A. Rodrigues asked:
Have you noticed how often toxic black mold has been mentioned in the headlines recently? Since quite a significant number of people still do not fully appreciate its dangers, perhaps this article may change that perception in some way.
There are many types of mold that we encounter indoors and outdoors but, although not all of them are toxic, some clearly are. What is worse is that it seems that some molds do have the ability to propagate toxins but do not necessarily do so. (Without too much trouble, I could draw a plausible comparison with living beneath a dormant volcano here.)
The term toxic mold is specifically used to describe a species of mold that produces mycotoxins, the most famous of which carries the scientific name Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra). This toxic mold is green-black in color, hence it is often known as “black mold” or “toxic black mold”.
It is extremely unhealthy for anyone to come into contact with toxic black mold but certain groups of people are more susceptible to its effects than others, particularly
* Children (under 12 years, particularly infants)
* Pregnant women
* The elderly (generally, over 65 years)
* Those with weakened immune systems; allergies; asthma; chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases
The most dangerous form of exposure to this species of mold is breathing its spores. When disturbed, it will release countless tiny, lightweight spores which become airborne, just waiting to be ingested. Since disturbance can occur in a number of ways, often without anyone knowing it, for example during a cleanup or house repairs, it is quite alarming to realize how easily these spores can be ingested.
Migraines, nosebleeds, memory loss, asthma, breathing difficulties, food allergies, fungal infections, nose and throat irritations are just some of the many symptoms that may be exhibited by those who have been exposed to harmful airborne spores.
Common sense dictates that you must stop mold from growing if you do not want to be exposed to it. To avoid mold growth of any kind, you need to control moisture in and around your home. If you keep the relative humidity indoors below the 60% threshold, then you are well on the way to preventing toxic mold from appearing because it will not prosper in an environment containing less than 60% humidity.
Therefore, before anything else, you need to assess the humidity level inside your home. You could use an inexpensive hygrometer (also known as a relative humidity sensor or moisture meter) to do this. Once you have determined that you need to correct your humidity level, there are some simple steps you can take to try and reduce it to below the 60% threshold, for example:
* Ensure that there is proper ventilation, especially in smaller areas like the bathroom and the kitchen. If necessary, install a good quality exhaust fan in the bathroom and an efficient range hood in the kitchen; and maintain them in good working order, e.g. as applicable, change batteries regularly, do not allow dust to accumulate and block airflow and change filters regularly.
* Be on the lookout for condensation as this is a sure sign of high humidity. Check your windows, walls or pipes and, if you spot any, dry the wet areas immediately. Any delay increases the chances of mold growing. And do not neglect to determine and fix the source of the condensation.
If you allow mold, especially toxic black mold, to infest your home, you have bought yourself a massive problem. However, I am confident that you will not let that happen when you think of the potential health implications for your family, the probable decrease in the value of your home and the financial burden on you to remove the mold and restore your home to its former glory.
Copyright A. Rodrigues 2009
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