Is drywall mold dangerous?

Many experts disagree on what is safe, and what the best practice is. In general, it is when the mold is allowed to flourish, especially when consuming chemical-laden products, and people are exposed for lengthy periods of time, that can be detrimental to your health. Molds will grow anywhere there is enough moisture, proper temperature, and a food source. Some types of mold are extremely hazardous to your health.

If mildew is growing on a surface—like a bathroom wall or mirror—it won’t usually damage the surface. But if spores are released, it can cause people to experience symptoms like coughing, headaches, and breathing problems. Contact time between an individual and mold spores and toxins produced from black mold can lead to a person becoming sick, especially after continual contact time in the environment. Thus, we can answer the question, “can mold make you sick? Mold is a fungus that grows by digesting organic matter and spread by releasing spores in order to reproduce. In nature, mold helps to decompose wood, leaves and other plant debris.

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Sufferers have reported sneezing, watery eyes and sore throats. In the more serious cases, black mold is believed to be a primary factor in contracting pneumonia. If you suspect you have toxic black mold in your home, you should have an inspection performed. When having an inspection you should not only try to find the mold colony but also the water problem which caused it. Mycotoxins are carried on the spores of toxic black mold and are also found throughout the entire mold colony. People with toxic black mold in their homes are mostly exposed to mycotoxins through breathing them in. If you have toxic black mold in your home you should talk to a professional mold removal service experienced in removing toxic black mold.

Plus, mold loves lurking in nooks between tile or deep in corners. Sometimes, hidden pipes under the sink or in the walls also have slow leaks that cause water to pool, making perfect hiding places for new colonies. Some people can live in a house teeming with mold growth and never be bothered by it. Others need only open a musty book to begin a fit of sneezing, watering eyes, headache, dizziness, you name it. Mold is a type of fungus that consists of small organisms found almost everywhere.

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Drywall mold is dangerous as it can cause serious health problems and damage to your property. It is important to find and fix water leaks as they speed up the growth of molds.

Your air conditioning drip pans must be kept clean, and your drain lines must be kept clear. The ideal humidity in your home should be about 40%, give or take. If condensation is building up anywhere in your home, such as on your windows or walls, then you must quickly dry them off and pinpoint what is causing the issue to correct it. Molds, like most fungi, break down plant and animal matter in the environment. They can grow almost anywhere there is moisture and organic material such as in soil, on foods and plants, and in people's homes.

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In the mean time we are looking for another rental immediately. Everyone on here who suspects mold exposure, please get out immediately, you are not imagining your symptoms. Most of the medical profession is ignorant about mold exposure as are a lot of mold remediators.

If your basement is finished, the chances for toxic black mold growth go up tremendously because the organic building material acts as a food for the fungus to grow and colonize. Other than fixing the source of the water intrusion, the same rules still apply as it would to other areas of the house.

Is Mold Dangerous?

All molds release spores into the air—these spores are then inhaled or come into contact with the human skin, which is where health problems can begin. Any type of mold in a home can cause serious health issues in those who are at risk but one of the most dangerous types is Stachybotrys chartarum. Although Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold as it is commonly known, can be found almost anywhere in a home, the basement is particularly susceptible to its insidious growth. This is due to the prime conditions for its growth that are present in either an unfinished or a finished basement. Any area that has a high moisture content, poor ventilation, and is dark can be a breeding ground. It feeds on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content , such as wood, fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper.

This heavy, dense, black mold is most often caused by a long-term moisture problem. Foreclosed houses that have been empty for months are typically candidates for toxic mold. These spores, if ingested or inhaled, can cause a range of unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms in humans. Trying to kill or remove toxic black mold yourself is not advisable. If not handled properly, you could end up disturbing the black mold and releasing millions of spores and mycotoxins into the air. This could worsen you indoor air quality and cause damage to your home. Next, any water that’s already in the house will need to be removed.

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Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" that are spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold colonies when they find the right conditions. This study drew attention to how mycotoxins in indoor environments might impact health. However, when also considering spore fragments as well as whole spores, the amount of exposure was estimated to be 1,000x to 1,000,000x higher than previously thought.

