NEW! Do you have a mold story to share? Perhaps you are in the middle of a major mold crisis and you could use some help or advice. Or, perhaps you've fought mold and won (or you're still fighting!) and have a story to share. We want to hear from you! Share your story today.
Do you have a serious mold problem in your home or office building? Would you like some professional help? If so, request a remediation consultation.
10 Health Risks of Toxic Mold
Are you Living in an Area with Risks of Toxic Mold?
If you are living in an area where the relative humidity is above 55%, you are very much liable to health risks caused by toxic molds.
Black Mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum.
Stachybotrys Chartarum is a greenish-black fungi found worldwide that colonizes particularly well in high-cellulose material such as straw, hay, wet leaves, dry wall, carpet, wall paper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles, thermal insulation, etc. The fungus, before drying, is wet and slightly slimy to touch.
Stachybotrys is considered a toxic mold and is one of the major health risk providers.
Species of Black Mold
There are about fifteen species of Stachybotrys worldwide. Contrary to popular belief, this type of fungus does not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete products, or ceramic tiles. Neither is it found in the green mold on bread or in the black mold on shower tiles.
The toxic mold environmental risk may be one of the next major real estate “due diligence†concerns, especially in property development areas where major flooding has occurred.
The problem is that the existence of toxic molds not only includes residential and commercial area flood incidents, but also numerous minor water releases due to plumbing failures, conductive condensation, house water leaks and accidents.
The toxic mold concern could also be a problem where fires have occurred on residential properties.
For some people, exposure to the toxic mold spores may stay just a “risk”. To others, it may be a real health hazard, with life-threatening results.
Health Risk or Health Hazard?
Whether a potential liability concern is just health risk or a major hazard, there will be paramount in defining the critical level of due diligence and disclosure response by responsible parties.
There are already several major lawsuits concerning toxic mold exposure in residential and commercial buildings throughout the United States.
The 10 most common health risks associated with toxic mold are:
1. pulmonary hemorrhage or pulmonary hemosiderosis (primarily in infants)
2. nose bleeds
3. immune system suppression (resulting in increasing numbers of infections)
4. hair loss
5. dermatitis
6. chronic fatigue
7. psychological depression
8. diarrhea
9. sore throats
10. headaches and other flu-like symptoms
Can All Toxic Mold Be Eliminated?
One of the major concerns that many experts have is that one might not be able to permanently eliminate ALL of the toxic mold from a structure.
There also remains a great propensity for future reoccurrence. It is therefore recommended that great care be exercised to remove and dispose of all products that have been contaminated by the toxic mold.
Another concern is that state’s Health Departments will consider ambiguous and genetic disposition as a response to the inquiries about toxic mold that is made by the public.
There will be some people, especially children, which will exhibit more adverse reactions than other persons exposed to the toxic mold. Some of these reactions will include death, lung tissue damage and memory loss.
This may also depend on the chemical sensitivity, genetic disposition, and predisposing health history.
Currently, most health organizations consider exposure to toxic mold a health risk and hazard. Keep in mind that most responses leading to testing, investigations, and abatement of the toxic mold are due directly to occupant complaints or documented detrimental health effects.
Liability Concerns
Toxic molds may even evolve to a point where it is regarded with the same cautions, response and liability concerns as those attributed to lead-base paint and asbestos.
Health hazards and risks associated with concern to exposure to these types of mold are currently considered as short-term effects as opposed to exposure to radon gas in houses, which is considered a long-term health risk.
The Stachybotrys fungi cannot be identified by a routine visual inspection. All black molds are not necessarily Stachybotrys. It could be non-toxic black mold.
The only method to determine the type of mold present is by sample analysis by an accredited laboratory. Also, it is important to keep in mind that the mold is only a toxic risk or hazard if a person breathes or comes into contact with the spores.
Wet mold is not an indoor air quality health risk, but there is a significant potential for the mold to dry and released into the air.
Be wary of continuous health problems you might be having. If you cannot find the cause of these problems, chances are they are not really that visible to the eyes. Toxic molds can be as risky to your health as any other environmental factors.
Further Recommended Reading :
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team
Like this post? Pass it along!
