Black Mold

Rich Fuller asked:




Humans and mold have lived together since the very beginning, but mold has become a big health issue only recently. So many cases of toxic mold poisoning have come to light recently that people can’t help but be concerned.

Because this concern is so new, we have only just begun studying the effects of black mold and pregnancy. There isn’t much real evidence, but doctors are very concerned about how exposure to black mold during pregnancy can affect babies.

Black Mold and Birth Defects

There are countless stories of women being exposed to mold during pregnancy and suffering miscarriage or birth defects. However, there is not yet any solid hard scientific evidence that exposure to mold directly causes birth defects. Studies with animals have shown that there is a definite link between black mold and pregnancy, but animals are different than humans, so the results are somewhat inconclusive.

Still, most doctors assume that there is some connection, and that pregnant women should be careful about exposure.

Asthma and Pregnancy

Modern scientific studies say that the causes of lifelong chronic allergies are both genetic and environmental.

A lot of evidence states that the development of allergies and asthma actually begins in the womb. This is especially the case with asthma. Researchers are finding out that asthma may not be genetic at all. It is caused by triggers in the environment. Studies show that asthma sufferers develop the condition at some point in their lives due to exposure to toxins, such as mold. It may begin in the uterus.

SIDS And Mold

Some studies have suggested that there may be a link between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and exposure to black mold in the womb. There are also a variety of chronic fatigue illnesses that children who have been exposed to mold may suffer. Still, the studies have not been done to show whether this is fully the case or not.

What You Can Do

If you have just found that you are pregnant, or if you are just starting to worry about mold, you should get your home or workplace tested for mold. You can get a home testing kit from the hardware store. It is probably a good idea to start off your pregnancy in a mold-free environment. Nobody knows the exact relation between mold and birth defects, allergies and asthma, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For your baby’s health, it is also important to keep your house mold-free after birth. There are no studies showing that mold has an effect on breast feeding, but mold is definitely unhealthy for your baby’s general health.

One more thing to think about is your workplace. Many women work in the early or middle stages of pregnancy and it is often more difficult to find mold in a building where you work than in your home. Ask your boss about mold inspections, especially if you work in an old building. If you can see or smell mold in your workplace, you are definitely in danger.

If your boss or supervisor will not do anything about the mold problem, you can seek a legal solution. There are laws to protect you and your unborn baby’s health.

Black Mold

Peter Crump asked:




Symptoms of black mold in your home can manifest themselves in many different ways. You do need to know what these symptoms are so you can be cognizant of anything occurring in your home that could lead to a build up of black mold. This form of mold is very toxic and can cause mild allergies as well as serious medical conditions. When you know what the symptoms of black mold are, then you know what to look for.

You can be on the lookout for symptoms of black mold if there is a high level of humidity in your home. If the humidity is higher than 55%, then this is the prime condition for the development of black mold symptoms. The thing that you need to be most aware of is that you may not even realize that there is black or toxic mold in your home until someone starts to get sick. Even then the symptoms may be so much like a sinus infection or asthma, that you might not associate them with toxic mold symptoms.

Since the basement is the place where most of the water pipes in a home are located, the condensation on these pipes often goes undetected for long periods of time. In fact you may never realize that there are symptoms of black mold present if you don’t have a problem with the pipes. When leaks are discovered, many homeowners concentrate on fixing the leaks and don’t realize they are toxic mold symptoms and therefore do nothing about the black mold itself.

Odors or musty smells are often the first symptoms of black mold. This is because black mold grows in places that are not usually visible or in places that you can’t get to for cleaning, such as in cracks and crevices. Getting an odor does not necessarily mean you have toxic mold in your home, but it is definitely one of the symptoms that can alert you to the need for black mold testing. If the odors are present when the air-conditioning system is running, then these are serious toxic mold symptoms.

Yellowish stains on the walls are also symptoms of black mold. Black mold has a greenish color to it and when you notice the wall starting to stain underneath the wallpaper or coming through the paint, this is a symptom that you do have a serious mold problem. Toxic mold symptoms can also manifest themselves as the paint coming off the walls because of the excess moisture. One way you can find out if you do have black mold in the walls is to shine a black light on it. If you see a yellow glow, this is one of the symptoms of black mold in the wall.

Black Mold

Gerard K. Lawson asked:




The mold that grows on these leaves is the same variety that crops up in our bathrooms and in other places in the home which may have been waterlogged for extended periods. As long as they are in dark and moist areas and are left untouched, black mold around shrubs will continue to thrive and can easily spread to adjacent greenery.

Can black mold around shrubs harm the plants?

