Getting A Diagnosis For Mold Sickness
While symptoms to mold exposure are not uncommon , many health care professionals struggle to pinpoint the cause behind these symptoms.
Often only a few people or one person and not everyone, in a home or workplace experience symptoms. This is frustrating and confusing for the sick person. When their doctors cant find any reason for the illness, they can start to feel like the sickness is all in their mind.
People suffering from mold exposure can often be misdiagnosed with disorders such as:
How To Treat Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold, scientifically referred to as Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum, is typically black or dark green and often linked to serious health problems.
In fact, black mold exposure can lead to poisoning, or stachybotryotoxicosis a condition thats dangerous, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Even though black mold poisoning typically affects horses, cows, and pigs, humans can become infected if they inhale or ingest the spores.
Symptoms of stachybotryotoxicosis include skin rashes , throat and sinus irritation, burning eyes, and a decrease in the production of white blood cells.
Should I Hire Professionals
If you fail to remove mold from the home with repeated attempts you should definitely hire a professional to deal with the issue. A professional will be able to stop the growth of existing mold and clear it from the home, but also identify issues with your home that is causing the mold problem in the first instance.
If you get mold professionally dealt with you should also invest in remedies to the issue such as ventilation and insulation to reduce the risk of the mold returning and you having to pay a professional once again.
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How Do I Get Rid Of Mold In My House Permanently
You will not be able to get rid of the mold spores that live in the air as they exist naturally everywhere and in small amounts are not harmful.
If mold spores find favourable spots to congregate and multiply then the level of spores in the air can become dangerous and cause illness when respiring.
To get rid of mold you need to treat the conditions that are attracting them and keep moisture levels down and good ventilation in the home then treat the existing mold with a harsh cleaner.
How Do I Get Rid Of Mold
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.
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The Science Of Mold Growth
With this conflicting information, it is time for more research.
Working in conjunction with my fellow instructors, we did a detailed scientific/technical literature review and found a peer reviewed paper entitled Controlled Study of Mold Growth and Cleaning Procedure on Treated and Untreated Wet Gypsum Wallboard in an Indoor Environment, by Michael Krause, CIH, with Veritox Inc.
Krause and his associates performed basically the same test that we did, except they did it with a number of untreated and treated wallboard sheets under very controlled scientific conditions.
According to Krause, it took at least a week to confirm that invisible microscopic growth structures had formed on wet untreated wallboard in a closed office.
Mold growth colonies were not visible on untreated drywall until three weeks into their eight week experiment.
The first mold types seen were Acremonium, Penicillium and Cladosporium. Stachybotrys was never seen. Visible mold did not grow on wallboard that was coated with a primer.
Additionally, a study done by Dr. Michael Berry, prepared for the Carpet and Rug Institute , showed that drywall and framing lumber, when exposed to a controlled environment with a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 80 percent, did not display visible mold until week five .
A listing of a few of these papers is at the end of this article.
References:
How Do You Prevent Mold From Growing In The Winter
Heres what you can do in your home to prevent mold from growing and spreading during the winter months these strategies will also help prevent and improve mold allergies:
Mold needs the right temperature, humidity conditions, and a food source to grow. Room-temperature conditions and organic material such as paper, cardboard, wood, and ceiling tiles are nearly impossible to remove from your home. Thats why the best way to prevent the spread of mold is to control moisture. Using dehumidifiers and a meter to test humidity levels will help stop moisture from building up and prevent mold around windows.
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Does Inactive Mold Need To Be Removed
Dry mold spores, without moisture, are also much lighter than their active counterparts. Their lightweight nature can easily make them become airborne, spreading to other areas of the home and contaminating them.
While you may have gotten rid of your moisture problem in one area of the home, the airborne spores may move into a damp area where they can re-active and begin reproducing.
Additionally, even fungus that lies dormant in one place can threaten the health of those who live there. For these reasons, any and all fungal spores need to be physically removed from the premises. Its not enough to merely kill the mold. The spores need to be taken out of your home for good.
Sound like a major undertaking? It doesnt have to be!
What Happens When You Breathe In Mold Spores
Breathing mold spores can cause mild to severe health problems in individuals. The typical effects of mold inhalation in healthy people include:
- Itchy and watery eyes.
- Upper respiratory tract symptoms.
However, breathing mold spores can result in severe health issues in people with serious mold allergies, pre-existing respiratory diseases, and immune suppression.
Ingesting mold spores triggers powerful reactions in people with mold allergies. Allergic fungal sinusitis is an inflammatory reaction caused by the presence of fungus particles in the sinuses. Individuals who have asthma may experience a severe asthma attack after breathing in mold spores. Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Tightening chest.
Individuals with weakened immune systems or taking immunosuppressant medication are prone to develop systemic infections after breathing in mold spores.
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The Life Cycle Of Mold: How This Fungi Grows
Molds reproduce by forming small airborne spores. Due to their small microscopic size, mold has the ability to travel through several mediums like air, water, and mold bearing insects. Once these organisms come into contact with a surface that has the ideal conditions present , the life-cycle begins.
There are thousands of types of mold, all having different life cycle patterns. Most forms of indoor mold follow the same four-stage life-cycle: Hypae growth, Spore formation, Spore liberation , and Spore germination. Without the ideal conditions for growth mold cannot grow.
