10 important warning signs of

Black Mold Exposure

Your health Depends on it

What is black Mold?

If you are thinking that black mold sounds like something you wouldn’t want in your house, you would be right. Toxigenic black mold, otherwise known as Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra, can quickly infiltrate a home and pose a danger to humans.

Black mold is toxigenic because it produces mycotoxins.

Black mold spores that make their way indoors can deposit in areas of excessive moisture, where water damage or a leak has occurred. Black mold spores found in these vulnerable areas will grow and multiply. Wet building materials like cardboard, woodtile, and paper products are a feeding ground for toxigenic black mold. Mold growth may also be found on paint, wallpaper, dust, drywall, insulation, carpet, and upholstery.

Black mold most commonly grows in the U.S. in areas of a home with poor circulation, which supports fungal growth in damp conditions. The CDC tells us, “Molds are very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere indoors where there is moisture.”

In order for black mold to infiltrate, a few events must take place. Black mold spores can be found inside and outside. They can easily enter your house through openings like windows, doors, and heating and air-conditioning vents. Black mold spores can also move inside by attaching to pets and people— typically on bags, clothes, and shoes.

Black mold spores that make their way indoors can deposit in areas of excessive moisture, where water damage or a leak has occurred. Black mold spores found in these vulnerable areas will grow and multiply. Wet building materials like cardboard, woodtile, and paper products are a feeding ground for toxigenic black mold. Mold growth may also be found on paint, wallpaper, dust, drywall, insulation, carpet, and upholstery.

The CDC states that black mold requires “constant moisture” for its growth.

Toxigenic black mold found in damp areas usually appears slimy with a wet layer on top. However, if the moisture source feeding black mold begins to dry up, black mold can become dry and powdery in appearance. There are a number of dark colored molds that look similar to black mold. A mold expert can sample the mold infestation to confirm Stachybotrys growth.

Black mold can be dangerous. If left untreated,it can cause a number of health issues related to:

According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association, certain groups of people are more likely to see immediate health side effects from mold exposure. Pregnant women, infants and children, the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions are susceptible to severe side effects.

WHO guidelines illustrate the severity of unregulated indoor mold exposure,

“Indoor air pollution – such as from dampness and mold, chemicals and other biological agents – is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.”

The WHO estimates that indoor dampness affects anywhere from

10%-50% of indoor environments in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and India

Indoor air pollution of this kind varies by region. In areas near water, close to the coast or river valleys, the likelihood of dampness increases.

10 Serious Side Effects
of Black Mold Exposure

The health side effects of black mold exposure may differ, depending on the extent of the infestation and personal medical history.

Side effects of black mold exposure include:

Allergies

Allergies are one of the most prevalent side effects of mold exposure with symptoms like respiratory issues, sinus congestion, eye irritation, dry cough, skin rashes, and nose and throat irritation.

Allergies

The CDC confirms a possible association between asthma development in some children and early mold exposure; risk increases among children genetically susceptible to asthma.

circulatory damage

When mycotoxins from black mold are ingested, absorbed, or inhaled through the eyes and skin, they reach the bloodstream. Long-term toxin exposure in the bloodstream can cause blood clotting issues, heart damage, and external or internal hemorrhaging.

compromised immunity

Toxigenic black mold releases mycotoxins that can suppress the immune system. A weakened or compromised immune system leaves a person open to recurring infection and illness.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

This uncommon condition, similar to pneumonia, is likely to occur in vulnerable individuals after short-term to long-term mold exposure. HP is characterized by lung inflammation triggered by an immune reaction to airborne mold particles.

Infection

Serious infection is likely to occur following mold exposure in the immunocompromised or those suffering from chronic lung disease.

irritation

Even in individuals who aren’t allergic to mold, mold exposure in a home can cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation. Black mold mycotoxins are known to irritate airways and skin.

respiratory illness

The Institute of Medicine has discovered limited evidence associating damp environments with lower respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and the development of asthma.

pulmonary hemorrhage

While further research is needed, the CDC mentions several reports of toxigenic mold exposure linked to rare conditions like pulmonary hemorrhage.

sick building syndrome

Sick building syndrome is described by the EPA as a health condition that afflicts occupants of a damp or poorly ventilated building with non-specific symptoms of illness, like fatigue, headache, and eye, throat, or skin irritation.

10 Important Warning Signs of Black Mold Exposure

Depending on where water damage or dampness has occurred, black mold growth may not be visible. The CDC states that the first indication of a mold infestation may be a noticeable moldy smell or even sudden physical symptoms without a known cause.

Protect your health against black mold poisoning by watching for common symptoms like:

1

Aches and pains

Black mold spores that have been absorbed by the body will cause mild to severe muscle pain; symptoms include aches, pain, fatigue, and cold-like symptoms such as fever and nausea.

