Toxic Black Mold Health Effects

Mold are a type of fungi, that generally grow in the form of multicellular filaments known as hyphae. There are literally thousands of species of mold, but not all of them are dangerous. One of the most dangerous species of mold is Stachybotrys chartarum. Mold of this species produces mycotoxins, which is why they are commonly known as toxic black mold. As the name suggests, toxic black mold is black-green in color and is commonly found in damp homes. This mold is only found in moist areas because it requires moisture to grow. Toxic black mold can release spores which have harmful substances like mycotoxins. If one inhales them, one can face several health problems like inflammation of the lungs. Toxic mold can have more severe effects on people with weak immunity. If an immunocompromised person is in constant contact with black mold, mold spores can grow on his living tissue which can attack the respiratory tract. This was brief introduction of toxic black mold. Let us now take a look at the toxic black mold health effects.

Health Effects of Toxic Black Mold

Allergies
Allergies are the most common side effects of mold on humans. An allergy is caused when a body gives an abnormal reaction to a foreign object. Most of the allergic reactions are mild, but that to toxic black mold is extremely dangerous. The reason why black mold causes allergic reactions is the size of the mold spores; they are smaller than microns, which is why they can easily bypass the body's immune system and accumulate in the lungs and then pass in the blood. There are actually three types of allergic reactions caused by toxic mold viz. type 1 allergy, type 2 allergy and bronchopulmonary mycosis. Type 1 allergy is the mildest one. The symptoms of type allergy 1 are coughing, watery eyes, itching and head congestion. Type 2 allergy is characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest. The last type of allergy, bronchopulmonary mycosis is only seen in individuals suffering from asthma for a long time.

Itchy Eyes
The second most commonly seen effect is itchy eyes. Black mold spores can make the eyes itch, it can also cause redness of eyes. If you are in constant contact with mold, you are likely to experience itchiness around the eyes. Itchy eyes are also generally accompanied by coughing and wheezing. One easy way to test if the condition is caused by black mold is to move to rooms which do not have mold. If the condition is caused due to black mold, you will start feeling better after a couple of minutes. While doing mold removal, protect your eyes to avoid itchy eyes.

Skin Rash
A skin rash is caused only if you come in direct contact with black mold. The major symptom of skin rash will be redness around the skin that came in contact with black mold. The skin will also be very sensitive to light and it will feel as if it is burning, however there won't be any outer and easily visible symptom of it. On some occasions, there can be swelling and tenderness.

Other Health Effects
Besides the above mentioned health effects, certain other risks also exist. Skin irritation, irritation of mucous membrane, headache, etc. are some of them. Some rare diseases, like cancer and respiratory diseases can also be caused due to toxic black mold.

This was all about toxic black mold health effects. As you must have observed, toxic black mold health risks can be quite severe. So do not ignore the growth of black mold in your backyard, take preventive measures and also get rid of the present toxic black mold. And if you observe any of the above mentioned toxic black mold symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.