I am a victim of toxic mold. My symptoms include an inability to recall short-term memories, walking problems, shaking, and major changes in peronality, like outbursts of anger. We lived in two houses that we had to move from because life became impossible due to mold. It is so much more than watering eyes and a runny nose – it is every system in the body. My vision became foggy and my eyes literally sunk in my head. My skin became wrinkled and I developed black circles under my eyes. I looked like a crack addict. So, anyone whose life begins to change, relationships begin to fall apart, and anger becomes a way of life, consider moving! There is no amount of bleach that will make it okay for the person who has developed the allergy. Plus, the bleach is really bad for people like us. We couldn’t even take one piece of paper with us, as it is now contaminated and it makes me sick. Now we live in a tiny, 2-bedroom, very clean apartment on a slab (leaving my 3,000 sq. ft. house). It is worth it! Next house we buy will include an very thorough testing before signing the contract!
Holly on January 6th, 2008I lived in an apartment that started to flood and never stopped. Mold had grown everywhere. The manager was aware of this and was cited to have a mold level test and fix other serious deficiencies that they never did. I have a compromised immune system and liver disease. My ammonia level went sky high. It was not like that until I moved into this apartment and stopped when I moved out. It was a revolving door. I was hospitalized and had many ER visits buy rescue.
I was in Respiratory ICU for three weeks after two months at new place. The last time I became ill was right before I moved out. My family had not heard from me for four days. My son crawled through my bedroom window and found me sitting in bed, half dress, knotted hair, and dry bloody lips, semi-comatose and half-dead. I had not left my bed for four days, so you can imagine what my son saw. He called 911 and called my mom sobbing. I was rushed to the Trauma Center, last rights, admitted into ICU. I didn‘t know anyone and I did not talk, I babbled. I have three sisters that are nurses; they said they believed they were going to leave the hospital without me.
I barely made it, and then I went to a psychiatric hospital. I could not talk right, I forgot common words, did not recognize my sons, grandchildren and family. I could not write legibly, make change from $1 and I was talking as if it was 1976-1979 when I was in high school. I was talking about the blizzard of 1978, high school friends & boyfriend, my teachers, a fatal car accident I saw, my Spanish teacher. When my sons and grandchildren came up to see me, I was confused. I knew them, but I could not figure out who they really were. I did not want to tell anyone about all of this; because I was afraid, they would not let me go home.
Finally, my dad told me that was many years ago. I was puzzled. I did not know how he could have been so old. I did not want to hurt anyone feelings, so, I shut up, and lived in my world. I became very angry and demanded to go home. They discharged me. I did not know why they did that until I went home. I had Hospice Care. My family told me that they take care of people who are very sick and not necessarily dying. They tried to talk me into going to a nursing home. When I got home, I could not figure out why I had my own apartment. I was so mentally messed up. The Hospice nurses did not believe I had much more time to live. I did.
I could not dress myself, bath myself, fix my meals, drive my car and did not want to answer my phone. I did strange things, and I still do not know what I was thinking. I took pictures of my family and started tearing them up. I saved some people’s pictures, but I through out the other half. Hospice helped me find another apartment, pack and move. I do not know how I did it, but I did. I moved into my new apartment, Hospice discharged me within two weeks, and I have not been sick since then. I still feel beat up by all that happened physically and mentally. I am well, but still not as I was before this happened. I never told my family this story; it was too hard to explain everything. Now, I will let my family read this email, so I do not have to relive this nightmare ever again.
lorraine decristoforo on March 15th, 2008Lorraine, thank you so much for your story. That’s amazing and truly shows the damage that mold can make in one individual’s life.
I wish you the best of health,
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Joslyn on March 17th, 2008Hello Joslyn and the team,
Thank you for your reply and your determination to get this out there to the public. I would like to express my sorrow to those who have lost loved one, and thank them for their courage of carrying this important message despite their pain. Sadly, the owners of the apartment complex could not wait for me to move. They had full knowledge of the mold infestation and my many hospitalizations nearly dying. I did call Housing Authority, and they were cited. I was moving anyway, however, not as quick as they would have liked. They would not receive rent, until the deficiencies were fixed. Therefore, they eliminated the least costly problem, me. Now, they are renting to others. I do not want to be arrested for trespassing; however, I will find a way to reach other tenants. Any suggestions…..
