Mold in homes can be a costly and dangerous problems, particularly when infestations of toxic black mold occur. The most common places to find mold it in your bathroom around your tubs and sinks or in your kitchens under the sinks and basements where it is usually wet. The symptoms and health effects of black mold exposure and black mold poisoning cover a wide range of health problems, but understanding the indicators can help keep you and your family safe.

Toxic black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, as it’s known to scientists, can release spores as it feeds on organic materials in common household materials like drywall, carpet, insulation or sub-flooring that have been exposed to moisture. These spores, if ingested or inhaled, can cause a range of unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms in humans.

The most common black mold symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all by symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning.

In particularly severe cases of prolonged exposure, black mold health effects can be more dangerous. Often compounded by allergic reaction to the black mold spores, these symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and bleeding the lungs and nose.

Toxic black mold can be costly to remove, and black mold exposure and black mold poisoning can cause a wide range of health problems, some of them severe. Understanding black mold symptoms and health effects can help you and your family identify these indicators and take swift action to protect your health and your home.

Black mold is most likely to appear in areas of the home that are particularly warm, humid and damp. Basements or crawlspaces that may have leaks or other sources of moisture are often susceptible to toxic black growth. Black mold is readily identifiable by its color. Whereas most other molds are green or gray in color, toxic black mold is a dark black.

To guard against the health risks associated with lack mold, preventing and controlling mold growth in the home is the best defense, Treating areas of existing mold growth should always be done while wearing respirator or mask rated for work with mold spores, and arms, legs and hands should be covered to prevent an allergic reaction.

Do you still have questions about mold? Have you recently spotted some mold in your home? If you answered yes to either, head to PlumbTile to ask our expert employees your questions. They will be able to answer and help point you in the right direction to rid your home and mind of mold.