A healthcare worker investigating mold presence inside a home that had been flooded by Hurricane Katrina.

Have you heard about the health hazards from manufactured materials, microplastics, and molds harming your health? In Part 1 of the series, we shared the dangers of manufactured materials like chemicals, herbicides, and heavy metals in the environment and water supply.  In Part 2 of the series, we wrote about the health hazards of microplastics and plastics. In Part 3 of the series, we will share information about the health hazards and mysterious health issues linked to mold and mycotoxin exposure. Did you read the previous two blogs about the health hazards of manufactured materials and microplastics in our environment? Are you ready to learn more today about the health hazards of mold and mycotoxins?

What do you know about the health hazards of mold? Most people are unaware of the health hazards linked to mold and mycotoxins. Unfortunately, these are not topics commonly taught in school or talked about. But ignorance about mold and mycotoxins can contribute to chronic disease, impair your immune system, and wreck your life.

In many previous blogs, we have discussed the abundance of health hazards in our environments, homes, offices, and vehicles. Now it is time to take an in-depth look at the manufactured materials, microplastics, and mold that are very common and may be silent saboteurs harming your health.

The passion and purpose of Morningstar NEWS are to help people with education, information, inspiration, and motivation to learn about manufactured materials, microplastics, and molds that can harm your health and wreck your wealth.

Metal texture background architecture industrial weathered.

Health Hazard Mold and Mycotoxins

Molds are serious health hazards, often found in foods, homes, offices, schools, stores, and vehicles. Did you know molds are a health hazard that can make you sad, sick, and stressed? Did you know molds release mycotoxins that can harm your brain and heart, impair your immune system, and lead to serious disease? Someone I know lived in a home with hidden mold from a remodeling project by the previous owner. She became very sick over time and suffered many health problems. Some residual issues seem to be haunting her still over 10 years later. It cost her tens of thousands of dollars to have the materials harboring the mold removed, repaired, and replaced. She believes her current chemical sensitivities resulted from living in a home with long-term exposure to mold and mycotoxins. When my children were in middle school, they discovered model and mycotoxins making kits sick, and it cost millions of dollars to remediate the mold and repair the school. Some experts feel mold and mycotoxins in buildings, are one of the biggest yet least known threats to people’s health.

There is an art and science to understanding more about the dangers and precautions relating to mold. Understanding basic biology, chemistry, and toxicity will help you be more aware. conscious, and mindful of your choices and decisions.  If your happiness, harmony, health, and longevity are important, understanding the possible health hazards of molds is key to making better choices.

Avoiding the dangers and risks of mold requires commitment, energy, money, and time to find the research, resources, and role models to help guide you to be more effective and efficient in preventing the health hazards of molds. Review this list of potential mold health hazards to improve your avoidance and awareness to protect your health.

    • Air quality is important. Be aware of mold in your home, office, school, or stores. Mold is a big problem in many buildings.
    • Black mold can cause severe illness and even death.
    • Buildings can harbor mold in many places that are out of sight and cause long-term persistent problems.
    • Carpets are a source of mold if they get wet.
    • Children’s outdoor playhouses and toys often harbor molds.
    • Cloth curtains near windows can get wet from condensation and leaks and provide a place for mold to grow.
    • Commercial buildings often provide places for mold to grow.
    • Forests can be a source of mold.
    • Foods are the main source of molds that harm us. Mold often occurs on bread, flour products, fruits, old leftover food, rice, and vegetables.
    • Furniture that gets wet from leaks, rains, or spills can provide a place for mold to grow and become a health hazard.
    • Homes typically contain many places for mold to grow. Air conditioning ducts, drywall, insulation, and wood framing are common places for mold to grow.
    • Kitchens contain many places for mold to grow. Around cabinets, dishwashers, and drains are often places for mold to grow over time.
    • Molds release mycotoxins which are health hazards that can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to disease.
    • Molds may be a major source of allergies, asthma, and health issues.
    • Nuts and seeds often contain mycotoxins after exposure to water.
    • Offices are often contaminated with mold. Mold often occurs after a backed-up toilet, leak, rainstorm, or weather-related damage. Think about the risks for molds after floods, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornados.
    • Peanuts often contain mold and mycotoxins. Roasting peanuts may kill the mold, but the mycotoxins may still be present.
    • Sick building syndrome is something to be aware of.
    • Toxic mold syndrome is something to be aware of.
    • Vehicles can harbor molds if water gets in the carpets or fabrics.
  • Water leaks in homes, offices, and stores are a common source of mold.
  • Yards can be a source of molds if debris, leaves, tires, toys, or trash are left out and exposed to rain or sprinklers.

Group of senior friends stretching together in a park

Call to Action

The call to action is to inspire you to learn more about the mold problems in your environment, foods, home, and workplace. Investing the energy, money, and time to educate yourself about the health hazards of molds that release mycotoxins will pay big dividends for the rest of your life…or not, depending on your actions, choices, and decisions. What will you do to look for and prevent mold from harming your health?

Helpful Hints

How will you eliminate mold and mycotoxins in your environment and foods? Find research, resources, and role models that will help you to stop mold exposure and start eliminating mold and mycotoxins from your environment. An analysis and audit of your home can identify potential mold and mycotoxins hiding out of sight. Remember…the power of knowing the health hazards of mold and mycotoxins is the first step to eliminating them.

Passion for People & Planet

The passion and purpose of Morningstar NEWS are to condense hundreds of hours of reading and research down to two minutes of education, information, and inspiration. We encourage you to learn more about the dangers of molds and mycotoxins.

“Mold spores are literally everywhere; controlling moisture is the key to preventing their growth. Sources within homes, businesses, and schools include leaks through roofs, walls, and basements; condensation on windows and in bathrooms; standing water in drains, on floors, and in heating, cooling, and dehumidifying equipment; heating/cooling ducts; and wet floors and carpets.” —Mold 101: Effects on Human Health, National Capital Poison Center

“Mold and mycotoxins are serious, silent, and stealth health hazards that can contribute to chronic disease, impair your immune system, and wreck your life.” — Michael Morningstar

Fall colors in the Ruby Mountains, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Original public domain image from Flickr.

Next Morningstar NEWS blog

Morningstar NEWS team is focused on selling our Belize Eco Village project and sharing only one blog per month in 2024 to focus on research, resources, and role models to find land for an eco-friendly retreat and wellness center in Puerto Rico and Texas that is accessible to more people. Who do you know that may be interested in joining our wellness team and tribe?

PS: Thank you for your helpful support. After benefiting from one idea, please comment, like, and share this blog on the social media page links because family and friends will also benefit from the Morningstar NEWS blog.