Black mold in the house: how dangerous is it for your health

Black mold in the house is dangerous

Good day! I rarely go on long trips. But now the reason for the trip was joyful: my sister had a second child.

The road flew by unnoticed, and now I'm standing on the threshold of their house. And then the minutes of congratulations and joy for me were replaced by shock.

They had black mold in several corners of their house. Having scolded my sister for such carelessness, I immediately set about removing the mold. This is not a joke! Do you want to know why black mold is dangerous in the house? How to prevent its formation? Later in the article I will describe everything in detail.

Why is mold in the house dangerous for human health?

Often in houses with high humidity, black spots can appear on the ceiling and walls, especially in the bathroom, which are very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove by simple means. This is black mold, a type of fungus that lives mostly in humid and warm environments. The fungus can also appear on the street, but there it does not pose a particular danger.

Mold in the house not only spoils the appearance, but also contains substances harmful to humans.

But if the fungus appears in a residential area, then constant contact with it can greatly harm the people who live there. Harmless at first glance, mold can gradually destroy walls and lead to various diseases, ranging from simple rhinitis to even terrible oncology.

Causes of the disease

To date, approximately 300 types of fungal mold are known. Mold comes in different colors: black, gray, blue, green, but the most dangerous for the human body is yellow mold, which can even cause a fatal illness, accompanied by chest pains and constant asthma attacks.

Mold has a very bad property - it multiplies quickly. The bathroom in the house is the most favorable room for mold. The best conditions for its reproduction is considered to be a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a humidity of approximately 80 percent.

Especially often mold appears in the bathroom, kitchen and toilet, in places where condensate collects. In the bathroom, mold appears most often, there are all the conditions for its appearance: steam, condensate and wet towels contribute to its reproduction.

Washed linen is also better to dry not in the bathroom, but on the balcony or loggia. If you constantly monitor the health of plumbing, install good ventilation and a heated towel rail, you can prevent the appearance of this harmful fungus.

If mold has appeared in the kitchen, then this is a particular danger, because it can contaminate food.

Such products must be thrown away immediately, otherwise, if they are accidentally eaten through negligence, this can lead to bad consequences, human health will be in jeopardy. Therefore, it is very important to have perfect order in the kitchen so as not to expose yourself and your loved ones to infection with a fungus.

If you try to make a simple cosmetic repair, mold will still appear on the walls or ceiling after a while. Mold also appears in damp basements, where the pipeline is located, on the floor of the first floors of buildings. If these buildings provide good ventilation and heating, then mold will not appear.

Dampness and mold can also appear on the outer walls of the building if there is poor thermal insulation and waterproofing, this can especially manifest itself in the cold season. To eliminate this shortcoming, it is necessary to immediately additionally insulate your home in order to prevent its slow destruction.

Large aquariums and lots of indoor plants can also contribute to moisture and mold growth. Mold can also appear on the hardwood floors of private homes and wooden furniture.

So that she does not corrode the tree, one must fight her spores. In the bathroom, for this, it is recommended to use not wooden furniture, but metal or plastic.

Human danger

What is the danger of mold in the house? The main harm from the fungus is in its spores, which spread in the air and can settle on human skin, and when breathing, they can enter our body. This will entail a lot of problems for people's health, causing all kinds of diseases.

Inhalation of spores and skin contact. Mold spores can cause allergic reactions and colds.

Once on human skin, fungal spores can cause various skin rashes, eczema and dermatitis, which are difficult to diagnose by doctors. Getting on the hair and nails, spores can cause damage to them. The general condition may worsen, the person begins to feel weak, the body is exhausted, migraine attacks often occur.

Inhaling mold spores, which are a strong allergen, a person is at risk of getting chronic rhinitis, cough, conjunctivitis.

Spores can very quickly enter our respiratory tract and cause allergic diseases, often causing even a disease such as bronchial asthma.

In addition to spores, the allergen can be volatile components with a rather bad smell, which can quickly penetrate our blood through breathing and cause intoxication of the body. A person's condition deteriorates sharply, he may experience an unbearable headache, dizziness, which is often accompanied by nausea and even vomiting.

