Mold Types And Causes
Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors| Last updated June 20, 2016
Toxic mold is an increasingly common problem in homes and commercial buildings. While many people have heard of toxic “black mold,” in fact harmful molds exist in a wide variety of forms. Depending on the individual who has been exposed, mold exposure may cause ill effects that range from very serious health problems to minor annoyances. This article provides an overview of the main types of mold, and common factors that cause mold in homes and commercial buildings.
What Types Of Mold Should I Worry About
Some molds are more dangerous than others, depending on the individual sensitivity. Thus, all mold proliferation should be dealt with promptly. High levels of moisture impacting building materials can result from flooding, poor ventilation, condensation, melting ice dams, and leaky plumbing. This moisture, combined with environmental conditions, can contribute to mold growth. Since most mold isnt identifiable by eyesight alone, dont try to diagnose your mold. Not only does touching or scraping mold for closer inspection cause it to become airborne, but its also highly unlikely you can tell what it is without special training and a microscope.
A mold of any type is an eyesore, can smell, and is a potential lawsuit waiting to happen. Addressing it as soon as you catch it is best. Since mold is often not visible and can develop in places we cant see , assume that a small mold sighting may not be all there is to the story. Catching a tiny mold issue now can prevent huge issues down the road.
Can My Building Be Mold
Mold is ubiquitous and exists naturally outdoors ridding your building of all mold isnt likely to be feasible. Every building has some level of mold, whether in the air or as a deposit on surfaces. The concern should be about the type of mold you find While there are some relatively harmless types, even these can cause allergies. The more dangerous ones can make people and pets very sick over time and can lead to large productivity losses, increased healthcare costs, and a decrease in the value of your building. Often, mold-related problems are hard to identify and may resemble a number of unrelated conditions.
If you find mold or persistent moisture, its best to ask a professional to examine it. They can identify the type of mold, determine the extent of the growth, and form a plan to rid your building of mold. Taking action now, even with small amounts of mold, can help protect you from potential liability from possible future health concerns.
Do you need help with your mold problem? Get in touch with us and today and lets work together to make your building as safe as possible.
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Categories Of Different Types Of Mold:
- Allergenic molds These may need an experienced technician to remove, however, many allergenic types of mold can be removed just using home disinfectants.
- Pathogenic molds These, while they can be kept at bay using home disinfecting products, if large colonies of pathogenic mold gets out of control, they will need to be removed by a professional.
- Toxic molds These are the most harmful types of mold. If you have any of these molds in your home, you will need to call a professional to kill the mold and dispose of anything that has become tainted by it.
Once you have found mold in your home, you will need to identify the type of mold it is and formulate a plan to remove it. It is recommended to hire a professional to help you identify what kind of mold it is that youre dealing with and they can remove it for you.
Indoor Air And Building
It has long been postulated that exposure to damp, moldy home and workplace environments has detrimental health effects. At the beginning of the 18th century, Ramazzini, considered the father of occupational medicine, described an illness of workers inhaling foul and mischievous powderâ from handling crops . More recently, Platt et al. , found that occupants of wet, moldy buildings had an increase in subjective complaints. Brunekreef et al. found a similar pattern in > 6,000 children in six states in the United States and reported home dampness was a strong predictor of respiratory and other illness in this age group. The list of putative symptoms generally consists of upper respiratory complaints, including headache, eye irritation, epistaxis, nasal and sinus congestion, cough, cold and flu symptoms, as well as generalized gastrointestinal complaints . Taskinen et al. reported an increased prevalence of asthma in moisture-affected schools, although there were no objective measurements of respiratory disease. A number of studies have reported a relationship between similar symptoms and damp housing or workplace environments, although the proposed etiologies have varied .
The indoor environment also contains a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria , mycobacteria , and molds , as well as their products, including endotoxins and mycotoxins. There may often be a much higher bacterial load than fungal load .
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The Most Common Household Mold Types
No matter how clean and tidy you keep it, your home is full of damp and moist areas for mold to thrive. Just because you cant see it doesnt mean it isnt there. Unseen spores can spread and lead to many health problems and structural issues for your house that can get expensive quickly.
The best way to tackle mold in your home is to understand what you are dealing with so that you can detect it before the problem gets out of control. The spores you might find on old food could be vastly different from those underneath your kitchen sink. Read on to discover more about the most common varieties of household mold.
I Heard About Toxic Molds And Black Molds That Grow In Homes And Other Buildings Should I Be Concerned About A Serious Health Risk To Me And My Family
There is always a little mold everywhere in the air and on many surfaces.
Certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins . Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. Not all fungi produce mycotoxins and even those that do will not do so under all surface or environmental conditions.
Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. Color is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be. Any mold should be removed and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed.
There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.
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How To Remove Mold Growth Effectively
If you do find mold growing inside the home, its best to remove it completely and immediately. This means throwing away any spoiled food items and cleaning mold from walls, carpets, and furnishings using professional cleaning products. Its important not to just caulk or paint over mold in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement. It should be fully removed and the area dried and cleaned first.
Finally, after you remove mold growth, its important to fix the problem that caused it to grow indoors immediately. If you dont, the mold will just grow back. To find a professional to help waterproof your basement or crawl space, install dehumidifiers, or recommend professional mold removal products, please contact your local Groundworks basement waterproofing, foundation repair, and crawl space repair experts to learn how you can protect your home and your family.
