Mold is everywhere. You are constantly exposed to mold, just walking outside,” Debra Wohl, Elizabethtown College professor of biology, said.

“However, some people are more susceptible or sensitive to the mold, so in areas where humidity is high and there is a lot of mold, these individuals may be symptomatic,” Wohl continued.

With the outbreak of microbial growth in the Vera Hackman Apartments, students in the first weeks of orientation and classes have been abuzz with talks of mold.

Whether joking, irritated, or concerned, mold has been a popular topic around campus.

With all this talk, and the temporary closure of Hackman, how worried should students be? How dangerous are domestic molds?

There is a variety of household molds, but of them, only one is largely concerning.

Stachybotrys chartarum, more commonly known as “black mold,” is also called “toxic mold.” Black mold creates compounds known as mycotoxins, which can cause people to develop breathing issues, sinus infections, depression, fatigue, asthma attacks and more.

The frequently asked question section of the Hackman page on the Residence Life website does not share what type of mold was found, but specifies “[The mold found] is NOT black mold—and is non-hazardous.”

Home Air Quality Guides compiled a list of other common molds. One of these is Serpula lacrymans, a yellow mold which leads to dry rot in wood.

Another is Chaetomium, which is found in drywall that has experienced water damage and has a musty smell.

One of the most common molds is Alternaria, which appears in dark and damp areas like showers and sinks.

Another common mold is Aspergillus, which does minor damage to those that inhale it.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being in damp or moldy environments can lead to a variety of symptoms, but may just as likely lead to no symptoms at all.

As Wohl said, unless an individual is sensitive to mold, there is very little or no risk. For those sensitive to mold, effects can include nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation and skin irritation.

“Molds cause a problem for individuals who already have allergies to molds, asthma, [those who are] immunocompromised, or have a chronic lung disease,” Wohl said. Otherwise, though mold is an inconvenience, it is infrequently dangerous.

Mold is a common fungus that occurs indoors and outdoors. According to the CDC, it grows in places with significant moisture such as kitchens, bathrooms or near leaky fixtures such as windows, roofs or pipes.

Mold grows easily on paper products, ceiling tiles and wood products but can also grow in dust, paint, insulation, carpet, fabric and drywall.

Mold enters buildings through doorways, windows, vents and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold from the outdoors can also be carried inside on clothing, bags and pets.

With this in mind, it stands to reason that the microbial growth in Hackman may have been caused by the record breaking amounts of rain in Lancaster County, which could have created prime growing conditions.

Hackman Apartments were the summer housing for student workers and guests, and for this reason, the air conditioners were running and may have granted passage to microbial growth—that may have been mold—in the air to enter the apartments.

Although it is normally not dangerous, mold can prove problematic to individuals with a weak immune system or sensitivities.

According to Wohl, the “worst case, for someone who struggles with a chronic lung disease, is that they could develop a serious respiratory infection such as pneumonia.”

Therefore, in cases of microbial growth, it is important for residents to control the growth.

To minimize the spread of mold, the CDC recommends controlling humidity levels, fixing any leaks in or around a building, ensuring that previously flooded areas are thoroughly cleaned and dried and ventilating household areas with the most moisture such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens.

To clean mold that is already in a home or workplace, the CDC suggests products designed for mold removal already available in stores, soap and water or a bleach solution of one cup or less of household laundry bleach in one gallon of water.