While mold is virtually found everywhere and isn’t always harmful, there are particular types of mold that are considered to be dangerous as they can pose serious health risks if they’re present in your house.
The most dangerous molds are basically considered toxic and harmful or deadly to humans. A lot of people believe that toxic mold is a kind of mold that can be dangerous to one’s body and health. The most common known toxic mold is black mold. However, you have to take note that dangerous mold may appear in any kind of color.
Where Do Dangerous Molds Grow?
The most dangerous molds grow in the same places where every type of mold growth. Any area that’s dark and accumulates moisture can be a potential place for mold to grow. It may grow on any organic surface in your house or place of work as long as the condition is right.
The sources of moisture may be anything from flood to the high humidity level. The majority of common sources of moisture are from leaks in the house that enable water from the outside to come inside.
Since there are lots of mold species, it’s impossible to get rid of them all. Everyone is exposed to molds daily since it grows outside and inside. Mold is part of nature.
But, as a homeowner and health-conscious individual, you must know how to keep your home from being a breeding ground of mold. This is especially important if you are dealing with the dangerous types of mold.
Types of Dangerous Mold
Dangerous molds are divided into several categories, which include Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Every category includes a lot of mold species and they have a range of harmful qualities. The symptoms may range from deadly illnesses to allergy reactions. All of these mold categories may be found in homes and can grow indoors. It may also grow in sneaky places like the basement inside your walls and under your carpet.
1. Stachybotrys
It’s a very dangerous fungus, which is renowned as the black mold. The mold species under this category produce mycotoxins where they’re disturbed, causing a list of serious health infections.
Usually, they grow on the materials that contain cellulose and have remained damp for a long time. These surfaces include wood, ceiling tillers, cardboard, gypsum board, and some organic materials.
Stachybotrys is also linked to severe illnesses in young babies, which can compromise their immune systems. The elderly and small children are also susceptible to illnesses once they come in contact with Stachybotrys. Some of the symptoms associated with exposure to Stachybotrys are as follows:
- Pains and aches
- Issues on the central nervous system
- Chronic fatigue
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Eye irritation
- Sinus and nasal congestion
- Respiratory issues
2. Cladosporium
It’s a common mold and also considered as one of the dangerous types. This mold comes in black, gray, brown, and green colors and there are about 40 mold species that belong in this category.
The common gathering areas include carpets, painted walls, wallpapers, wood, and some damp organic surfaces. Cladosporium’s chronic cases may produce emphysema and pulmonary edema.
3. Penicillium
There are approximately 200 known Penicillium mold species that are found in the soil or air. Their primary purpose is to cause food and some perishable goods to spoil. Usually, their presence indicates high levels of moisture in the environment.
When it comes to indoors, they’ll cling to different damp surfaces including carpets, floors, walls, and wallpapers. The colors may range from green and white to yellow and blue. Such mold families have been associated with illnesses like asthma and nail fungus.
These can also cause infections on the kidneys, lungs, and liver.
4. Fusarium
It springs to life even at a low temperature and often spotted on water-damaged fabrics and carpeting. Its prolonged presence may cause asthma, allergic reactions, and serious respiratory conditions. Oftentimes, it’s orange in color.
5. Chaetomium
It is typically found in houses that have water damage. Chaetomium thrives in dark and wet environments including carpets, baseboards, wallpaper, and drywall.
This kind of mold is the same with black mold and there are times that it shares in the same environments. With the general signs of allergies including trouble breathing and red, watery eyes, the spores of Chaetomium may also cause particular autoimmune diseases and neurological damage.
6. Alternaria
Alternaria, a well-known mold that causes allergies, is present in high amounts in numerous climate zones during summer and spring season. Even if this kind of mold is commonly not found in building materials, it may be present in the air in your house and can also be found in canvas, electric cables, cardboard, and some textiles.
7. Aspergillus
Even if aspergillus spores are in the air that most people breathe daily, this kind of mold may be harmful to those who have poor immune systems. Being exposed to aspergillus can cause lung infections, allergic reactions, and a particular kind of infection renowned as aspergillosis.
What Should You Do If There’s a Dangerous Type of Mold in Your Home?
Since exposure to any dangerous type of mold is a serious health threat, it is essential that you get professional help if your home is contaminated with dangerous mold.
The first thing that you must do is to have your house professionally tested for any signs of toxic mold growth. This involves a thorough inspection for mold growth or water damage found on the materials in your house.
To check the airborne spores, an air quality test is also performed. Typically, this process takes sixty minutes or less to perform.
Then, the samples will be sent to a lab to determine if there are some dangerous types of mold in your house.
If necessary, you may call in a mold remediation service provider to get rid of the toxic mold in your house and get to the bottom of the water damage sources.
Once the mold was remediated, the clearance air test will be performed to make sure that the levels of mold in your house are safe.