Mold is ubiquitous in that it has the ability to grow in both indoor and outdoor environments. It also has the ability to grow on any organic material so as long as there is moisture and oxygen present.
How To Keep Mold From Growing After Water Damage
From the above, it can be concluded that there is a 48-72 hour window between the water intrusion and the beginning of mold growth. If the flooded areas are completely dried off within this time-gap, mold has very little chance to develop.
Drying the flooded areas within the first 48 hours after the incident can prevent mold from forming.
Proper drying, however, is quite difficult. Water can find its way into all kinds of materials and spread into walls, under floors, and through ceilings on its route to the lowest point in the house.
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How Long Can Mold Spores Survive
You might think that eliminating one or all of the conditions that promote growth would kill mold spores. The reality is that these spores do not really die. Dry conditions may cause mold to go dormant, but colonies can start growing again if a water supply becomes available. Moreover, the spores of some fungi can sleep for hundreds of years, given the right conditions. This is why removing moisture alone isnt sufficient enough to remediate 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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Should You Remove Dry Mold
Absolutely! Mold spores are quite ubiquitous, and while some of them can be removed easily during regular house cleaning, many will continue to grow in dark, damp corners of your home or behind walls. Any fungal spore should be removed physically.
Luckily, we have good news you dont need to spend a fortune to save your home. All you need to do is call our certified mold removal experts to inspect your property and develop a remediation strategy.
Whether your house has been heavily damaged by flooding or you simply have ongoing humidity problems within your home, there is a solution. Mold Busters services Ottawa and Montreal, helping you to eliminate mold from your home safely and quickly.
Call us now for certified mold inspection, mold testing and mold remediation services with same-day appointments available.
With all this being said, the best way of preventing mold is eliminating sources of moisture that fuel its growth. Keep the humidity inside your home within the recommended level and dry any water-damaged materials immediately.
And dont hesitate to call for help if you discover mold already growing in your home. Remember, mold remediation is not a complicated process if done well!
Mold Growth After Water Damage
Water damage can cause all sorts of problems in a home.
Even if the water intrusion is limited and does not cause considerable damage, it may still result in a mold problem any amount of moisture accumulation indoors can easily lead to mold growth in the home. Mold spores exist everywhere in the environment, so mold can start developing as soon as the right conditions organic food and moisture are present.
There are plenty of porous organic materials in a house drywall, insulation, paint, paper products, etc. so all that is needed for mold to start growing is some moisture. Only a few inches of water can create the necessary conditions for mold growth then, it takes just a couple of short days for mold to develop and start damaging your property.
Yet, the problem can be easily avoided all you need to do is eliminate the moisture before mold has had the chance to start developing. But how quickly does mold grow? How soon do you have to dry the premises to prevent the spores from taking root in your home?
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Can Inactive Mold Make You Sick
Contrary to popular belief, inactive mold CAN make you sick. It causes many of the same symptoms and should be treated with the same urgency as active mold. That’s why it’s so important to treat any mold you find in your home immediately do not assume that because it’s dead, it is not dangerous…. see more
How Long Does It Take For Black Mold To Kill You
Black mold, or Stachybotrys atra, has a reputation for being fatal. This is due to reports that black mold was related to infant deaths in the 1990s. Its also been linked to the idea of sick building syndrome and is often called toxic black mold.
But theres no solid evidence proving that black mold is toxic. Black mold, and mold in general, is not deadly.
Still, black mold can cause unwanted side effects, especially those in people who are sensitive to mold. This includes people who are young, old, or have compromised immune systems.
Visit a doctor if you have:
- persistent sinus and nasal congestion
- frequent headaches
- unexplained skin irritation
- more frequent asthma attacks
Sometimes, it can be difficult to know if mold is causing your symptoms. Many side effects of mold exposure are similar to other conditions, like seasonal allergies. Some symptoms also take time to appear.
Your best bet is to see a doctor, even if youre unsure your symptoms are related to mold. They can help you find relief.
The best way to treat mold exposure symptoms is to reduce exposure. Follow these tips:
- Avoid contact with moldy items or surfaces.
- Avoid damp rooms, like basements.
- Remove mold from the home by cleaning surfaces and drying damp areas.
- Increase ventilation by using a fan or opening windows.
- Reduce indoor humidity with a dehumidifier.
The length of time it takes for mold to leave your body will depend on your level of previous exposure.
- a musty, earthy odor
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How Long Can Mold Spores Remain Alive
As stated earlier, mold spores are better referred to as being either viable or non-viable. So whats the difference?
When mold spores are termed viable, it means theyll easily grow in the presence of moisture. Theyre basically in the form of seeds that germinate in the presence of a suitable substrate and water.
On the other hand, non-viable seeds or spores result from dried mold. These fall off and remain dormant. However, the characteristic allergies theyre known to cause wont cease.
In other words, youre likely to experience these allergies when exposed to either viable or non-viable spores.
In terms of the lifespan of mold spores, these can live for several years. Arid or unfavorable conditions will only make these mold spores dormant.
The dormancy period can last for extended periods of time until growth conditions get better.
A Qualified Environmental Lab Took Samples Of The Mold In My Home And Gave Me The Results Can Cdc Interpret These Results
Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the buildings characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
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How Do Molds Affect People
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people with asthma symptoms in people with asthma and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould pdf iconexternal icon pdf icon. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies.
