There are various kinds of molds all over the world but one of the most toxic may easily be thriving in your home. Black mold is a common enough fungus that it can grow almost any place where conditions are optimal. The toxicity of this kind of mold can cause several different health issues and may even lead to a fatality. It is important that professionals are the ones to handle mold testing as well as mold remediation because black mold is very dangerous. In Texas, mold experts are trained and experienced with different kinds of ways and means of assessing a home and checking the possible places where black mold might grow. It is important, however, that the home owner is not close by when the mold professionals try to find places where mold might be thriving. The reason behind this is that mold spores can fly out at any time and attach themselves to wherever they land.
Symptoms of Black Mold
Although a mold colony starts out quite small, the effects of having a black mold colony in the same house can be devastating. This is because the people may not have any idea that it is mold poisoning and blame other factors. With this in mind, it is important to know and understand black mold symptoms and what they represent. The following symptoms may or may not be all present but most should be there.
– persistent coughing
– sneezing
– itchy eye lids and/or red eyes
– itchy nose
– rashes
– a runny nose
– watery eyes
– chronic fatigue
– headaches
– difficulty breathing (extreme cases)
– allergic reactions
– irritability due to allergic reaction
– hay fever like symptoms
While some of the symptoms of this kind of mold are pretty common and may initially be thought of as a mere allergic reaction, the combination of the symptoms should be able to tip a competent doctor regarding what kind of ailment it actually is. When a person has been exposed to black mold, some or most of the symptoms listed above should manifest within a few days. Prolonged exposure can result to more intense symptoms and even perhaps a fatality, if the mold spores are inhaled consistently.
Preventing Exposure
Because mold colonies usually start and thrive in dark and damp areas, chances of the home owner actually spotting one is slim. This is because some individuals have no idea what to look for even if it is already staring at them in the face. The following possible places which may be prone to fungal growth include, but are not limited to:
– under kitchen and bathroom sinks
– basements
– in between drywall
– underneath floorboards (especially if the house has been flooded)
– on bathroom tiles
– close to windows or window sills
– inside cabinets and closets
– on damp clothing or fabric
– ceilings
– shoes which have not been used for a long time
– areas with plants
– areas with high condensation or humidity
In Austin, Texas, mold specialists have a systematic way of dealing with the problem of an infestation. More often than not, the professionals will recommend detecting areas with mold, testing what kind of mold is present in the house or building, removing the colony upon the agreement of the home owner, rehabilitation of the area which may have been damaged by mold or affected by the removal of the cellulose material on which the mold grew on.
