The short answer is no. Where toxic mold is concerned, it can affect anyone. Certain people may have a higher sensitivity and different genes that make it more difficult to detox toxins from their bodies, but generally mold will affect everyone to some degree. Many people we have met have developed allergies and multiple sensitivities including to chemicals after being exposed.

Mold can grow anywhere there is a food and water source. That leak under your sink from a few years ago, the leak behind your toilet, the window sill seal, etc. Once water comes in contact with something organic, mold growth is possible within 48 hours. Modern houses are a perfect breeding ground for mold growth - wood, and drywall (basically paper), are perfect environments. Of course, in more humid climates, there are different things to worry about such as indoor humidity levels, condensation, etc., but to answer the question: no, mold can grow anywhere. My family and I lived in a very arid climate (high desert) and had a severe mold problem along with multiple other people in our community when we lived there. It truly can happen anywhere.

They certainly can! We cringe when we see new homes being built and their lumber (which often already has mold from sitting out at the lumber yard) sit out on the job site for multiple months, or the OSB sheets that are extremely porous are nailed up and then left uncovered and open to the elements for long periods of time before being covered. The short answer is that unless your house is built in a warehouse with very clean lumber, many of the studs, joists, and sheathing likely have some level of mold. We have seen many families get sick in new-builds only months after moving in. Another issue is that many new homes have a high likelihood of developing leaks early on as the home settles, pipes/fittings adjust from regular use, etc. Whether a new home or old, everyone needs to be extremely diligent to know their homes and be constantly looking for potential issues with water loss.

No! There are over 100,000 species of mold, most of which have not been studied. One of the most common species found in homes is cladosporium which is typically found inside of window tracks, on shower grout, and on air conditioner vents. This type of mold is not known to produce harmful mycotoxins, but in large amounts can lead to breathing and asthma issues in some people. When performing any kinds of mold tests including dust samples, air, plate, or tape, it’s important to focus on the species that can potentially produce the most harmful mycotoxins. You may also consider a DNA dust sample that specifically looks for mycotoxins such as the EMMA by RealTime Labs.