2

Allergic reaction

Early mold exposure may trigger allergy-like symptoms, such as itchy skin, sneezing, and headaches.

3

Chronic sickness

If you find yourself going to the doctor for that same sinus infection again and again, black mold could be to blame. Chronic bronchitis is another short-term symptom of black mold exposure.

4

Cognitive disturbances

Black mold exposure has been associated with disorientation, difficulty concentrating, memory failure, and even memory loss in very severe cases, such as in those with weakened immune systems, children, and the elderly.

5

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis that affects eye health is a common early warning sign of black mold exposure as the immune system releases histamines to fight off environmental toxins; watch for symptoms of red, watery, itchy, irritated eyes.

6

Drowsiness

Malaise and drowsiness are hallmark signs of early black mold exposure; as the immune system attempts to fight off mycotoxins, drowsiness and discomfort may result.

7

Digestive distress

Common symptoms of digestive distress related to mold exposure include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.

8

Difficulty breathing

Those who are already vulnerable to mold exposure, like children with asthma or the elderly, may have difficulty breathing or see a sudden onset in asthma attacks.

9

Unexplained illness

In some severe cases, black mold poisoning can show up as a number of perplexing symptoms that are difficult to diagnose; chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been misdiagnosed in some patients.

9

Rashes

Rashes are likely to occur within 48 hours after direct mold exposure, if black mold has been inhaled or touched; symptoms include dry, red, flaky, itchy skin.

Visible black mold should be dealt with right away— by calling a mold removal professional or by using DIY methods for milder cases. Mold that is not visible may still release a pungent moldy smell. If you notice any strange odors in confined areas of your home that may be damp or affected by water damage, it’s time to investigate.

Your family’s health depends on it.

How to Recover from Black Mold Exposure

If you suspect that you have been exposed to black mold in your home, it’s important to contact your doctor. It is equally important to deal with any water damage that may be promoting mold growth. This is the time to call in reinforcements— large quantities of black mold may be difficult to remove safely without releasing more mycotoxins into your home.

Once mold has been contained in your home, health rehabilitation is the next step.

Your doctor can work with you to assess symptoms that may have occurred after black mold exposure. As described above, many run-of-the-mill mold exposure symptoms can easily be confused for exhaustion, allergies, or cold and flu symptoms. In reality, black mold infestation may be the cause of a number of chronic health issues that do not respond to medical treatment.

Lab tests are available to check for elevated Stachybotrys IgA levels in blood following black mold exposure. However, not everyone exposed to black mold may show elevations; further medical examination may be needed to confirm toxigenic symptoms.

Michigan State University College of Human Science recommendations for toxigenic mold testing are as follows,

“Testing should be limited to standard diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function and radiographic studies. Skin testing for fungus or measurement of IgE antibodies such as those in the Midwest Allergy Panel and/or IgG antibodies in the Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Panel are helpful in documenting exposure when the results are positive.”

your physician may prescribe drugs to treat symptoms of mold exposure, such as :

Cholestyramine (CSM)

Mycotoxin binding agent.

Activated charcoal or bentonite clay

Natural binding agent, may be taken with CSM.

Antifungal drugs

Including plyenes, triazoles, imidazoles, and allylamines.

Naltrexone

Opioid receptor antagonist often prescribed at low doses.

Specialty resources for symptoms of black mold exposure can be found at the American Board of Environmental Medicine and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine websites.

Seeking medical attention is always recommended to determine the extent of the damage caused by short-term and long-term mold exposure.

For milder cases presenting as fatigue or allergies, you may be able to treat toxigenic symptoms with natural remedies, including probiotics and compounds found in garlic, ginger, and goldenseal. Garlic is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal with the ability to detoxify; ginger is an antibacterial, antifungal decongestant; goldenseal can be used for a short time as an antifungal immune booster.

Even the mildest of toxigenic black mold symptoms should not be taken lightly or brushed off as seasonal allergies. Long-term black mold exposure can cause serious health complications.

It’s a common mistake to think that once black mold has been removed, you’re home free. Black mold symptoms can last anywhere from days to years, depending on the infestation and the individual. After mold has been eradicated, spores can linger in the air. If symptoms persist after black mold removal, contact your doctor right away.

Sources:

  1. “Facts about Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. “AIHA Protecting Worker Health.” Facts About Mold.
  3. “DAMPNESS AND MOULD.” World Health Organization Europe.
  4. “Facts about Mold and Dampness.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  5. “Mold Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – What kinds of health problems may be linked to mold? What are symptoms and signs of mold allergy?” MedicineNet.
  6. “Recognise Black Mold Symptoms & Find Out How you can Treat them?” MoldGeek.
  7. “Black Toxic Mold: 5 Warning Signs Your Home is Infested.” Answers.com.
  8. “Toxic Mold.” oem.msu.edu.