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What Is Toxic Mold?
Home » Home Improvement » Toxic Mold » What Is Toxic Mold?Molds are fungi that reproduce by releasing tiny spores into the air.
Spores that land on moist objects may begin to grow. There are thousands of different types of mold and we encounter many of them every day, in our homes and outdoors.
Toxic mold is a type of mold that produces hazardous byproducts, called mycotoxins. While individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, it's thought that mycotoxins are more likely to trigger health problems in even healthy individuals. These toxins are believed to be linked to memory loss and to severe lung problems in infants and the elderly.
Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it's impossible to see where they might have landed until they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on items within a house are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets that live there.
The toxic mold we hear most about is Stachybotrys chartarum, a slimy, greenish-black mold that grows on moisture-laden materials that contain cellulose, such as wood, paper, drywall, and other similar products. It does not grow on tile or cement.
Even if the mold in your home is not toxic mold, it can still be a problem, because any mold growing on organic materials will in time destroy them and too much mold of any type smells bad and degrades air quality.
Molds are ubiquitous in nature, and mold spores are a common component of household dust. The term toxic mold is sometimes used to refer to mold related indoor air quality problems.
Exposure to significant quantities of mold spores can cause toxic or allergic reactions. Under proper growing conditions, some species of molds may generate molecular compounds called mycotoxins. In large quantities or with chronic exposure, mycotoxins can be toxic to humans or animals.
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