Living in the vicinity of mold for a long time can often cause problems with the musculoskeletal system, lead to joint diseases and rheumatic pains. There may be problems with the stomach, damage to the liver and kidneys is possible, in especially difficult cases, internal bleeding may occur.

The worst harm

The most dangerous yellow mold for human health, which can cause food allergies.

Attention!

The most dangerous to human health, yellow mold can severely affect fish, liver, milk and its products, as well as rice and peanuts. Often people, instead of ruthlessly throwing away such products, remove the affected parts of the products and thereby expose themselves to mortal danger.

Once in the stomach, such mold can cause food allergies. The poison will accumulate in the body and eventually begin to affect the liver, which can even lead to cirrhosis.

In no case should you eat those foods on which mold has appeared or cut off a small part of it from infected bread or fruits and vegetables, and then eat such foods. They only need to be thrown away without exposing yourself to infection with the strongest poison.

All mold is dangerous for the health of children, especially those with reduced immunity, their fragile growing organisms are most affected by mold spores. And if a child is in constant contact with mold, he can get sick for life.

If a child has signs of an allergy, you should not self-medicate, it can be very dangerous, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will direct you to the necessary tests, determine the cause and prescribe treatment. If it turns out that the cause of the allergy is mold, it is important to protect the child as much as possible from contact with it until it is completely destroyed.

Many diseases that are provoked by the mold fungus are still poorly understood, which makes it difficult to determine the correct diagnosis. Often, due to similar symptoms, a person can be treated for a completely different disease, and the dangerous consequences of the harmful effects of mold remain without due attention and appropriate treatment.

Therefore, it is very important when mold is detected to immediately find out its occurrence and make every effort to eliminate it.

source: http://1poclimaty.ru/gribok/chem-opasna-plesen-v-dome.html

black mold

Due to the media, a hype was created around the fight against black mold in an apartment or house, that it is difficult to deal with it, it cannot be removed or removed, it cannot be got rid of.

Therefore, when people see black mold on the wall, ceiling or in the bath at home, this causes more health concerns, unlike a fungus of a different color. In fact, the color depends not only on its type, but also on the stage of development and the material on which it grows.

As a rule, the following strains have black color: Ulocladium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Phoma, Wallemia, but again, it all depends on the material on which the mushrooms grow.

Ulocladium- the fourth group of pathogenicity, affects not only materials, but also products. Very picky about the presence of moisture.

Cladosporium- at the initial stage it is colorless, except for black it can take on a wide range of colors. The most dangerous for seeds and plants, not picky about moisture, can develop at low temperatures. The most common outdoor fungus in the summer.

Some species feed on diesel fuel and fuels and lubricants, which is why they got the name kerosene mushroom. Also affects other types of materials. When conducting mycological examinations, we have it in third place in terms of frequency of detection, following Penicillium and Aspergillus.

Penicillium- mushrooms of this family play a huge role in the environment, are actively used in pharmaceuticals for the preparation of medicines, in the food industry for the preparation of fine cheese with white mold.

But some strains such as Penicillum marneffei and Penicillium spp. belong to groups 3 and 4 of pathogenicity and pose a significant danger to human health, in addition, they are found in apartments very often.

Alternaria- the fourth group of pathogenicity, a very common fungus. It most commonly affects fruits and vegetables, but can also grow on the skin and in the respiratory tract in humans. Sometimes it has a gray color, has about 300 strains.

Aspergillus- belongs to the higher mold fungi, depending on the type, belongs to the 4th and 3rd groups of pathogenicity, and causes aspergillosis in humans and animals. The mycelium itself is initially white, but the spores are black. Most often found indoors.

Chaetomium- typically painted black, often cause allergies. The main danger is the digestive tract when it enters, deaths caused by this fungus are known.

Phoma- the fourth group of pathogenicity, almost always the mycelium is black, and the spores are colorless.

Wallemia- painted black, does not pose a serious danger to humans, but belongs to the Xerophil type, that is, it can grow in conditions of low humidity and high temperatures, which causes some problems in the fight against it.

What to do if there is black mold on the walls, how to deal with it? Absolutely the same as with any other, you need to start by eliminating excess moisture. Remedies for such a fungus should be selected depending on the material on which it grows.