Mold usually appears on walls, ceilings and floors of homes where moisture management is not at its best. In particular, basements, shower walls and windowsills are areas where mold commonly likes to live. Mold and mildew, for all intents and purposes, are essentially the same thing; mildew is generically used to describe many minor mold problems in the home, such as on shower tile grout. However, some molds can become highly toxic to people if left to prosper. Mold can appear in many shapes and colors, none of which accurately determines the actual species of mold. However, it does commonly present itself in various tints of black, white, green or blue, and in many combinations of these and other colors. Under this umbrella term are numerous species that include Stachybotrys chartarum, or toxic black mold.

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It often appears as black or greenish-black in color and can be found growing in leaky areas, old decaying wood, paper, and foods. chartarum requires constant moisture to maintain growth, so the quicker these areas are addressed, the less of a threat it will be. You may find black mold inhabiting your basement after a flood or around a roof leak. chartarum is so dangerous is that it produces a fungal by-product called a mycotoxin, which can be ejected into the air and inhaled by humans and animals. chartarum accounts for far more deaths in the U.S. than previously thought. chartarum can result in headaches, sneezing, coughing, rashes, and sometimes even blood poisoning. Flooding in houses causes a unique opportunity for mold growth, which may be attributed to adverse health effects in people exposed to the mold, especially children and adolescents.

It is also possible to have little to no symptoms of indoor air quality issues and still have black mold present. This is because stachybotrys is not easily airborne unless disturbed which is why it is so important to have an inspection done if you suspect it at all. However, mildew infections on plants can wipe out entire harvests. If mildew is growing on food in the home—such as leafy vegetables—throw them out as this can lead to toxic releases.

Stachybotrys Chartarum is a mold that grows and thrives on cellulose-rich building materials in damp environments. Thus, this type of black mold is considered to be a more toxic form of black mold, which makes it more dangerous to human exposure. On the one hand, there will always be mold in your home in the form of spores and pieces of mold cells. On the other hand, one should not let mold grow and multiply indoors. When this happens, your level of exposure can increase, thereby increasing the risk of potential health problems. Building materials, household goods and furnishings may also be damaged.

So your home may have mold growing in the bedroom walls and in your bathroom. Your bed could even be affected by mold, as well as other furniture and clothing. Look for mold wherever there may be water damage—behind and under cabinets, around plumbing fixtures and appliances, under carpet, inside walls, behind baseboards and in attics. Moisture can seep through concrete walls and floors and cause mold growth on or in walls, carpeting and materials stored in a basement. Mold also can grow behind furniture and in closets with outside walls. One that has received much media coverage recently is mold.

A basement is also often more neglected than other parts of the house, therefore allowing the mold a longer period to grow undetected. Black mold grows on materials that have a high cellulose content.

While some molds are beneficial, others may be a serious health threat. Molds are fungi that produce microscopic cells called spores.

I am now aware due to my own personal mold exposure in a rental house where the landlord neglected their responsibility and let the basement continue to flood with standing water for over seven years. Once we finally got an indoor air quality specialist in and I started moving boxes away from the walls, there was black mold everywhere. I have been sick for over a year with migraines, dizziness, stroke like symptoms, chronic fatigue, & the list goes on. So for those of us suffering from mold exposure and renting from a landlord who won’t take responsibility, the sky is falling!!! I have learned not to ever use bleach to clean mold, it makes the problem worse. Now that my 12 year old son is starting to be affected, I am going to see an attorney if my landlord will not compensate our family in some way for loss of wages & sickness due to mold exposure.

Whenever organic building materials like sheetrock, wood, and/or insulation get wet the possibility for growth is always there. The best thing that you can do to avoid these types of problems is take swift action. Many people try to take on dryout by themselves and end up paying for it later. Since mold can start growing in hours air drying will usually not suffice. Professional water damage restoration companies are equipped with industrial dehumidifiers and air movers that can dry out building material in a fraction of the time. If you are looking to save money on this service, you can try to handle the demolitian on your own and remove any saturated materials including but not limited to carpet and drywall. Mold can grow in your home wherever there’s an abundance of moisture, especially when it’s allowed to remain for extended periods of time.