Black mold symptoms exposure regroup a wide range of health problems. But before discussing that long exhaustive list of symptoms, let’s quickly review what causes black mold.
Quick Overview of Black Mold
The term black mold is often associated with some black or greenish black spots present on water damaged surfaces such as ceilings, wall-boards, floors or carpets.This fungus belongs to the Stachybotrys type of molds (also referred to as Stachybotrys chartarum). Black mold is commonly called toxic black mold or toxic mold. We will use these different terms in this article.
Black molds are considered harmful to your health and well-being because they release spores (mycotoxins) through the air. Then these airborne lightweight spores could enter the human body through ingestion of contaminated food or inhalation of air. Toxic black molds play a leading role in mold poisoning but they are not the only type of mold responsible for health problems.
Black mold are usually a result of house plants; wet clothes; humidifiers; defective or not properly installed dryers machines; steam from shower/bath/cooking; plumbing leaks; leaky roofs; damp basement/crawl spaces or flooding. But keep in mind that all black molds are not dangerous and not all toxic mold are black.
Black mold infestation are found in damp dark corners, with bad air circulation and lack of sunlight. This is the perfect recipe to stimulate the growth mold in general (bathrooms, kitchen, closets and basements).
It is important to note that no medical studies have confirmed any links between black mold exposure and cancer nor lung disease. It is also important to mention that not all mold releases spores in the air but not matter the type of mold, its presence reveal a humidity issue in the area and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Health Risks of Black Mold Exposure
The health complications from exposure to black mold different from one person to the other. However, black mold symptoms exposure seems to affect the demographic most at risk groups:
- People with weakened immune systems
- People suffering from chronic respiratory disease (asthma)
- People suffering from allergies
- Seniors
- Infants and children
- Pregnant women
Toxic black mold may not cause the reaction but it could trigger, develop, or worsen your symptoms. And if the infestation is in your household or workplace, you will be exposed for an extended time and start showing some symptoms. That is the reason why any signs of mold infestation must be removed and prevented from re-incurring.
Mold illness, mold toxicity or toxic mold syndrome are all terms used for people experiencing black mold symptoms exposure.
Common Mold Poisoning Symptoms
Experiencing any of the following symptoms do not necessarily mean you have been exposed to mold. The list present known conditions seen on people exposed to mold. Should you have any concerns about toxic mold poisoning or all of a sudden have any of the symptoms below in a persistent basis, you must consult with a health professional.
The most common symptoms which are triggered by exposure to toxic mold in humans include (in alphabetical order):
- abdominal pain,
- abnormal fevers,
- acne,
- allergy symptom,
- altered immunity,
- anaphylaxis,
- anxiety,
- appetite loss,
- attention problems,
- asthma,
- balance problems,
- blood pressure irregularities,
- body aches,
- burning mouth,
- cancer,
- chest pain,
- central nervous system disorders,
- chills,
- choking and triglycerides
- cholesterol irregularities,
- chronic fatigue,
- coated tongue,
- concentration problems,
- cough,
- dandruff problems,
- dementia,
- depression,
- diarrhea,
- difficulty in swallowing,
- digestion problems,
- dirt-like taste in the mouth,
- disorientation problems,
- dizziness,
- droopy or puffy eyes,
- early menopause,
- easy bruising,
- eye irritation (watery, reddened or burning eyes),
- face flushing,
- fetal development problems,
- fevers,
- food allergies,
- frequent bloody nose,
- frequent infections,
- hair loss,
- hallucinations,
- headaches,
- hearing,
- hot flashes and night sweats,
- hypersensitivity to mold,
- impotence,
- infertility,
- irritability,
- itchy mucous membranes,
- itchy nose,
- lethargy,
- liver disease,
- memory problems,
- metallic taste in the mouth,
- miscarriage,
- mood swings,
- multiple sclerosis,
- nausea,
- nose bleeding,
- nose irritation
- numbness in the limbs
- numbness in the face,
- open lacerations,
- open sores on the head,
- physical weakness,
- pitting up mucous,
- pulmonary hemorrhage,
- reflexes problems,
- respiratory disorders,
- runny nose,
- seizures,
- sensitivity to odors/smells,
- sinus cough,
- sinus headache,
- skin flushing,
- skin rashes,
- skin sores,
- sneezing fits,
- spleen pain,
- swallowing trouble,
- swollen lymph nodes,
- systemic candida infection,
- throat,
- tremors,
- vision problems,
- vomiting,
- weakness
black mold symptoms treatment
The list of symptoms is so long that it is hard to have only one treatment for all of them. Also depending on the severity of the reaction, different treatment might be prescribed. Fortunately, there are many medicinal ways to threat most of the symptoms at different level of severity.
Your physician will first perform some tests (skin prick test or blood test) to diagnosed if it the symptom is related to the toxic mold illness. Then he may recommend decongestants, nasal corticoseroids, antihistamines or immunotherapy based on your results (over-the-counter drugs may be prescribed to reduce the symptom effects on your health).
A detoxification specialist may help you with a body detoxification to reduce symptoms for severe symptoms. This treatment will eliminated the harmful mold spores from your body and prevent any damages.
Finally it will be crucial to avoid being exposed to the toxic mold, as much as possible, by having it permanently removed from your environment. This may not be done easily depending on the black mold infestation. For the sake of your health, isolate the area and find another temporary place until the black mold issue is resolved.
How do you know if the mold you been exposed to is toxic or not?
