
Black mold, like many forms of mold, can cause symptoms like sneezing, coughing, stuffed up or runny nose, and eye irritation. While it rarely leads to severe illness or death, black mold can worsen asthma symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, it’s important to look for hidden mold and get professional help.
Removing all kinds of mold from homes and buildings is necessary, regardless of its color. Anyone with asthma, mold allergies, or a weakened immune system has a higher risk of experiencing symptoms due to mold exposure. Since black mold exposure can cause a wide range of health issues, some quite severe, it’s crucial to recognize the symptoms and get it taken care of right away to protect your home and your family’s health.
What is Black Mold?
Black mold is greenish-black in color and slimy in texture. Like other mold, it loves warm, humid, and dark areas in homes. It releases spores that you can breathe in or absorb through your skin. These spores can also hitch a ride on you and spread throughout your house.
Black mold grows and thrives on materials with cellulose, like paper, wood, drywall, lint, and dust. The big concern for many homeowners is the potential health dangers black mold brings. But it can also physically damage areas of your home over time by eating away at surfaces. That’s why it’s important to find and fix any black mold problems as soon as possible before they get out of hand.
How to Find Black Mold in Home?
Black mold can pose serious health risks if present in your home. While sometimes visible, it can also lurk in hidden areas, making it tricky to detect. You can find black mold in bathrooms, basements, attics, and roof spaces, but finding all of it is not as simple as it looks.
Here are the top 5 signs to look for that indicate the growth of black mold inside your home:
1. Musty or Damp Odors
One of the biggest clues about the presence of black mold is an earthy, musty, or damp smell. Some describe it as smelling like rotting plants or wet paper. If you notice this type of odor but don’t see visible mold, start inspecting damp areas under the sinks, around toilets, behind appliances, on windowsills, in basements, and in crawl spaces.
2. Discolored Spots and Stains
Despite its name, black mold can appear in different shades, including green, black, or brown. Look for clusters of slimy, round, discolored spots on walls, ceilings, floors, or other surfaces, as they could be patches of black mold growth.
3. Water Damage Signs
Areas that have experienced water issues like floods, leaks, or condensation are prime spots for black mold growth. Check basement walls or floors after water damage, and be watchful for any persistent moisture spots caused by leaky plumbing or appliances.
4. Wall Discoloration
Discolored walls can indicate moisture problems that may promote mold growth. Look for yellow water stains with black mold spots growing near them. Cracking, bubbling, or peeling paint can signal moisture infiltration behind walls.
5. Damp Basements and Crawl Spaces
Mold can be found in basements because their often humid condition makes them susceptible to mold growth. If you notice a dank, musty smell in your basement area, that’s a sign of mold colonies establishing themselves in the dark corners of your basement.
Crawl spaces are often overlooked, but they can be extremely damp. It’s important to regularly inspect your crawl space to prevent moisture damage and mold growth. If you notice damp patches, condensation, or foul smells, you may have black mold.
What are the Symptoms of Black Mold Exposure?
Black mold symptoms depend on your sensitivity and the amount of exposure. Symptoms can range from minor flare-ups to consistent issues.
Here are some of the symptoms of black mold exposure:
- Breathing Problems. Breathing in mold spores can irritate your lungs and airways, making you cough, wheeze, get out of breath quickly, and have a sore throat and stuffy nose. If you have asthma or allergies, mold can trigger or worsen these symptoms.
- Allergic Reactions. Some people are allergic to mold spores. Black mold may trigger allergic symptoms such as itchiness, watery eyes, runny nose, and skin rashes.
- Respiratory Infections. On rare occasions, mold exposure can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms include persistent coughing, weight loss, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Can Black Mold Make You Sick?
Yes, black mold exposure can make some people sick. It tends to cause allergy-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye irritation. If you already have a respiratory condition like asthma, black mold exposure can make those symptoms flare up. However, for most people, black mold won’t cause serious illness, but it’s still a good idea to remove it from your home.
How Bad Is Black Mold for Your Health?
The primary health concern with black mold is that it can trigger allergic reactions and breathing issues for sensitive individuals. But despite what you might have heard, there’s no solid evidence that black mold directly causes fatigue, memory loss, headaches, or hemorrhaging in infants. Those rumors about black mold causing unique, serious health problems are myths. The main risks, however, are allergies and respiratory irritation.
How Is a Black Mold Allergy Treated?
There is no cure for a mold allergy itself. However, after exposure, you can take the following remediation steps to help limit symptoms:
- Increase ventilation by opening doors and windows
- Remove any non-contaminated items from the area
- Discard porous moldy materials that you can’t clean
- Cut out and replace mold-damaged drywall, tiles, and carpet
- Fix any underlying moisture problems that promote mold growth
- Once the area is dry and clean, you can renovate it to repair the damage
- Call for a mold remediation expert in Manhattan for professional oversight
Conclusion
Black mold can trigger various health issues, from allergic reactions and respiratory problems to potentially more severe complications in susceptible individuals. Recognizing the symptoms of black mold exposure is crucial for taking prompt action. While you can take some remediation steps after exposure, a comprehensive solution often requires professional intervention.
Lamunyon Mold’s certified experts inspect, test, and remediate black mold infestations in an effective and efficient manner. Don’t let black mold symptoms persist. Contact Lamunyon Mold today to safeguard your home and health.