The answer to this question is yes and no. Yes, because when the black mold’s growth is thick enough, it can block the sunlight and therefore interfere with the process of photosynthesis. No, because these varieties of black mold are not really toxic to plants and can be easily rubbed away.

They may even grow in other parts of your yard such as on a tree bark or on the sidewalk. The thing is, black mold around shrubs is unsightly, making the plants look lifeless and dirty. Getting rid of the black mold then serves two purposes – one, to keep its spores from circulating in the air around your house; and two, to bring back the beauty of the plants in your yard.

Where they come from

The growth of black mold around plants is induced by certain types of insects which excrete a fluid known as ‘honeydew’ on the leaves of shrubs and ivy. This liquid, in a way, makes conditions ideal for the growth and spread of black mold on the leaves.

Sometimes you get to see tiny black flies hovering around your favorite ivies and shrubs. These seemingly harmless-looking insects are actually the culprits – they leave behind this so-called honeydew on the leaves, as do many other species of insects.

Keeping plants healthy

Say goodbye to Black Mold around shrubs by first getting rid of the pesky insects that leave honeydew on their leaves. Also, when the shrubs are kept clean, there is no way for the black mold to find it as a desirable place to grow on.

You can simply hose the shrub down with water and wipe the leaves with a rug after most of the water has fallen off them. Sometimes, the black mold would not budge with just water, so a little soap may be necessary. Be careful to try out a small section first, though, as there may be plants that react negatively with detergent.

For a longer-lasting effect, you can resort to pesticides or organic sprays which can effectively deter the offending insects.

This can be a rather dangerous solution, though, if you are not too well-informed about the selection and use of pesticides. If you want to stay safe, try horticultural oil which is used by lots of organic farmers instead of the more dangerous pesticides.

Black Mold

Lee Dobbins asked:




The toxic kind of “Black Mold” is known as the Strachybotrys atra. This slimy, greenish black substance can actually lead to health risk such as asthma and bronchitis. Studies conducted by the Center of Disease Control or the CDC reflect that this mold is the reason for over “100 cases of lung disorders.”

Molds can also be located in anyone’s home. These industrial molds may not be toxic and it takes a lot of time and effort to specify which mold is toxic and which isn’t because it will entail laboratory exams. However, the best conclusion we can tell you is that if a mold is found in your home, it is considered to not be a healthy home.

Mold is a parasite which attaches itself to various hosts: be it people, animals, clothes, shoes or even the doors and windows of houses. These spores grow faster when it is moist and damp. Some molds even develop under water.

Look above your ceiling now and check for molds. If there is a spot which is frequently wet from rain and drips a lot, chances are you’d see some molds there. Also, go to the bathroom and check your tiles. Chances are there is a bit of a mold there.

Wall paneling and cardboard, they can have molds in it. Even cotton. Clothes you haven’t worn for a long time now and has been stocked up in the attic or in the basement can have molds attached to it.

Try touching a mold. It is slimy. Try rubbing it on the surface. It would smear its greenish and blackish fluid.

Once you see a mold, try to remove it when you can. Clean it up as soon as possible. Although these can be easily done if the infested area is small like leak and plumbing problems. These can easily be handled by bleach and water. If you want, you can also add soap to the solution that you have handy there. Apply the bleach solution to the moldy are and let it stay there for about fifteen minutes. Then concentrate on the surrounding areas. This will lessen the chance for the mold to spread any further.

If the mold is located in insulation or on fabrics like carpet, then it will be harder to remove it. An infested area that is over 2ft is termed “highly infested” and it is something you cannot remove on your own. It is best you seek professional help in eradicating that risk. If you ignore the molds, this could result to flooding and possible health risks.

It is because if you take these molds not as serious as you should, they can actually lead to you inhaling them, therefore risking your health.

Prevention is better than cure and you can actually apply these preventive measures so you won’t have any black mold to eradicated in the first place.

- Keep the humidity down in your house. Double check if the ventilation is just right in rooms in your household – specifically the bathroom and the kitchen. It is because molds usually appear in these two rooms.

- Before painting any of your walls, add mold inhibitors.

- Clean the carpet by using mold killing products even if there is no mold found. The same applies in the bathroom tiles and corners.

It may seem to not be a problem but it is. Black mold are something everyone must learn how to eradicate and better yet, prevent.

In institutions, black mold can actually cause an allergic reaction to people who have allergies to black mold. People who also have respiratory problems such as asthma may also have their attacks triggered through these infested areas.

A clean home is a mold-free home. Molds are a form of bacteria. Just like any kind of bacteria, it must be extinguished as soon as possible.

Black Mold

Rich Fuller asked:




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.

Black Mold