What Health Problems Are Caused By Mold In Your House?

Did you know that your health problem may be caused by mold? Mold is commonly found in homes and can cause a number of health problems that you may not be aware of. How can you tell if mold is the cause?

Have you ever noticed that your nose suddenly gets congested when you walk into certain rooms in the house? This is a sign that you might have mold lurking somewhere and it’s getting into your respiratory system.

Mold grows where it is wet, and it produces spores that can get into the air. Most health problems caused by mold involve these spores getting into your lungs.

Stuffiness or a runny nose may be the sign of mold allergy. Another health problem caused by mold is shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. You may experience asthma-like symptoms even though you do not suffer from asthma.

In some cases, exposure to mold gives people headaches, fevers or skin rash.

Prevention of mold-related health problems

Mold also grows on rotten food. You may see mold growing on vegetables that have been around for a while. Cheese may also have mold growing on it. And, we’ve all seen moldy bread before.

If you have moldy food, you should throw it out, of course. If you accidentally eat mold, you are likely to experience a headache or nausea.

For the most part, mold is non-toxic. There are no major long-term health problems caused by mold. However, if you suffer from asthma or chronic sinus problems, mold will be a particular problem for you.

If you have asthma, you will want to avoid mold as much as possible. Mold will aggravate your asthma and bring on attacks. The constant exposure of children with asthma to mold has been shown to have long-term consequences, leading to trouble breathing when they are adults.

If you suffer from sinus trouble, mold will aggravate your sinuses. The symptoms of mold allergy are similar to sinus infections, so it is difficult to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

Even though mold is not terribly dangerous, health problems caused by mold can be inconvenient and painful. It is recommended that you try to keep you home as mold-free as possible.

Every house has mold. If you have mold allergy symptoms, it may be a sign that there is mold hidden somewhere in your house.

The most common household mold is black and grows around your shower or in your kitchen. When you see this kind of mold, you should clean it immediately. Simple soap and water will usually do the trick, but detergent helps as well.

If you suffer from health problems caused by mold, but don’t see the mold, it may be a good idea to get professional help. There may be a build-up of mold under carpets, inside walls, in crawlspaces, and other hard-to-reach places that might be better handled by an expert.

Health problems caused by mold are common, but reducing the amount of mold in your home can help alleviate the symptoms.

What Is Allium Aspergillus Black Mold On Onions?

Have you ever seen the wet, black stuff that grows on onions sometimes? You know that it’s something bad, and that you should toss the onions as soon as possible, but do you know what it is?

This stuff is a type of black mold that grows on onions, called “allium aspergillus” or “aspergillus niger.”

It usually starts in areas where the onion is bruised or injured, and can grow on any part of the onion, like the bulb or the stem. Allium aspergillus is a major problem for onion growers and it toxic if eaten.

Most often, the mold starts between the different layers of the onion, and grows outward. The mold will give the onion a wet, water-soaked appearance. In the later stages of its development, the onion will become shriveled, withered and dry.

Black mold on onions thrives in warmer climates, such as Southern California or Florida. Even though mold is associated with humid climates, black mold on onions is a particular problem in desert areas where onions are grown.

Allium aspergillus mold can start either while the onion is in the field, or during storage. The onions can pick up the mold from dead matter in the soil. In the case of storage, the mold can be the result of too much humidity in the area where it they are stored.

Allium aspergillus is related to aspergillus niger, which is a common household airborne mold. So, you should never eat onions that appear to have black mold.

Black mold on onions is generally a problem for those who are growing or harvesting onions. You should be particularly aware of mold problems if you are growing onions. Onions with the disease rarely make it to the table.

However, if you do find an onion on your plate with black mold, you should leave it alone. Like other vegetables that develop mold, it should be thrown away immediately.

If you eat an onion that has allium aspergillus or another kind of black mold, you may experience typical mold exposure symptoms like a headache or fatigue. Some people who have eaten raw onions have experienced symptoms similar to those of mold exposure.

If you are harvesting your own onions, you should make sure to store them in a warm, dry place for curing, and a cooler place for storage. The most common cause of black mold on onions is humidity during storage. Make sure that the building where you are curing them is dry.

The temperature for storing your onions should be from 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely, make sure it is not over 55 degrees. Most importantly, make sure it is a dry place.

In handling your onions, be extra careful to avoid bruising. Areas of bruising are the best for mold to grow, so the fewer bruises the better.

During growing, fungus control pesticides will help reduce allium aspergillus growth on onions, but not particular pesticide has been found to be particularly effective against it.

