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