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What
is mold and where is it found?
Mold is a type of fungus found indoors and outdoors
and can grow in almost any area where moisture and damp
musty conditions are present such as the bathroom. Stachybotrys
chartarum is one of the most common types of mold found
in your home or office and it is one of the most common
molds associated with health risks in people. It is
a greenish-black mold that can grow on most any material
- such as drywall sheetrock, dropped ceiling tiles,
and wood - that become chronically moist or water-damaged,
due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation,
or flooding. However mold can also appear long after
a flood or water incident often growing inside your
walls remaining dormant until an incident of high humidity.
How
can you be exposed to mold?
Mold reproduces through microscopic spores that travel
through the air and can land on most any moist surface
that is suitable for life. You can even be exposed to
these spores by inhaling them without notice or even
by handling moldy materials. Since mold is so easily
spread it can be detected in most every house but it
is when these levels become abnormally high that they
pose a threat to your health.
How
can mold affect your health?
Some molds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious
health risks to humans as well as animals. Some of the
most common health risks associated with over exposure
to mold are cold-like symptoms, rashes, sinusitis, aggravation
of asthma and conjunctivitis. When exposed to high levels
of mycotoxins a person can also develop neurological
problems and in some cases of prolonged exposure it
has even caused death. Infants can also be adversely
affected especially those that are less than six months
old. Recent studies have linked Stachybotrys with pulmonary
hemosiderosis resulting in bleeding in the lungs for
infants who were exposed to dwellings that were highly
contaminated. If you suspect that you or your family
have symptoms caused by exposure to mold, you should
immediately see a physician. It is very important to
tell your physician about the symptoms and when, how,
and for how long you think you were exposed.
What should
you do if you find mold in your home?
Mold should always be cleaned as soon as it
appears. In order to eliminate the mold you'll first
need to identify the source. It is important to first
find out how and where the moisture is seeping into
the property and to then deal with it accordingly. For
smaller areas of mold often times the homeowner can
handle the problem themselves. However for larger areas
usually covering ten square feet or more it is necessary
to contact your local environmental protection group
for a recommendation on removal.
At Yesner & Boss, P.L.,
we can serve as your insurance claim lawyer and answer your questions regarding the availability
of insurance coverage for mold damage claims, discovering
the party responsible for causing the mold, and recovering
for the damages caused by mold. Contact
us today for your free consultation.
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