Black mold is a fungus that grows in warm, damp areas. Its spores may mistakenly trigger an allergic reaction in your immune system. An allergic reaction to black mold may cause various symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, congestion and irritated eyes. However, it rarely makes people very sick.
How harmful is black mold? Evidence suggests that black mold is no more dangerous than other types of mold. However, exposure to black mold can cause some people to experience allergy symptoms. Black mold exposure may lead to more serious complications in people with underlying health conditions.
Mold can cause allergies and other breathing conditions. While all molds can be toxic, this is highly unlikely for shower mold. The conditions usually are not right for molds to produce mycotoxins, and there are few cases where there is enough exposure to cause long term health problems.
“It's very important that if you see this type of mold — which is usually dark green or black in color and, really, texture-wise it's kind of slimy — that you avoid the area because if that starts to break off, the mold spores can be very harmful,” he said.
Exposure to mold can cause health effects in some people. Mold spores are always found in the air we breathe, but extensive mold contamination may cause health problems. Breathing mold can cause allergic and respiratory symptoms.
If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.
Thus, exposure to the toxicity of black mold can cause harm to our physical health. Cleaning it yourself risks a greatly increased chance of acquiring damaging health conditions by unsettling the toxins into the air. Depending on the frequency of mold exposure, an individual's health can be severely compromised.
Although the name implies a uniform coloring, black mold may appear black, dark green, or dark brown. It typically grows as a cluster of round spots with a distinctly wet, slimy appearance. As stated, black mold typically appears fuzzy or furry.
According to the CDC, people usually experience their first symptoms within 2 to 9 hours of their first exposure. On the other hand, some people could go for weeks or months before feeling sick if their exposure is limited enough. This is why it is also important to check damp, dark areas of your home for mold.
Use bleach to kill black mold. Bleach is a powerful disinfectant and will kill black mold on contact. To use bleach, mix one teaspoon of bleach per cup of water in a spray bottle and spritz the moldy area. Let the bleach solution sit for several minutes before scrubbing the area with a brush or sponge.
Treat the Area. For a natural solution to getting rid of black mold, combine one part baking soda with five parts distilled white vinegar and five parts water in a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can use a chemical-based mold and mildew remover, all-purpose cleaners, bleach or dish soap.
If you're not wearing any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you're inviting all of those mold spores to settle on your clothing, the area you're cleaning, your shoes (allowing mold to travel to other areas in your home), in your eyes, and up your nose into your upper respiratory system.
Bathrooms, with their high humidity levels and often inadequate ventilation, are prime breeding grounds for black mold. The constant presence of moisture from showers, baths, and sinks, along with a lack of sunlight, creates an ideal environment for this mold to grow and spread.
Exposure to molds, especially black molds (Stachybotrys chartarum) poses health risks. Prolonged exposure to this type of fungus can induce allergic reactions, particularly in people with respiratory problems. Mold remediation cost for black molds ranges from $1,100 to $4,700.
Black mold can cause health problems, so living in a house with black mold is not advisable. If you must stay in your house while black mold is being removed, make sure to seal off any areas where black mold is present and avoid coming into contact with it.
Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation.
Mix a solution of one part bleach and four parts water. Take a cloth and wipe this solution across the wall, scrubbing gently until all the mould has been removed. You can then wipe the bleach away and dry the area using a separate cloth.
It irritates the nose and throat, which can lead to both sneezing and coughing as your body tries to get rid of the irritant. Inhaling mold spores can also trigger coughing in people with allergies or an asthma attack, for those with asthma.
Toxic black mold growth has a more potent and identifiable smell, like the smell of decay, wet soil, or rot. Visually, it may be greenish-black, grayish-black, slimy, or more furry than other forms of mold or mildew.
Mix 5 parts of white vinegar to 5 parts water with 1 part baking soda. Add the solution to a spray bottle. Spray your home solution or commercial product on the mold and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Use a sponge to clean the surface.
mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem. Use the diagram on the facing page to assess the extent of mold in your home.
Don't Use Harsh Chemicals
Spraying bleach on surfaces can actually contribute to the spread and growth of mold, especially on porous surfaces. You should never try to clean mold off walls.
Expert Tip: If you have mold on your walls , do not paint over it. This will only cause it to grow more underneath the paint. Instead, get rid of the mold before priming and painting. Painting Repaired Drywall Using a primer on repaired drywall is crucial for achieving a smooth, seamless finish.
A: Sleeping with mould in your bedroom can worsen existing allergies and asthma. It can also lead to sleep disturbances, as mould can compromise air quality, which makes it harder to breathe comfortably while you rest. Q: Is it dangerous to sleep in a room with mould? A: Yes, it's dangerous.