As you can see, even the same species can be painted in different colors. Therefore, if you have a dark-colored fungus in the bath, on the wall, or it has a different color, you must start fighting it immediately.

Harm to humans are toxic compounds produced by certain types of mold and its spores. Think about it, 1 m2 of mold produces billions of spores per day that spread around, but what if the walls are affected by mold for a month?

Mold spores can be inhaled, they settle in the lungs, they are absorbed through the skin and ingested. When in contact with the skin, it can also start a fungus, which is why pools are checked for mold under the nails.

If you feel mold in your mouth after brushing your teeth, then your toothbrush is a breeding ground for fungus, do not delay replacing it. Mold allergies are also common, especially in children.

Attention!

Since everyone's immunity and susceptibility to mold is different, the severity of the consequences of being in an infected place also differs. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems due to illness, chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc., are especially susceptible to severe illness after exposure to fungal contamination.

What kind of diseases can cause mold in the body? Common effects of mold are asthma, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, dry cough, skin rashes, indigestion, headaches, and nosebleeds.

Most of the mold species found in our region belong to pathogenic forms. Prolonged exposure may result in internal bleeding, kidney and liver damage, and emphysema.

Mold getting into a person, mold poisoning is called mycosis. It is possible to diagnose mycosis or the presence of an allergy to mold in most allergy centers and in a number of laboratories.

In addition to the negative impact of mold on human health, mold damage has a strong effect on unprotected wooden structures.

First of all, we are talking about wood-destroying fungi, which can turn a tree into dust in a short period of time.

source: http://plesene.net/o_plesene/blackplesen/

What is the danger of black mold in the house?

This problem is very unpleasant, many owners even have some complexes regarding their own uncleanliness. However, it is not at all clean and tidy in the house. Even those people who “tear out” their homes up and down, spores of the fungus appear.

It's not about dirt, but about factors such as:

• High humidity;
• Poor air circulation;
• Incorrect heat exchange between the room and the street (condensation on the windows);
• Very warm indoors (combined with humidity);
• Poor sealing of panels inside walls (in panel houses);
• Old building (in brick houses);
• The presence of a damp basement (if the first floor);
• The presence of a constantly wet roof with poor liquid output (top floor);
• Presence of water bodies nearby.

Fungus spores are always in the air, they are just waiting for suitable conditions for life and growth.

Preventive measure

Most people do not know what mold is in an apartment, how dangerous it is and whether it is necessary to fight it right away, or maybe wait for repairs. And when the time for repairs finally comes, the fungus, as it turned out, has already filled all the walls and furniture, and now you also need to buy new furnishings.

To prevent this, take action immediately:

1. Ventilate the room, even in winter.
2. Leave the bathroom door open.
3. Dry washed items and linen outside the apartment or in a place specially designated for drying, where there is good air circulation and it is dry.
4. Always ventilate the apartment after wet cleaning.
5. Do not allow humidity in the house.
6. Make sure there is no condensation on the windows.
7. Dry your feet before entering the house.
8. Do not create tropical heat in the room.

Types of fungal formations

The varieties of disputes are simply innumerable. We will talk about the main types of fungus and how mold is dangerous in residential areas.

These unicellular organisms have six main types that are found in everyday life:

• White household (house) fungus;
• white mold spores;
• Blue;
• spores of the decay fungus;
• Actinomycetes;
• Mold is black.

What are the differences?

There are many, but the main ones are the following.

What strikes wooden houses and structures is precisely the white household mushroom. Now we have chemicals that can fight it, and in ancient times people burned their houses if they were hit by such mold - it was unrealistic to defeat it. This fungus develops at lightning speed, causing great harm.

Paper, wood, metal, plastic - all this can be destroyed by white mold spores. In addition, such a fungus has a high spread rate.
The fungus is gray with a blue tint - it's blue. It is able to destroy the paint or varnish with which the wood is coated in order to get inside.

If your wood has changed color, become brittle, as if compressed from the inside, then this is a dry rot fungus. The color is usually brown or white, and the structure of this mold can be either dry or wet.