Have you ever seen bread turn all the colors of the rainbow and become stiff as a board? That’s because a black bread mold species has taken control! You know it’s time to toss that hunk of mold in the trash, but do you know what really causes it?

What Is Black Bread Mold Species?

The usual black bread mold is rhizopus stolonifer. Mold feeds on dead matter. That’s why it likes your old bread that’s been sitting in the cabinet for a couple of months. This black bread mold species digests food on the outside of its body, rather than on the inside like most large organisms do.

The reason why this black bread mold species turns so many colors is that it changes once it starts to feed on the mold. At first, it is usually green or black. It changes colors as it goes through different stages of growth. The green or black mold grows only on the outside of the bread, and as it works its way inside, it begins to germinate more mold and grow.

If you actually looked at this mold under a microscope, you would see that it is actually a bunch of long stringy things. These are called “mycellum.” Different mold species have different types of mycellum which make it unique.

Mold Can Be A Good Thing!

When you find a neglected loaf of bread that is hard as a brick and covered in wispy multi-colored moldy goo, it’s easy to see how molds are undesirable to humans. However, some types of cheese owe much of their flavor to the presence of molds in them. These cheeses would not be the same without the mold.

Also, mold has been known to save lives. Penicillin, which is still one of the most widely-used antibiotics in the world, is the bi-product of a type of mold. After 50 years of searching for new and better medicine, Penicillin is still the most effective.

Get Rid Of The Mold!

In spite of the tasty cheese and life-saving antibiotics, you still don’t want any black bread mold species showing up in your kitchen. You should get rid of the moldy bread immediately, and make sure it doesn’t touch anything else.

The best thing to do is to put the bread in a sealed container before throwing it out. Black bread mold is dangerous to eat, of course, but it can also cause trouble if you breathe it in. Mold causes the most trouble when its spores become airborne, so make sure you have it contained.

Molds like warm, wet and dark places. Keep this in mind when storing bread. Try to keep your bread out of these conditions. If you leave the house for an extended period of time, make sure you don’t leave bread to mold anywhere, or you’ll have uninvited guests when you get back!

What Is That Black Mold Growing On My Shower Ceiling?

That black mold is a natural process by which dead matter is broken down and recycled into the environment. It is natural, but it is not healthy for you. When this natural process occurs in your shower, it is unsightly and potentially harmful to your health. Exposure to mold can lead to major health problems and be a big pain in the neck to mold allergy sufferers.
This black or gray mold is common in bathrooms and basements. It is a certain type of mold that grows on materials such as ceiling tile, wood, cardboard and insulation. It thrives in the humidity of your bathroom. If you live in a humid climate, your steamy bathroom is a great place for mold to grow.

Most species of black mold are non-toxic. The mold that grows in the shower is not as bad as some mold that can be found in basements, crawlspaces and heavily water-damaged areas.

However, continual exposure may cause health problems, especially to those who have asthma. Through exposure to black mold, you can develop an allergy to it. You should clean up that black stuff as soon as possible and keep it from coming back.

The best way to get rid black shower mold is to use anywhere from a cup to a gallon of bleach mixed with warm water. Then wash the area with a good detergent. This may not totally get rid of the black discoloration, but it will kill the mold. If you can, it is best to repaint or re-tile the surface if the damage is severe.

It is important that whenever you are dealing with mold, you protect yourself. You should wear a face mask and rubber gloves, and be careful about what touches what. Another idea is to make sure the room has good ventilation. Good ventilation will also help prevent future mold problems.

If you know that you are allergic to mold, or are allergic to any cleaning products commonly used, don’t do it! Get somebody else to do the mold clean-up. When you are cleaning, if you get a headache or have difficulty breathing, stop and take a break. If you have a lot of mold to clean up, do it in short intervals.

If the bleach and detergent cure doesn’t work, you may have a more serious species of mold growing in your bathroom, and it may require a specialist to get it out. In general, if it doesn’t go away with bleach and detergent, assume that it may be toxic and avoid it. Toxic molds, which are not nearly as common, may lead to more serious health problems.

If you have recurring mold problems in a certain part of your house, such as the shower, you can guy a humidity sensor for as low as $20. If the humidity sensor shows the room’s relative humidity to be 55% or over on a regular basis, you’ll need to get a dehumidifier to prevent continual mold problems.

Getting Rid Of That Black Mold Around Shrubs And Ivy

Have you ever seen that sooty, gray stuff on the leaves of your shrubs or ivy? That’s mold. It’s another variety of the same stuff you find on your bathroom tiles or in parts of your house that have water damage.

