What black mold in your home can really do to your health and your brain
It’s gross, grimy and may be growing somewhere in your bathroom.Black mold is the stuff of homeowners’ nightmares.It’s notoriously difficult to remove, can cause expensive property damage and has been blamed for a wide range of health problems. But how worried should you really be about this pesky houseguest? Here’s what you need to know.There are many different kinds, but when people talk about black mold, they’re usually referring to Stachybotrys chartarum.This greenish-black fungus occurs naturally in the environment and reproduces through microscopic spores that travel through the air.
They can enter your home through open doors and windows, ventilation systems or by hitching a ride on pets, clothing and shoes.Once inside, the mold can take hold if conditions are right.It thrives in warm, persistently damp environments with access to cellulose — an organic material found in drywall, paper and wood.That’s why it commonly crops up in water-damaged areas of the home, including basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and around leaky windows.It can cause health problems, but it’s not necessarily more dangerous than other household molds, according to the Cleveland Clinic.Like other fungi, black mold can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
Some species, including Stachybotrys chartarum, can also produce mycotoxins — naturally occurring toxins that can be harmful at high doses.But just because mold can produce toxins doesn’t mean it’ll poison you.Scientists haven’t established that typical household exposure delivers enough mycotoxins to cause the chronic, whole-body poisoning often blamed on “toxic black mold syndrome.”For some people, mold exposure causes no noticeable problems.
Others may develop itchy, red eyes, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, wheezing and skin rashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with asthma, mold allergies or weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to compli...