What Is Green Mold And Is It Dangerous
Mold comes in many textures and colors, but they all have a few things in common they grow in moist areas, they feed on organic matter, and can pose a threat to your health. Green mold, in this sense, is no different. So, have you recently wondered what it is and if its dangerous? Heres what you should know about green mold that grows in homes.
What Causes Nasal Congestion
Household Molds That Can Lurk Inside Your Home
Mold is unfortunately, pretty much unavoidable in your home as most homes harbor some species of mold in its confines. Out of the 1,000s of mold species, there are some species that are more prone to growth indoors than others, and some that particularly grow inside homes.
There are six main species of mold that are commonly found inside homes, and each contain their own characteristics and potential health hazards.
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Dangers Of Mold In Homes
The greatest danger of mold in your home is the risk to your health. The most common health problems caused by mold exposure include respiratory symptoms like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and sinus infections. Headaches, sore throats, difficulty breathing, and asthma attacks may occur. Itchy skin rashes and hives are also common. Less common but possible effects of exposure to mold in homes include serious respiratory infections like pneumonia, bleeding in the lungs , digestive problems, depression, extreme fatigue, and painful inflammation of the joints.
Mold also damages your home. It breaks down materials like wood and in some very severe cases, buildings have collapsed due to extensive mold damage. While its unlikely your home will collapse around you, it is possible for part of your ceiling to cave in or for structural damage to occur that can cause serious injury. In addition, the repair can be extremely costly. Addressing a mold issue before it advances to this extent can save you a lot of money in the long run.
What Are Symptoms And Signs Of Mold Exposure
Molds produce irritating substances that may act as allergy-causing substances in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, some molds produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins, but mold itself is not poisonous or toxic. The term “toxic mold,” therefore, refers to the fact that certain kinds of mold can produce mycotoxins. The conditions under which some molds produce toxins are not understood, and the presence of mold, even a mold that is capable of producing toxins, does not always imply that toxins are being produced or that a health risk or problem is present. Mold may not cause any health problems, or it may lead to allergy or other symptoms in people, including adults and children, who are sensitive to molds.
Allergic reactions to mold are the most common health effects of mold and are therefore the greatest health risk related to mold. Allergic reactions may happen immediately or develop after a period following exposure. Both growing mold and mold spores may lead to allergic reactions. Symptoms and signs of mold allergy may include
Mold or mold spores may cause asthma attacks in people who have asthma and are allergic to mold. Even in some non-allergic individuals, mold can cause symptoms of irritation in the eyes, skin, and airways. For example, the “black mold”Stachybotrys, along with some other types of mold, produces toxins known as mycotoxins that can cause irritation of the skin and airways in susceptible individuals.
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Causes Of Damp And Mould
Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames.
A newly built home may be damp if the water used when building it is still drying out; for example, in the plaster on the walls. Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation.
If you have mould or damp it’s important to find out why you have excess moisture in your home. When you know what’s causing the damp, you can make sure your home is repaired or take steps to limit the moisture in the air. You may need to get a professional to remove mould for you, but if it’s only a small amount you may be able to remove it yourself.
Page last reviewed: 8 August 2018 Next review due: 8 August 2021
White Mold On Cabinets
Are your cabinets safe from white mold? In addition to white mold causing health issues, your cabinets are also prone to destruction. White mold is sometimes hidden in the cabinet under your sink until it has caused a severe problem. But how would you know if white mold is on your cabinets?
You may see discolorations in the damp areas of your cabinets, which may also give off a stale, moldy smell. One of the causes is a leaking pipe that may trigger moisture beneath the sink. The cabinet can also become moldy through poor cleaning and when old foods are left out.
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Mold In The Workplace
Some workplaces, such as poorly ventilated factories, greenhouses, and vineyards, may house large amounts of mold.
Any workplace that contains lots of old paper products, such as used book stores, may be a source of mold. Paper contains cellulose, an organic food source that certain mold species thrive upon. Old books thatve been housed in humid conditions may be filled with millions of mold spores.
Farms and stables may also harbor large amounts of moldy hay. Mold toxins often develop in hay after a delayed harvest. Hay that contains mold is dangerous for humans to breathe in and for horses to eat.
How To Remove It Yourself
Mold can root itself on various furniture or objects in your home. Regardless of whether you see the mold on your mattress, ceiling, or wall, the one burning question remainshow can you remove it?
The easy answer is to call in a professional to have it safely and expertly removed. You can also ask an expert to inspect your house if you have an inkling suspicion of it co-existing with you.
If you want to save money and do it yourself, here is a simple guide you can follow:
Step #1. Locate the source and cause of the mold.
Step #2. Create a mold-fighting solution in a spray bottle. Grapefruit and Tea tree oil are amongst the most effective disinfecting agents around that are non-toxic. You may also use a bleach solution.
Step #3. Put on protective gear like safety goggles, a face mask, and gloves.
Step #4. Apply the cleaning solution.
Step #5. Scrub the mold area. Make sure that there are no spots or stains left.
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White Mold On Plants And Plant Soil
White mold that grows on plants or vegetation is referred to as Sclerotinia. Because mold spores can become airborne easily, it is important to control the problem right away.
There are several signs of mold growing on plants. Water-stained spots will appear at the root even though the remaining part of the plant will look healthy. The plant may be wilting and discolored at the root. Or, there may be brown lesions on the plant and, from these lesions, a dense white cottony patch will form.