Usually, we talk about mold as a problem inside the house, but mold can grow anywhere. In fact, it is most commonly found in the wild, where it breaks down decomposed matter and recycles it into the ecosystem.

You will often see the exact same type of mold growing in other parts of your yard, like a sidewalk or a tree.

The good news is that mold is not very harmful to your plants. This is a variety of mold that is not toxic. You may have noticed that you can simply rub it away with your finger and thumb and it’s gone.

In some severe cases, the mold can block the sunlight and prevent photosynthesis. In that case, the effected plant may wilt more quickly than others. Too much mold on the leaves can block sunlight and weaken your plants, so it is good to remove it and keep it off.

This gray mold is more of a problem because it affects the way your shrubs or ivy look. It’s ugly and it keeps the green from showing through. You want those shrubs and ivy to look as good as they can.

Causes

This mold is caused by insects feeding on the plant. Certain insects leave behind a fluid called “honeydew” on the leaves of plants. This honeydew keeps the leaves wet and produces ideal conditions for mold.

Any plant that is favored by insects that leave behind honeydew can easily develop mold problems. This includes many of our favorite shrubs and ivies.

You may have seen tiny black flies around your shrubs. These guys are the culprit. This is a common type of insect that causes mold problems. There are many others as well.

Prevention

The best way to keep mold off your shrubs and ivies is to keep the honeydew producing insect off of them.

This may require a bit of research. You first have to find out what insect is causing the problem. Then, you must keep the insect away using some traditional method such as pesticides.

In addition to pesticides, there are a variety of organic sprays that can help keep off the bugs. Horticultural oil is favored by organic farmers as an alternative to pesticides. You can find more information on horticultural oil here.

If you want to let nature run its course, another option is simply to periodically clean your plants. Spraying water on the leaves will help to make it easier to rub off the mold.

You can use a small amount of soap to remove mold, but be careful. Some plants may be effected by the chemicals in the soap.

I suggest you try out a small area first. Wash a small area with soap and check it later to see if it is okay. With this little test, you can make sure that you don’t damage your shrubs with the treatment.

Are My Health Problems Caused By Black Mold?

Black mold is a common household problem. You may have black mold growing in parts of your house that you didn’t even know existed. And, black mold in your home may be causing health problems you aren’t aware of.

Black mold grows in any humid and warm place. It is commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any part of the house that has much moisture. It also grows in hard-to-get-to places like crawlspaces, attics, under carpets and inside walls.

The major health problem caused by black mold is a mild allergic reaction that most people suffer from in varying degrees. Like household dust, most of us have some kind of adverse reaction to exposure to mold.

This allergic reaction often resembles minor cold or sinus trouble. In its mildest form, you will sneeze, have a runny nose or nasal congestions, and itchy or red eyes. In more severe cases, you may suffer a headache, fatigue or fever.

Most black mold is non-toxic, so the health problems are not terribly severe. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others and will have more trouble with household black mold health problems.

Black mold does pose a risk to those with health problems such as asthma or chronic sinus trouble. Mold affects the lungs and respiratory system, so in asthma sufferers, it can bring on an attack. Constant exposure to black mold can be dangerous for asthma sufferers.

Also for those who have chronic sinus trouble, black mold may be a health problem. The symptoms of black mold exposure often resemble closely those of sinusitis. Your sinus suffering may be due to environmental factors rather than sinusitis.

The health problems caused by black mold are often difficult to trace back to the mold itself. Mold is often felt before it is seen, so it is often difficult to figure out that black mold is the cause of the problem.

The best cure for black mold health problems is to be aware of and control the mold in your house. Every house has black mold. As a general guideline, keep in mind that any place that is often humid is liable to get black mold.

Black mold can grow on food, in trashcans, in showers, under carpets, in crawlspaces, behind walls, on plants and in any area that has been wet. Periodically check under carpets for black mold growing there, and make every effort to keep your house mold free.

One way to check for black mold is to do a mold test. You can do this yourself by buying a mold tester from a home-goods or hardware store, or you can hire a professional to check your house. This can help you find areas with black mold that may be causing health problems.

If you are particularly sensitive to mold or suffer from asthma or sinus trouble, it is probably best for you to not try to clean up the mold yourself. If the problem is severe, or if the moldy area is difficult to get to, you may wish to consult a professional. Look under “Fire and Water Damage” in your local yellow pages.

Treatment Of People With Black Mold Exposure

Exposure to black mold in the home can be a serious health problem. Prevention is the key, but if you suffer from common mold allergy, or have been exposed to toxic mold, there are options for treatment.