Lorraine DeCristoforo
lorraine decristoforo on March 20th, 2008Lorraine,
I think you’ve done a wonderful job in letting others know.
With such a heavy mold infestation, it won’t be long before the new renters realize the problem. Then, with more supporters against the landlords, there will be a higher chance of getting action for mold remediation procedures.
I would, without trespassing or imposing on their rights, talk with the new tenants to see if they are experiencing the same or similar problems, and if they would be willing to join the fight against mold with you.
Have a Wonderful Day!
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Joslyn on March 26th, 2008Hi Joslyn and team,
It has been quite sometime since I visited this website and read my blog and other’s.
Lorraine on April 14th, 2008Often, I have this terrifying feeling inside, and I have to stop to think about what it is that is so tragic. When I realize that my sons are OK, I then realize it was the, “mold.” What a frightening word. Something I never thought about before. I still break down and cry, which is quite odd for me.
I’ve been through some tragedies, but this one “gets me.”
An attorney said something like, you’ve faced terminal illnesses before, like I have had practice at this, a pro… I thought it through and realized, I have been given a death sentence with my liver disease, but I never look death in the eye. For me, that is a huge difference.
Lorraine
I’m a little bit concerned. I’ve been living in a basement apartment for four months and I just pulled the bed out from the wall today and there’s all kinds of mold growing on the baseboards. It’s scary because I’ve been sleeping in the room for this long! I’ve been sick off and on since I moved here and have had a lot of really terrible migraines. I have also had allergic reactions to things that I never seemed to be allergic to before and my chest hurts. I’ve already given my notice to tell the people I’m moving out but I’m afraid to live here even one more day…yikes!
Naomi on November 6th, 2008Thanks all of you for sharing. I’ve had serious short term memory loss lately that seemed to come out of the blue. I have been living in a house with mold under the leaky kitchen sink for about nine months and wonder if that could be a cause. I live in Italy, where I don’t speak the language so well and building codes are not exactly up to US standards (no fire alarms or extinguishers!) I am definitely considering moving soon and see if my condition improves!
JD on March 27th, 2009I lived in a house with toxic mold,I moved out 5 months ago,just recently I was going through a box in the garage most of my things were left behind or thrown out while looking in the box my throat started hurting,my mouth became very dry and I felt a familiar burning on my face as I did before,can the toxins be in the air? Can toxins survive here too this is a newer home as the other but this one has no mold in the walls,if Toxins are in the air now how long will they stay? thank you. Teri Lynn Novak
TERILYN on April 6th, 2009I am a care giver, my client lives in a very old trailer house. There is mold everywhere! I have never had allergies in my life, now I find that I have Hay fever, I get to work and my nose and eyes run, for the last two weeks or so I even feel nautious there.
I am reading about the depression being caused by mold exposure. I’m wondering about that, I’ve been pretty crabby lately, well for the last year I think.
MoniqueS on July 29th, 2009Great site. Mold will continue to be an issue with homeowners. I’ve had many troubles. Keep up the great work!
Edgar Leeber on November 1st, 2009Hi, I have recently been exposed to mould. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment with my partner and 2 children. Our baby is in the room with us. Its a pretty small master bedroom with an ensuite. The ensuite had a leak behind the wall for months and we only realised this when the timber around it looked damp. Then we noticed mould was growing on the walls on our bedroom. I started to complain about a musty smell. I also noticed i was getting colds and flus and was very tired all the time. The up to 3 weeks ago my breathing start getting worse at night. Then it was getting much worse every night until i couldnt take it anymore. I went to the Dr. She gave me antibiotics for a chest infection. They did nothing for me, i then went back and she gave me an inhalor and sent me for a chest xray with a note saying “check for ‘something?’ fibrosis”. Now im waiting for the results and moved to my parent home. My breathing has much improved at night but im still coughing like mad throughout the day and night. My breathing is still a tiny bit tight now but the improvement is 80%. Im just hoping the dr. doesnt tell me the worst. Is this normal woth other mould sufferers and is it possible to get fibrosis from mould exposure?? And if its not Fibrosis could i have a permenant lung problem now?????
