Mold has a negative effect on health. It doesn’t matter if you’re just buying a house, have lived in a house for years, or are looking at an industrial building, getting a building consultant Sydney to check the structure of the building and look for mold is a good idea.
In many cases mold is green, this is serious enough that it should be looked at properly. But, you may also come across black mold. The simple coloration of this type of mold can suggest it is far more dangerous.
What Is Black Mold
Its mold that is black, created this way by a pigment in the mold spores. It is not always toxic although that it the common perception.
Cladosporium is the most common type of black mode, research has shown that this type of mold is not toxic. You’ll find it inside and outside buildings. Although not toxic high levels of exposure or unusually dense patches of this mold can cause allergic reactions, especially if you already suffer from asthma.
Other black molds that are not toxic are Dresclera, Pithomyces, Alternaria, Ulocladium, Auerobasidium, and Stemphylium.
Black Toxic Mold
As the name suggests, this type of black mold is dangerous. Its technical name is Stachybotrys Chaartarum, you’ll notice it is a dark black color although occasionally it can be dark green. You often find this type of mold in attics and it is known to be highly toxic.
Black mold releases spores, known as mycotoxins into the air, you breathe them in and become infected.
In order for toxic black mold to appear the space needs to be moist and poorly ventilated.
This is why it is so common in loft spaces. If you remove the mold you’ll need to ventilate the space properly to prevent it from returning. It’s worth noting that the mold needs cellulose and low levels of nitrogen to flourish. Damp wood provides cellulose while the lack of ventilation allows the nitrogen levels to plunge.
The Health Issues
If you inhale black toxic mold you may experience health issues, the severity of these will depend on how long you’ve been exposed to the mold.
Symptoms that you’ve inhaled it include respiratory issues such as sneezing, coughing, eye irritation, and a mucus-filled throat. You’re also likely to experience headaches.
Preventing The Mold
The key to prevent any black mold growth is to monitor the environment. You need to maintain good airflow in order to keep nitrogen levels high. You also need to make sure there is no damp in any dark space at home. Dehumidifiers are great at removing moisture from the air. Alongside this, you’ll need to inspect the loft space regularly to ensure there are no leaks which are making the wood moist.
It won’t just give you a mold issue, you may also find wet rot which can cause serious structural issues. It’s best to spot these things early and deal with them by finding the source of the leak and fixing it.