Roofing and Building Center

Black Mold Symptoms That Could Indicate Exposure

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Samuel Cheeseman

Black mold or toxic black mold is a species which is commonly found in homes where conditions are damp and humid with poor air quality. An individual can experience health problems if they are exposed to large quantities of these mold spores particularly if they are inhaled. Black mold will pose the greatest health risks to those with weaker than normal immune systems such as babies, children and the elderly.

Symptoms of Exposure

There are many symptoms of black mold exposure and in the most severe cases mold has been linked with cancer, lung damage and even death. Most instances of exposure will result in short term discomfort or irritation but if the black mold symptoms worsen and remain untreated then the mold will continue to grow inside of you and pose a great threat to your health.

Short term effects of black mold exposure will commonly include itching and general irritation of the skin and eyes as well as sneezing and headaches. Individuals who have been exposed on numerous occasions or for extended periods of time will often experience more serious black mold health problems. The following list mentions some of the most common black mold symptoms in individuals who have experience greater levels of exposure or have remained untreated. The list is not exhaustive.

• Intense headaches and feelings of fatigue

• Nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting

• Breathing disorders, bronchitis and asthma attacks

• Skin sores and rashes

• Weight loss, hair loss and a reduced appetite

• Ear and sinus infections

• Short term memory loss and various nervous disorders

• Coughing blood or darkly coloured mucus

Symptoms become more serious where the highest levels of exposure have occurred. They include the following:

• Blindness

• Long term memory loss and brain damage

• Severe bleeding inside the lungs

• Cancer and death can occur in extreme cases.

Although the effects of exposure to mold can be extreme in rare cases the cleaning process is relatively easy. As long as black mold safety precautions are taken then black mold removal does not need to be a dangerous job. This link contains information explaining how to remove black mold.

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