Mold and Your Health: Hidden Dangers of Black Mold Exposure

Posted by Center For Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM) on January 24th, 2020

Mold is a kind of fungus that is present nearly everywhere. Generally, reasonable quantities of mold in the environment are harmless to people with a well-functioning immune system. However, some people can be very sensitive to mold spores and may develop respiratory problems when inhaling even a small number of spores.

Black Mold: Things You Should Know

Not all types of molds are dangerous. However, a kind of mold species called Stachybotrys chartarum can be toxic. These are also known as “black mold” and are often found in humid, warm, and damp areas.

What Are the Effects of Black Mold Exposure?

You can get a series of health problems and allergic reactions due to black mold exposure. However, black mold exposure symptoms vary depending on the number of spores inhaled and the duration of the exposure. Common symptoms are headaches, chronic fatigue, eye infections, fever, irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and mouth, rashes, sneezing, and persistent coughing. More severe symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and bleeding in the nose and lungs may occur in case of high exposure or an allergic reaction.

Can Mold Exposure Cause Eye Infections?

Black molds produce mycotoxins, which are toxic to our bodies. Since these mycotoxins are airborne, they can enter our bodies through our eyes, causing inflammation and damage to the eye cells. Symptoms can also manifest as:

• Blurry vision
• Red eyes
• Eye damage
• Burning sensation in the eyes
• Yellowing of the eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Vision problems

Hidden Dangers Associated with Black Mold Exposure

Many people aren’t aware of the dangers of black mold exposure. Some black mold health risks include:

• • Mental and Neurological Symptoms - Mycotoxins can kill neurons in our brain and impair a person’s mental ability. Additionally, black mold exposure can cause irritability, tremors, shaking, learning disabilities, seizures, and many other neurological issues.

• • Respiratory Symptoms - Inhaling mycotoxins can cause wheezing, difficulty breathing, and irritation in the throat, mouth, and the nasal cavity.

• • Circulatory System - The mycotoxins, when present in the bloodstream, can cause internal hemorrhage, failure of blood to clot, or bone marrow depletion.

Also Read - Can Black Mold Exposure Cause Headaches?

What Type of Cancer Does Mold Cause?

Even though mycotoxins produced by black mold can affect the lungs, nervous system, and skin, there is no scientific evidence to prove that mold spores can cause lung cancer. But, mycotoxins are linked with other kinds of cancer, including liver, esophageal, intestinal, and stomach cancer. Also Read - Mold Exposure Health Risks: Can Mold Make You Sick?

How to Detox Your Body from Mold?

Black mold toxicity should be treated quickly to avoid damage to your immune and respiratory systems. A few natural black mold treatments include the following:

• • Activated Charcoal - You can take activated charcoal capsules to relieve black mold-related toxicity symptoms. However, do not take activated charcoal with tricyclic antidepressants, laxatives, or drugs such as theophylline, digoxin, or acetaminophen.

• • Probiotics - Probiotics are an excellent, natural way to treat mold toxicity as they directly attack mycotoxins present in the body and remove them safely. Probiotics come in different forms, such as liquids, capsules and are also present in fermented foods.

• • Bentonite Clay - Similar to activated charcoal, bentonite clay also binds to mold toxins in our body and eliminates them. You need to take one capsule per day.

If you are looking for medical professionals who provide black mold treatment, give us a call today at 843-572-1600.