Mold count in Chicago area was highest on record this week

The Chicago area experienced its highest level of airborne mold on record Tuesday, creating a hazard for people with allergies and other health conditions, according to an analysis by Loyola Medicine.

The teaching hospital’s Loyola Medicine Allergy Count, which reports pollen and spore counts each weekday morning during allergy season, recorded a “very high” count of 82,121 mold spores on Tuesday.

The count broke the previous record, set in August 2014, of 82,000.

Dr. Rachna Shah, an allergist and immunologist who leads Loyola’s program, said Tuesday’s count is now the highest on record going back to 2011.

Symptoms of mold allergy can include coughing and sneezing as well as itchy eyes, nose and throat. For people with asthma, exposure to mold spores can trigger an attack.

“The higher the mold count, the more people who are mold allergic would be symptomatic,” Shah said. “It’s all microscopic. We don’t see it. So that’s where these counts help to determine why these symptoms are happening.”

On Wednesday, Shah said the mold count was a much lower 28,000, which is still considered a high level.

Shah said the mold count in recent days was high because of the seasonal decay of leaves and plant materials and dry weather.

Based on predictions of warm and dry weather in the coming weeks, Shah said she expects the mold count to remain high, potentially until a first frost.

Loyola experts recommend people with mold allergies to stay indoors when the count exceeds 50,000.

Shah also recommends keeping windows closed, showering and changing clothes to eliminate mold spores and wearing a mask during outdoor activities during allergy season.