What Harm Can Black Mold Cause

What Are The Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure

Black mold, also known as toxic black mold or Stachybotrys, can cause many serious health 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.

Areas With Hidden Water Damage Caused By Floods

Flooding is one of the most common causes of water damage in homes. If water leaks into your home or property, it can cause extensive damage to your walls, floors, and furniture.

Flooded areas often have hidden water damage that might go undetected until it starts affecting other areas of the home.

Here are some areas where hidden water damage caused by floods may be hiding. With this, youll know what areas of your home to check should floods occur.

• At the back of the drywall
• Beneath the carpet and carpet padding
• Between house wrap, house sheathing, and siding
• Wall floor plates

Mold growth in these areas of your home can contaminate the air and lead to various respiratory problems. Inspect these areas well and ensure they dry completely to prevent mold growth.

Mold Prevention And Restoration

Most importantly, further contact with mold should be eliminated. Repeated exposure will keep you from recovering and could reverse the progress made through medication.

All mold MUST be removed from the home to relieve symptoms and prevent more serious illness. The most reliable way for removing mold from a home or commercial building is to hire a mold remediation professional. Certified mold mitigation technicians offer reliable inspection consultations. Restoring hygiene is critical. True mold inspection professionals should be knowledgeable and helpful in recommending ways to do so.

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Summary Of Health Problems

Many types of indoor mold, not just black mold, may cause health problems in some individuals.

Long-term exposure to high levels of mold in the home, however,

People who are most at risk of the symptoms of mold exposure are:

• infants and children
• people with allergies or asthma
• people with weakened immune systems

The main health risks related to mold exposure are allergies and irritation, which typically cause respiratory symptoms.

People with weakened immune systems may also have a risk of fungal infection.

Open Up The Windows And Doors If Its Not Humid Outside

If its less humid outside than inside, open the windows and doors during the day. This way, air can circulate freely through the home, help dry out wet areas faster and reduce humidity levels in your home.

However, you will need to check the humidity levels indoors¹ and outdoors first. Keep the windows and doors closed if its hot and humid outside. Use air conditioning units if available.

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Where Is Mold Found In A Home

A research study found that Stachybotrys preferred a very high relative humidity within wallsapproximately 97%which indicates that relative humidity could be an important risk factor . For black mold, you may consider smaller microclimates that may harbor such humidity levels: sweating pipes, under sink cabinets, front loading washing machines, standing water, roof leaks, damp cars, windows with condensation, etc. Generally, common places to check for mold growth include the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.

However, humidity alone is not the only requirement for mold growthmold requires nutrients to grow. Any environment that has nutrients like cellulose or other organic matter can harbor mold if the humidity level is right. To further enable mold growth, an environment that has poor air flow and minimal disruption is ideal. For example, you can find mold on wallpaper, furniture, drywall, overly-packed bookshelves or overstuffed closets.

What Harm Can Black Mold Cause

The most common black mold symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning.

How do you know if mold is making you sick?

Symptoms of mold exposure may include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and fatigue. In those with asthma, asthma attacks can occur. In those with impaired immune systems, serious infection can occur.

Can I stay in my house with black mold?

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.

How long does it take for black mold to make you sick?

Some persons have shortness of breath, cough, muscle aches, chills, fever, night sweats, and profound fatigue. These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss.

Can black mold in your house hurt you?

The short answer for most healthy people is no, black mold wont kill you and is unlikely to make you sick. However, black mold can make the following groups sick: very young people. very old people.

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What Causes Mold Development After Flooding

Have you ever asked yourself why mold grows after floods?

• Water: Mold can grow on any surface that has been wet for a long time. That includes drywall, carpeting, furniture, and other items made of wood or paper products. The longer these items stay wet, the greater the chance they will become infested with mold spores.
• Food: The most obvious reason mold develops after floods is the presence of food. When your home floods, its likely that there will be some types of food that get ruined. The longer these foods sit in the water, the more likely mold will grow.
• Temperature: Mold grows best at room temperature and does not like sunlight. The warmer your home is, the faster mold will grow. It will grow best at temperatures above 80°F.
• Time: Mold can begin to grow within 24 hours of a flood, but it takes several days for mold to become visible on walls and flooring.

