Your Pet Bowl Isn’t Much Better
You put a lot of thought into what your pet eatsbut what about the bowls the eat from? One study found that 45% of all pet bowls had mold growing on them, compared with 27% of toilet seats. So, it’s actually healthier for your pooch to drink from the toilet than eat their dinner from their bowl.
The Rx: You wash your own plates every time you eatdo the same for your pets.
How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.
Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds
Substances known as microbial volatile organic compounds are powerful irritants associated with mold exposure. This particulate matter is released directly into by fungal organisms, often giving off strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure has been associated with symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and sinus irritation.
Some of the more common symptoms of mold exposure are nasal congestion, sinus infections, irritated eyes, scratchy throat, fever, headaches, smokers cough, chills, and weight loss.
As an attorney who represents Chicagoland clients in Workers Compensation claims, I fight for victims every day to gain the benefits they deserve. With the risks posed by exposure to toxic mold, I want to offer some suggestions that will reduce the likelihood that you will suffer from such exposure at work.
Don’t Miss: Clean Mildew Off Bathroom Ceiling
It Might Be In Your Peanut Butter
If you love a good PB& J, think twice about the brand you’re using: it may be moldy. According to the Society of Toxicology, peanuts are the food most likely to be contaminated with aflatoxin, a dangerous species of mold. While some of these molds can be killed off by roasting the peanuts, it doesn’t work every time. Aflatoxins are acutely toxic and in large amounts can cause vomiting, convulsions, liver cancer, hemorrhaging, coma and death.
The Rx: “You can reduce your aflatoxin exposure by buying only major commercial brands of nuts and nut butters and by discarding nuts that look moldy, discolored, or shriveled,” advises the National Cancer Institute. “To help minimize risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests foods that may contain aflatoxins, such as peanuts and peanut butter. To date, no outbreak of human illness caused by aflatoxins has been reported in the United States, but such outbreaks have occurred in some developing countries.”
White Mold In Basements
Have you ever noticed that your basement tends to be cooler than any other room in your house? While this can provide much needed comfort in the hot summer months, it can also be promoting mold growth. Heres how. When warm outside air comes into contact with the cold basement walls, it condenses, creating moisture droplets on the walls. If this moisture isnt dried promptly, mold will soon start to grow on your basement walls.Dampness from the soil outside can also bring in extra moisture to the basement, creating a wet and humid environment perfect for mold growth. And because basements often lack proper ventilation , they make a great breeding ground for white mold.
Ways to tell if you have a mold in your basement are a earthy or musty smell, condensation on the walls, bubbling paint or wallpaper, and discoloration on walls, ceilings, carpets, or furniture. If you notice something that looks like efflorescence, examine it closely and remember the tips we gave you on distinguishing between white mold and efflorescence. White mold will look white, cottony, flakey, and stringy and grows on organic materials.
Also Check: Mold Cleaner For Ceiling
White Mold On Concrete
Mold grows everywhere, but has anyone ever thought it could grow on concrete? Yes, it does! Mold is commonly found on concrete basement floors. Typically, youll see a fuzzy, white mold growing on the surface of your concrete due to moisture rising from the wet ground.
Most times, the mold grows after prolonged dampness or flooding. You can easily identify it by its characteristic white cottony mycelium.
White mold on concrete can cause health issues, including infections, asthma, and other respiratory problems. You should prevent mold from growing on your concrete but when found, remove it as soon as possible.
Mold Toxicity: The Effects Of Living With Mold
Rapid growth and an overtaking of your environment are a few characteristics that can be used to describe the dreaded but common household issue that we know as mold. Mold is a fungus that can grow on almost anything, with the ability to thrive in many conditions but most specifically in warm temperatures and high moisture environments.
The versatility of mold allows for this fungus to grow in both indoor and outdoor environments, making it an invasive presence in both your outdoor area and most importantly in your indoor areas such as your home. When you are exposed to mold chronically, you can develop mold toxicity symptoms.
Mold has the ability to spread far and wide, as tiny microscopic spores called mycotoxins, are released from the source in an effort to allow additional mold to grow. As mold begins to reproduce, its effect on humans who have been exposed could be significant.
