Black Mold Removal - Is Black Mold Removal Necessary Or Just Hype

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Black mold has been widely publicized but should we worry about? Is black mold removal really necessary or is it all just a bunch of exaggerated media hype? If your house has a musty or earthy smell you have been ignoring maybe you shouldn't.



What Is Black Mold?
Black mold is from the genus Stachybotrys. It is an asexually reproducing fungi. There are about 50 species of this widely distributed mold, but Stachybotrys chartarum is the one commonly called toxic black mold.



Mold is everywhere and it would be wrong to think it is all bad. In the outdoor environment it breaks organic matter down. Without it dead trees and leaves would never break down and we would soon be up to our neck in garbage.



Mold produces mycotoxins as it grows and feeds. It does this to keep other organisms out of its food supply. These mycotoxins rarely cause problems outside.



But when mold gets into our homes it can have serious health repercussions, particularly for children, people with mold allergies and immunocompromised individuals. Black mold removal is called for when this mold is found in your house.



How Dangerous Is Stachybotrys?
Stachybotrys and Fusarium, another common household mold, produces mycotoxins called trichothecenes. Recently declassified US Army documents revealed these compounds were used to make biological warfare weapons.



These compounds cause skin rashes and blistering, nosebleeds, sore throat, chest pains,asthma, and bronchial hemorrhaging. These are the same symptoms people in mold infested homes have. Trichothecenes are quite potent and less than 10 mg per kg of body weight is fatal.



So is black mold removal necessary? Well, considering the army developed these weapons to kill people, would you want these toxins in your house? The truth is these are not the only household molds that can make people sick.



The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has somewhat played down the toxic black mold scare caused by the media yet even they state: "If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it."



What To Do Next
If you suspect you have a mold problem you need to do a visual mold inspection. Look for signs of condensation or water leaks or stains.



Before you can start the black mold removal process you must repair any water intrusion into your home. Otherwise the mold you remove will just grow back.



If you find mold it may be possible to remove it yourself if the area is small. If the mold area is larger than 10 square feet it is recommended you contact a mold remediation company. Because of the danger of spreading the infection and the health hazards involved the area needs to be contained and special protective clothing is needed to handle it.








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