Mold spores are everywhere, and they are brought into the home by clothing, shoes, and gusts of air that carry them inside. There are always some mold spores in any home. The problem arises when that mold is allowed to make a home and procreate. Inactive mold can be spread suddenly due to disturbance during remodeling, after a water damage event or due to elevated humidity. A severe mold problem can cause decay in the home and can lead to unintended negative health consequences.
Mold will hide anywhere it is allowed, and it can sit dormant for a long time waiting for the right environment to grow. It may hide behind drywall, tile, flooring, or any number of surfaces. As long as the area remains dry, it is inactive and dormant. It will not cause health problems or decay. However, as soon as moisture is added to the area, you will have a big problem.
Once the mold is exposed to favorable growing environments, it will start growing again, but it will be a while before you notice it. You may note a damp, musty smell. You may actually see it appearing on the outside of the wall or another surface. As soon as you detect it, efforts should be made to stop it from growing again. The hidden danger is that mold can grow for quite a while until it becomes detectable. By the time it is found, it can affect entire areas of the building.
Black “Toxic” Mold
If you suspect you have black mold, which is also named toxic black mold, you should hire professional mold removers to take care of it properly. Black mold and other molds can contain mycotoxins that can cause health problems. Most of these health problems involve respiratory issues. They are especially dangerous to those already suffering from respiratory conditions or those who are immunocompromised. In rare but concerning cases, black mold has been named as the cause of the death of multiple people.
Test and Removal
Mold removal experts can test your walls by drilling small holes in them and testing the region behind the wall for mold. If mold is detected, the drywall, flooring, or other surface may have to be removed and disinfected. This is why you want to detect mold as soon as possible. It can be a huge project to properly remove a large amount of mold.
The biggest danger from moldthat is hidden in walls yet inactive is that it can become reactivated ifexposed to moisture. It is important to repair whatever problem allowed thespores to enter that region of the home and remedy it, so the risk ofreactivation is low.
Yes, according to the EPA article, “Can dead mold make you sick?” “Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Mold does not have to be alive to cause an allergic reaction. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.”
This is more easily seen under magnification. Active mold is soft and may smear when touched with a fine brush. It may also be slimy and damp. Inactive mold is dry and powdery and will seem to brush off materials readily.
However, it's also true that touching or inhaling those invisible mold spores can cause a range of unpleasant physical symptoms. Those symptoms tend to mimic allergic reactions and include: Congestion and increased sinus drainage.
Once moisture is available, spores become reactivated, as if it hit a restart button. The growth begins again as if it never stopped. Depending on the species, mold can stay dormant for years in the right circ*mstances. Certain species of mold can remain dormant for hundreds of years.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a kind of lung inflammation that occurs when people develop immune system sensitization to inhaled organic dust. Immune system sensitization is similar to an allergy. It can seem like pneumonia, but it does not get better with antibiotics for infection. Symptoms of HP can vary.
Some actively colonizing fungal species give off odors. Dead or dormant spores generally do not but are just as detrimental to human health. The absence of odor does not mean that there is no mold and odor does not mean that it is caused by fungal growth.
If you suspect an area has mold growth but cannot see it, a musty odor is a strong indication there could be hidden moisture causing the unwelcome visitors. The problem should be pinpointed and fixed as soon as possible to limit the spread of hazardous mold spores which can have serious long-term effects on health.
Mold spores don't die and will grow back and multiply after a long time of inactivity once moisture is introduced. They can still cause health complications and need to be removed before they start to grow back and spread throughout your home or business.
Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
Mold symptoms usually begin 2 to 9 hours following exposure, and these symptoms will likely remain on and off until the mold is officially removed. That said, certain variables may affect how long your mold symptoms will last.
A blood test, sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, can measure your immune system's response to mold by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
Mold needs water to grow; without water mold cannot grow. Mold also needs food, oxygen and a temperature between 40 degrees and 100 degrees F. Since mold decom- poses dead organic (once living) material it can grow on wood, the paper facing on gypsum board (drywall) and other materials made from wood.
Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots. If you find mold with any of these qualities in your home, don't get too close, and call a professional right away.
Further, research has shown that the mycotoxins (mold poisons), produced by some molds, are produced on the surface of the spore and continue to get into the air even if the mold is nonviable (dead).
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Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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