If your doctor has ordered bloodwork that suggests mold exposure, you may be left wondering: where is this coming from? Understanding mold, its effects on the human body, and how to properly investigate your environment is essential to protecting your health and finding real answers.
Bloodwork that indicates mold exposure is an important signal from your body that something in your environment may be harming you. However, bloodwork alone cannot tell you where the mold is coming from. Mold is pervasive in the natural world — it exists outdoors, in workplaces, in vehicles, in schools, and yes, potentially in your home.
The key to resolving mold-related health issues is identifying and eliminating the source. That process begins with a thorough, professional investigation.
While your home is often the most logical place to begin investigating mold exposure, it is important to recognize that you may be exposed to mold in many different environments throughout your daily routine. Possible sources of mold exposure include:
Because mold spores travel freely through the air and can settle on virtually any surface, pinpointing the exact source requires systematic investigation — starting with the place where you spend the most time: your home.
Not all mold inspections are created equal. A qualified mold inspector brings the training, equipment, and expertise necessary to detect mold problems that may not be visible to the naked eye. Mold commonly hides behind walls, under flooring, in HVAC systems, inside attics, and in crawl spaces.
A professional inspection typically involves two critical components:
Mold impacts health through three primary mechanisms: spore exposure, chemical emissions, and mycotoxin production. Understanding each of these is essential to understanding why mold exposure can cause such a wide range of symptoms.
Mold reproduces by releasing microscopic spores into the air as part of its normal life cycle. These spores are invisible to the naked eye and can be inhaled easily — often without any awareness that exposure is occurring. Many mold spores carry allergens that trigger immune responses in sensitive individuals.
According to the CDC and EPA, inhaling or touching mold spores can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people, including hay fever-like symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, skin rash, and asthma attacks in those with asthma. Mold exposure can also irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs—even in non-allergic individuals.
Common allergic reactions to mold spore exposure include:
In addition to physical spores, mold actively emits chemical byproducts called Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds, or MVOCs, as part of its metabolic processes. These chemicals are responsible for the characteristic musty smell that many people associate with mold — though it is important to note that the absence of odor does not mean mold is absent.
MVOCs become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to a range of health concerns that are often mistaken for other conditions. Common reactions to MVOC exposure include:
Certain mold species produce potent toxic substances called mycotoxins. Unlike spores, which must be inhaled to cause harm, mycotoxins can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin — making them particularly dangerous and difficult to avoid in a contaminated environment.
Mycotoxins are recognized as some of the most toxic naturally occurring substances on earth. They can cause significant, lasting health problems and have been linked to systemic illness. However, major health authorities like the CDC note that while mycotoxins pose risks primarily through ingestion (e.g., contaminated food), evidence for widespread health effects from typical indoor inhalation exposure is limited—though sensitive individuals, those with compromised immune systems, or in heavily contaminated environments remain at higher risk. The body systems most commonly affected by mycotoxin exposure include:
Don't Overlook the Outdoors
Outdoor mold spore counts fluctuate significantly based on season, weather, and geographic location. In certain regions and during certain times of year, outdoor spore counts can be extremely high — high enough to trigger significant health reactions in sensitive individuals, even without any indoor mold problem.
There are times when the inspector will collect outdoor air samples as a baseline during the inspection process. This allows for a comparison between indoor and outdoor spore levels and helps determine whether the source of your exposure is primarily indoors or whether outdoor conditions are contributing to your symptoms.
Taking Action: Your Next Steps
If your bloodwork has indicated mold exposure, here is a recommended course of action:
For more prevention tips, check the EPA's free guide: "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home."
Mold-related illness is a serious and often underdiagnosed health concern. The symptoms can mimic many other conditions, and without identifying and eliminating the source, recovery is difficult. If your bloodwork is pointing to mold exposure, do not ignore it.
A professional mold inspection with proper air and surface sampling is the most important first step you can take. It transforms a vague concern into actionable data — giving you and your medical team the information needed to protect your health and restore your environment.
Your health depends on the environment around you. Start by understanding it. At Curren Environmental, we specialize in thorough inspections —contact us today to schedule your professional assessment.
Note: No federal health-based standards exist for mold spore levels, so results focus on relative indoor/outdoor comparisons and species identification. There is no mold licensing in PA, NJ and DE. The closest state is NY.