Breathing in mold can cause negative side effects for some people, while others may not experience any symptoms. The effects of breathing in mold spores depend on several factors, including overall health, age, and the type of mold. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others, and those with mold allergies, asthma, or other immune conditions are at higher risk for adverse reactions to mold exposure. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, including hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath, and in people with asthma who are allergic to mold, breathing in spores can also cause asthma attacks. Even if you don’t have allergies, you can still experience irritation from microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) produced by mold. If you have a weakened immune system, black mold exposure can also cause a fungal infection (mycosis) in your airways or other parts of your body. It is important to note that mold exposure symptoms can increase with additional exposure, and molds have the potential to cause health problems.