Firstly, let’s be honest. Mold is everywhere. Microscopic mold particles float around in the air inside and outside your home.
Mold belongs to the Fungi kingdom that consists of more than one million species many with ominous sounding names such as Strachbotrys Chartarum, Penicillium and Aspergillus . These organisms are saprophytic, meaning that they depend on the breakdown of organic material in order to thrive. There are good molds and there are bad molds, for example, molds help break down leaves and plants over the winter. Molds appear in many different colours and although often black or dark green, can also be yellow or brown. In nature, molds use enzymes to eat dead plants and animals. Probably one of the most common green molds can be seen on moldy bread.
Only in the past decade have we begun to understand the potential health risks associated with exposure to mold contamination. It should however be noted that there is considerable dispute even among respected medical facilities about the degree to which people should be concerned. This is probably associated with the fact that one person may become extremely ill when exposed to mold in a home, while another person sharing the same environment is essentially unaffected. There is no question however that some molds such as the greenish-black mold belonging to the Strachybotrys family, specifically the fungus S.chartarum, often called black mold or toxic black mold can be dangerous particularly to infants, children and those with impaired respiratory systems.
Spores released by any mold can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested with our food.
Contamination of residential properties by mold and mildew can be found anywhere that certain conditions exist. Mold needs oxygen, water and a food source to grow. In fact, black mold most often starts in buildings where water damage has occurred, either from flooding, leaky plumbing or excess condensation. If there is a moist environment and a food source then mold will thrive. The food source can be almost any organic matter that contains carbon. Nutrients for mold are present in organic material such as fiberboard, wood, paper, fabrics, concrete, drywall, carpet or wallpaper; and from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives.
Once established in a building, molds/fungi can spread by releasing “spores” which are extremely resilient and can lie dormant for years before germinating. When these spores find a new source of food and water, new growth begins and the cycle continues. Black mold is self replicating. The main body of the fungus, called the “mycelium” is usually visible as a slimy film on a surface. This forms as the fungus cells produce enzymes to decompose the neighboring organic material, the organism’s source of nutrition.
The presence of black mold can compromise the air quality inside a home very quickly. For one thing, black mold produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are responsible for producing the musty smell commonly associated with moldy areas. When people with a compromised immune system experience allergies such as asthma and sinusitis, they could be reacting to the mold spores or the VOC’s emitted. Mold spores attach themselves to airborne dust particles which we inhale into our lungs. Our bodies have natural defense filtering systems such as mucous lining etc. but most contaminants such as mold are extremely small and pass through our defenses.
Symptoms of black mold toxicity vary between individuals. Symptoms often include headaches, difficulty concentrating, light headedness, sneezing, teary eyes, coughing, throat irritation, difficulty breathing, hives, and rashes. Many other symptoms have also been reported. Only a few molds can cause infection in healthy humans, while other molds cause infection only in people with compromised immune systems. While most people tolerate moderate exposure to many different molds, others may have severe allergic reactions to the slightest amounts.
Although not all types are toxic, it is difficult to distinguish types without lab testing. Thus it is imperative to treat and remove all molds as if they’re potentially harmful. Regardless of the type of mold found, a home containing mold is not essentially a healthy home.
Based on all this it seems obvious that getting rid of any type of mold but particularly black mold might be very important to provide a healthier living space.
More information on indoor air quality can be seen at mywebsite www.bestallergysolutions.com
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