Last Updated on October 8, 2014
Mold hidden at your home, workplace or even school can lead to serious health issues. There are various types of molds that are located in both the interiors and exteriors of your home. Molds thrive in damp areas that are poorly lit. In the interiors, it is often found in areas such as your attics, bathrooms, as well as basements. Some of the most common types of molds are the likes of aspergillus, cladospirium, chaetonium stachybotrys as well as penicillium. This article focuses on giving you credible information about stachybotrys, another name for black mold. Read on!
What is black mold?
This type of mold is one of the most dangerous types of moulds, which can grow practically on almost all areas of your house, and is detrimental to human beings. It is also considered toxic as it usually produces toxins known as mycotoxins.
How do you identify black mold?
This infamous mould appears as dark greenish in color. For this type of mold to survive, it requires lots of moisture. Usually it appears slimy due to a water layer found on its top. Nonetheless, when not in a moisturized environment it looks powdery and extremely dry. Due to its high levels of moisture requirements, black mold dampens downwards and does not easily contaminate surrounding air.
Can you smell black mold?
The answer is definitely yes. The black mold emits a distinctive smell, which tends to favor mildew as well as extremely musty smell. Certain times when it has invaded HVACs ducts, you can only trace the smell when the unit pushes air into the vent systems of your home.
What are the symptoms of black molds?
As mentioned earlier ,the infamous black mold produces mycotoxins that if inhaled or eaten can lead to a combination of various symptoms in accordance to the level or time period of exposure. These symptoms are more severe in babies and elderly persons with severe upper respiratory illness. These symptoms include respiratory distress combined with breathing difficulties, unrestrained coughing, sneezing, and the person affected may cough up blood, irritation in the mucous membranes, kidney and bladder discomforts, impaired concentration, memory loss, tiredness, fatigue , migraines, suppression of the immune system, nausea, diarrhea, red and extremely itchy eyes nose and mouth, and lastly, vomiting.
Unrestrained growth of black mold can lead to unwanted fatalities. Due to its detrimental effects, it is usually in the best interest of both you and your family members to get rid of this type of mould once detected. However, you should never attempt to eliminate this type of mould on your own as it may release more spores and mycotoxins and make your signs and symptoms even more severe. Rather, you should contact a mould removal service that is professional to do the job for you as you stay in another area temporarily until the job is completed.
What causes the infamous black toxic mold and where does it often grow?
Warm conditions are best suited for the black mold and it is found in all corners of the world. In the outdoor areas, it mostly grows in soil as well as on plant debris. While in the interiors , its preys on materials that are extremely rich in cellulose and have a low nitrogen content, therefore making most building materials a perfect hotspot for it. It needs lot of moisture as well as time for it to begin growing. Hence, it will often grow in leaky areas such as inside your walls, under floor and leaky areas above your ceilings. It takes at least eight to around twelve days to mature finally and chases away other moulds to make your home its breeding territory.
How is toxic black mold tested?
Once you have traced any clues of mould invasion in your home, have it professionally tested just to be certain. Most importantly, you ought to find out whether it is toxic black mold or just the harmless mold species. One sure, you can now plan on how best to launch your toxic black mold war.
How is inspection for toxic black mold done?
Once you have determined that toxic black mold has indeed colonized your home, have a thorough inspection done. The inspection will not only uncover the toxic black mold colony but will also shed light on the water problems in your home that led to the rise of this colony. An expert mold inspector will use professional tools including fiber optics together with moisture meters to locate these rogues with minimal disturbances.
How do you treat black mold?
Thankfully, there are several solutions to treating mold related problems. These solutions are simple household products that you might already have in your house. You can treat mold using bleach, baking powder, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide as well as borax using a few cleaning procedures. Read online for more information on recipes, cautions, modes of application and surfaces to clean when using these solutions. Other natural solutions to molds include tea tree treasure and grapefruit seed extract.