Philip on November 3rd, 2009Hi,
Judith on December 6th, 2009I appreciate all who shared your stories, because they make me feel less alone. I don’t havethe energy to tell my story, but suffice it to say that I was exposed to a tremendous amout of mold, over a period of time, and now have Addison’s Disease.
What has been a sheer Hell for me, has been my crazy ability to detect those certain spores or toxins on family members who come over after having been in thatsame apt. (in the woods) I get strange symptoms, like my eyes blinking or squeezing shut, a clicking or cracking sound inmy head, joints popping, and a ‘stupid’, pressure-like feeling in my head, as wellas inability to think well, and often, anger.
When I hold objects the exposed people have brought over, I get those same symptoms…everything gets contaminated!
I wish to God, I didn’t have this terrible ability to detect it,as it makes me so miserable (forgot to mention anxiety and depression, as well!)and it has cost me not only my health, but the love and support of my family…I feel so very alone in this. Thank you all, for understanding, and I hope you all get relief from this devastating problem.
very interesting and helpful article to increase knowledge about health and mold.In recent time we should be familiar with that type of health issues.
jerry jacson on December 10th, 2009thank you.
I live in a rental house that I believe is infested with mold, both on the surface of the walls and inside the walls. I can’t see it anywhere on the walls, but I’m sure it’s infested. I am sure of this because I once left some bread out and it got moldy. I immediately took the bread outside and buried it deep in a hole in the back yard. However, I’m sure toxic mold spores were released into the air from the bread sitting there on my counter for a few days – and now these microscopic death spores have been sucked into my heating ducts and have been circulating toxic fungus throughout my house and into my lungs. In addition to the bread mold, I discovered mold growing on my shower curtain. It too has probably been releasing poison into the air and onto every single surface in my home. I am very concerned for my life and the precious lives of my family. Just like radiactive fallout, this invisible mold has coated every square inch of my belongings, so instead of wiping them off, I am not going to take any chances and am going to dispose of everything. I am certain I have felt differently since discovering the moldy bread. I can’t seem to remember anything, I have gotten depressed. I sometimes have trouble sleeping. I’ve had headaches, backaches, stomach aches, sore throats, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes and athletes foot. I get angry often. I have trouble staying interested in boring TV shows. I argue with my wife. Yes, I have had symptoms like this before in my life, but I see all this litigation going on about mold and I just know I have been infected and permanently damaged by the ravishing effects of this terrible terrible toxic mold. There is no way it can be attributed to anything else. I don’t know what to do. I wish there was someone I could call who could help me out of this situation. I would be so very grateful and relieved to get some sort of large financial settlement out of this like other victims – it would definitely bring me piece of mind and probably alleviate most of these horrible symptoms of toxic mold that are currently killing me. There has to be someone to blame for this – most likely my landlord. It’s his property afterall. He has several rental properties so I’m sure he is loaded. I love your informative site and am so thankful to see so many companies advertising on this site that make their money specifically from people like me suffering from the effects of toxic mold death. Please tell me who I can call to get some help with my horrific situation before it’s too late. Thank you.
Steve on January 24th, 2010I’m going through so many similar issues with my 20 year old daughter. She is having symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, severe body aches, confusion, short term memory loss and headaches. Also, realizing that my husband is having reoccuring migraines, and my son has a chronic cough, sinus infections, etc. I decided to do some research on my own. My daughter has been to many doctors, ER visits, allergy tests, etc and no one has mentioned mold exposure. All bloodwork comes back normal. IS there a medication she can take to get better? Also, we are in the process of cleaning our home of mold after high levels of mold were found in the basement.
Karen Wrenn on March 3rd, 2010I`m broken out with large welts,tired,headaches,muscle cramping and I have visible mold growing everywhere in my home.I so overwhelmed.Can someone please help me.Also am in great financial dept.