Sensitivities can plague some individuals when contact occurs between mold, with symptoms spurring into overdrive in some cases. The type of mold present can lead to variations of symptoms, with a rough estimate of 1,000 species of mold currently in the United States . The level of hazard existing to human health can significantly reflect based upon on the specific type of mold in the environment and can thus lead to a scary health effect called mold toxicity.
You May Like: Mold Growing In Bathroom Ceiling
Can I Identify The Species Of Brown Mold Myself To Determine If Its Toxic Or Hazardous
It is impossible to identify a mold species just by looking at it: professional lab testing is required. Furthermore, gathering samples of mold puts you at an unnecessary risk of exposure to hazardous and potentially fatal substances.
We therefore highly recommended that you do not try to identify the type of brown mold you have or guess at whether it is a toxic strain. Treat all mold as potentially toxic and get expert help with mold testing and remediation.
Can I Just Turn On Oven To Kill Mold
Your oven is capable of heating things at very high temperatures, and you can use this to kill mold on surfaces like wood, metal, and glass. So, begin with setting your oven on a low medium heat and place the moldy things on a baking tray inside it for 20 minutes. The heat will dry up the mold and kill it.
Also Check: Cleaning Mildew From Bathroom Ceiling
Brain Immune Gut Summit
Did you know that you have a second brain in your gut that communicates directly with your brain, or that the majority of your immune system resides in your gut?
New understandings on the link between the gut and the brain show that not only does our brain influence our gut health, but it also works the other way around!
Gut issues can impact your brain and cognition, causing anxiety, depression and other symptoms, just as poor gut health can impair your immune systems ability to respond.
Often, suppressed immunity, autoimmunity, gut symptoms and mental health concerns are treated as separate issues, while deeper dysfunction within the brain-immune-gut axis goes undetected .
But its not just one or the other we have to look at this as a symphony and not one stand-alone thing, or we stay sick.
In order to reverse chronic health issues, we must treat the root cause and optimize the brain-immune-gut axis. The secret is how you sequence the protocol based on the priorities of your body.
How Can I Be Exposed To Mold
People are exposed to molds every day, usually by touching or breathingthem. Because molds naturally exist outdoors and indoors, living in a totallymold-free environment is practically impossible. As molds grow, spores can bereleased into the air where they can be easily inhaled. People who inhale largenumbers of spores may get sick. Possible health concerns are an importantreason to prevent mold growth and to clean up molds in indoor environments.
Also Check: Mold On Hot Tub Cover
Mold Toxicity Is Also An Issue And It Is Considered A Chronic Inflammatory Response
An acute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, and Mycobacterium serve as inflammogens! Inflammogens keep your body in a state of inflammation.
What Is The Type Of Mold That Grows On Food
What Are Some Common Foodborne Molds? Molds most often found on meat and poultry are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Monilia, Manoscus, Mortierella, Mucor, Neurospora, Oidium, Oosproa, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Thamnidium. These molds can also be found on many other foods.
Read Also: How To Remove Mold From A Ceiling
Final Word On Black Mold: Best Avoidedbut Not Deadly
As for black molds toxic reputation, those with immune suppression, asthma, or other respiratory problems are most at risk of feeling ill.
Its not likely that youll die from black mold poisoning because its just not that toxic. That said, you should act quickly if you find it in your home. The good news is its treatable, removable, and preventable.
What Is Mold Polishing
What is Mold Polishing? Plastic injection mold polishing is a technique that helps to obtain smooth mold surfaces. It does this by removing the convex parts of the mold through plastic deformation and cutting. Generally, mold polishing techniques use wool wheels, whetstone strips, and sandpaper for manual polishing.
You May Like: Does Vinegar Kill Mold On Basement Walls
Black Mold Removal And Cleaning
Mold remediation in stores, offices, or schools is best left to the pros. This also applies to household mold exceeding 10 square feet.
The contractors you choose should have insurance and licenses from organizations like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification .
Homeowners can handle cleaning about 10 square feet of black mold on their own.3 If the patch is small enough, a combination of bleach, water, scrubbing, and ventilation should do the trick.
Before treating mold on your own, prioritize ventilation and protective gear.
Removing black mold is a tough and dirty job. If you or anyone in your family is sensitive to mold allergies, has respiratory or immune issues, trust the professionals.
Find a contractor in your area to get started.
