What began as a life milestone for 28-year-old Sara quickly turned into a health and financial nightmare when her new home started making her sick.
Sara, who didn’t give a surname, purchased her first home in Central Ohio in May 2024. But, within days of settling in, she began experiencing severe congestion and chronic sinus infections.
“Within days of moving in, I developed severe congestion and chronic sinus infections. Those eventually stopped, but, about six months in, my eyelid irritation began,” she told Newsweek.
Struggling with severe symptoms, Sara wasn’t sure what had caused the issue—until she stumbled on some of the previous owner’s documents.
“They left the house fully furnished,” Sara said. “I found medical files from the previous owners, which showed they also had eye issues. Around that time, I traveled to Cancun, and my eyes completely healed on the trip, which pushed me to investigate further.”
Turning to the internet, Sara shared her experience in a video on her TikTok account @applfrittr11, where people instantly urged her to have her home checked for mold.
“That’s when I connected with Mold Dog USA, who confirmed hidden mold sources throughout the home,” Sara said.
“Nearly every aspect of my daily life was centered in mold; working from home, exercising in the basement, showering, sleeping, even washing clothes. It was everywhere, and my dogs were exposed too,” Sara said. “The invisible nature of it was terrifying, especially when my husband didn’t have the same symptoms, making me feel like I was going crazy.”
What Is Mold Toxicity?
Mold toxicity refers to the harmful health effects that can result from exposure to mold and the substances it produces. Molds are fungi that grow in damp or water-damaged environments and release allergens, irritants, and sometimes toxic substances known as mycotoxins.
While molds themselves are not inherently poisonous, some species, under certain conditions, can produce these mycotoxins.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that exposure to mold and its byproducts can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks, respiratory symptoms, and skin or eye irritation.
Individuals with asthma, allergies, weakened immune systems, or chronic lung disease face higher risks, including potential lung infections. The primary cause of mold-related health problems is prolonged exposure to mold spores or damp indoor environments where it thrives.
Mold exposure has been known to force families out of homes and even led to cases of death as a result of mold-infested homes.
An Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) test found Sara’s home as uninhabitable, forcing the couple to take action.
“Remediation is underway, but it’s expensive, invasive, and devastating. We’ve had to throw away most of our belongings because mold contaminates porous items,” Sara said.
With the insurance not covering mold, the couple are facing high costs for fixing the mold, medical bills, and replacing lost items.
“There are also legal complications suggesting the previous owners may have known, but, due to protections in their state, we likely won’t recover anything. It feels like mold has taken our health, our home, and our finances,” Sara said.
The post Woman Buys First Home—Soon After Moving In, Realizes Something Is Very Wrong appeared first on Newsweek.
