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We educate our clients to know that ‘black’ is a color not the name of a mold and not all black or dark molds are ‘the’ black mold as it has become popularized. Black mold has developed a fear-based reputation as of late, however, there is a lot of mixed and often inaccurate information. Most all molds can cause health issues for some people, some of the time. There are several types of mold that are toxic to humans, inaccurately referred to as “toxic black mold”, or more specifically, Stachybotrys chartarum. The only way to know for sure is to have the mold inspected and tested by a mold expert. Whether or not the suspected black mold is toxic or not, a thorough mold inspection should be done followed by proper mold removal and mold remediation services to prevent mold from returning.
Searching online for information about black mold can be…well…terrifying. Terms like brain damage and heart failure litter the page and would make anyone want to set fire to their belongings if a bit of “black mold” is detected. The type of mold being talked about is called Stachybotrys chartarum and according to information from numerous, respected sources is potentially dangerous because it releases toxins into the air known as mycotoxins which can be extremely dangerous to all humans at high enough exposure levels.
Depending on the environment, toxic black mold can take on a number of different descriptions. Sometimes it can be a slimy greenish black while at other times it can dry out and look like other types of mold. Do not try identifying any type of mold on your own unless you are trained and certified on how to do so. The slightest disturbance can send thousands of mold spores into the air. Once these spores are on the move they can settle elsewhere in the home or even be breathed in which can result in health problems.
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They’re probably not that bad.
You see, showering causes humidity vapor that clings onto nearby surfaces. Bathroom ceilings, for example, become an easy, defenseless target — like a foul ball to the baseball fan staring at his phone.
Ambient, normal mold spores in the air can easily stick to the already humid surface. Sustained and repeating pattern of this humidity feed the landed spores, and it’s pretty easy for mold in the bathroom to grow, forming colonies that eventually become large enough to see. The caulk and grout in the shower have a job to keep water from reaching potential food source materials, such as drywall, framing and insulation. But because of constant water and movement of the tub/shower from standing and moving while someone is showering, these seals eventually give out or break down. But back to the real question: Are those black spots hazardous?
Assuming you have identified and completely resolved all moisture intrusion issues and the resultant mold growth was PROPERLY removed then there is no reason for mold to return and you can consider it permanently resolved.
While there are still some sources that advocate using bleach for mold clean-up, we do not recommend it in most situations and for several reasons.
In published resources chlorine bleach does NOT effectively kill mold, especially on porous surfaces (drywall, wood, etc.) and actually promotes regrowth by adding water to the material and changing surface texture. Bleach can be an effective sanitizer and stain remover from non-porous surfaces but not so great at killing/removing mold. Popular stain sealer paints like KILZ, etc are also not effective if you have not first removed the moisture source and PROPERLY removed the mold. If the offending components have not been resolved it will likely come right through the sealer paint.
It’s true. There may be mold inside your walls. From a professional, mold expert’s point of view, even if there is mold, you may be justified in leaving it right where it is.
According to an article written by a leading indoor air quality expert, there are certainly situations that justify letting mold sit in places that it is unwanted.
There are a few specific situations that must be in place to follow this course of action, however. First, the source of moisture that caused the mold to grow must be identified. This is extremely important and not always easy. The source of water and moisture must be identified and permanently resolved. In addition, the area must be completely dry and be validated with air samples in the living space area that there is NOT an abnormal mold condition detected.
As mentioned, you DO have mold in your house but if you keep living conditions in check it cannot generally complete the growth recipe and become productive.
If you have a mold growth issue in your home then you also have (or have had) a moisture intrusion issue in your indoor environment. There are many potential sources for high moisture indoors.
The answer is ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘maybe’. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s website (CDC) nobody knows for sure how many species of mold exist but estimates range from the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Other sources cite millions of mold spore species may exist. Whether all or any of these mold species negatively impacts human (or animal) health is a varied topic of conversation and ongoing research, but according to a large and growing list of articles, documents and publications from numerous scientific, medical, industrial and government organizations there appear to be strong correlation between exposure to indoor mold and health responses. A few of the numerous sources are CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
Yes, you do! But that is the wrong question. Mold is found in virtually ALL indoor environments, because as already mentioned it is a normal and necessary organism.
There are some specialized, high-tech environments that need to be absolutely mold-free but normal, healthy homes and businesses will always have some levels of certain molds found indoors. We just do NOT want most mold growing or producing indoors, which is often an indicator of moisture intrusion indoors, and at this point IS a problem that needs to be investigated and resolved.
Mold is an integral part of our normal environment and is a member of the fungal kingdom. We can’t get rid of it, and in fact we don’t want to.
It actually plays a vital role in our world and keeps the build-up of biological matter in check. It’s job is to break down dead waste (plants, trees, animals, other food sources). It has also been recognized for at least 4,000 years as something we don’t want growing inside our homes. In the Jewish/Christian Old Testament Bible, you can find mold inspection and remediation protocols for mold growth in our homes. So, while it is an age-old organism that we need in our world, we’ve always known mold growth in any home or business isn’t good.
If you want to discover the chances of abnormal mold conditions and/or mold growth in your home or workplace a moisture & mold inspection by a properly certified mold inspector is likely in order
Call 844-360MOLD (6653) to speak to a certified professional today.
Maybe, Maybe not! Contrary to the method and claim of most other remediation companies that use toxic, chemical killer products our product and process is often able to recover building materials such as drywall and carpet from having to be demolished and replace & refinished.
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