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Types Of Mold Categorized By Health Effects
The 11 Common Types Of Household Mold
Name: AlternariaCategorization: AllergenicAppearance: May present as dark gray spotsFound on: If the materials are damp, Alternaria can be found growing on wood, iron, tiles, brick, plaster, wallpaper, paper, and canvas.Danger: Hardly any
Appearance: Black on the surface and white or yellow-ish underneathFound on: Dead leaves, soil, grain think houseplants and crawl spacesDanger: Barely any
Categorization: AllergenicAppearance: Brown, green, or black spotsFound On: Mostly occurs on damp building materials like gypsum board, acrylic painted walls, wood, wallpaper, carpet, insulation, and cooling unitsDanger: Barely any
Danger: Barely any
Penicillium mold
FYI: Penicillium is a genus that includes hundreds of species, some of which can be used to make the popular antibiotic penicillin.8
Name: Aspergillus species Categorization: PathogenicFound On: Damp building materialsDanger: Moderate might cause chronic pulmonary infections in at-risk individuals
Name: Cryptococcus neoformansCategorization: PathogenicFound On: Damp building materialsDanger: Moderate might further weaken the immune system of immunocompromised people or, in rare cases, cause cryptococcal meningitis
Cryptococcus neoformans mold
Categorization: PathogenicFound On: Soil, especially soil mixed with bird and bat droppingsDanger: Moderate dangerous levels of spores can be released during construction projects and may cause pulmonary histoplasmosis
Pulmonary histoplasmosis in chest
Penicillium mold on bread
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A Complete Guide To Identifying And Getting Rid Of Mold
Mold is, unfortunately, a fairly common household nuisance. It’s a fungus that can be found almost anywhere, but in homes, it often pops up in areas that are prone to moisture, like basements and bathrooms.
We’re actually exposed to mold everyday, and usually, we aren’t phased by it because mold spores are relatively harmless in small amounts. However, when mold is growing on a surface that you come in contact with everyday, you can be exposed to larger amounts of mold spores and that can lead to health problems.
There are several different types of mold that often show up in homes. While they all can cause allergies, some, like stachybotrys chartarum can lead to more serious breathing problems over time. That’s why it’s important to learn how to identify the most common mold types so you know what you’re dealing and how to get rid of it in the safest way.
Woman Looking At Mold On Wall
Side View Of A Shocked Young Woman Looking At Mold On Wall
Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov
If mold is present in your home, you might begin to notice a damp, musty odor in a specific area. Its commonly found in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. If you notice a musty odor, you should check for damp walls, carpet, flooring and any other spaces that may be breeding grounds for mold. The key is to treat a mold problem immediately, before the infestation becomes worse or causes permanent damage.
Learn the most common areas for mold in your house, and take steps to safeguard against mold growth.
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Types Of Mold In Homes
There are many different types of mold sometimes found in peoples homes. Different mold types have different looks and cause different health problems, but none are good for your health and all can be unsightly and cause an unpleasant, musty smell. Different kinds of mold grow in different places, too, and present somewhat different challenges for ridding your home of them. And make no mistake its crucial to rid your home of any mold because all types pose specific health risks.
Different Types Of Mold Found In Houses
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12 Different Types of Mold Found in Houses
Mold fungus spores are all around us every day, in the air we breathe and even in the wind that blows into our interior spaces. In the natural world, these spores play an important part in breaking down natural matter however, when they get inside homes and form colonies, they not only look unsightly but also pose health risks.
Most people want to know, âwhat type of mold is dangerous in a house?â The truth is that no human should be exposed to any type of mold for long periods of time because they are all potentially hazardous. However, EuroMaids professionals the chance of this fungus ending human life is incredibly rare under ordinary circumstances.
All mold is classified into three major categories, depending on the degree of harm it may cause:
- Allergenic: These are harmless to your health and may cause mild allergies such as a blocked nose or skin irritation in those sensitive to mold.
- Pathogenic: If you have suppressed, underdeveloped, or a compromised immune system, exposure to this mold can pose a significant health risk.
- Toxigenic: This mold is incredibly toxic, and professionals should take prompt action to remove it.
The best way to prevent mold from forming is to periodically check areas in your home that produce microclimates conducive to colony growth and ensure there are no surfaces or areas that experience consistent dampness.
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What To Do If You Suspect Your Home Has Toxic Mold
Because toxic mold exposure can be a serious health threat, its important that you get professional help if you think you might have dangerous mold in your home. The first step is to have your home professionally tested for mold. This should involve a thorough inspection for any water damage or mold growth found on materials in your home, as well as an air quality test to check for airborne spores. This entire process typically takes an hour or less to perform.
Next, samples will be sent to an environmental testing laboratory to determine if there are harmful species of mold in your home. If needed, you can then call in a mold remediation company to remove the toxic mold in your home and get to the bottom of any remaining sources of water damage.
Once the mold has been remediated, a clearance air test can be performed to ensure that the mold levels in your home are safe.
How To Remove Mold
Some mold is quick and easy to clean, merely requiring a regular wipe down around the tub or window, but sometimes professionals are needed. The general dividing line between homeowner clean up versus professional remediation is whether the mold is covering under or above 10 square feet, says Ragsdale. You may also need to hire a professional if your drywall is covered in mold or if you are allergic to mold.
In order to get rid of a major mold problem, you must remove the mold and remedy the moisture problem that caused the excessive mold growth in the first place. Ragsdale highly recommends immediately fixing the cause of the moisture problem that led to the mold, whether its bad plumbing, a leak, or excessive humidity. Mold requires moisture, so if the moisture intrusion is not corrected, cleaning efforts may be in vain, says Ragsdale.
When cleaning mold on your own, be sure to wear gloves, goggles and N-95 respirator masks to reduce your exposure to the mold. If there are outdoor openings in the room, place an exhaust fan near them to help remove mold spores from the room. If the moldy area is dry, lightly spray with water, as this will reduce the incidence of airborne mold spores during cleaning.
Place all used sponges, equipment and other materials in a heavy-duty garbage bag, and if possible, remove the bag through a nearby exit as opposed to the main house to avoid distributing mold spores.
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