Bed Mold and Your Health

A Few Facts about Mold

• Mold growth in mattresses is a rare occurrence.
• Mold is fungi that occur in nature in large quantities and reproduce by releasing spores into the air, which then settle on surfaces.
• Mold spores move into houses through open windows, doors, duct, air conditioners and our body.
• We are constantly in the presence of mold; the spores are in our hair, on our skin, on our clothes, in our car.

We co-exist with common household mold everyday. Experts assert that common household mold does not create any serious health concerns, particularly at levels that, on the rare occasion, could be found in a mattress product. That said, individuals who are exposed to common household mold at higher levels and for longer durations, may develop mold-related allergies.

For certain individuals, mold may cause symptoms such as:

• An allergic reaction, which happens to people who are allergic to mold by inhaling our touching mold or mold spores.
• Asthmatic symptoms, which occur in some people who suffer from this chronic disorder.
• Coughing, wheezing and upper-respiratory tract symptoms, which can occur in otherwise healthy people.

Sources: Dr. William Schoenwetter, M.D., University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Report of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2004, Environmental Protection Agency