If your wood is infested with wet fungus spores, it will streak and then crack. This type of mold only lives in wooden structures.

Actinomycetes, in other words - a mix of a fungus with algae. They also affect only the tree, softening its structure, gradually destroying it.

Black mold - just like white mold, spreads instantly, filling the air with spores. It harms everything, not just wood. It has black, brown and green colors. Penetrates deep into the structure of the material, causing irreparable harm.

Where are you most likely to find it?

Usually the bathroom, the corners of rooms (especially where there are load-bearing walls or a neighboring apartment), places under the sink, inside the ventilation, in the thickness of the floor are attacked by spores.

What is dangerous fungus on the walls for health?

Black mold, as we have already found out, is the most dangerous in the house, since it lives in everything it can, and spreads at lightning speed, thanks to the release of a myriad of spores into the air. These spores are toxic and can be very harmful to health, even rare cases of death are known.

In dwelling. Most of the time you spend, of course, at home. Coming home from work, you rest, sleep at night, and if there are mold spores on the walls and ceilings of the apartment, at home, breathe them, endangering your health. The most suitable area for fungus is the bathroom.

What is dangerous about black mold in the bathroom is that you breathe steam, which cleans and opens the body's pores, airways and makes mucous membranes sensitive.

The most susceptible to intoxication from spores are the elderly, children, people with a weak immune system, people who are prone to frequent fatigue (working hard and hard) and allergies:

• In old people, pressure can jump, cough and bronchial diseases occur, and the musculoskeletal system and bones suffer.
• People with weak immunity and those who work a lot, get very tired, in the case of mold on the walls and ceilings, they suffer from all kinds of pulmonary diseases, and may also occur: conjunctivitis, stomatitis, dermatitis and eczema, nose and internal bleeding, damage to the liver and kidneys , milkmaid.
• When there is a fungus on the wall in the apartment - what is dangerous for a small child: asthma, cough, pneumonia, colds and runny nose, skin condition worsens, headaches, nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion.
• Allergy sufferers experience all the symptoms of an allergy all the time, as mold spores interact with any liquid, including body fluids.

If there is already black mold in the house, how dangerous it is - you know. How to deal with this “wonder of nature” is only a matter of technology. The mold that has grown throughout the entire territory of the apartment will be removed only by repairs, with knocking out of the plaster and the corresponding treatment of the walls.

After the repair, do not relax and follow all the precautions described above, otherwise the fungus will gladly fly onto your new walls.

In agriculture

Black mold on the walls of the premises where livestock is kept is very harmful to the health of animals. A fungus that appears in crop storage areas can destroy most of the vegetables, fruits and cereals, which can adversely affect the financial situation of the owners.

source: https://serviceyard.net/sovetyi/chem-opasna-chernaya-plesen-v-dome.html

What is the danger of black mold in the house?

Very few people ask this question, the majority is calm about the blackish coating that breaks through the joints of the wall tiles. And very in vain.

Not so long ago, a full-length film “Mold” was shot about the role of mold in nature, its impact on people, in which, along with scientifically confirmed facts, controversial theories that did not receive scientific confirmation, resembling legends and fiction, were voiced.

However, despite the fact that this film should be considered as a mixture of the author's fantasies with historical facts, some of the maxims presented there deserve the attention of the general public.

A caring attitude to one's own home speaks best of the character of its owner. However, even the most zealous owner sometimes makes unforgivable mistakes, ignoring the obvious danger that has settled in his house.

What is the danger of black mold in the house for human health? First of all, the fact that you never know exactly how the constant presence in a contaminated room will affect your health. Therefore, if a harmful fungus has taken a fancy to your walls, take this problem seriously and have it professionally treated for black mold.

Indeed, black mold spores that have sprouted on building materials or decorative surfaces of an apartment not only do not look very aesthetically pleasing, but also have a negative impact on people's health.

Mold (whatever color it is) is a living microorganism, microscopic fungi that reproduce through spores.

The fruit bodies of mold fungi are so small that they can only be seen under a microscope. Distributed everywhere, found in nature and everyday life. And if mold in the natural habitat has practically no effect on human health, in everyday life it becomes a real aggressor.

