Check for a dark black or brown color, musty smell, a slimy or chalky texture, and water damage. Those are the signs of toxic
It's dangerous enough that our government and health officials warn the public about the harmful effects of black mould. The negative health effects of black mould include: Respiratory problems. Allergic reactions, including watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose.
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.
Exposure to mold can cause health effects in some people. Mold spores are always found in the air we breathe, but extensive mold contamination may cause health problems. Breathing mold can cause allergic and respiratory symptoms.
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss.
Black mold is a fungus that may cause your immune system to react. Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation. It rarely causes serious illness or death but may worsen asthma symptoms.
Urine mycotoxin tests are ideal for testing yourself (and your family members) for mycotoxin exposure. They're absolutely painless, totally non-invasive, and incredibly easy to use. With just a small amount of urine, our experts will be able to spot up to 15 different illness-causing mycotoxins.
People who live, work, or go to school in moldy buildings complain of pain, fatigue, increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive defects such as memory loss.
Some of the richest dietary sources of glutathione are spinach, avocados, asparagus, and okra. In addition to glutathione, quercetin and N-acetylcysteine support mold detox. If you're recovering from mold exposure, you may benefit from a concentrated dose of glutathione through supplement pills, inhalation or IV.
The shower is usually where mold and mildew grows, so depending on how often you use it, you'll want to clean it at least once a week.
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A hot, steamy shower can feel great, but you may be getting covered in a daily dose of bacteria that could make you sick. Take off any showerhead and you can see the bacteria. It's called nontuberculous mycobacteria, or NTM.
Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days. Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.
Stuffy or runny nose. Eye irritation (watering, red eyes, itching) Sore, dry throat. Dry cough or sneezing.
Mold toxicity can manifest in different ways in people. It's more commonly linked to physical problems, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headaches, but research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way, too. This includes brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia.
Testing for Mold Poisoning
The doctor will take a health assessment and health history, and will order blood testing. Antibodies in the patient's body will be checked for a reaction to mold and to other allergens and poisons. The severity of the reaction will also be determined.
Your doctor will need to take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab for testing. They will check to see how the antibodies in your system react to various mold species, black mold included. When they test your blood, they will also look for toxins that indicate mold poisoning.
Black mold, as the name implies, is often dark in color. When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
Porous items, such as carpet, linens, drywall and other similar items, that you find submerged in floodwater or covered with mold most likely need to be thrown away. Non-valuable papers should be discarded after water damage. For irreplaceable items, such as your parents' wedding album, consider freeze-drying.
Getting rid of black mold with white vinegar
'Bleach will kill mold spores growing across a hard surface, but if the mold has extended below the surface, then white vinegar is the best choice,' she says. 'The vinegar will penetrate to kill the mold and mildew at the root, preventing it from regrowing.
If left untreated, certain toxigenic molds can even give off cancer-causing poisons, such as Aflatoxins (a type of Mycotoxin), which have been linked to liver cancer. Although it's rare for death to occur from mold exposure, it can happen.