How Black Mold Effects Cats And Dogs

Black mold may cause similar symptoms in dogs and cats as it does us. Some pets will be more affected than others, just like it is in humans. Symptoms generally fall under three categories and include respiratory distress, an allergic reaction, and toxic reactions. Some pets will be more affected than others, just like it is with humans.

Respiratory distress symptoms could include:

• Constant sneezing or coughing

• Neurological problems which could include odd behavior or loss of function

Black mold exposure could be life-threatening to our cats and dogs, if not addressed quickly. One case study from 2007 describes a pair of cats that died of a pulmonary hemorrhage following exposure to black mold in their home. While this is unlikely to be a normal situation for most pet owners, it does reiterate the need to be aware of potential exposure to pets and correct underlying issues as quickly as possible.

If your four-legged family member is showing signs of illness, take them to your family vet or find a veterinarian near you. If the Veterinarian diagnoses your pet with black mold poisoning or exposure, the first thing to do is correct or remove underlying mold problems in your home and treat your pet. Exposure to other family members is likely happening as well, so addressing any potential concerns within the home should be made a top priority.

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The Allergenic Impact Of Toxic Mold

As alluded to above, many people experience an allergic reaction to virtually all kinds of toxic mold. According to the CDC, people who are sensitive to mold can experience all of the following symptoms:

• Chronic rhinitis
• Throat irritation
• Skin irritation

While these issues dont sound particularly risky, sustained allergic reactions can gradually result in the development of more hazardous conditions. Over time, the irritation associated with rhinitis and frequent coughing harms the sufferers delicate mucus membranes. This can lead to recurrent infections of the lungs, sinuses, and ears. Chronic allergic reactions have also been linked to a higher incidence of migraine headaches.

How Bad Is Black Mold Really

You don’t want mold in your home. Black, green, orange, yellow no matter the color, it’s all undesirable. Yet you don’t necessarily have to panic if you see it growing on your walls or windowsills. Because while mold can negatively affect your health, and sometimes dramatically, you may suffer no ill effects at all from mold exposure.

Mold is a type of fungus, and it’s everywhere indoors, outdoors and even in the air. That’s not too surprising when you consider there are more than 100,000 types of mold in existence, and possibly even millions. Mold gets into homes and buildings through open windows, doors, vents and ductwork. It can also attach itself to your clothes or pets when you’re outside, so you inadvertently bring it indoors with you.

Once indoors, mold grows wherever there’s a lot of a lot of moisture. That’s why you’ll often see mold around leaky windows or pipes, or on drywall after flooding. It also grows easily on paper and on fabric, carpet, upholstery, insulation and even in dust.

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Air Purifiers For Black Mold

Without moisture and food, black mold will be unable to colonize in your home. However, that doesnt mean it goes away completely mold spores will still waft through the air and lay on surfaces, waiting for the opportunity to grow again. One of the best ways to prevent black mold growth is by running an Air Oasis air purifier.

Air Oasis air purifiers can greatly reduce, if not eliminate, indoor mold. Multiple scientific studies illustrate the effectiveness of Air Oasis purifiers against both airborne fungus and visible mold colonies. Air Oasis purifiers achieved this through a combination of powerful purification technologies, including overlapping filtration techniques and ionization.

If youre concerned about the health effects of black mold, you need the best air purifier on the market. Air Oasis has got you covered. Questions? Contact us online or give us a call at .

How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure

If you are aware of mold growth in your home and you feel sick, inform your doctor about the mold and your symptoms right away. But sometimes you cant see mold, and it is not clear whether its mold exposure thats made you sick or not.

Because mold allergy or mold exposure symptoms can resemble that of other allergies, the doctor will typically start by asking about your medical and family medical history. Additionally, doctors usually run tests for mold exposure which may include one or more of the following:

• Skin test for reactions to allergens, including mold
• IgG mold antibodies test to see the immune systems reaction to molds. A positive test means that an individual was or is currently exposed to mold
• Urine mycotoxins test
• A fungal culture of the nasal sinuses

The type of testing youll receive depends on the doctor you visit, so be sure to ask questions ahead of time so you can feel confident in your diagnosis.

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How Do I Get Rid Of It

Getting rid of any kind of mold can be tricky. Usually, any kind of mold whether it is toxic black mold or your regular everyday mold, youre going to want it gone.

