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What Is Considered a Bad Mold Count Number?
What Is Considered a Bad Mold Count Number?. Mold counts are calculated to help those with allergies or sensitivities to mold know when it is safe to perform outdoor activities such as mowing the lawn or walking the dog. People with mold allergies typically have symptoms from spring to fall and mold season peaks from July to late August.
Mold counts are calculated to help those with allergies or sensitivities to mold know when it is safe to perform outdoor activities such as mowing the lawn or walking the dog. People with mold allergies typically have symptoms from spring to fall and mold season peaks from July to late August.
Identification
Molds are types of fungi that exist everywhere in our environment. Many cells, or hyphae, make up mold. Mold reproduces by fungal spores that float in the air and germinate when they land on areas that have an abundance of moisture. Molds are often found growing on logs, in grass, on grains and leaf litter. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the most common types of outdoor and indoor molds are Mucor, Penicillium, Aspergillius, Epicoccum, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium and Alternaria.
Effects
Mold spores can cause adverse effects in those allergic to it if they are abundant. Mold counts tell people living in certain areas the quantities of fungi that are airborne for a certain period of time. Many factors can influence mold counts, such as weather conditions. Many types of mold release their spores in dry windy weather. Others release spores in high humidity such as fog, rain or dew. Spore counts can also change from nighttime to daytime depending on the types of spores present in the environment.
Mold Count
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports mold counts based on the Aeroallergen Network calculations. Low mold counts range from 1 to 6,499, moderate counts range from 6,500 to 12,999 and high counts are 13,000 to 49,999. Any mold count over 50,000 is considered very high and likely to cause adverse effects in those allergic to mold. Mold count calculations are based on the outdoor mold count.
Considerations
Anyone who is allergic to mold may have symptoms from exposure such as wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, itchy eyes and nasal congestion. Those with asthma may experience an increase in asthma attacks when outdoor mold counts are high. Certain types of mold spores, such as Aspergillius, can cause serious fungal infections that can affect the airways or lungs. Keep in mind that mold counts can change dramatically with the weather conditions over a 24-hour period.
