About Mold and Its Health Effects All mold contamination in your home can have health risks and effects that can range from mild to severe and even fatal, depending on many factors including the type of mold, the level of contamination, your level of sensitivity, whether the mold produces mycotoxins, and others. Mold can range from cosmetic mold, which is considered harmless, but can still cause some symptoms and health risks from molds like Stachybotrys and Aspergillis, which can be dangerous and even deadly. Some people can be exposed to mold and not develop any symptoms, while others may only be mildly exposed and get very sick.
Almost all molds can cause allergies and make any existing allergies worse. This can lead to a stuffy nose, a runny nose, a chronic cough, eyes that itch and water, and more. Mold can also cause asthma to become worse, and can be responsible for a severe asthma attack that requires immediate medical attention in both kids and adults. There are some populations that have a higher risk of mold related problems, and these include infants who have an immune system that is not yet mature, elder people who have a weakened immune system due to age, anyone with pneumonia, or other respiratory diseases and problems, including bronchitis, anyone who is receiving chemotherapy or who has cancer, anyone who has had an organ transplant recently and is taking immunosuppressive drugs, pregnant women, anyone who has recently had surgery, or anyone with AIDS or HIV. All of these populations face a greatly increased risk of harmful health effects from mold contamination.
The health effects of toxic mold exposure can range widely. There are three distinct types of health threats posed by mold, especially toxic molds. These are allergies and their symptoms, fungal infections caused by mold, and toxicity, which is caused by the mycrotoxins released by certain molds like Stachybotrys and Aspergillis. The worst toxic mold is normally considered to be Stachybotrys, because this mold species can cause serious health problems that can lead to death sometimes. Airborne spores from toxic mold can affect every system in your body, including your vital organs and blood, and can lead to brain damage as well.
Symptoms of toxic mold exposure can include sneezing, coughing, nausea, vomiting that may be uncontrolled or severe, a sore throat or a clogged feeling in the throat, difficulty when breathing, a wheezing sound in your chest, sinus congestion and infections, eyes that itch, water, burn, turn red, or are otherwise irritated, vision that blurs, skin irritation, and many other problems. Severe health effects from mold happen less frequently, but they do occur. These health effects can include memory loss, constant headaches, concentration and focus difficulties, dizziness, fatigue that is chronic, body aches, tremors, shortness of breath when not exerting yourself, heart palpitations and pain, severe swelling in any area of the body, muscle cramps, joint pain, cancer, and odor sensitivity. In certain cases, toxic mold has been the suspected cause of infant death from lung hemorrhages, organ failure in both children and adults, a coma, and even death.
The more mold exposure you receive, the higher the risk is that you will become sensitive, if you are not already. There is no safe level of mold exposure according to the Environmental Protection Agency or the Center for Disease Control, and even a small amount of mold can cause many health problems if you are sensitive. A home mold inspection should be done if you or a member of your family has developed any of these symptoms, because your home may be contaminated with toxic mold. A home mold inspector can spot signs of invisible or hidden mold contamination, so that this problem can be assessed and taken care of to protect you and those that you love. The home mold inspection will determine whether your home has a mold problem. Testing may also be done, to determine which mold species is present. The home mold inspector can also recommend any steps or measures you should take to eliminate the mold, but also the cause of the mold, such as a roof leak or burst water pipe inside the wall.
A home mold inspection should be a top priority, the highest priority if anyone in your home has been sick. Mold poses a serious threat, especially to certain groups of people including infants and children, so if you have kids that live in your home a home mold inspection should be done immediately. If toxic mold is found in your home, anyone at an increased risk should be removed from the home until a complete professional mold remediation can be done. Everyone is exposed to mold whether they are at home, at work or outside. Mold spores are so tiny that they are easily breathed in wherever we are. Some people are allergic to even small exposures to mold, while others don’t exhibit symptoms until the levels of mold spores reach a higher level. Symptoms of allergies will vary in the individual, but common ones are red and watery eyes, sneezing, asthma or sore throats.
Most people who develop allergies to mold think at first they have a common cold because they have a running nose, cough that is continuous, sneezing and headaches as the symptoms are very similar. Some molds however can be toxic and these generate symptoms that are much more serious and can include difficulty in breathing, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. If the exposure is long enough or the mold is extremely toxic the person can experience a pulmonary hemorrhage and even death.
