as wood, sheet rock, and straw. Chaetomium can grow quickly and spread easily, making it difficult to contain.

Different species of Chaetomium produce different mycotoxins, including:

Sterigmatocystin: Poisons the kidneys and liver
Chaetochromin: Teratogenic, meaning it's toxic to developing embryos and fetuses
Chetomin and chaetocin: Toxic to cells
Chaetoglobosin: Damages actin, a structural component of cells  
Exposure to Chaetomium can lead to fatal deep mycoses (fungal infections), such as brain abscess, peritonitis, cutaneous lesions, and onychomycosis (fungal nail infections). It can also predispose people to permanent neurological damage and has been linked to a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases.

Wallemia

Wallemia mold, also known as Wallemia sebi, is a fungus that can produce mycotoxins that may pose a health risk to humans and animals. These mycotoxins can cause allergic reactions, such as "farmer's lung disease", and can also lead to infections in people who are immunocompetent.

Wallemia mold is commonly found in indoor air, house dust, and soil. Wallemia mold has also been linked to some human respiratory diseases and subcutaneous infections. Exposure to mold and dampness over a long period of time has been linked to allergens and various inflammatory compounds. People who have been exposed to Wallemia mold in their homes or at work have been reported to have IgE sensitization