Mold and its spores are a powerful allergen in people who have allergic asthma with a sensitivity to mold.
Photo © A.D.A.M.
Mold spores grow in dark, damp locations, both indoors and out, and can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms
Molds are a type of fungi too small to be seen with the naked eye. They are related to mushrooms, but do not have stems, roots or leaves as mushrooms do. Instead, they have lightweight spores that can float through the air, somewhat like pollen spores do.
Although mold is an allergen, such as pollen, they don't have a specific growing season like pollen does. Their growth is related more to environmental factors, such as heat, wind and humidity, rather than a time of year. They are found both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor variety, though, is generally present in higher levels in the late summer/early fall.
Molds love damp, dark environments, so you can take these steps to avoid mold.