The fact is that black mold releases the smallest spores into the air, which provoke the development of various ailments. If you exclude elements of speculation, the list of what black mold is dangerous in the house is as follows:

1. It provokes the development of skin diseases, allergic reactions that are difficult to diagnose;
2. Can cause chronic cough (bronchitis, pharyngitis and even asthma) and rhinitis;
3. It negatively affects the mental and physical well-being, causing a breakdown, severe headaches, depressive states;
4. The connection of black mold with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, articular and rheumatic diseases was noted.

As you can see, the list of reasons why mold is dangerous is quite extensive, so in no case should you calmly treat the appearance of a fungus in the house. Even doctors constantly warn about the danger of mold in an apartment. Considering it the culprit of allergies, problems with immunity.

Entering the body with low immunity, mold fungi most clearly show their aggressive properties, they can cause diseases of almost all organs and tissues.

Historical facts

History knows a lot of facts confirming the danger of black mold plaque. Let's remember how dangerous black mold is in the house, the fungus causes a wide range of diseases, the key cause of which, most likely, doctors will not be able to establish.

Attention!

However, there are cases in history when the toxins contained in the mold led to death. The most famous historical fact is the fate of the researchers of the tomb of Tutankhamun.

In 1922, the tomb of the legendary Egyptian pharaoh was opened, followed by a chain of mystical deaths. First, a strange death overtook the patron of the excavations, Lord Carnavon, who was the first to enter the open tomb, after which the chief archaeologist and 19 other people who took an active part in the excavations died.

The English biologist Sylvain Gandon devoted 10 years of his life to unraveling these mystical deaths and came to the conclusion that the death of the excavation participants was caused by a black fungus of unknown origin, which, over 3000 years of development in a confined space, literally flooded the room.

After such a conclusion, the uncertainty that black mold in the house is dangerous disappears as if by hand.

Prevention and control methods

So, about the dangers of black mold on the walls and in the bathroom, you already know how to deal with an intruder. The solution to the problem must be sought in the causes of mold.

As in nature, and in everyday life, mold chooses only highly moistened and, as a rule, darkened and calm zones. A spore that has fallen on such “soil” will be able to grow comfortably, constantly receiving the necessary nutrition from a humid environment. The fungus feeds on inanimate organic matter.

The fight against the fungus must begin with studying the microclimate of the infected room and bringing its humidity and temperature indicators back to normal.

In the bathroom or in the kitchen, it is enough to install an additional hood, ventilation, which will speed up the process of drying the premises. If you exclude the cost of additional equipment, you can simply leave the bathroom door open and arrange long-term airing of the room.

What else can provoke the growth of black mold mold:

• A large number of indoor flowers;
• Uneven heating of the room;
• Big difference between room temperature and outdoor temperature;
• Leaking faucets and pipes.

All defects in water supply pipes must be eliminated by repairing, it is possible to replace metal pipes, on which condensate constantly accumulates, with more modern ones made of plastic.

However, by overcoming the humidity and making repairs, you will not get rid of the mold if it has already appeared on your walls. Mold is dangerous, including the fact that if it appears, it will be very difficult to get rid of it.

Folk remedies

In order not to face real manifestations of the danger of mold, you can use folk methods to combat the fungus.

Common folk methods of dealing with dangerous black mold at home:

• Surface treatment with grapefruit seed extract;
• Treatment of walls with a solution in which tea tree oil is added;
• Treatment with table vinegar (use table vinegar in its pure form);
• Treatment with hydrogen peroxide.

These methods are good for dealing with all types of mold on building materials, but they do not always work. The reason for the impotence of folk recipes lies in the peculiarities of the spread of the fungus. It not only covers surfaces, but also penetrates their internal structure.

Modern ultraviolet scanners can diagnose that mold spores have been preserved in the walls. In this case, contaminated surfaces are cleaned and treated with antifungal drugs.

source: http://demold.ru/chernaya-v-dome/

Aspergillus fumigates

From time to time in our own house or apartment we encounter mold. It is formed on products, the existence of which we for some reason forgot. Often black mold occurs on the walls.

