Black Mold: What Is It?
Filed Under: Black Mold Information
If you are experiencing black mold in your home, it would be best for you to call a professional to check out your house and see if it is indeed black mold, and the best route to go about removing the black mold. Known scientifically as Stachybotrys Atra, it is a possibly-deadly type of mold that is found in areas of increased moisture and a lack of ventilation. You may hear it referred to by others as either mildew or as toxic mold. It can look furry or powdery in appearance.
Black mold needs two different conditions in order to survive and multiple. The first is moisture and the second thing is food. Not the type of food you’re thinking of, instead, it is the surface that it is on. As the mold eats into the surface, it releases Volatile Organic Compounds (often shortened as VOCs). Exposure to these VOCs can lead to a large majority of health problems. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms or problems, that you see a medical professional immediately. Some of those problems include:
- Coughing and other respiratory problems,
- Nausea
- Memory loss,
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Lung damage,
- and more…
Moisture is another major factor that causes black mold to grow and continue to grow. Areas that have higher humidity, as well as areas that do not get proper ventilation are possible sites for the growth of black mold. The bathroom is a major area where black mold is common, because of the shower. That is why it is important to make sure that a fan is on the whole time you are in the shower, as well as for up to 20 minutes after the shower. Another area that moisture collects is in the window sill. If you keep your blinds closed for too long of a time, moisture can collect and is a perfect breeding ground for mold.
Depending on how much the mold has multiplied and grown, you may be able to take care of the problem yourself. One household solution to remove black mold is to buy a mildew or mold cleaning spray from your local store. Different products from different companies work best in various situations. Try a few of them before calling a professional if there isn’t a lot of mold. If you suspect that there is a lot of mold, it would be best to call a black mold removal company before they are trained to be able to handle jobs that are larger. By going with a professional, you ensure that the problem is taken care of, as well as keeping yourself and your family safe during the black mold removal process.
Tagged with: black mold clean up, black mold health effects, black mold remediation, black mold symptoms
Black Mold Symptoms
Filed Under: Black Mold Information
Black mold can cause a variety of health problems in human beings as well as pets around your house. Although the mold itself isn’t toxic, the chemicals that are released as a byproduct of the mold growing and expanding on surfaces of your home is what causes the health problems, some of which can become deadly if not identified and rectified in a proper manner.
Moisture is a perfect breeding ground for black mold. If an area of your house is prone to moisture, and precautions aren’t taken to make sure that those areas are well ventilated, and that air is circulating properly, then you increase your chances of black mold being able to grow. The way that they grow is by eating on the surfaces that they are living on. That process releases toxins commonly referred to as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and those VOC’s are harmful to many parts of our body, especially our respiratory system.
If you think you are experiencing any of the following black mold symptoms, then contact a medical professional. If these problems are indeed caused by black mold, then you’ll definitely want to make sure to contact a black mold removal company to get rid of the mold so that no further health damage is done to you or your family.
Here are some of the symptoms of black mold exposure below:
- Coughing and other respiratory system issues,
- Allergic reactions,
- Urinary tract infections,
- Nausea and head aches,
- Loss of memory,
- Dizziness or lack of concentration,
- Varied blood pressure,
- and more…
What are some black mold signs to be on the look out for?
There are a few different things that can tip you off about possible black mold in your house. If you are unsure, then it is worth your time to call a black mold removal specialist and their first step is to come out and identify if a problem actually exists, and the extent of the problem.
- Yellowish stains are a sign of excess moisture on the walls, which is a breeding ground for black mold. Keep a fan going on that area of the wall to reduce the moisture, and be on the look out for darker color changes. A brown, green or black group of spots is the beginning of mold growing.
- Excess moisture is mold waiting to happen. Windows that closed off with blinds or curtains all day, and the bathroom are two hot spots for mold, but anywhere that excess moisture accumulates, is a potential black mold problem waiting to happen.
- If there is a musty odor near these areas with increased moisture, then you are smelling the beginning of a mold problem. Be sure not to continue to breath in the odor, and keep you and your family away from that area of the house.
Tagged with: black mold exposure symptoms, black mold health symptoms, symptoms of black mold, symptoms of black mold poisoning