“Mold” is an unscientific term for a variety of undesirable indoor and outdoor fungi. Typically, these bacteria need moisture and darkness to grow. So, the inside of a wall is an ideal mold spawning ground. There is absolutely no light, and many parts of Louisiana are unusually damp. The most common types of indoor mold, which are Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus, increasingly compromise structural integrity as they grow. More importantly for purposes of this post, mold has some significant adverse health effects, especially if anyone in the house has asthma or a similar pre-existing condition.

Most houses have mold, but few houses have serious infestations. So, when policyholders say “mold,” many insurance companies just shrug. If your house is smelly in certain rooms or you notice anyone having any breathing problems, especially daytime wheezing or nighttime coughing, reach out to a Louisiana mold damage lawyer straightaway. An attorney helps ensure that insurance companies fulfill all their legal and financial obligations.

Does Mold Really Cause Health Problems?

One reason insurance companies shrug is that there is no absolutely definitive answer to this question. As mentioned, from a purely scientific standpoint, there is no such thing as “mold.” 

However, the great weight of evidence strongly suggests that there is a link, even if no one has a history of asthma. Mold and mold by-products could cause irritation and infections. Additionally, many people are allergic to one or more of the common types of mold in Louisiana homes. Children and older adults are especially at risk.

Specific Issues

Many types of mold, especially black mold, release mycotoxins into the environment. These particles are most often found on unharvested crops. Moldy food usually has mycotoxins as well. The harvesting process usually removes these particles completely. However, if processed food is moldy, it must be thrown out. Roughly the same thing probably needs to happen to infected walls.

The aforementioned infections usually include dermatophytosis, a condition similar to athlete’s foot. Additionally, some AIDS patients and other people with highly compromised immune systems could contract opportunistic mold infections. These are the life-threatening kinds of infections.

An estimated 5 percent of people are hypersensitive to mold. That hypersensitivity is not an allergy per se. Instead, these individuals have already been exposed to trace amounts of mold. Therefore, any additional exposure could be very dangerous.

Mold can wreck your family’s health. For a confidential consultation with an experienced property casualty insurance lawyer in New Orleans, contact Insurance Claim HQ. Virtual, after-hours, and home visits are available.