Moreover, it is not so easy to destroy it, but it is also impossible to put up with its appearance. To find ways to get rid of this scourge, let's talk about the dangers of black mold in the house.

Types of black mold plaque

If you don’t specifically look closely, it may seem that black mold is just tread dirt, which you can easily get rid of. But it's not. Black mold plaque is an external manifestation of a colony of microscopic fungi.

Moreover, these colonies can form different types of fungi. Most often in our homes there are varieties listed below.

Aspergillus black (Aspergillus niger). Aspergillus black is a saprophyte that has chosen for itself rooms with high humidity: kitchens, bathrooms, toilets or combined bathrooms, pools. Colonies of this fungus often form in humidifiers, washing machines and even air conditioners.

Often damp ceilings and walls, covers of old books, flowerpots for indoor plants are covered with this black mold. If in the bathroom or in the bathroom the seams between the tiles have become black, then, most likely, Aspergillus niger colonies also settle on their surface.

This is how cute and cute mold can look under a microscope, which can deprive a person not only of health, but also of life itself.

Thanks to them, quite harmless diseases can occur:

• meningitis;
• myoarditis;
• bronchial asthma or even pneumonia;
• rhinitis.

The presence of spores of this fungus can cause the formation of papillomas and even cancer cells. If a person happens to inhale a large number of spores at once, he may develop intoxication of the body. With a weakened immune system, which is not uncommon in our time, there is a danger of death.

It is Aspergillus niger that can cause aspergilloma of the lungs. Flying spores of the fungus can easily penetrate the nasopharynx into the trachea, and then hit the bronchi, alveoli and bronchioles.

Once established, they begin to flourish. Toxins secreted by the colony contribute to the formation of foci of necrosis. As a result, the parenchymal tissue of the lungs ceases to function, suffocation and death occur.

A feature of this mold is that it endures an increase in ambient temperature from 12 to 53 degrees. The spores of these fungi are very small: only 2-3.5 microns, so they easily penetrate the lungs of animals and humans.

People can inhale several hundred spores of this fungus without consequences. But in a person with a weak immune system, the risk of aspergillosis increases many times over.

These colonies, isolated in a petri dish and surrounded by a greenish glow, are a very dangerous enemy that has no place in our homes.

When repairs are carried out near hospitals and clinics where patients with reduced immunity may be located, the risk of infection of patients increases dramatically. In such situations, it is considered necessary to monitor the air to detect cases of high concentrations of disease-causing spores.

Most often, Aspergillus fumigates infects fruits and vegetables that have mechanical damage. If the fungi hit the grains, from which bakery products are subsequently baked, then black fluffy spots or moldy deposits form rather quickly on the baking.

Smoking Aspergillus is dangerous because the toxins that accompany its vital activity are allergens. They are able to destroy red blood cells that are part of the blood. In addition, the toxins of this fungus can suppress the production of immunity.

Alternaria alternata (Alternaria tenuis). Another variety of spore-forming mold fungi is Alternaria alternata. The appearance of the colonies of this fungus depends on the nutrient medium on which they are formed. Most often these are dark gray, almost black spots. But they can also have a greenish-olive hue.

Such a fungus lives on the dying part of the plant. Its colonies can be found on autumn leaves, overripe fruits, and even just on the surface of the soil. This mold can take root on food, including, for example, on pork, as well as on textiles. Toxins of the fungus affect plants, poison the seeds of cereals.

Surely, you have often seen such an onion or other vegetable affected by black mold on sale: in no case bring it home

Not only spores of the fungus, but also its fragments can be both outdoors and inside the home, concentrating in house dust. The risk of Alternaria tenuis colonies is higher in homes with a humid atmosphere.

In wooden buildings, this mold spreads faster than in concrete houses. The spread of its spores occurs on windy sunny days with low humidity.

In addition to direct infection, which occurs when a person comes into direct contact with Alternaria tenuis, poisoning with the toxins of this mold can occur. Toxins can provoke an attack of bronchial asthma, the occurrence of dermatitis. In addition, this mold is dangerous and the manifestation of allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to Alternaria alternata.