White mold can also appear on and spread through plant soil. Overwatering a plant, poor drainage, and old soil can promote mold growth. The best mold prevention for plants is not to overwater them, to remove weeds that carry diseases, to use fresh soil, and if possible to remove all crop residue after harvesting. Mold spores survive winter conditions so it is best to deal with the problem as soon as you see it.
Addressing Mold Toxicity In The Body
If you find elevated mold toxins in the body, you will want to take measures to improve detoxification systems. In addition to this, you will want to ensure the source of mold is remediated properly. Using an air purification system like;The EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Air System;is the last step in a comprehensive mold mitigation protocol.
When it comes to getting mold toxins out of the body, the following is my go-to stack:
ThyroLiver Protect: A combination of selenium, milk thistle extract, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine. This combination assists liver detoxification while supporting the production of glutathione.; Taking 12 caps, 2 times daily helps your liver neutralize and process the mold spores.
Super Glutathione: For tough cases, extra glutathione can be necessary. This is an acetylated form that is able to be absorbed by the digestive tract.; I recommend 12 caps 2 times daily.; This is especially important if you are suffering with a lot of symptoms from mold exposure.
Coconut Charcoal: When detoxification systems are upregulated, many toxins are released into the digestive tract. If they are not bound by something like charcoal, they are given the opportunity to reabsorb and cause more problems. Using 12 caps of charcoal between meals and immediately before bed is a great strategy.
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How To Remove White Mold
While some types of mold and mildew are easy to remove with household products like vinegar, white mold is much more difficult to remove on your own. It may have penetrated deep below the surface of the contaminated material or it may be growing in places you arent even aware of.
Furthermore, do-it-yourself mold removal always puts you at risk of spreading the contamination and exposing yourself to toxic mold, which can lead to serious health effects. Furthermore, most people do not possess the equipment or know-how to remove toxic mold safely and effectively.
Whatever you do, dont let mold grow in your house for a long time. Contact a certified mold removal expert to explore all remediation strategies and help you pick the one thats best for you.
Due to its changing appearance and tendency to grow in areas of high moisture , white mold is not the easiest to recognize unless you are a trained and experienced mold professional. Furthermore, properly identifying white mold is only part of the problem. The other part includes finding the moisture problem thats causing the mold growth and cleaning up the contamination effectively. For this, it is always better to rely on a reputable mold remediation company.
How To Control Mold Growth
While it is impossible to completely get rid of mold spores in the air, you can prevent mold growth by controlling moisture levels in your home. Taking the following basic measures can help you keep your home mold-free:
- Keep your indoor humidity level below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, and open windows to let fresh air in if it isnt too humid outdoors.
- Dont let water build up anywhere and be sure to ventilate damp rooms.
- Be sure to transfer wet clothes in the washing machine to the dryer immediately.
- Fix any leaks or seepage in the house as soon as you notice them.
- Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners in crawl spaces, basements and other areas of the house where mold tends to grow.
Mold can be a health and safety issue if it becomes a problem in your home, so avoid the issue by taking steps to prevent its growth. Youll thank yourself later!
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Eye Nose Throat And Skin Inflammation
A questionnaire study was performed with 36,541 randomized parents. It found that moldy homes were associated with inflammation in the eyes, nose, throat, and skin .
A study was done measuring reported symptoms and indoor air quality by teachers in New York State .
Reported mold or mold odors were associated with a 70% increase in reporting one of the following symptoms :
- Sinus problems
Cleaning Up Mold In Homes
Cleaning up mold in the home is not as simple as you might think, for several reasons.;
First, many types of mold spread very rapidly, and if you see mold in one area of the home, there is a good chance there is mold in other areas where its not readily visible. For instance, mold often grows inside walls and in heating and ventilation ducts. If you discover mold in places like that, its hard to remove it.;
Second, the very process of cleaning up mold disturbs the mold spores and sends them floating about in the air, which can cause mold to spread and can also exacerbate any mold-related health problems you might have.
Third, because many types of mold grow and spread very easily and rapidly, an incomplete cleanup can lead to another mold problem in the future, sometimes an even more serious mold problem. Its definitely best to get the job done right the first time.
To find experienced mold removal professionals in your area, follow this link. These professionals will visit your home for a free consultation and can offer valuable information and advice, even if you end up deciding to handle the job yourself.
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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.
For Expert Mold Removal Contact The Puroclean Remediation Pros
If removing this kind of fungus seems daunting to you, its because it is. Mold can not only affect your health, but you can also risk doing a poor job, resulting in a more massive mold infestation. The best way to get rid of mold is to contact professionals such as PuroClean. We have the experience, techniques, and equipment necessary to remediate the mold, dry your property, and return it to normal.
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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.
How Can Mold Affect My Health
Many molds can cause health effects. Molds produce allergens, irritants and,sometimes, toxins that may cause adverse reactions in humans. A reaction tomold depends on how much a person is exposed to, the age of the person and thepersons sensitivities or allergies. The same amount of mold may causehealth effects in one person, but not in another.
Exposure to mold can cause a variety of symptoms. Sensitive people who havetouched or inhaled mold or mold spores may have allergic reactions such as arunny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, skin rash and itching. Molds can trigger asthma attacks in people who are allergic tomolds, causing wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. A diseaselike pneumonia may also develop after exposure to mold, but this is uncommon.
Infectious diseases from molds can occur in people with weakened immunesystems, such as those who are immune-compromised or immune-suppressed fromdrug treatment. Some types of mold are known to cause infections inimmune-compromised people. Such infections can affect the skin, eyes, lungs orother organs. These are considered opportunistic infections that usually do notaffect healthy people.
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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.
