Kinds Of Mold
There are several kinds of mold that are found in homes. These molds have different features and lead to several health problems. All of them are bad and not good for health as they can lead to unpleasant smell. Removing these molds can be very challenging because they grow in different places. However, it is important that you remove them because they pose a great threat to you and your family’s health conditions. Below are some of the most common kinds of mold that litter people’s homes.
Stachybotrys chartarum
These are typically found in condensed areas such as are air conditioning ducts or around leaky pipes. They can equally live in areas with less moisture too. They are the most harmful of all kinds of mold, and exposure to them can result to fatigue, depression, allergic symptoms, asthma attacks, and chronic sinus infections. They can be easily detected if they are present in your home because they have some noticeable odors. Many health problems have been linked with these this mold, so it is very important that you maintain a clean environment free of moisture areas to prevent them encroaching into your house.
Cladosporium
These kinds of mold are found both in fabrics and wooden surfaces. Where they are found outdoors, you will normally see them on plant materials. Cladosporium usually enters the house through open doorways or windows or through HVAC systems. They can cause respiratory problems and equally affect the nails and the skin. Other common problems that these kinds of mold can cause include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, allergic reactions, and upper respiratory infections.
Penicillium
These are mostly found in rotten fabrics (like couch cushions, old mattresses, etc), wallpaper, carpets, and insulation. They are known to spread easily and rapidly, and are the most popular among all kinds of mold. Exposure to this mold can result to lung inflammation, allergy symptoms, and chronic sinus infection.
Do you know that the popular antibiotic, penicillin, is made from penicillium? Yes that’s true, so even though they cause some health problems, they are equally useful in the manufacture of bacteria resistant drugs.
Alternaria
These kinds of mold are normally found in damp areas especially in showers and sinks or leaky pipes. They can equally be found under a carpet that has remained damp for a period of time. They can equally grow in places where there are little amount of moisture. Alternaria spreads easily and can be found both indoors and outdoors. These kinds of mold can lead to asthma and several allergy symptoms. Alternaria can cause a great problem to immunosuppressant individuals (especially HIV + people), people with respiratory issues, children, and elderly people.
There are many ways to determine exactly the kinds of mold you have in your home, but the most effective method is through a laboratory test. However, these tests are not as important as the need to prevent and remove them. Therefore, no matter the type of mold you have in your home, preventing or removing them is very important to maintain an optimal health condition.