Conditions conducive to the spread of the fungus

So, we found out exactly what mold is dangerous for the human body. Obviously, it is necessary to take all possible measures so that it does not exist in the house. You should know exactly how this infection enters the home in order to prevent its occurrence by taking preventive measures.

Warm and humid are the two most important conditions for the development of mold fungi. The optimal parameters for their existence are 70% humidity and temperature from +18 to +25 degrees. If the room is not yet ventilated, then all the possibilities for the formation of mold colonies are obvious.

Attention!

It is much easier to prevent the appearance of mold than to deal with the consequences of its effects on the body when everything has already happened: do not waste time.

It is clear that no significant material costs will be required to eliminate these factors. Ventilating the room is not so difficult. But, in addition to those mentioned above, there are other reasons for the occurrence and development of mold.

People are usually unaware of them. The appearance of mold can be a side effect of the development of the construction industry and the emergence of innovative building technologies.

Plastic doors and windows. Those who have installed at least one plastic window in their home have already appreciated the benefits that it provides. These windows have excellent soundproofing properties. They help keep you warm. They are easy and simple to care for.

In addition, plastic products are durable and maintainable. But if they are not properly maintained, they can cause mold. The problem with the formation of condensate on the glass of plastic windows is especially relevant in the kitchen, where dishes can be cooked on broths, compotes, and so on.

Plastic windows and doors close almost hermetically. That is, the circulation of air masses that arose during the existence of frames made of "breathing" wood is now broken.

If the number of glasses in a double-glazed window is chosen incorrectly, the product itself does not meet quality standards, and the installation is carried out in violation of existing standards, then condensation may form on the glass surface.

It turns out that plastic products create ideal conditions for increasing humidity in the home. Realizing this danger, window manufacturers tried to provide all the possibilities for quick ventilation of the room.

It is the regular ventilation of rooms, regardless of weather conditions and the time of year, that helps to avoid the formation of mold colonies in the house.

The drywall that everyone loves. And how not to love this building material, if with its help you can easily and quickly level any horizontal or vertical surface. It is drywall that allows you to build partitions of any configuration in the shortest possible time.

This very inexpensive material is really convenient to use both in repair and construction, so it enjoys well-deserved popularity. Of course, drywall constructions are convenient, beautiful and economical, but when creating them, do not forget that this material is hygroscopic.

But this material also has a significant flaw: drywall perfectly absorbs moisture, allowing it to linger inside for a long time. In order not to be captured by black mold when using drywall, it is necessary to strictly observe the installation technology, remember that the mixtures must have time to dry.

In a room with drywall, you need to create an antifungal microclimate.

In rooms with a high level of humidity, special drywall should be used, designed for such operating conditions. In addition, antifungal drugs should be added to the solutions used during the work.

Consequences of poor ventilation. The window in the bathroom is a real rarity. As a rule, the layout of our apartments does not imply not only windows in the bathrooms, but also sufficiently effective ventilation. Meanwhile, in the bathrooms, a lot of humid air can be formed as a result of drying clothes or water procedures, for which this room is intended. It is difficult for natural exhaust channels to cope with it.

Poor ventilation in the bathroom, combined with the high humidity of this room and heat, create ideal conditions for the formation and spread of black mold.

One way to solve this problem is to use forced ventilation. Thanks to this measure, the problem of excess moisture will be solved, and at the same time there will be no conditions for the development of mold microflora.

Damp basements and damp walls. Quite often, miscalculations in design can lead to the fact that during rain the walls or corner parts of buildings get wet, and freeze in the cold part of the year.

The same problem arises in the absence of downpipes or when they are clogged. If you do not pay attention to this, then over time colonies of mold can form on the walls.

Gradually, the fungus grows through the brickwork or panels and is already inside the room. Intrusion will happen even faster than you might think if there are cracks in the brickwork or if the panel joints are not well waterproofed.

The source of mold may be in a damp basement. In it, colonies can form and multiply, and then, using the ventilation ducts, they will spread throughout the house. Faulty sewerage and plumbing also create conditions for the development of fungi.

It's a shame if you bring black mold into the house, and also pay money for the product on which it is located: infected bread is obtained from infected grain.

