How can you tell if mold is dangerous?

Signs of Dangerous Mold in Homes

  1. Musty Odor, Often in the Basement. Mold gives off a clear smell of mildew.
  2. Visible Mold Growths. Obviously, if you see visible mold, you’ll know it’s there.
  3. Experiencing Respiratory Symptoms. The symptoms we mentioned earlier related to black mold sometimes apply to other molds as well.

What are the 5 toxic molds?

Toxic molds fall into five categories. Those categories are Penicilium, Fusarium, Stachybotrys, Aspergillus and Cladosporium.

What does toxic house mold look like?

Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots. If you find mold with any of these qualities in your home, don’t get too close, and call a professional right away.

What levels of mold are dangerous?

What Level of Mold Spores Is Dangerous and Toxic? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), any amount of mold is dangerous to have inside of a building. At this time, there are no EPA-acceptable mold levels or regulations for fungal growth within a commercial building.

What color is toxic mold?

greenish-black
Stachybotrys chartarum is the infamous toxic black mold. It often appears as black or greenish-black in color and can be found growing in leaky areas, old decaying wood, paper, and foods.

What kind of mold is toxic?

There are five categories of toxic mold. They are Cladosporium, Penicilium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. Some of the species included in these categories may only cause hay fever-like allergic reactions, while others can cause potentially deadly illnesses.

How quickly can mold make you sick?

If you have a mold allergy, your immune system thinks certain mold spores are invaders, or allergens. So, when you inhale spores, your body reacts by triggering sneezing or nasal congestion. This can happen immediately or after exposure, depending on your body.

How long does it take for mold to affect you?

These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.

What is Level 3 mold?

Mold Damage Level 3: 30 to 100 Square Feet Mold level three usually indicates an underlying problem in the plumbing or air conditioning system. Large areas of mold growth (more than 30 sq. ft.) indicate a significant problem that requires immediate action.

What does toxic black mold look like?

Stachybotrys chartarum typically appears black or extremely dark gray in color. This mold tends to have very round splotches with a speckled appearance. Often, you see darker layers of mold over lighter layers.