What Happens If Your Exposed To Black Mold

What Exactly Is Black Mold

Black mold refers to several species of mold that have a dark green or black appearance. One such type is Stachybotrys chartarum. Molds thrive in warm, frequently moist environments, including baths, showers, toilets, kitchens, and basements. They can also grow on wood, dirt, or paper. Black mold is a bit different than most molds because some types are toxigenic. For the mycotoxins, to cause mold poisoning you have to be exposed to a large amount of black mold for an extended period.

How Black Mold Spores Spread

Stachybotrys chartarum spores dont easily disseminate in the air because their clusters are generally covered with a layer of slime. However, when the clusters dry and are disturbed, spores can become aerosolized, as well as latch on to dust particles. Although black mold grows and spreads more slowly than other molds, research indicates that its aerosolized spores are present in as many as 13% of dwellings.

To Find A Mold Remediation Professional

You can find qualified mold remediation professionals near you by following the link. They can find all the hidden mold in your home and remove it safely, without exposing you to further risk. They usually provide free consultations and home inspections, so you have nothing to lose, and even if you do end up deciding to handle the job yourself, you can get valuable information and advice from an experienced professional that will help you with your task.

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What To Do If You Got Exposed To Black Molds

If youve been exposed to black molds, you should go to an open area with fresh air. You should also observe yourself for any symptoms indicating poisoning or allergic reactions.

If you start developing irritations, a doctor is always the best person to consult. The physician can provide medications and treatments to ease your condition.

Once youre feeling well, you should call professional mold remediators to clean your home. This will stop your exposure to high levels of black mold spores. You should also observe proper hygiene and always be proactive when it comes to water damage since it allows molds to grow.

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Other Problems With Mold

The more time the mold goes unaddressed, the longer it has to spread and eat at the affected materials. This will worsen the amount of structural damage it will cause. However, the structural damage that mold can cause to your property is just one concern of mold growth.

In addition to property damage, mold can also cause numerous health problems to anyone exposed to it. The problems, at first, are minor. But the longer youre exposed to mold, the worse these health problems will be.

Mold isnt always visible, though. Sometimes, you may just not know how to identify mold, so you could be exposed to mold and suffering from its symptoms without even knowing it. Its important to know what happens if you are exposed to mold, especially the long-term effects, because then youll know what youre dealing with.

Continue reading to learn more about mold exposure, the long-term effects of mold, and what to do if you have mold growing in your property.

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What Medical Tests Are Available To Determine If I Am Allergic Tomold

There are medical tests to determine if you are allergic to a particularsubstance, such as mold. These can be performed on skin or blood. Skin testsare considered more reliable than blood tests to determine allergic reaction toa substance. Skin tests yield results more quickly, are less expensive thanblood tests and are generally considered more sensitive. If an individual hassymptoms year-round, which may indicate an indoor allergy, skin testing may berecommended.

Blood testing called the RAST test can be done to showif you are allergic to a substance. The RAST test detects levels of antibodiesto particular allergens. The test is expensive to perform and results areusually not available for about two weeks.

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.

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Identifying Mold In Your Home

• Appearance or dark spots or clusters. Look for spots or clustered growths, especially in warm, moist rooms.
• Musty smell. You may be able to identify mold by a musty smell.
• Allergies or asthma. If you experience asthma attacks or allergy symptoms in your home, that may also indicate theres mold.
• Potential causes. Look for causes of mold growth, like a leak, water damage, lack of ventilation, or old food, papers, or wood.

How Can You Be Exposed To Black Mold

You can be exposed to black mold, or any species of mold, by breathing in microscopic mold particles in the air, or through consumption of food that contains it.

Stachybotrys is unique because its spores are sticky and easily adhere to a surface when the mold colony dries. They are not regularly found in the air unless the mold colony has been disturbed. Though its spores are not readily airborne, black mold can produce other harmful contaminants more easily found in the air .

A disruption to a black mold colony can be as simple as slamming a door, opening a window or knocking into contaminated furniture. More force is required for Stachybotrys spores to become airborne, as compared to other commonly found indoor molds .

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What To Do If You Suspect You Have Mold In Your Home

You must remember removing mold on your own can be dangerous, especially if you are allergic to it. Most household solutions are not very effective so the root of the problem of the mold may still be there. To properly identify and remove black mold the best solution is to call a professional. If you have asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system please do not try to get rid of mold on your own.

Mold spores are in the air all around us, and we breathe them in almost every day. Most of the time, these spores dont cause any health issues, but sometimes they can lead to infections or allergic reactions.

Avoid the risk. We guarantee that our team of professionals will get the job done efficiently and in a timely manner.

Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointmentWere available 24/7 for questions, estimates, and emergency services. Call us day or night to speak to a technician.

Treatment For Mold Exposure

The most important treatment for indoor mold exposure is to fix and remove the source of the mold. Limiting your exposure to mold is the most effective way to eliminate symptoms. If you remove the mold yourself, you need to take appropriate precautions to prevent exposure. You can also contact a mold remediation company to remove it for you.

Nasal sprays

These sprays, which contain corticosteroids or decongestants, are generally well tolerated and effective. They work by reducing the inflammation caused by allergies. Some can be bought over-the-counter, and some are only available by prescription.

Allergy medications

Over-the-counter allergy medications such as cetirizine or loratadine are often used to treat allergies. These are antihistamines that work by blocking histamine, a chemical released by your immune system in response to allergens.