While mold removal should be left to the experts, there are some things you can do at home to help prevent future mold growth.

• Wear protective gear .
• Seal off the contaminated area with mold using plastic sheets as to not let the mold spores spread.
• Clean the air by opening doors and windows or by using an air purifier or dehumidifier.
• Remove all visible mold from surfaces using either mold removal cleaner or bleach/water combo . Natural remedies can also include tea tree oil, baking soda, vinegar, and grapefruit seed extract.
• Remove materials that have or had mold .
• Remove items that have not been affected by mold to clear space preventing any contamination.
• After cleaning, remove any used cleaning supplies and place them into closed garbage bags. Change clothes and wash hands thoroughly.
• Keep damp areas clean and dry .
• If remodeling, use mold inhibitors in the paint to prevent mold growth on walls/ceilings and be sure to allow everything to fully dry.
• Dont use carpet in areas with high moisture .
• Maintain less than 50% humidity level throughout the day to prevent mold growth.
• Keep rooms with moisture well ventilated.
• Use air purifiers and dehumidifiers.
• Close windows at night

Now, onto the burning question…

How To Remove Black Mold Yourself

Did you know that its often possible to remove black mold yourself? Its true! Professional mold remediation can cost thousands of dollars and is often excluded from many homeowners insurance policies. But in many instances hiring a mold removal professional isnt necessary and black mold can be removed by a handy homeowner in less than one weekend of work.

If you feel like you may be a homeowner who is up to the challenge, weve written an eBook that gives step-by-step instructions on how to tackle your mold problem. For less than $20, we guarantee that youll save hundreds, if not thousands, of your hard-earned dollars.

You can purchase our eBook here:

• eBook: Step-by-step DIY Mold Removal eBook

And if youre not comfortable tackling the problem yourself, were happy to provide you a quote if youre in our service area. Just contact us for a completely free quote.

Bottom Line: No mold belongs in a healthy home. Be it black mold, or any other color of mold. It should all be treated the same. If you have mold, remove it.

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Health Effects Of Black Mold

Are you worried about black mold? Despite fearing black mold, many people dont actually understand its implications for human health. If youre one of those people, it may be time to educate yourself on the topic. Research suggests that as the climate changes, black mold could become more prevalent in homes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency , regions of the U.S. will experience heavier rains, hotter weather and more frequent and intense natural disasters in the coming years. These weather events will likely accelerate wear and tear on homes and cause water damage that leads to mold growth, including black mold growth.

Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to reduce mold and avoid sickness. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to run a high-quality air purifier for mold. Keep reading to learn about the health effects of black mold and how to prevent mold sickness.

Need a powerful air purifier for mold? Air Oasis purifiers drastically reduce airborne contaminants, including mold, allergens, VOCs, smoke, viruses, bacteria and more. Visit our online store today and start breathing easier.

What Kills Black Mold Instantly

White vinegar is a mildly acidic product that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects. It can also kill 82% of mold species, including black mold, on porous and non-porous surfaces. You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle.

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Symptoms Of Mold Exposure

Symptoms of mold exposure can include:

• Nasal and sinus congestion, runny nose
• Respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing, chest tightness
• Sneezing / Sneezing fits

Health effects linking to asthma

Adverse respiratory health effects are associated with occupancy in buildings with moisture and mold damage. Infants may develop respiratory symptoms due to exposure to a specific type of fungal mold, called Penicillium. Signs that an infant may have mold-related respiratory problems include a persistent cough and wheeze. Increased exposure increases the probability of developing respiratory symptoms during their first year of life. Studies have shown that a correlation exists between the probability of developing asthma and increased exposure to Penicillium. The levels are deemed âno moldâ to âlow levelâ, from âlowâ to âintermediateâ, and âintermediateâ to âhighâ.

Mold exposures have a variety of health effects depending on the person. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. Exposure to mold can cause several health issues such as throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, cough, and wheezing, as well as skin irritation in some cases. Exposure to mold may also cause heightened sensitivity depending on the time and nature of exposure. People at higher risk for mold allergies are people with chronic lung illnesses and weak immune systems, which can often result in more severe reactions when exposed to mold.

How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed

There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold.

But your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:

• Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
• Skin prick test. Your doctor takes a small amount of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.

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