Toxic mold is a type of mold that produces dangerous byproducts, called mycotoxins. These mycotoxins interfere with DNA and cell function, affecting essential components of the body, including the immune system, nervous system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, and skin. These toxins are believed to be linked to serious lung problems in infants and the elderly. Some of the diseases that are caused by these are asthma, skin allergies and respiratory diseases and even some cancerous diseases can be contracted from these toxic molds like leukemia and kidney.
The common toxic mold found primarily in homes is Stachybotrys chartarum. It is a slimy, greenish-black mold that grows on moisture-laden materials containing cellulose, such as wood, paper, drywall, and other similar products. It does not grow on tiles or cement.
There are some proactive steps we can take to protect our family from these types of toxins.
– Check for water spills, pipe leaks, etc. Call a professional to fix these types of problems to prevent toxic mold from building up inside and outside your home.
– measure the humidity of your house. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier during the humid months to keep the indoor relative humidity level below 50%. These humidifiers can efficiently reduce the humidity in your home thus preventing the growth of dangerous types of mold.
– do not use any material that has been infested with mold
– avoid using rugs in the bathroom or laundry room
– use exhaust fans in the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms to remove excess moisture and heat
– Clean the bathrooms with anti-mold product and keep the product out of the reach of children. Brushing or scrubbing your bathroom walls and floors with anti-mold products will inhibit mold growth in the bathroom and even in your sink. Cleaning is the best way to prevent mold growth inside and outside your home.
– Checking the sprinkler systems in your garden and inside the house can also help you avoid having toxic molds. When something gets wet, it can be a potential hiding place for dangerous types of mold.
– It is possible that there is an insurance that covers this type of problem. Just find the best one that can provide you with the service that can help you protect your home from black mold.
It is better to have a clean and mold-free house for the safety of your children’s health. Clean the inside and outside of your home regularly and keep poisonous items out of the reach of children. These can affect their health conditions and even worse, they can poison them.
If family members in the home are experiencing health problems for which the doctor could not detect the source of the illness, then it is probably the home that is causing the illness in the family. If symptoms include dizziness, sneezing, coughing, rashes, etc., it must be toxic mold. Being exposed to this can cause a harmful effect on our body. Mold produces spores that are invisible to the naked eye. That’s why we should always check damp places in the house, air conditioners, basements, and bathrooms to make sure everyone in the house is breathing safe air. If mold is found anywhere in the house, try to get rid of it immediately to avoid harmful effects. Or ask for professional help.
