Black Mold Health Effects - Dangers of Black Mold

Black Mold Health Effects

There are many dangers of black mold, so if you believe you have a mold problem in your home you need to have mold testing done right away. Even if you have white mold or black mold or any other mold problem it all need to be dealt with. Homeowners may be concerned about black mold health effects. Black molds are linked to a number of health problems and people should be aware of the damage black mold can cause. Black molds can come in various colors but exposure to any kind poses risks, particularly to immune-
compromised individuals such as infants, young children and the elderly. The Mayo Clinic has performed a study that found that molds have been linked to nearly all causes of chronic sinus infections; the tripled increase rate of asthma conditions since about 1980 are linked to mold.


Allergic Reactions

Black mold health risks include allergies, invasive disease, irritation and mycotoxicosis. Allergic reactions are milder reactions to exposure to mold tending to simply elicit immune responses in individuals exposed to toxic black mold such as coughing, itching and watering eyes, running noses, sneezing and throat irritation. There can be other more severe symptoms with chronic conditions such as asthma and sinusitis.

Invasive Disease

Invasive disease is one of the least common reactions to black mold, but it tends to attack those with abnormally functioning immune systems, i.e. those with HIV or AIDS and patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs like those in chemotherapy or transplant treatments. Invasive disease is caused by an infection from exposure to microorganisms not found in healthy immune systems. Common fungi including Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor and Rhizopus are associated with invasive disease.

Irritation and VOCs

Irritation caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is another reaction to toxic mold exposure. VOCs occur when fungi degrade substances to obtain nutrition and are the cause of the indoor fungal contamination. Irritation to the central nervous system and mucous membranes may occur with high levels of exposure to VOCs and leads to symptoms such as concentration difficulties, decreased attention span, dizziness and headaches.

Detecting and Preventing Mold

There are a few ways to determine if you may have or could develop a mold problem. You can look for certain signs such as: black growth in bathroom tiles, blocked gutters, condensation or rusting, cracked or peeling paint, damp basements or crawl spaces, discoloration of the walls or water stains, flooding, high humidity, increased allergy or respiratory symptoms, leaky roof, loosening of drywall tape, lots of houseplants, mildewy or musty odors, presence of wet materials indoors, poor ventilation, signs of toxic poisoning, use of humidifiers without relative humidity control, visible biological or mold growth, warped wood and water or pipe leaks.


Mold Tests

Of course, there are formal mold tests you can use to determine the presence of mold including the Anderson N-6 bio-aerosol sampler, bulk and surface samples, the Pro-lab mold test kit, the spore trap, swab and tape sampling for building surfaces and wall-checks. Once you know where to look for black mold, you can help prevent its adverse health effects. Toxic black mold exposure can cause serious damage to your health. If you have detected mold in your own home and want to find out if your health is at risk, then the best way is to get a better understanding on some of the Black Mold Symptoms!

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