Is Mold And Mildew Harmful To Your Health

Does Every House Have Mold

Every house, every environment has mold spores. It becomes an issue when the concentration of mold spores in a home is greater than what is found outside. The temperature in most houses is almost always ideal for mold growth. Mold feeds on dust or dirt, which is nearly impossible to eradicate from a home.

How Long Do You Have To Be Exposed To Mold Before You Get Sick

These spores proliferate quickly and can take hold in places with poor ventilation and high humidity in less than 24 hours. The problem starts when you inhale these spores. They produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins that can produce an immune response in some individuals and actually extremely toxic themselves.

Which Is Better To Remove Mold Bleach Or Vinegar

Vinegar truly is better than bleach at killing mold. That means the mold will grow back. In fact, recognizing the bleach as a threat, the mold will grow back even stronger. When bleach is used on porous surfaces like drywall or wood, mold membranes will move deeper into the surface to avoid the chemical.

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How Can You Prevent And Treat Mold And Mildew In Your Home

Now that we have gone over how mold and mildew are different, you probably want to know how you can prevent and treat both in your home. Prevention is always the best method for keeping your family healthy and your home free of damage.

How can you prevent mold and mildew from growing?

• Keep all surfaces dryYour bathroom and kitchen are prone to damp surfaces. Keeping them dry will go a long way in preventing mold and mildew. Also, remember to leave your washing machine open between uses so it can air out.
• Use a dehumidifierTo prevent mold and mildew from growing, keep your home at an ideal humidity level .
• Change your air filters regularlyHVAC filters, as well as HEPA filters, are prone to growing mold and mildew. When you change them often, you are preventing this.
• Inspect for mold and mildew regularlyThe earlier you catch it, the easier it will be to treat.
• Keep the air in your home circulatingStagnant air traps humidity, which creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. Keep the air flowing in your home by opening windows and using fans.
• Use an indoor air purifierIndoor air purifiers like the Molekule device can remove mold spores from the air in your home, helping to prevent them from forming clusters and growing. The Molekule unit is especially a good choice for mold, because it will destroy it completely, leaving no risk for it to grow on the filter surface and be released back into the air.

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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Concerned About Mold And Mildew In Or Around Your Home Contact A Professional

Minor mold and mildew issues can often be handled by the homeowner without the need for professional testing or remediation. However, if you think you may have large amounts of mold or mildew growing in your home or are suffering from an unexplained cold or flu-like symptoms, expert testing and analysis are likely in order.

The state-of-the-art laboratory and team of expert consultants at JSE Labs are here to help. We offer accredited testing services and inspections and can help you determine the best course of action to keep you and your family safe.

Is It Safe To Sleep In A Room With Mildew

Because of the risks that come with mold exposure, it can be unsafe to sleep in a house with mold, particularly in the affected areas because you put yourself at risk of mold allergies. This becomes especially concerning if you are sensitive to the mold. When mold grows indoors, it can often be found in the bathroom.

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Is Mildew Black Mold

One of the most important ways one can tell mold from mildew is how each fungus looks. Mildew is typically white, gray or yellow and grows on the surface of moist, warm areas. On the other hand, mold tends to be green or black, and it usually grows underneath the surface of anything that has gotten wet.

Can Mold Cause Health Problems

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens , irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances . Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash . Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.

Keep in mind that:

For more information on controlling mold and moisture, visit the Mold Website.

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Bad Mold Vs Good Mold

Wondering whether some molds can be of any good like good bacteria? Yes. They are not bad always. Because of their pharmacological activity, some of the mycotoxins are useful as antibiotics.17 Under correct conditions, some molds are also used in the production of cheese. But, you cannot eat the fungi that grow on the cheese at home. They may result in allergic reactions. Outdoors, molds are considered to be a good thing. However, inside your home, if they find a sustainable food source to grow they become dangerous.

Toxic Mold: How It Survives

Mold lives off of any organic matter and loves a warm, humid environment. This includes your leather jacket, a peach, old newspapers, bathroom walls, windowsills, ceilings, and wall-paper. Most often, mildew, which is a form of mold or fungus, infects our living or workspaces when there is a high level of moisture, like a musty basement or a shower wall. It comes in through our walls, windows, doors, carpets, or under the refrigerator.

Mold spores can also be carried in on our clothing, shoes, pets and our bodies. Doctors warn against breathing in mold over long periods of time. Often times, our homes and offices are infested with toxic mold and mildew. And, because it can hide in cracks in our walls, as well as other invisible places, most of us are unaware that we are being exposed to the extremely harmful effects.

Today, mold growth in homes and places of work is more of a health issue than we may think. So it’s important that you recognize the symptoms of mold in your home, and take steps to protect yourself and your family.

For further information, please read this blog post about how to get rid of mold.

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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.

Mold And Mildew Can Be Harmful To Your Health And Damaging To Your Home

Mold is very common in home and it can be found around areas with a lot of moisture. Some homeowners may find traces of mold and mildew in their homes following flooding or severe rainstorms where water soaks into the wood, drywall, and sheetrock. When this excess moisture enters your home it can weaken the structural integrity of your homes building materials but with the ideal conditions for mold and mildew to thrive in.

