Mold & Moisture Investigation And Abatement. Toxic Mold Myths and Facts

Mold Sickness Symptoms

How do you know if mold is making you sick? Generally, if you have mold on your windows or in your walls then it's making you sick. You need to get rid of it or live somewhere else. It's not a matter of "if," but of how bad.

You can tell by the symptoms, though you may not have all of them or may have additional ones not normally attributed to mold. We group these into three levels:

Level I. Basic Symptoms. Cause: Low level or short term exposure.

• Congestion.
• Eyes watery or itching.
• Headache.
• Sinus problems that seem to be chronic; antihistamines provide little relief.
• Skin itching, redness, or general irritation.
• Skin Redness and skin irritation.
• Sneezing.

The severity of Level I symptoms is "annoying" rather than severe. If you have these symptoms but they are painful rather than just annoying, it's more serious than just Level I.

Level II. Advanced Symptoms. Cause: Extended or continual exposure.

• Breathing difficulties.
• Constant Headaches.
• Coughing up blackish slime.
• Coughing up blood.
• Diarrhea.
• Ears feel “clogged,” or are infected or in pain.
• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Memory problems.
• Nausea.
• Nervous disorders.
• Nose Bleeds.
• Pain in muscles and joints.
• Same as Level I, but severe and painful rather than just annoying.
• Sinus problems are chronic and intense.
• Skin rashes.
• Skin sores.
• Swollen lymph glands (neck, groin, or armpit).
• Vomiting.
• Weight loss.

Level III. Late Stage Symptoms. Cause: Severe exposure

• Bleeding lungs.

• Blindness.

• Brain damage.

• Cancer.

• Death.

• Memory loss.

Some mold prevention tips

While you probably can't keep mold spores from entering your home, you can prevent them from getting the moisture they need to thrive. You might be surprised at how much you are helping mold to establish itself. Follow these tips to help ensure it does not establish itself:

• Wipe windows down. During the winter time, moisture forms on window panes due to the temperature differential. Wipe the window panes and frames with a dry cloth daily.

• Clean and disinfect. To many people, this means spraying with an aerosol disinfectant. Don't do that. The most recognized brand is basically alcohol, and the knock-offs typically are also. This means you're spraying fuel all over your home. While a house fire will destroy the mold, you won't like the other results. And you don't need to be breathing in the toxic form of alcohol in these sprays. Instead, pour some white vinegar (you should keep a gallon on hand for cleaning) into a "working container" (don't pour cleaners back into the main container). Dip a rag into this and use the vinegar-soaked rag to wipe everywhere you can reach on that window assembly.

• Don't take hot showers. Not only do these dry out your skin, they also can cause the walls to absorb moisture. That's true even if you have an exhaust fan running.

• Keep humidifiers away from walls. If using a humidifier other than a passive register unit (which emits moisture slowly), place it well away from any walls or windows.

• Clean up water spills. Water spilled on a kitchen counter tends to find its way down into the cabinetry, where it soaks in and makes a great environment for mold: dark and moist.

• Dry cabinets regularly. At least once a week, open all cabinet doors for at least two hours. This includes under sink vanities. And for those vanities, use a fan to force air through there if you even suspect dampness. You should suspect it if there's been a spill or if there's a funky smell.

• Clean behind appliances. Everyone knows to pull that refrigerator out every couple of weeks and clean the coils. But amazingly, few people pull out the range and clean behind it. Put your range on coasters or vinyl squares so it's easy to slide out. Clean up the floor, removing any food (which mold loves as a substrate). Clean the sides of the range with a damp cloth, and then dry the sides before sliding back in.

The number one tip: No smoking in the home. Granted, not many people today permit this health-destroying practice in their home. But if there has ever been even one cigarette smoked in your home, then your ductwork needs to be cleaned. The smoke from tobacco contains a tar that makes an ideal substrate for mold.