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Black Mold Removal – Understanding the Dangers of Stachybotrys Mold in Your Home

Many people who’ve seen their homes flooded or otherwise suffered significant water damage tend to underestimate how important rapid cleanup is. Water damage to a home can cause problems far bigger than just physical damage to the house and the belongings within it. Flooding creates a perfect breeding ground for black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum).

Black mold is an extremely toxic mold, and one which can easily begin to infest a house very shortly after a water damage incident.  It’s vital that homeowners contact a black mold removal company if they think mold cleanup is needed.  Otherwise, they could be putting themselves and their family at risk.

The Dangers of Black Mold

The reason black mold is so feared within homes – rightly – is that it doesn’t merely cause illness or even death in the short-term, but that it’s highly carcinogenic as well.  In fact, black mold is considered one of the leading causes of childhood cancers.  It’s roughly forty times as carcinogenic as cigarettes.

Black mold can cause a wide variety of symptoms as well, if someone is in contact with it. These include:

  • Respiratory problems
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Immune system suppression
  • Irritation of the mucous membranes
  • Skin inflammation
  • Hemorrhaging
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Mental impairment

Black mold can do permanent damage to the body, if exposed long enough.  There are even cases of fatal contaminations on the record.  And then, again, there’s a greatly elevated risk of cancer even if the initial exposure doesn’t do damage.

Recognizing Black Mold

Black mold is greenish-black, and usually appears somewhat gelatinous. It generally has a slimy layer on top, particularly if it’s growing in an environment with plenty of moisture. However, it can also turn into a dry powdery form, if it runs out of moisture.  This form is full of spores can still easily turn into an infestation.

There are several other molds which can resemble black mold, but this is a case where “better safe than sorry” is the rule! If you suspect black mold, call in a mold cleanup company rather than risk harming yourself.

Getting Rid Of Black Mold

It’s usually a bad idea to try to eliminate black mold on your own – you could end up spreading its spores and make the infestation worse.  Instead, call on a black mold removal company – like Malkin Cleaners.  If you have black mold, message us directly for a mold cleanup quote! Serving Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond and the lower mainland.