Mold toxicity occurs when your body absorbs and stores mold spores, such as mycotoxins-- byproducts released by certain molds like Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Unlike a typical allergic reaction, which happens right away, mold-related illness builds slowly and affects many parts of the body. You might not even connect the dots at first.
You don’t need to see or smell mold for mold growth to affect your body. Mold can hide in air vents, under tile, or in walls, making it easy to miss and hard to trace. Even low-level mold exposure, when chronic, can overload your detox systems and trigger immune system reactivity.
Where Does Mold Exposure Come From?
Mycotoxins are produced by molds like Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys (a.k.a. black mold).
Molds and the mycotoxins they produce:
Aspergillus
- Aflatoxins
- Ochratoxin A
- Patulin
Fusarium
- Trichothecenes
- Zearalenone
- Fumonisins
- Nivalenol
Penicillium
- Ochratoxins
- Citrinin
- Patulin
- Cyclopiazonic acid
Stachybotrys
- Satratoxins
- Roridins
- Verrucarins
You can have a black mold allergy without ever seeing mold in your home. Spores and mycotoxins circulate through the air and dust, making mold exposure more common than most realize.
Mold thrives in damp, poorly ventilated spaces, and it doesn’t take much to set it off.
Common sources of mold growth include:
- Water-damaged drywall
- HVAC systems
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Carpets or insulation that have absorbed moisture
- Buildings like workplaces or schools with poor ventilation
How Does Mold Affect the Body?
Mold exposure can impact your:
- Brain (brain fog, poor memory)
- Lungs (sinus congestion, shortness of breath)
- Skin (rashes, itchiness)
- Digestion (bloating, nausea)
- Immune system (inflammation, reactivity)
Symptoms vary, but they often overlap with other issues, making mold toxicity hard to spot without proper testing.