Toxic Mold

Written By:  Michael Marchese

Mold is a fungus that is in our everyday environment inside and outside our home. Dead leaves or plants outside are constantly generating mold while mold is occurring inside in uneaten food or fruits in our refrigerator. Mold that goes undetected and is allowed to grow and spread can become a major health hazard if it develops into toxic mold.

Mold likes humidity so it will take advantage of the opportunity to grow if there is a leak under your sink or seepage from a landscaping problem. Once started it can colonize and multiply rapidly within a few short days. Slow leaks that go undetected can easily form mold underneath your carpeting or behind your walls or inside cabinets. A mold will eventually destroy the material it is growing on and could cause structural damage depending on where the mold is located.

This toxic black mold is attracted to moist organic materials that contain cellulose such as wallpaper, wood, drywall or upholstery and will discolor the floor, walls or furniture. It is also found in insulation backing, sheet rock, ceiling tiles or paper. It usually shows up with a slimy green black appearance, but it is known to exhibit others colors as well.  Any discoloration of grey, white, brown, green, black or even purple, orange or pink can be mold. Usually when any mold is found inside a home or property is when the water leak or damage has gone undetected for some time allowing for a large buildup of moisture.

Molds can be health hazards causing allergic reactions with cold or flu like symptoms of watery eyes and running noses. However black or toxic mold is a serious threat to your family if it is allowed to contaminate your home. This hazardous mold is called stachybotrys chartarum commonly known as black mold which is considered very toxic. Producing what is called mycotoxins black mold is known to have severe reactions with those who already have asthma or other respiratory diseases and even causes reactions in otherwise healthy individuals.

Exposure to these extremely toxic mycotoxins will result in symptoms like nose bleeds, headaches, coughs, flu-like symptons, fever and general malaise. Types of mycotoxins include aflatoxix which is a carcinogen responsible for many health problems. Another mycotoxin is called ochratoxin which is also a suspected carcinogen and is known to cause liver and kidney damage. The most fatal of the mycotoxins is one called tricothecene which can cause immediate death from internal hemorrhaging and damage to the digestive tract.

The elderly or infants are especially subject to severe reactions with lung problems from the toxic mold which can cause not only severe pulmonary hemorrhaging or asthmatic conditions but can also result in death if the person is not treated and the mold removed from their environment. Long term exposure causes irreparable damage that can result in serious neurological damage as well as damage to their immune system. The health effects can be devastating but they can also be minimized if you take preventative measures.