Black Mold Symptoms and Health Risks

Molds are types of fungi that self-replicate very quickly in warm and humid areas. They are mostly found in houses and not only do they destroy the beauty of your house but they can also lead to deadly health disorders. There are different types of molds, out of them black molds are the most toxic kinds that can easily grow and multiply in your house. Its spores can attach themselves to almost anything that it comes in contact with or through air and travel from one place to the other. If left untreated, it can cause a lot of severe health problems and destroy the foundation of your building.

Toxic mold are capable of entering the body via mouth. Inhaling spores that the mold has released allows spores to lodge inside the respiratory system. They can cause a variety of respiratory problems such as sore throat, nasal congestion, nasal drip, asthma and cold or flu. The most life-threatening risk that molds cause is aspergillus; this forms fungi that live in the lungs and releases carcinogens that can lead to cancer.

Black mold can cause other number of health problems, if its spores are inhaled directly. Here are some other health related complication and dangers that are caused by these fungi.

- Eye irritation with burning, red or watery eyes
- Food intolerance
- Memory impairment
- Persistent coughing
- Intense headache
- Body aches and fatigue
- Skin rashes or irritation
- Suppression of immune system
- Mood swings
- Nose and throat irritation
- Irritable bowel syndrome

These fungi feed on whatever they are in touch with, gradually eroding the surface. Molds on leather jackets or wallets in humid closets can eat away the leather, destroying its appearance. They can cause dry rot in wooden beams, weakening it until it no longer supports the weight of the building. They often spread in water pipes, behind the walls and under the flooring, causing extensive damage before it is detected.

Mold contamination if untreated will increase over time as it replicates itself. As the quantity of mold increases, the danger for that particular building's inhabitants also increases. Mold infected buildings are difficult to clean and mold eradication involves tearing out and replacing all the contaminated materials. This is performed by professionals and the process is often more expensive than the building itself. Infected houses and buildings may be deemed inhabitable and will lose their worth in the market. Small preventing measure can help in removing black molds.