Exposure To Black Mold In The Home

Most black mold found in the home is non-toxic. About one in five people experience an adverse allergic reaction to household black mold. The symptoms usually resemble a cold or sinus infection, with nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and headaches. If there is a lot of black mold in your home, you may also experience eye and skin irritation, fatigue and other more severe symptoms.

The best treatment for black mold is prevention. This means identifying where mold is growing in your home and cleaning it up. Mold thrives in humid, closed-off places, so keep an eye on trouble spots such as your kitchen and bathroom.

If you experience any of the above symptoms and believe you may have mold in your home, keep a “mold diary.” Write down the times and places where you experience these symptoms. This will help you identify where you have a problem.

Over-the-counter cold and sinus medications will relieve symptoms of black mold exposure, but getting rid of the mold is the only true solution. If you suffer from severe allergy, consult your doctor and they will be able to prescribe a more effective medication. However, cleaning up the mold is the only cure.

Toxic Mold Exposure

Toxic black mold is a much more serious problem. Some kinds of mold are toxic and their spores can cause permanent nerve and cell damage in your body. Toxic mold is often the cause of “sick buildings,” where an old or badly insulated building seems to cause health problems.

Those who suffer from toxic mold allergy will find that their sensitivity increases with exposure. The longer you are exposed to mold, the more trouble you will have in the future. You may develop a reaction to smoke, for example, that you did not have before.

The best treatment to toxic mold allergy is to avoid contaminated items, and anything else that causes a reaction. You must be very careful in the future about being around old things which may be slightly moldy.

Another way to keep yourself healthy is to monitor your diet. Make sure that you get enough calcium and potassium. Your doctor can also prescribe inhalants which you can use to relieve symptoms.

In order to treat toxic black mold exposure, you must detoxify the body. These spores destroy cells in your body, which you can not get back, but detoxification will help stop the process. Most doctors are inexperienced in the field of mold treatment, so ask your doctor to refer you to a detoxification specialist.

Most people who suffer from toxic mold exposure greatly underestimate the health dangers. Make sure you educate yourself about your problem and get the right treatment.

Can A Black Mold Health Problem Be Serious?

If you have black mold growing in your home, there is a good chance you will experience some black mold health problem. These can vary from a slight allergy, to very serious nerve and cell damage, depending on whether the mold is toxic or not.

The Effects Of Non-Toxic Mold

People react to black mold in various ways. Some are more sensitive than others. If there are large quantities of mold growing in your home, you will suffer worse symptoms.

Most commonly, people exposed to black mold will experience symptoms like a cold or sinus infection. These include nasal congestion, sore throat, eye and skin irritation, headache, sneezing, dry cough and shortness of breath.

Even common, non-toxic mold can cause serious health problems for kids, the elderly and those with asthma. In this case, a black mold health problem can be easily avoided by cleaning the mold and preventing it from growing again.

What About Toxic Black Mold?

Toxic black mold is a whole other story. Toxic black mold health problem can be very serious and even fatal. Toxic mold must be taken care of immediately.

These species of mold have toxic spores which can become airborne and infiltrate your body. They can cause damage to practically any part of your body, including lungs, skin, digestive organs and your brain. Toxic mold spores can cause irreparable harm your nervous system and immune system.

Symptoms of exposure to toxic spores include fatigue, memory loss, trouble breathing, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, hair loss, kidney failure and more. Toxic spores destroy your body’s cells and can interfere with any type of bodily function.

A toxic black mold health problem could be quite serious. People who work in old buildings often suffer black mold health problems. Buildings that were built before mold testing standards were as rigorous today run the biggest risk.

How Common Is Toxic Black Mold?

There are no accurate statistics regarding the rate of toxic versus non-toxic mold. However, due to increased technology and awareness of the problem, there have been more reported cases recently. In any case, toxic mold is definitely not too rare to be considered a real threat.

Toxic black mold is most common in old buildings that have not been well maintained, but it can grow anywhere.

How Do I Know If My Mold Is Toxic?

Mold testing and inspection is expensive and not always reliable. Your best bet for the safety of yourself and your family, is to keep your home as mold free as possible.

If you see or smell mold, clean it as soon as possible. If there are leaky pipes or any other sources of water in your house, take care of them. These are perfect places for mold to grow.

Keep in mind that mold thrives in humid places. If any part of a house or building has been waterlogged, there will most definitely be mold. Dry things properly and make sure your home gets enough ventilation and sunlight.

Dealing With Black Mold In The Attic

Your house’s attic is a great place for black mold to grow. But, nobody ever goes up there, so it’s not much of a problem is it?

