• Black and white mold are fungi that sprout from mold spores--dust seeds found in homes and buildings--and can grow and cause problems if the conditions are right (i.e. moisture, leaks and flooding). The key to preventing mold in buildings is to prevent excessive moisture, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The effects of black and white mold are serious and must be immediately confronted upon discovery.
  
  

Mild Health Issues

• The health issues connected to black and white mold depend on the amount of mold in the house and the person's tolerance to it. Mild symptoms of mold include nasal congestion, throat swelling, coughing and wheezing, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Mold can make asthma worse, boosting the risk of respiratory infection. Always consult a health professional if you've recently been exposed to mold--black or white--to put your mind at ease about the health risks involved.
  
  

Serious Health Issues

• The effects of black and white mold can be severe if left uninhibited and untreated. These molds have been known to cause fever, chronic fatigue, respiratory dysfunction, coughing up blood, nose bleeds, extreme dizziness, chronic headaches, diarrhea, vomiting and liver damage, according to Weather.com. Most of these will disappear as soon as the mold problem is taken care of, but others--like liver damage--could be permanent. Seek professional help and get rid of black and white mold immediately upon discovery. If it's in your home, make other lodging arrangements until you can get the problem fixed.
  
  

House Damage

• Black and white mold can damage your home, so it's important to catch it early and take care of it in a timely and safe fashion. If left untreated, mold can decay wood, metal pipes, ceilings, dry wall--pretty much anything it attaches itself to. Mold devalues your home and can cause other problems like leaky pipes. Black and white mold is like an infectious disease that keeps growing once it starts, destroying everything in its path. If mold grows deeply into wooden beams and pipes in your home, you'll have to rebuild entire sections that have been decayed, so keep your eye on possible moldy spots and take necessary precautions to keep that from happening, according to Weather.com.