Black Mold and Toxic Black Mold - Does it sounds familiar to you?

 

Remember during school time, you did a science experiment regarding mold and fungus, using ‘Gardenia’ bread. It seems cool to see all these green spots and fungi growing on top of the bread. But, do you know that these mold and fungus are very harmful to human beings? If you are living in an environment that is full of fungus and green/black mold, the oxygen that you inhale contains bacteria and virus. In the long run, it can cause major health issues to people.

* When green mold reach a certain growth level, it will turn into black mold (Toxic Black Mold).

How well do you know about Black Mold?



Black Mold is a name commonly used for Stachybotryschartarum. It is one of the most infamous toxic moulds as it can grow in houses and is extremely harmful to humans. It is known as toxic black mold because it produces toxins called mycotoxins. 

So, what does a black mold looks like?

It is a greenish-black gelatinous mold. It is slimy due to wet layer on top of it. But then, if a toxic black mold colony’s water source runs out, it can appear dry and powdery.

Have you ever wonder where does Black Mold usually appear?


Toxic Black Mold grows best in warm condition and is found in many countries throughout the world. It grows outdoors, such as soil and plant debris; it also grows indoors as it needs high cellulose and low nitrogen environment for its growth. In short, toxic black mold can grow on many common indoor building materials. 

When toxic black mold does grow in the home it’s usually in a place out of sight. It needs a lot of moisture for a long time before it can start to grow. That is why it often grows where there has been water leak hidden from view. For example, leaks inside walls, above ceilings or under floors are common causes of toxic black mold. 

For your information, in order for mold to start growing, it needs:
·         - Mold spores

·         - Food source (Eg wood, drywall, cotton)

·         - Darkness (mold cannot grow under UV light)

·          -  Warmth (mold cannot grow in freezing temperatures)

·          - Oxygen

·          -  Moisture (Eg water leaks, humidity)

·          - Length of time (It can start to grow in 24-48 hrs if all the conditions are being fulfilled)

*    *Moisture is the main cause of Toxic Black Mold . Therefore, black mold grows in your house is always related to the moisture and humidity of your house. 

What causes black mold to grow in your house?
·        -  Humidity

·        - Leaking pipes

·        - Leaks in Roof

·        - Condensation

·        - Poor Ventilation

·        - Wet Clothes

·        - Flooding

·        - Damp basement

·        - Water from house’s foundation

If you notice that there are black mold and green mold inside and outside of your house. Do not worry, do not even panic, because we found a solution to prevent it from growing.
People are advise to use Chlorox to wash/mop/wipe inside the house, you can even splash a bucket full of diluted Chlorox on to the growing area. It is also best use with pressure water gun to wash off the mold.

Any enquiries or you are interested to know more about our health news. Feel free to contact us at swomalaysia@gmail.com

Stay tune for more of our health bulletins!




SWO Malaysia

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