Black mold sounds just as menacing as it is. It releases lethal mycotoxin spores and can cause neurological breakdown, pulmonary decay, immune system degradation, skin irritation, and even death. Whether you’re working to prevent black mold from growing in your home or remediating an existing problem, here are facts you need to know to stay safe.
Black Mold Facts
1. Black mold is a neurotoxin: The spores released by black mold attach your brain’s neurons—incapacitating your mental ability. The reaction to black mold can be tremors, mood swings, and other neurological shifts.
2. Black mold suppresses your immune system: When you breathe in black mold spores, your immune system is weakened, so on top of being sick from the mold, you can also become more easily ill from germs.
3. Black mold can kill: If you’re exposed for long enough, black mold spores can shut down your organs, incapacitate your immune system, and damage your brain—resulting in death.
4. Black mold endangers pregnant women: Women who are pregnant can suffer birth defects, miscarriage, and infertility later on.
5. Black mold can harm anyone—including pets: The young, sick, and elderly are most susceptible to black mold symptoms and damage, but all living things can be harmed by black mold.
6. Black mold has a smell: The mold smells like mildew and must, so it’s detectable even when you can’t see it.
7. Mold grows in damp, humid, and warm locations: All molds love this combination and thrive in it. That’s why your bathroom is a breeding ground for black mold and other types of mold.
8. You’ll suffer from a number of symptoms when exposed to black mold: Symptoms of black mold exposure include fatigue, headaches, seizure, tremors, mood swings, confusion, fever, eye irritation, sneezing, rashes, coughing, bleeding of the lungs, and sometimes death.
9. Black mold isn’t actually toxic: The mold itself isn’t poisonous—just the spores it emits.
10. Some damage is irreversible: Depending on how long you live amongst black mold, you could suffer once it’s been remediated. Immune system weakening and sensitivity to mold can persist throughout your lifetime.
11. Mold is everywhere: Mold spores are all around us all the time. Only some present major health hazards.