we have mold in our home. will it harm us?

Question

we live in a duplex and we're on the bottom floor so it is in our ceiling. we cant do anything about it and the person we rent it from wont either.

Answer 1

Mold isn't good for you especially if you have respiratory problems. Black mold is lethal and can actually grow in your lungs. It is something that you should take serious.

Answer 2

It can do more than harm you, it can KILL you.


Here is a list of what mold is known to cause.

http://fortwaltonbeachwaterdamage.blogspot.com/2007/09/mold-and-your-health.html


And bleach does not kill mold. This is from http://www.zwsllc.com/faq.html#2

"The structure of mold most associated with harmful health effects are the spores and their byproducts. When bleach is applied to mold growth, the bleach will make a large percentage of the spores non-viable (unable to grow). Unfortunately, a non-viable spore will give you the same allergenic and toxigenic effects as a viable spore. Non-viable spores can not cause infection in the human body, but most people (other than elderly, young children and immunocompromised) are not susceptible to mold infections. Most people are susceptible to are the allergenic (asthma etc.) and toxigenic health effects of mold. Thus, making a percentage of the mold non-viable is not protecting you against any harmful health effects. More importantly, the physical scrubbing of the mold releases the spores into the air you are breathing causing a greater magnitude of exposure. Since bleach does not make 100% of the spores non-viable, mold growth usually returns in the affected area.

It can be assumed that there are 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 spores per inch2 of visible mold growth (between 144,000,000 and 1.44 billion spores per foot2). Let us also assume the average size bedroom is 41m3 (12x15x8). If you aerosolized only 1% of those spores while scrubbing you would have between 35,121 and 351,219 spores/m3 in the breathable air. The truth is, you would have aerosolized a much larger percentage and had even a greater exposure. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology’s (AAAAI) Aeroallergen Network reports that greater than 50,000 spores/m3 is “Very High, which is AAAAI’s highest designation.
IICRC S-520

The best way to handle a mold problem is by physical removing any material with visible mold growth. This should be done under containment, in a negatively pressurized room, and followed by a HEPA vacuuming of all surfaces."



This is from

Answer 3

Before you freak out, there is mold every where and you are breathing it right now. In order for mold to grow it need 3 things, moisture, lack of direct UV light and something to grow on and feed on. Not all mold is bad and not all black mold is bad. Most of the time black mold is a common mold found in everyones home, like in the shower, in the drip pan under the refer on the exterior of your home in the attic crawl space or under the house, mold is everywhere and there are 1000 of types, because it is airborn. The only way to find out if it is a bad mold is to have a lab test it and you can buy test kits at home depot and you send a sample to the lab. Total cost is around $60. The best way to get rid of mold is to spray it with bleach but it will come back if you still have a moisture problem, just like if you don't clean your shower. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I had damp and mould in my home and I developed asthma for the first time in my late 30's so yes it can harm you. Make your landlord fix it by whatever means possible including using the legal route if you can, or if this seems to hard, move home.

Mould is often due to damp, or just a plain lack of ventilation. Try opening your windows a lot more. Air vents are pretty good, or there could even be a leak somewhere causing the problem. You should be able to get hold of some stuff from a diy store which will remove the mould, but you need to take measures so it doesnt come back.

Good luck

Answer 5

If your house is owned by you, then use bleach to kill out the mold,

I strongly recommend that you use a respirator while doing this or even being near mold.

It really is bad for you.

If you call the health dept. they will force you to move out of that structure, so you might want to try to get rid of it first.

Bleach, and air.

If it is in the carpet, you will have to ether remove that carpet and padding or lift it up and get air to dry out the floor below then the carpet padding, then the carpet.

You don't want to leave the mold alive, get rid of it.

If you are renting then it is the responsibility of the owner to fix it. ( not as easy as it sounds )

You might have to take legal actions to get it done, including calling the health dept. be prepared to have to move out.

I have added a few links that you might want to go read, couple are business, I don't have any recommendations, just found them in a yahoo search.

hope this finds you safe.

Answer 6

some people have a severe allergic response to mold. i all cases it is unhealthy. There are court cases where hefty damages were won by the plaintiffs, based on some scientific (or pseudo-scientific) claims. the mold needs moisture to survive; there might be a source, ever so minute, of water, or pipe conensation. There is a company that advertises clean-up of water (and fire) damage. There are mold inhibitors you can apply.
I wouldn't be able to survive there.

Answer 7

Report it to the health department and I'm sure that something will be done about it quickly just make sure you have proof that you have notified him. Also I would not stay there until something is done about the mold it can be very harmful and lethal.

Answer 8

yes mold can cause serious health problems starting with pnemonia and other breathing problems. If you are renting you need to contact your landlord as soon as possible. If the landlord doesnt do anything contact your local health department and let them handle it

Answer 9

Contact your landlord. The landlord should remove it.

You could hire someone to remove it and reduce that amount from your rent.

If there is alot, you may be able to move into a hotel until it is removed.

You should check into both options before you actually spend the money.

Answer 10

Run as fast as you can, and find somewhere else to live.. harm you.. yes.. .terribly... you need to call your local health dept, and have them come out and condemn the place.. or get the mold out...