This growth of mold and mildew in your home can also cause you and your family to experience illnesses that target your immune system. Respiratory conditions: wheezing, coughing, sneezing, itchy throat, and even allergic reactions are all linked to exposure to mold and mildew.

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Testing For Mould In Your Home

Where mould is visible, it is generally not considered necessary to test for it in the home. However, not all mould is visible, as contamination may be in cavities or the ceiling. Generally, if you can see or smell mould, you need to clean up and remove the mould immediately, as mould can damage surfaces it grows on.

If you suspect mould contamination but cannot find the source of the problem, or if you have already taken measures to prevent mould from growing and you are still having problems, you could employ an occupational hygienist or environmental health and safety professional. For a fee, these professionals can provide specialist mould testing and consultancy services.

How To Prevent Mold Exposure

Denying them a place to grow is an important step in preventing mold. And for that, you need to control the moisture inside your home. You should make sure that your home and the workplace is free of visible mold growth or strong moldy odor. Here are a few tips for that.18

• Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep the humidity level low.
• Make sure that your floor and wall are dry after flooding.
• Fix water problems such as roof leaks and plumbing leaks.
• Provide enough ventilation for your house.
• Use mold-killing products while cleaning bathrooms.
• If absorbent materials like carpet become moldy, they should be removed.
• Cleaning frequently keeps mold to a minimum.
• Do not paint moldy surfaces without cleaning up the mold and drying the surface.19

Cleaning up the mold in your home is the first thing you should do. These are a few ways to do it:

• Remove mold growth from hard surfaces using soap and water.
• You can also use a bleach solution.
• Take less than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water to remove the mold. Remember, never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners as it produces toxic fumes.20
• Make sure that the windows and doors are open while you use bleach.
• Also, wear protective gloves and eye mask.

If you are worried about mold exposure from your workplace and the symptoms associated with it, you should consult an occupational health clinic.

References

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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.

Mold Vs Mildew: Is There A Difference

Mildew is a kind of mold, which means mold and mildew have a lot in common. They are both fungi, are often found inside homes, thrive in moist environments, spread from surface to surface easily, and may cause problems with your health and your home.

So, is there really even a difference between mold and mildew? Yes, there are certain characteristics that differentiate mildew from other molds. Let us take a look at each mold and mildewwhat it looks and smells like, where it grows, and the risks it poses.

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Water Damage Restoration Experts

When you spot Black mold in your home it is important to contact mold removal and remediation professionals. At Supreme Restoration, we are water damage and mold remediation specialists who can identify the extent of mold contamination as well as thoroughly cleaning and removing all traces of mold spores in your home so that you can return to living a healthy, mold-free life again.

We understand that water damage from flooding or leaking roofs can cause mold growth to grow at any time, thats why we offer 24/7 mold remediation services. Contact the team at Supreme Restoration today.

Is Mildew Safe To Breathe

The same potential health issues exist with mildew as they do with mold. Some of these symptoms according to FEMA include respiratory issues like wheezing, nasal and sinus congestion, eye, nose or throat irritation, and headaches. If mildew is not removed, it will continue to grow and these symptoms may become worse.

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How Do You Tell The Difference Between Mildew And Mold

Mold looks slimy or fuzzy, while mildew is powdery. It always appears flat. Mold, on the other hand, often is raised and can be green, red, blue, or black. Plus, it generally looks either slimy or fuzzy. Mildew has a milder, musty smell that some compare to damp socks, but mold smells stronger and more pungent.

What You Need To Know About Mold And Mildew

These fungi can be harmful to your health and damaging to your home.

If your home has mold or mildew, or has that damp musty smell, youll want to understand the affect it can have on the health of your family and the health of your home. Mold and mildew belong to the fungi family and require moisture and organic material to grow. Some molds are useful while others can be extremely toxic. According to Mold Help, the most dangerous mold strains to humans are Chaetomium and Stachybotrys chartarum as they have been proven to produce demylenating mycotoxins among others, meaning they can lead to autoimmune disease. As scary as mold an mildew can be in our homes, they serve an important function in our ecosystem. Fungi helps deteriorate the organic components within dead leaves or trash, which then turns that debris into soil.

Some homeowners find mold or mildew growing after a flood or significant water damage. Other times, a homeowner may notice a faint mildew smell but not understand the source of the fungi. Knowing the most likely sources of fungi growth within the home, and how to get rid of it, is an important part of having a healthy home.

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Can Mold Affect Your Brain

Inflammation: Mold spores act as irritants, which can trigger the body to mount an immune response. This can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the brain can impair cognitive function, and in the case of chronic inflammation, this can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairment.

Mold: How Does It Cause Allergies

Mold is a fungus that grows in places that are moist. During its growth phase, mold is unlikely to cause many allergy symptoms unless youre actively touching or removing it, says Christian Nageotte, MD, staff allergist at Henry Ford Hospital in Novi, Michigan. But on dry and windy days outside, mold goes into the protective part of its life cycle, he says. Thats when mold releases seeds, or spores, that blow in the wind and can be inhaled.

About three dozen types of mold can cause respiratory allergies. Mold allergy symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, mucus buildup, postnasal drip, and an itchy nose and eyes. When mold spores enter the lungs, they could trigger asthma.

If you have experienced allergic symptoms but are unsure of the cause, a skin or blood test done by an allergist can tell you if mold is the culprit.

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