beverly on March 15th, 2010This info is for Karen Wrenn: My story starts 3 years ago and two buildings ago my employer put us the employees two mold contanimated building to work in. I was a former United States Marine in top shape. In 2006, my employer put me and several employees in a toxic mold building, I had became very ill and complained, and they advised me I was having a mid life crises and mold could not make you sick. They suggested that I needed to see a psychiatrist. However, I tested the office myself and took picutes, with this proof, they moved me to a clean environment. Then a year later, again they moved the entire firm into a 100 year old building that flooded every time it rained, and had mold in it before they moved the employees in it. They ignored my warning in the first building. The building also suffered 3 sewage leaks. The firm tested and found toxic mold which showed up as high levels of mold spores, Stachybotrys Chartarum being one of the molds found in the building. After a year in the 100 year old building, we were deathly sick. The firm even had somone spray mold killer spay during working hours. OSHA came to the office, and the employer gave OSHA a bogus mold test saying there was no mold in the building and OSHA closed the case. OSHA never received the toxic mold test we found in one of the lawyer’s offices during the move. After a year, the attorneys were sick so they moved, but didn’t de-contaminate nothing, and had us the employees wipe down all the furniture without masks or any protective gear. At this point the employees still didn’t know about the Stachybotrys Chartarum in the building. After the cleaning I did for the move I became deathly sick. I now have mold in my body, my lungs, it effected my heart, my brain. Anyway, I researched and researched. I found Biosigns from Atlanta who sent a nurse to draw my blood to see if I had fungus in my blood, because no doctors in Mississippi had clue about the toxic effects of mold. I went to an allergist, not allergic to mold, I went to doctor after doctor and was getting frustrated because I was deathly sick. My level of fungus in my blood was off the chart. Then I contacted Dr. Andrew Campbell from Houston, TX, he specializes in Toxic Mold Exposure. He diagnosed me and is now presently treating my condition with IVIG treatments, and it could take up to two years after the toxic mold exposure. Needless to say, since the employer did not reveal the toxic levels of mold to the employees (it was seen all over the building), a lawsuit has been filed. Mold is ignored in MS. Doctor’s here in the south don’t even know how to test for this disease, that is why I travel to Texas…I hope this has helped many other victims.
Cherie Blackmore on April 20th, 2010I would like to know what can I do to find out if the exposure that I had few years back with mole Greenish/Black all over my bedroom walls and bathroom and fungus growing from beneath the walls with me being the one cleaning it – would cause to me as a health issue.
delia negron on September 6th, 2010I was living in a home that was covered with mole on the walls of the house more in the restroom and bath and also fungus (mushroom looking flower)growing from beneath the walls in the garage with me being the sole person cleaning it daily – what can be the cause or health issues that I can be facing today.
delia negron on September 6th, 2010I lived in a home with toxic mold and yes it will make you sick very sick,i watched it change me and my kids and each person that entered my home and i watched in the short 5 months i lived there two of my animals die.I went to Home Depot and bought a mold test kit then sent it off which cost total under 30.oo with lab work and all,mold clean up companies cost in the 1,000′s if you are going to take your case to court be prepared with every inch of paper trail you can get from day one pictures,video’s if you have one,doctor visits,emergency room visits,witnesses,e-mail,save everything and find a Lawyer with experience or you are wasting your time,mold cases are very hard to prove even with proof believe me I lived it. Some people are allergic to mold and some like us are not but Toxic Mold affects everyone and everything you do not half to be allergic to toxic mold for it to affect you,no matter how strong or healthy you are even a few minutes in the area of toxic mold if you are not aware of it you will have a cold or sore throat or similiar,we our entire family even pets with in 2 months had colds,sore throat,eyes watered,red spots,stomach hurt,head ache,i coughed 2 months my doctor thought i might have lung cancer but xray ruled that out,our cat was dead in 3 days of being in the toxic area (no idea we had toxic mold at that time)toxic mold is silent you are being affected and don’t even know it,if you see mold have it tested cause toxic mold must be cleaned and the sourse for it growing in the first place be found or it will come back if it is even really gone, it will kill you if you don’t kill it first. you can send me questions to buckigal09@att.net good luck…
Terilyn on November 16th, 2010I recently moved back to Wisconsin to take care of my Mom after being in KS for the past 12 years.
Peggy H. on November 30th, 2010I’m not sure if my Moms’ symptoms are related to mold, but am hoping somebody can email me back with some answers. My Mom is 73 years old and was recently diagnosed with depression, however,she has some of the symptoms associated with mold from what I have read in the blogs. Her symptoms are as follows: severe trembling,uncontrolllable voice tics, i.e. she says “Oh” “Oh my God” “What did I do” constantly pacing the floor,eyes watering, hard coughing, confused, anxiety etc.