What Is Mold And What Causes Mold In Your Home
Mold is, by broad definition, a type of fungus that sprouts from microscopic spores floating in the air. When clusters of mold spores grow on surfaces, they start to reproduce and become visible to the human eye. If you have mold allergies, asthma, or another lung condition, even breathing in the microscopic pores can trigger an attack. If you dont, you may not even be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell it .
All homes have the key ingredients needed for mold growth: the presence of mold spores, a surface for it to grow on, oxygen, warmth, and darkness. When you add moisture, whether from a water leak, stagnant water, or high levels of humidity, into the mix, thats where mold problems begin. Knowing where mold is commonly found in homes can help you prevent and treat it so you can keep your home and body healthy.
You May Like: Mold Ceiling Bathroom
I Found Mold Growing In My Home How Do I Test The Mold
If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.
How To Detect Mold Inside Walls
You keep everything you can see in your home clean and sanitized, but have you considered what lurks beyond your line of sight? Your walls can house dangerous black mold growth even if you clean regularly.
Water damage can create a prime environment within walls for mold and mildew to fester.
Learn how to spot this hidden intrusion, keep it away for the long term, and prevent it from coming back.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Mildew Off Bathroom Ceiling
How Can I Prevent Brown Mold From Developing In My House
Keeping your house dry is key to avoiding brown mold infestations. Attend to leaks at the earliest opportunity. Ensure proper ventilation, particularly in areas of high humidity such as bathrooms , the laundry room and the basement. Brown mold also likes a dark environment, so if its possible to let in more natural light, that can also help deter brown mold from developing.
Carpeting in humid areas such as unfinished basements or bathrooms creates a high risk for mold to develop. Dont put carpets in these areas, and if your home already has carpeting in these areas, consider replacing it with alternate flooring.
Mold Busters is proud to offer How to Prevent Mold: The Ultimate Guide, offering expert advice through five chapters on how to prevent mold infestations in your home.
Is There A Test To Determine If I Have Been Exposed To Mold
Some physicians have recommended testing for mold-specific antibodies. Thepresence of antibodies only indicates that you have been exposed to a substanceat some time. It does not tell you when you were exposed, where the exposuretook place, or how much of the mold you were exposed to. Having a positive testfor mold-specific antibodies alone is generally considered insufficient toprove that health effects reported by individuals in moisture-damaged buildingsare caused by exposure to mold.
Also Check: How To Treat The Inside Of A Leather Holster
White Mold: Is It Dangerous & How To Remove It
White mold is lesser-known but still an incredibly dangerous species of mold to deal with. If youre ever unsure of what type you have, calling in certified professionals to perform mold testing services immediately is important. With that said, weve learned quite a bit about white mold in our many years of mold inspection and removal. Heres all you need to know and more!
Mold is a naturally occurring fungi, much like mushrooms and yeast. Hundreds of species of mold can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments. While many of these species are perfectly safe, others can be hazardous to your health, especially when they grow inside your home.
While most people tend to focus on black mold, also known as Stachybotrys, only a few are concerned about white mold growing within a building or home. However, white mold can also be very dangerous and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
In this article, we will outline the best ways to identify white mold in your home and remove it safely.
Contents
What Are Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds
Another source of irritation from mold exposure comes from substances knownas microbial volatile organic compounds . These compounds are producedthrough fungal metabolism and are released directly into the air, often givingoff strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure to mVOCs from molds can irritate theeyes and respiratory system and has been linked to symptoms such as headaches,dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation and nausea. The effects of mVOCs are notcompletely understood and research is still in the early stages.
Read Also: Remove Mold From Ceiling In Bathroom
How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Are you sick and suspect it might be from mold?
Determining whether exposure to mold is making you sick isnt always easy.
Each persons body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression.
Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to get a proper diagnosis and investigation.
Its common to think my house is clean it cant be mold! However, mold comes in many forms. In this article, well share what toxic mold is, the signs and symptoms, and how it can be treated.
Signs And Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold exposure may often present with your typical allergic complaints that are listed above. However, one must be mindful that other non-allergic, mold-related illnesses exist and may present similarly to a mold allergy, but often with more seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Research has found that people who have been exposed to mixed mold, mold spores and mycotoxins have experienced neurological and behavioral symptoms. These symptoms have been corroborated by other studies like Gordon et al. and Rea et al. .
Such non-allergic symptoms to mold may include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive impairment
Read Also: How To Clean Mold From Basement Walls
