Mold is everywhere, believe it or not. You can clean your house from top to bottom every day, and the mold would remain. The only effective way to tell if mold is a problem in your home is to have it thoroughly tested.
Mold might seem tiny and inconsequential but it can cause severe illness or allergies without you even realizing that this is happening. Mold becomes harmful when all of the separate microscopic fungi team up and work as a colony. In fact, mold is the reason why food rots over time.
Some mold types play an important role in biodegradation, which is the process of chemically dissolving organic materials back into natural elements that are helpful to the environment. Some are actually used to produce foods, beverages and medicines. Mold can be useful, but this does not mean that we should forget how dangerous it can be.
Out in nature you are likely to come across mold growing on dead organic matter. At home, you are most likely to “see” them on decaying fruits, vegetables, food or milk inside your refrigerator. Any area that is damp, warm and dark is likely to be an attractive habitat for mold, so you can expect it in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and plumbing spaces.
Your home may contain black molds, bathroom molds, ceiling molds, wall molds, HVAC vent molds and molds in dust. Not all molds are toxic, by the way. A leaky tap can be the catalyst for mold infestations, so stop possible growth by reducing moisture as much as possible.
Dust is molds transportation of choice within your home. Itchy, watery eyes and sneezing are signs that there may be mold in the air. If you suffer from chronic coughing, headaches, rashes, difficulty in breathing, sinus problems, and nasal blockage, you are probably in the presence of mold.
In general, mold affects children more severely than adults, and Penicillium is particularly dangerous. There is a serious risk of your child developing asthma and other respiratory problems if they are exposed for a long time. Penicillium exposure will make your child sneeze uncontrollably for no apparent reason.
When in large quantities (that are still virtually invisible to an average person), mold can cause allergic reactions and a number of respiratory problems even to healthy adults. When mold is left to grow it can produce harmful mycotoxins. Some studies reveal that prolonged exposure to toxic mold can be so harmful that, in fact, there are recorded cases of neurological damages and deaths caused by over exposure to too much mycotoxin.
Some people are more likely to experience mold-induced ailments than others. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because you are not being affected - your family might still be at risk. People who have existing lung problems will be prone to mold-induced sicknesses and allergies.
If you have reasons to suspect mold growing all over your house, you can do simple mold testing yourself. All you have to do is eliminate potential mold habitats and clean your home properly. If you find mold, get a mold testing kit to determine what kind of mold is present, and hire house cleaners.
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