Mold can negatively impact a home’s indoor air quality. People and pets living in a home with mold may suffer short-term and long-term health problems.
This is not news.
What is news, However, is that mold itself is not the cause of health problems.
Scientific research has shown that mycotoxins, the nanoscopic, poisonous molecules released by mold to defend its colony, are the actual problem.
Here are FIVE important facts about mycotoxins that mold remediation professionals can share with their customers:
#1 Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced and released by certain types of molds that can cause illness, disease, and even death in humans and animals.
If you have mold in your home, you likely have mycotoxins in the air and on surfaces in the home. Mycotoxins can also attach to mold spores and to dust in the home.
#2 Mycotoxins can enter the bloodstream through the lungs (inhalation), intestines (ingestion), and through the skin and eyes (absorption).
Mycotoxin exposure and poisoning can cause illnesses of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, and reproductive systems. It may also cause chronic inflammation which affects many of the systems of the body.
#3 Infants, children, pregnant women, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to the harmful impacts of mycotoxin exposure.
Additionally, people with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, pulmonary hypertension, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) are at risk.
#4 Mold needs these four things to grow: water, food, 60-80F temperatures, and oxygen.
-Water source: Mold thrives in wet, damp, and humid environments.
-Food source: Mold grows on organic materials, breaking them down with enzymes for energy. Nutrients include simple sugars, nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon dioxide, and water.
-Temperate Environment: Mold grows best in 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 to 26.6 Celsius), the same temperatures that humans typically live in.
-Oxygen: Most molds require oxygen to grow.
Mold loves paper, cardboard, wood, drywall, adhesives, carpet, insulation, fabrics, and upholstery. Mold also loves dust.
#5 Mycotoxins in the air and on the surfaces in the home won’t be eliminated using mold remediation methods. A mycotoxin-specific cleaner is needed in addition to mold remediation.
Mycotoxins can move throughout the house, not just at the site of visible mold.
-While removing visible mold is a good first step, this will not kill mycotoxins.
-Bleach removes the color from mold but does not kill mold. And it also does not kill mycotoxins.
-Mycotoxins, due to their size and chemical properties, may be too small to be cleared by a HEPA filter.
While increased ventilation to the outside can help, treating mycotoxins in the home requires a non-toxic mycotoxin solution such as Superstratum Building Cleaner that is safe and proven effective for removing mycotoxins.
When seeking help for mold remediation, homeowners can best protect their health by working with a professional who understands the need – and the most effective treatment available – to remove both mold and mycotoxins from the home.