We can bring black mold into our home ourselves, without wanting to. It is enough to buy bread products baked from infected grain in the store. Such bread will very quickly become covered with bloom, and then with mold.

In no case should you eat it: it is dangerous to health. It is also not suitable for animal feed. It should be packed in a plastic bag and then sent to the outdoor trash can.

How to fight

If you find black mold in your apartment, then you need to deal with such a neighborhood without delay. The longer the colonies stay in your home, the more damage they can do to health, and the more difficult it will be for them to survive.

Attention!

An excellent and very effective way to get rid of mold is to treat the room with a UV lamp. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, spores die.

The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the lamp is detrimental to fungal colonies; it is not for nothing that black mold prefers shady places outside buildings.

When using this lamp, you must follow some safety measures: remove pets, including birds and aquarium fish from the room being treated, and remove all fresh flowers from the room.

There are other methods of combating mold fungi:

• If mold colonies are located on specific items that can be taken out, they must be removed outside the home. Dispose of old wallpaper, moldy textiles, or contaminated putty.
• In all building and finishing mixtures that are used in the construction of a private house or in the repair of your apartment, you should add special antifungal drugs and antiseptics. Often mold takes root in tile joints in the kitchen and bathroom. So, grouting should be given special attention.
• Areas affected by fungi can also be treated with special industrial preparations. In case of their absence, they use the means that every hostess has.
• If mold spots appear on non-porous surfaces, which include, for example, a tile or a mirror, then you can use the popular Whiteness bleach, ammonia, borax solution or vinegar to eliminate them. You can apply hydrogen peroxide to the affected surface, and, after 15 minutes, rinse the area with water.
• Baking soda has also proven to be excellent.

All surfaces that have traces of mold must be ruthlessly removed: it is better to do this work on the conscience once than endlessly return to it.

The situation is more complicated when colonies appear on the plaster: the entire affected part must be mechanically removed. It is better to do this with a metal brush. Stripping is carried out to the entire depth of penetration of the mold. Tiled joints are also cleaned with a sharp tool.

It is advisable to dry the cleaned surface with an industrial hair dryer and treat with an antiseptic. Moreover, it is necessary to process not only the area from which the mold is removed, but also the adjacent surfaces.

Whichever of the methods listed above you choose, it is important that the mold be destroyed or, at worst, removed outside the apartment. Her presence cannot be ignored. This is too dangerous a neighborhood that needs to be disposed of by any means.

We do not suggest that you use a gas mask or overalls as personal protective equipment, but goggles, a respirator and rubber gloves should be.

Necessary security measures

Considering that spores, particles of the mold itself and the toxins that it releases can spread with air currents, gathering to fight colonies of fungi, it is necessary to protect your respiratory tract and skin from unwanted contacts.

1. Do not neglect personal protective equipment such as a respirator, waterproof gloves and goggles.
2. So that the spores that have been removed from one surface do not take root on another, the surfaces of the furniture and the floor must be covered with oilcloth, which is not a pity to throw away later, or with plastic wrap.
3. Everything that can be taken out of the room during cleaning, it is better to remove them from it. In the bathroom, this can be, for example, washcloths, brushes, towels and curtains.
4. If the situation is serious and the mold has managed to capture large areas of the room, all objects that can get fungal spores should be wrapped with a film. Choose a film thicker so that the protection is reliable. It is not advisable to save on your health: then you will spend more on medicines.
5. Never turn on the fan while cleaning. Mold spores can easily spread throughout the entire room, and then there will simply be no escape from them: they can appear unexpectedly and in the most inappropriate places.
6. Do not use a household vacuum cleaner to remove fungal colonies. The spores or toxins themselves can get on the inside of this household appliance. Disputes in the vacuum cleaner do not die, but simply wait in the wings and suitable conditions for the revival of the colonies.
7. But the dehumidifier, if the house has such a device, should be turned on. Dried air will deprive microorganisms of the chance to continue to exist.
8. After cleaning the contaminated premises, it is necessary to throw away all rags, brushes, gloves and films along with the respirator.

Mold control is an inevitable measure in case the mold has already started. But it is much better to prevent its occurrence, without creating conditions for the development of colonies of fungi.