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Employees of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services noticed small amounts of mold growing on bookcases, surfaces, and chairs at a state office in the Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover. Although the building lease was not planned to expire until December 2025, the state department decided that terminating the lease in July 2018 would be the best course of action.
Although the levels of mold found in the state office were not suspected to be a threat to the employees or public, symptoms of mold exposure are hard to detect and may mimic other allergies. Mold grows in warm, damp, and humid environments and can survive in dry climates, too. As summer temperatures climb, concerns about mold growth in homes, schools, and offices are on the rise. Mold can be found almost anywhere, so it is important to know when there is a cause for concern.
Toxic mold is most often used by the media to describe mold that may cause health issues. Toxic mold has become associated with fatal and debilitating diseases, such as lung hemorrhaging, cancer, brain damage, and other serious cognitive and physical problems. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support the notion that toxic mold causes these illnesses.
In fact, there is no such thing as toxic mold, but there are toxigenic molds. These molds have molecular toxins, which if ingested in large quantities over time, can cause health issues. In fact, most serious health problems related to mold exposure arise only when there is a build-up of high concentrations of mold.
One of the most well-known types of toxic mold is Aspergillis. Aspergillis can be found in the same areas where other types of mold grows, such as:
Keep in mind that although Aspergillis is common in low levels, it is not considered hazardous unless found in high concentrations. Though some people become ill from high concentrations of toxigenic mold, many of the health problems thought to be potentially mold-related may be caused by more common types of mold.
Aspergillosis is a term used to describe a set of symptoms or diseases that Aspergillis can cause. Invasive aspergillosis is a disease caused by mold that damages lung tissue and can spread throughout the body. Although healthy people can contract invasive aspergillosis and other forms of the disease, it is most commonly found in people with pre-existing health problems.
All mold, whether toxic or not can cause a variety of symptoms, but just like most allergies, sensitivity to mold varies from person to person. Symptoms of mold allergies can be like other allergies and include:
However, those with more severe reactions may experience flu-like symptoms, fever, and shortness of breath.
If you are suffering from exposure to mold or another toxin in your home or work environment, a Dover toxic mold lawyer at the law firm of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. can evaluate the details of your case to determine the compensation legally owed to you. Contact us today by calling 302-656-5445 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We represent clients throughout Delaware from our Wilmington and Georgetown offices.