Montelukast is a prescription allergy medication that works by blocking another chemical released by your immune system, leukotrienes.

Sinus rinses

Rinsing your sinuses with saline water can help flush away allergens and mucus from your sinus cavities. This will help keep your nose free of irritating substances that can cause bothersome symptoms. These kits are widely available over the counter.

Allergy shots

Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, expose you to a small amount of an allergen to build up your immunity over time. These can be effective for certain types of mold allergy.

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What Can Breathing In Mold Do To You

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Mold can grow just about anywhere. It sounds like a nightmare to deal with and in a way it sort of is. If you are a homeowner, finding out that you have mold can be the last piece of news you want to hear. While it isnt as bad as say, termites, mold can still be destructive. What sets it apart, however, is the harm it can do to your health. Breathing in mold can have serious negative health consequences both short and long term.

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Preventing Mold In Your Home

The best way to keep your family safe from black mold is to prevent it from growing. Since mold grows in damp, dark places, you should aim to improve ventilation and reduce humidity in areas that are prone to mold.

In your bathrooms, for example, you can use a shower squeegee to remove excess water from shower walls and bathroom mirrors. You can also install a vent fan or open a window when showering to allow humidity to leave the room. These steps help reduce the moisture in your bathroom and make it more difficult for black mold to grow.

Make searching for black mold or potential growth areas a part of your spring cleaning routine. The sooner you catch a mold growth, the better chance you have to get rid of it before it causes health problems.

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Black Mold Exposure Can Damage Your Circulatory System

Black mold spores can be inhaled, consumed, or absorbed through a persons skin or eyes. When mycotoxins find their way into the bloodstream, mycotoxins have the potential to cause serious damage.

Symptoms of circulatory system damage from black mold include:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Bleeding in the brain

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Treating Black Mold Poisoning

If you suspect youre suffering from symptoms associated with black mold exposure or poisoning, there are some things you can do to improve your health.

In conclusion, the best way to avoid the negative effects of black mold poisoning is to minimize your exposure to black mold.

You can do this by preventing its growth in the first place. If its too late to prevent it and you suspect theres black mold already in your home, dont wait to book black mold removal, completed quickly and efficiently by the industry experts.

Black mold, typically green or black, in your home can be extremely hazardous to your health. Learn about black mold poisoning and start preventing black mold growth today.

What Happens If You Breathe In Mold & What To Do

Do you suspect mold is growing in your home or on your belongings?

Worried you might be breathing in mold & it might be dangerous to your health?

In this guide, you will learn:

• The health effects of mold exposure & How much Mold Exposure is Harmful,
• The Signs and Symptoms of what breathing in mold can do,
• How to treat mold spores growing in your lungs.

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Rare Health Effects Of Black Mold

In numerous human studies of stachybotrys mycotoxins, researchers have observed rare and bizarre health effects. Many of these health effects cannot be conclusively linked to black mold exposure, as multiple mold strains and unique environmental conditions precipitated sickness. Regardless of causation, researchers observed associations between black mold exposure and the following conditions:

• Severe vomiting and diarrhea
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Low levels of T-lymphocyte cells

The vast majority of black mold exposure does not cause serious health effects. In fact, its possible to live with black mold without ever being aware of its presence. However, as indoor mold is increasingly common, its important to be aware of its potential hazards to health.

Where Does Black Mold Come From

Black Mold can originate from many different sources. It thrives in damp areas with a lot of cellulose, such as cardboard or paper items. Black mold is also present in some foods that are high in cellulose and low acidity .

However, mold can grow in any warm, wet areas of the house such as basements, showers, crawlspaces, and especially on windows. It can form as the result of your ventilation not working properly or if you have leaky pipes.

If you suspect you have leaky pipes in your house, you should check your basement thoroughly for mold. You should also check showers, corners, and crawlspaces if you think your ventilation is not working properly.

If left unchecked it will cause serious damage to your home.

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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

How To Prevent Mold

Controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold from growing in your home. The following tips will help stop mold from becoming a problem:

• Keep the humidity in your house below 50%. Using an air conditioner or dehumidifier can help with this.
• Make sure your house is clean, dry, and well-ventilated.
• Fix any water leaks immediately.
• Use ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.
• Don’t put carpet in rooms that are likely to become wet such as the basement, kitchen, or bathrooms.
• Make sure wet floor mats are dried quickly.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure

Black mold, also known as toxic black mold or Stachubotrys, can cause many serious heath problems if found inside a home. There are numerous negative health effects from mold exposure, such as mental impairment, breathing problems, internal organ damage, and in some cases, even death. The symptoms of black mold exposure can be separated into different groups depending upon the area affected by mold presence.

Where Can Black Mold Be Found In Homes

Black mold thrives in warm and damp environments, such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. To prevent black mold growth problems in your home, make sure there are no leaks that can lead to water damage. Use fans and dehumidifiers to keep the humidity in your home between 40% and 50%. Learn more about mold prevention tips here.

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When To Seek Medical Help If You Breathed In Mold

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, especially if they persist and dont respond to typical medications, it is best to visit your doctor.

Although mold exposure and the symptoms of mold exposure are not typically emergencies, they can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

There are some cases where symptoms warrant an emergency.

If you experience the following, immediately go to the nearest emergency room:

• Significant difficulty breathing

Black Mold Removal And Cleaning

Mold remediation in stores, offices, or schools is best left to professionals. 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.

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