Actually, it can be quite a problem for the rest of the house. Black mold in the attic should be cleaned and dealt with quickly to ensure that it does not cause further problems to your house and your family.

Where Does It Grow?

Wood – People often find black mold in the attic on wooden beams and plywood used for the roof. Mold naturally feeds on wood in the environment, so it is an ideal place in your home.

Vents – Often mold grows around the vents in the attic which lead to the bathroom, kitchen or other humid parts of the house. These vents must be cleared of mold or the spores will end up in your heating and cooling system.

Walls – Mold loves to grow in walls. If your gutters are not properly maintained, water will run down along the walls of the house and cause mold to grow there.

Ceilings Below – Moldy attics will lead to moldy ceilings. By the time the mold gets into the ceiling in your home, it is very difficult to clean up. This is one reason why you should be careful about mold in the attic.

Insulation - Black mold can grow inside your attic’s insulation. This is an area that can become wet easily. In this case, your house’s ventilation may be spreading mold spores throughout the house.

How Should It Be Cleaned?

If there is a serious black mold problem in the attic, it may be best to contact a professional. If the mold covers more than 10 square feet, of if it grows in a hidden place that is impossible to get to without doing some construction work, you should leave it to a professional.

If you do the job yourself, it will be a big job. Scrubbing moldy areas with soap and borax should get small bits of mold out. If you have to remove a wall panel or other large material, you should line the attic with plastic. You don’t want the mold to come into contact with anything else, so make sure everything is contained in plastic before you move it through other parts of the house.

How Can It Be Prevented?

Many attic black mold problems are due to age or poor construction. When a house is built, it needs to have a good attic ventilation system installed. Otherwise, humidity from the house will collect there.

On wood, scrub the mold with bleach and repaint it. There are paints available that are specifically designed to prevent mold growth. If the problem on your roof is serious, you may have to do major reconstruction work.

To keep further mold problems from occurring in your attic, install an attic fan or better ventilation. Routinely checking your vents and air ducts will also help keep mold problems from getting out of hand.

How To Recognize Black Mold Sickness Symptoms

Most black mold commonly found in the home is non-toxic. If, however, you have a toxic variety of black mold in your home, you may suffer from black mold sickness. Recognizing black mold sickness symptoms is the first step in dealing with toxic black mold in your home.

Common black mold sickness symptoms include:

Sinus Trouble – If you have any kind of mold in your home, toxic or non-toxic, you will probably experience symptoms similar to sinusitis. These include nasal congestion, sore throat, cough and headaches. If you continually suffer from sinus trouble, or if you notice that certain parts of the house such as the kitchen or bathroom seem to trigger sinus symptoms, it may be an indication that you have a mold problem.

Personality Disorders – Toxic mold sickness can cause a variety of personality disorders such as anxiety or mood swings. Mold spores become airborne, and toxic mold spores will make the air in your house toxic. These spores interfere with your body’s myelin levels. Myelin is important for your nervous system. It helps protect your nerve endings and assists the proper functioning of your immune system, digestive system, lungs and skin.

Loss Of Memory – These toxic spores can have an effect on your brain cells. Toxic mold can destroy your brain tissue and cause memory loss. If children are exposed to toxic mold on a continual basis it can have permanent damage on their mental functions. This is why it is very important to keep black mold out of schools and other facilities that children use.

Exposure to toxic mold can also make it hard for you to concentrate and focus. Neurological toxic mold sickness symptoms may not appear for days or weeks after exposure. This makes it hard to determine the cause of the symptoms of toxic black mold sickness.

Trouble Breathing – Tiny black mold spores can enter your body in a variety of ways, but the most common is through your respiratory system. The initial symptoms of black mold sickness are often trouble breathing. You may experience shortness of breath, nosebleeds or abdominal pain. In asthma sufferers, exposure to toxic black mold brings on asthma attacks and can be quite dangerous, especially among kids.

Numbness in Fingers and Toes – This is caused by the spores’ affect on your nervous system. In severe cases of black mold sickness, sufferers may lose feelings in their extremities. It is often common to suffer from tremors and soreness.

Eye and Skin Irritation – Black mold spores can easily enter your body through your respiratory system, but they will irritate any part of your body they come in contact with, including eyes and skin. You may suffer from rashes, red or itchy eyes or even hair loss.

It is difficult to tell whether black mold growing in your house is toxic or not. The best way to know for sure is to hire a professional mold inspector, which you can easily find in the yellow pages. Whether toxic or not, it is best to remove mold and prevent it from growing again, as soon as possible.