Black Mold Health Risks and Effects
Perhaps you have looked at the damp or dank parts of your house or apartment and noticed a rather unusually colored area growing. Mold is far from uncommon in any area that receives enough moisture, but unlike a normal light green colorization, black mold can be hazardous or even deadly to homeowners. This is because black mold will create spores that easily spread through the air and into your respiration system. While most mold creates similar spores – mold is a living matter after all and has to grow – they pose no health hazards and can be left well enough alone. Indeed, you may be breathing in these spores as we speak, for they are common in nearly any building atmosphere. Black mold health effects, on the other hand, make them a priority for any homeowner to eradicate if detected.
Nearly all toxic black mold health risks center around the inhalation problems that will occur with a buildup of the toxins. Just like smoking a single cigarette will not cause lung cancer, coming in contact with black mold in one occasion will not pose health concerns. When there are multiple sources, however, or if someone comes into contact for an extensive period of time, the buildup of spores in the lungs can have serious effects.
Short term exposure to these spores, from staying the night in a leaky apartment or hotel, will likely not cause much more than watery eyes, sneezing, throat irritation, and perhaps slight nausea. Your system will purge these spores quickly and most people will feel better as soon as they take a breath of fresh air. With more and more inhalation of the mold, the health effects of black mold grow more serious. By affecting the mucus in your mouth, in can cause difficulty breathing, hoarseness, loss of taste, and chronic coughing.
The greatest black mold health effects come from allergies and young children. An allergic reaction to black mold can be fatal, with bleeding in the lungs. A young child exposed to the mold may not have the antibodies necessary to fight off infection and could develop life long breathing problems from exposure.