Christmas Tree Mold Allergies

That beautiful tree may be laden with mold along with the ornaments.

Mold from Christmas trees can cause a spike in overall levels of indoor mold, which can cause serious asthma and sinus problems. Mold can grow on both live and artificial Christmas trees.

Mold Spores

Indoors, mold can rise from a normal level of roughly 500 spores per cubic meter to more than 8,000 during the time a Christmas tree is up.

Effects

Mold spores can trigger a number of allergy problems, including sinus congestion, itchy eyes and severe asthma attacks. During the Christmas season, allergic reactions to mold become much more prevalent.

Duration

As long as the Christmas tree is up, it will continue to produce mold spores. Most Christmas trees are displayed for several weeks, which contributes to the rise of mold spores.

Live and Artificial Trees

Both live and fake trees can carry mold. Live trees bring mold spores in from outdoors, and improperly stored artificial trees can accumulate mold while in storage.

Prevention/Solution

To minimize allergic reactions to Christmas-tree mold, remove live trees from the house after only a few days. Thoroughly cleaning artificial trees with disinfectant can help kill mold spores, as well.

References

• WebMD: Christmas Trees
• ChristmasTree Association: Allergies

Resources

• Allergy Partners: Holiday Season Allergies