After being in her home after 3 days, I became VERY ill. After I was better,I went on a 3 day break, and when I returned to Mom’s home, I became sick all over again.
PLEASE… I need help to find out what has happened to Mom. If anybody has any answers to this, please email me back, I need all the help I can get
Hi Joslyn, Jonathan, and Joshua
I work for a company who has developed a product that is effective and safe against mold. I would like to recommend for them to send you guys a sample of the product to check out. Are you receptive to that? If so, where may I have them ship?
Love your content.
Michele
Michele Hockwalt on January 19th, 2011My husband and I lived in a rented house. One and a half months after moving into the house he developed bronchitis. He had Hep C and 1 year to the day we moved in to the house he died. I also had chronic bronchial problems, but continued to live there for 2 more years. After many bouts with bronchitis, 6 months later he was in and out of the hospital 16 times. He died of Pneumonia. I moved out 2 months ago, during a bout of pneumonia myself. The new tenant contacted me a few days ago. SHe has felt ill, her boyfriend has developed pneumonia, and had the house checked for mold. The inspector said in all of his work, this was as bad as he has ever seen. Not only is the mold under the house but also in the attic due to improper insulation. The house was built in the 70′s. The owner is a realtor, and should have disclosed this issue or had the house checked. I am NOW sure that the house not only killed my husband, but caused my illnesses as well. Now that I know that there is mold and issues with the house, do I have any recourse with the landlord?
Mary Allegar on February 21st, 2011hi im wondering if you could get sick a year or two later after being exposed to mold in apartment it was so bad that you could really smell it and as soon as you opened the front door if you werent familiar with the apartment living enviorment your breath would be taking AWAY ! ANYWAYS I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE I RECENTLY GOT DIAGNOSED WITH SINUSITIS BUT THE DANGEROUS KIND AND I WAS WONDERING IF THAT COULD BE A AFTER RESULT BEING EXPOSED TO THE TOXIC AND NON TOXIC MOLDS IN MY HOME?
jenny on May 5th, 2011this is in response to steves post from january 24 of 2010..
The manner in which you mock this subject is very disturbing. It makes me think that you may possibly be an ‘angry owner’ of a ‘toxic mold farm’ that has gotten you in some trouble. These people have health problems caused by toxic mold, not bread mold. My mother is dying from the same thing, and I blame the management for her illness because THEY neglected to repair water damages from 5 yrs ago, and many since then, even though we requested it repeatedly. If we had known there was so much mold, we would have NEVER stayed so long. My mother had respitory illness already, so the effects of mold poisoning are severe. The other people living there have all had their share of illness. It isn’t a joke. Mold IS horrible. Thats why it is described as horrible. Mock on, but don’t think you are clever or funny.. It’s just wierd and ignorant….oh yeah, and guilty of bieng negligent.
Kelly on May 11th, 2011Kelly, I completely agree with you!! It’s disgusting!! I wonder how he would feel if it were him, or his mother!! Then, people like him “might”, (but I doubt it) understand what it’s like being the victim and people like that have to almost die themselves before they could EVER put themselves in someone else’s shoes!! I do not believe his comment should even be allowed to remain on this site!!! SICKO
Tiffany on July 7th, 2011Has anyone had any luck finding a mold cleaner that not only cleans, but prevents mold from coming back in consistently wet/damp areas?
Adam on August 23rd, 2011I would like to know how to get a college dorm room and science building tested for this mold? My daughter has most of these symptoms and we have had her tested for everything. We are trying to make an appointment for her to see a lung specialist.
Heather on September 4th, 2011You can clean the mold with borax and hydrogen peroxide…but it will come back if the SOURCE is not eliminated. You can also clean the air ducts, that is where it is being circulated. You have to REBUILD your immune system otherwise it will be a lifelong problem, even AFTER getting out of the place. It is absorbed via the skin, sinuses, mouth, head, etc. It is in the body, then because it is there parasites set up shop, then viruses. It is not a joke, and I BELIEVE, the center of most diseases, including cancer. Check out the cancer connection with mold… Doctors’ know the cause, most!
Faith on February 7th, 2012