On the basis of current research, black mold exposure is no more dangerous than any other type of mold exposure. It is impossible to avoid exposure to mold — the spores are almost everywhere in the atmosphere. In high amounts or in people with allergies, exposure to any mold may cause allergy symptoms.
For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath.
Effects of Touching Mold
Although most mold isn't toxic, the toxins released by some molds are known to cause skin irritations, rashes, and even fungal infections if an open wound is exposed. Sinus infections and upper respiratory infections can also be linked back to mold exposure.
How harmful is black mold? All types of mold can affect people who have mold allergies. However, black mold isn't any more dangerous than any other types of mold.
Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed.
Don't Touch Mold. Some varieties of mold are serious and infectious. These can cause skin rashes, irritation, and fungal infections on open wounds. Even further, one should never touch mold with bare hands or get it on your skin.
Toxic black mold mycotoxins can be breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through a person's skin or eyes. Eventually the mycotoxins find their way into the person's blood.
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.
Homeowners can handle cleaning about 10 square feet (roughly 3 feet by 3 feet) of black mold on their own. If the patch is small enough, a combination of bleach, water, scrubbing, and ventilation should do the trick. Before treating mold on your own, prioritize ventilation and protective gear.
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.
Help stop the spread of germs by washing your hands often, especially during key times listed below. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
So, if you are sleeping in a damp or mouldy room, you're spending about a third of your time inhaling dangerous mycotoxins spores. Frequently inhaling these spores leads to a plethora of health problems for both healthy and vulnerable people.
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.
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.
People who live or work in buildings with black mold are at risk for developing hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an immune system disorder that causes chronic lung inflammation. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an allergic reaction that occurs after sustained exposure to a particular irritant or allergen.
Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth.
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days.
There's no link to inhaled Stachybotrys chartarum mycotoxins and deadly diseases. But there are risks for people with allergies, asthma, and other hypersensitivities. There is no evidence that black mold causes symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, an inability to focus, or a headache.
Bacteria mold spores will come off your fingers quite safely with soap and water, but that's just non-living object. To touch your face, or God forbid, anything inside you, you need to let your actual flesh air out in a natural atmosphere a bare minimum of 5 hours to be able to safely touch your other flesh.
Patches of dry and scaly skin. Sensitivity. Discoloration (usually pink or red) Bumpy texture in the area of irritation.
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.
Mold Removal
Scrub mold off hard surfaces such as window sills and tile with detergent and water and dry completely with a rag. For more porous surfaces, like drywall, just use a rag so you don't damage the surface with more abrasive cleaners.