As a general rule of thumb, if you see mold it just need to be addressed. There is no need to test it as the evidence of problem is right in front you (the mold). However, some people may want to know if the mold is toxic (for their peace of mind) due to some of the symptoms. Or the infestation might be so small, and you confirm that there is not more hiding under the surface but still would like to the mold type. Or, if you are leaving in a rented place, you may want to do some test before approaching your landlord for a resolution. There are many different reasons why you would like to do a test even after seeing mold.
Well good news, there are many testing methods available. Below is a list of your options. These type of tests are DIY kits (well almost, keep reading). You will have to take sample of the mold by following the kit’s instructions. Then the next step depends on the specific kit. It’s important to verify the list of mold type covered by the kit as not all methods catch toxic mold.
1. Mold sampling kit
There are many DIY Mold Test kits in the market but we recommend the following product:
We like the DIY Mold Test, Mold Testing Kit because it test for many types of mold compare to other kits that only test for 2 or 3 of them. With the quick start guide included, you will collect 3 samples and send them to their lab. While the lab fees are included in the price (except for Texas residents), you will have to pay for the shipping. You also get a mold inspection booklet. After their analysis, the lab will send you an email with a data report and based on the results, you will take the appropriate action. The results are usually quick and past customer seems happy with the level of details received in the report and the company’s customer service. Keep in mind that this kit is not designed to test for airborne molds.
2. Petri dish
These are also DIY Mold Test kits. Instead of tape sampling test (like above) you will have petri dishes to collect the sample. Following the instructions, you will place the petri dishes in different rooms. To goal is to catch mold spores. Then once again, you will send the samples to a laboratory for analysis.
For this type of test, you could go with the following product:
Once again, it is easy to use with simple instructions. The benefits of this kit compare to the previous one is the ability to collect airborne samples. It comes with a pre-paid first class return envelope to send back mold samples to the Laboratory but on the down side, you will have to pay another $40.00 lab analysis fee (AIHA Accredited Lab). The reports will be send within 7 working days via email or text through their mobile App. Customer were also please with the free expert consultation to explain the results.
However sometimes, you may not want to wait for a the lab results. Some of you may which to have an immediate response. We do have a product to recommend in this case and it is nicely priced:
The Healthful Home 5-Minute Mold Test does test for the most dangerous molds, such as the toxic black mold, 32 mold types responsible for illness, including mold allergens. This is a great product because you get the results instantly (just think of a home pregnancy test kit). There is no waiting for test labs nor waiting for the 48 hours time frame for mold to grow on the petri dish. The technology behind it is quite simple, they look for mold spores/particulates in your house dust using methods recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This product actually brings the lab to your home. You also get a free consultation and you still have the possibility to send a sample to their lab for a second opinion should you want to confirm your results. So you get 2 tests (one for black mold, one for other type of molds), an all-in-one collection swab and the pre-stamped mail lab confirmation kit (request card and sterile swabs). Obviously you also get the instructions on how to complete the test in 3 easy steps and a video is available on the company’s website.
The decision on which kit to choose between these DIY mold test kits is yours. It really come down to are you willing to wait for your lab results or do you want to have an idea of your results immediately.
Finally, keep in mind that these kits should not replace the services of a professional mold inspector if the infestation is serious. These mold sample tests should be only seen as first steps in your investigation.
How to remove mold and preventing it from coming back?
Removing and preventing mold can be accomplished in different ways. Please read our detailed article on how to remove black mold from your house. And if you feel uneasy about DIY jobs then hire a local professional.
But getting rid of mold is only half the battle because you must also make sure that they won’t come back. And to do so, you must keep an healthy and safe environment. This can be accomplish in a two steps approach:
- Keeping the air in your house purified
- Keeping humidity out of your house
Depending on your budget, you can find different solutions. Our recommendations are the following:
The air cleaning system is really important in keeping good air quality in your home. It will also protect your family health by eliminating mold spores but also airborne bacteria, germs and viruses. If you experience recurring symptoms listed above, you should definitely invest in an air cleaning system.
We recommend the 4-in-1 Germ Guardian air purifier.
This unit:
- capture allergens (household dust, pet dander, mold spores and plant pollen) using the HEPA filter
- capture odors (from pets, smoking and cooking) using the charcoal filter
- kills mold/germs using the UV-C light
- reduce volatile organic compounds using the Titanium Dioxide (TIO2) treatment combines with the UV-C
It is suited for rooms up to 167 sq. feet and also has a ultra-quiet mode. Finally, this product caries a 3 year warranty with an US based technical support team. It’s AHAM verified and Energy Star Certified. You really can’t go wrong with the 4-in-1 Germ Guardian air purifier as it has over 15,000 reviews with a 4.5 rating stars.
The dehumidifier is critical in places where humidity is a recurring problem. Depending on the size of the room, you may need a bigger or smaller one but all that it does is remove the water in the air which allow mold to grow.
We recommend the Frigidaire 70-Pint dehumidifier.
This unit will eliminate the bacteria in the air that make it hard to breath. It will also, protect your home from mold and mildew caused by excess moisture or humidity. also, the dehumidifier is easy to use with a digital humidity readout, 24-hour on/off timer, control lock and the capability to run continuously if connected to a drain. Finally, this dehumidifier is Energy Star efficient.
It is advisable for people to get well aware of common black mold exposure symptoms so that they can seek treatment without delay. The longer you allow mold to thrive in the body, the more destructive it gets.