Exposure to molds that can cause allergies can be minimized by taking precautionary steps that will avoid mold growing or spreading in your home or workplace. Some easy solutions include: Use of exhaust fans in bathrooms to reduce humidity Use of paint on walls in bathrooms or other rooms that includes a mold inhibitor or adding one to existing walls Replace bathroom carpeting with tile or linoleum particularly if the carpet is old and has had frequent use Use of exhaust fan in kitchen to reduce the amount of humidity from steam and cooking vapors Regularly use solutions that are designed to kill molds in bathrooms, particularly in showers on the tiles or fiberglass, around the toilet and bathtub and on shower curtains Check firewood for mold before burning in fireplace or stove so that it does not become airborne Ensure that damp or wet clothing is not put into closets or drawers Keep humidity level at around 40% by use of a dehumidifier to deter mold Repair leaks or seepage immediately when it is discovered – this could be in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage, attic or any room in the house
If there are serious or potentially serious allergic reactions by a family member, there are other precautionary measures that can be taken that include: (continued on right column) |
| (continued from left column) Air purifiers for their bedroom, office or other places that they frequent Bedding that has been especially designed to reduce the mold allergy reactions for mattresses, pillow cases and other bedding or covers and for bedding made with polyurethane and rubber foam Hypo-allergenic clothing Air dehumidifiers for rooms frequently used Micro lined vacuum bags or a bag-less vacuum Vent filter kits that should be frequently changed Household cleaning products that are designed to minimize mold allergic reactions Allergy reducing pet cleaners and conditioners for use on pets Dust or pollen masks Chemical dehumidifiers Air conditioning with a HEPA or high efficiency particulate air filter Throw away old newspapers, books, clothing or bedding Ensure that drainage is away from the house to avoid water seepage into a basement or garage
All of these are precautionary measures that can alleviate some reactions to mold but if there is an over exposure to mold it can lead to bigger problems such as asthma or other types of permanent damage to their lungs and respiratory system. Some occupations lead to more exposure to allergies than others, such as carpenters, bakers, farmers or furniture repairmen. People who have allergies can avoid obvious exposure by using gloves or a mask when gardening, taking antihistamines and decongestants that are readily available over the counter. However, if the symptoms become severe, then they should seek help from a doctor who can prescribe a nasal spray with coricosteroid. If these don’t work, some people can take allergy shots that can be effective but usually it is a small number of people who find this effective.
Sometimes it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause of a person’s allergic reaction without have allergy testing that can show you what to avoid to minimize your exposure. Testing can include blood tests and blood count as well as IgE allergy antibody testing, nasal smear, chest x-rays and pulmonary function studies. Other tests are sinus x-rays and medical history summary that will try to understand exactly what allergens are bothering you. Puncture testing on the arms and upper back can be done for up to 120 different substances. Other dermatitis tests may be done as well. Basement Mold and How
it Can be Prevented It's the one room that is the subject of more scary movies than any other: the basement. What evils could possibly lurk there--and usually do? Of course, in the real world, there are no monsters living downstairs. But there is the very real evil -- of basement mold.
Do you very often come across water collecting in the basement of your home, or perhaps you've noticed that your foundation has developed a crack? You may have even noticed a pool of standing water forming adjacent to your house's foundation. Maybe on a recent trip to the basement you couldn't help but notice the little green growth on the cement wall was a little bit bigger than you remember? Any one of these seemingly minor issues can and likely will lead to damage and proliferation of basement mold in your home. It can be prevented by ensuring you act quickly when you notice an issue, and prevent a relatively minor situation from becoming a very costly problem to correct in the long run.
The first box you'll want to check in the checklist for basement mold and how it can be prevented is in keeping the moisture in your basement under control. Whether it's caused by a crack in the foundation walls or floors of your home, or even a leaky pipe you've just been meaning to repair, having a moist area creates ideal conditions for mold to proliferate and cause damage. Where this matters most is your health. Exposure to mold can cause several issues with your health, and mold is a common allergen for many people. Even the typical mold you find in the average basement. Preventing basement mold is key in ensuring the wood, drywall, carpets, clothes, books, boxes and other porous materials kept in your average basement are not damaged, which would likely result in you having to replace them.
That is why basement mold and how it can be prevented are important to you, because the cost in repairing damage due to mold can quickly escalate higher than you realize. Perhaps the cost involved in removing mold from the floor of your basement would be in the area of $600 or less, but allowing that problem to spread can, and likely will, lead to more severe issues if it is not taken care of, such as damaging the structure of your home. If something like this were to occur, it can lead to costs upwards of $10,000 to correct. So as you can see, basement mold and how it can be prevented is something every household should be concerned with, before you find yourself staring at a heavy repair bill.
So, how can basement mold be prevented? Here is a short list of things you should ensure to do: Install a dehumidifier in the basement of your home to help reduce moisture Ensure there is a drain installed on the floor close to your washing machine to prevent water from pooling on the floor nearby Make sure the vent for your dryer is sealed to prevent leaks due to rain water or escaping vapors from your dryer Use foam insulation to insulate the cold-water pipes in your home Ensure the soil against your foundation slopes away from the foundation of your house. This will prevent the collection of rainfall around the perimeter of your home and protect against unwanted leakage Make sure all of your gutters are kept clean to prevent water from overflowing onto the walls which lead to the basement of your home Always ensure that you promptly clean water spills and be sure to repair any pipes that may be leaking in your house Seal cracks before they become problematic, not after you notice a leak
Lastly, be sure to install a water tight barrier between the outside
moisture and the inside of your basement by ensuring your basement walls are sealed properly. This is a step that you should do well before a problem develops. Another key to this is to ensure the paint you use is one that has been specifically formulated to prevent moisture and the growth of mold.
Ensuring that your basement is dehumidified, waterproof and also free of leaks and cracks will ensure peace of mind for you and your family by improving and safeguarding your family's health and well-being as well as preventing the need for expensive repair bills in the future. |
