Black Toxic Mold

Black Toxic mold is very dangerous and a common indoor hazard. It could also be a very difficult hazard to find. Black Toxic mold can cause significant problems to your health and home if left alone. To the home it could greatly reduce the value and cost you a fortune to clean it up. In some cases if the mold is too severe the home could be condemned and declared unlivable. This is the case of some homes that have been flooded. To your body the Toxic Mold could cause many very serious health problems, which will be addressed further on in this article.

What is Black Toxic Mold? It is a type of fungi that develops and grows on surfaces that are damp and humid. Humidity levels and dampness are the most important factor for mold growth. A leak or drip can keep surfaces damp, creating a perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold will grow on walls, wood, clothes, food, carpets, and furniture. Outside it can grow on trees, rocks, bushes, siding, roofs, sidewalks, and porches. Another startling fact is that mold can be fond inside heating and air conditioning systems. When the system comes on the spores are spread though the building through the ductwork. So as you can see, this type of fungi can and will grow on just about anything.  

How can you tell if you have a mold problem? If you have areas that stay moist you could have a potential mold problem. One of the best ways you can tell if you have a problem with mold is to look for yellowish stains on the wall and ceilings. This is due to moisture. If the stain color changes to green, black, or brown this is a sure sign that there is mold. If you sense a musty or mildew odor around moist, damp, and humid areas, this is a sign that you could have mold growing. You should investigate the odor to see if you have a problem. Some people are allergic to mold and mildew. People who are highly sensitive to this kind of fungi can tell of its presence. Most people who are concerned about having a mold problem will constantly be on the look out for potential breeding areas.  

What are some of the affects of Black Toxic Mold on the human body? Studies have shown people who are highly sensitive could suffer from some or all of these symptoms: respiration problems, headaches, coughing, eye irritation and redness. One could develop a rash, hives, become nauseated, and have memory loss. Some people could experience bleeding of the lungs and have problems with their mucous membranes. People could become dizzy and lethargic. Asthma symptoms could flare up in some, and allergic reactions in others. Mold can have an affect on a lot of internal organs within the body as well. The list of symptoms seems to be growing day by day. Every day studies are showing that many illnesses in the human body could be directly linked to some kind of Toxic Mold. 

How do I prevent the mold from spreading? With moisture being a key element in the growth process of mold, one might want to keep the moisture levels down. You can do this by putting a dehumidifier inside your home and running it if these levels are high to bring them down. If you have any water leeks such as: broken pipes, roof leeks, windows that leak, toilets, tubs, sinks, or shower enclosures that leek, you will need to do what you can to repair these problems. If you do not fix these problems the mold will continue to grow because of the dampness. Paint sometimes will help prevent the spreading of mold. Another way to prevent the mold from spreading is to use an air purifier to clean up the air inside your home. Mold releases spores into the air, which travel though your home landing on damp surfaces causing more mold to grow. Air purifiers clean the spores out of the air, thus reducing the chances of the mold spreading to other surfaces. Furnace units and air conditioners will spread the spores though your home through the ductwork. Clean out the ductwork on a regular basis and change your furnace filter once every month. Remember, if your furnace isn’t equipped with a purification system, you will still need to run air purifiers inside your home to purifier the air.

After I stop the mold from spreading, how do I clean it up? Once you have found what caused the mold and repaired the problem, you now can start the cleaning process. Note: if you haven’t solved the problem you are wasting your time trying to clean it up. The mold will just come back. If the surfaces you are cleaning are dry or mostly dry, you should lightly mist them with water before cleaning the mold. If the mold is too dry, then the mold spores will have a much better chance of becoming airborne during the cleaning process. Once the surface is lightly misted, then clean the affected area with soap to remove as much of the mold as possible, and then apply a disinfectant to kill mold spores that are left behind. In some cases of extreme flooding you might need to cut into the wall above the infected areas and replace it with new drywall.