All rights reserved Information for patients with allergy and related problems in the Southwest Environment and allergic disease Return to menu Mold Spores Mold spores are much smaller than pollen grains, allowing many of them to effectively bypass the normal filtering function of the nose. Inhalation of mold spores into the lung is a common cause of asthma attacks in people allergic to molds.
Mold spores come from soil and decaying vegetation, and are ubiquitous.
Mold counts increase near irrigated farm land, golf courses, artificial lakes and high water use vegetation. In the semi-arid southwest, atmospheric mold spore counts are much lower than elsewhere. Mold growth and spore counts increase with increased rainfall and high humidity, after the summer rains and in the fall. Dry and cold conditions tend to inhibit mold growth. In houses with evaporative cooling and old carpets, mold is a problem.