Mold is a fairly common occurrence. Moreover, in many cities its concentration is several times higher than the permissible norm. And no matter how a person fights it, it always appears again. Perhaps the presence of mold is not so scary? Unfortunately, it causes significant harm to the body of both children and adults. But the most unpleasant thing is that people rarely think about why it is dangerous and do not always take measures to get rid of it, thereby exposing themselves and their children to the danger of serious pathologies.
What is mold?
This is a real fungus. Initially, it appears as a small dot on the ceiling or wall. But soon it begins to grow, and quite intensively. When favorable conditions For mold to grow, it will quickly occupy a large area. You should understand the dangers of mold in an apartment. It's not only unaesthetic appearance, but also a favorable environment for the development of many diseases, including oncology.
Characteristics of the phenomenon
Mold can come in a variety of colors:
- white;
- black;
- red;
- blue;
- green.
Black is often found in houses and apartments. She settles on the walls of the kitchen, in the bathroom, toilet and other rooms. It can be found especially often in basements. Mold spores are so microscopically small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. At comfortable temperature and they begin to multiply very quickly.
One square meter can fill with millions of spores in about an hour. Is it dangerous in the apartment? Of course yes! Children begin to get sick more often because mold not only emits an unpleasant, repulsive odor, but also releases toxins.
Causes of the problem
This question often plagues home owners who have just gotten rid of an unpleasant defect and then notice it again after a while. Therefore, it is important not only to ask why mold on the walls in an apartment is dangerous, but also why it occurs.
In this case, the following factors play a major role:
- Mold spores are often brought into an apartment or house from the street along with shoes, things, animals, and food.
- Certain conditions are required for mold to grow. After all, such a fungus is a living organism. And for its development a nutrient medium is necessary. Substances that promote the spread of mold can include paper, wood, houseplants, fabric and much more.
- A certain microclimate is required for the development of fungus. Mold develops in a room with high humidity (approximately 50-60%), no ventilation, high temperature. Naturally, such conditions are ideally suited to the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. Not surprisingly, it is in these rooms that most often you can find pockets of harmful mold.
- Quite often, the fungus settles in apartments located on the ground floor. The source that provokes the development of mold is damp basement in the presence of poor waterproofing.
- Often the fungus multiplies in apartments located on the top floors. The culprit for the development of mold is insufficient roof insulation.
Initial symptoms
So, let's figure out why mold in an apartment is dangerous? Most people still believe that the fungus is only an external defect, completely unaware of the danger it poses to the body.
This is not surprising, since the homeowner and his children do not experience a sharp deterioration in their condition. Mold is so insidious that it affects the body slowly.
Initially, the child may experience, for example, a chronic runny nose or cough. Some children experience eye inflammation or headaches. But would anyone associate such symptoms with ordinary mold? Obviously, such manifestations are most often attributed to nature, weather conditions and many other factors.
Frequent illnesses
Let's consider if fungus and mold have appeared in the apartment, why this is dangerous. It is worth emphasizing once again: get rid of it immediately, do not wait for the next repair. It is very dangerous to underestimate the harm of mold.
The most harmless disease that can be triggered by a fungus is the occurrence of an allergy. Remember, mold spores are extremely toxic and can cause many serious pathologies.
Doctors have experimentally proven that a fungus that has a long-term effect on the body can cause a number of serious diseases:
- laryngitis;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- tracheitis;
- asthma;
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- dermatitis;
- stomatitis;
- conjunctivitis;
- eczema;
- kidney and liver damage;
- internal and nosebleeds;
- thrush
This is an incomplete list of all the pathologies that such harmless, in the opinion of most residents, mold can cause.
If children often suffer from headaches, chronic fatigue, unexplained vomiting and nausea, the cause may be hidden not only in overwork or poisoning. Mold can also cause these symptoms.
Beware, oncology!
The harm of mold lies in its allergic effects and toxicity. Fungal colonies produce aflatoxins - poisons. Entering the body through the nasal passages, skin, and mouth, they can accumulate.
Doctors constantly warn about the dangers of black mold in an apartment. Toxins accumulated in the body over time can lead to the development of liver cancer. After all, it is this organ that tries to neutralize all poisons. However, if their number exceeds allowable rate, the liver is not able to cope with such an onslaught of harmful toxins. As a result, the process of poisoning the body begins.
In addition, as noted above, many systems suffer. Mold ingested with food can become a source of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, a wide variety of diseases develop in various forms.
Mold is extremely dangerous for babies
Children are most susceptible to the negative effects of mold. After all, their immune defense is still developing.
Why is mold in an apartment dangerous for children? The development of all of the above pathologies. Only in a growing organism such diseases, as a rule, develop much faster and can carry more serious consequences.
Therefore, if you notice allergic reactions in your baby, do not put off visiting a doctor. An experienced specialist will help identify the source that provoked pathological symptoms.
Damage to property
The fungus has an extremely negative effect not only on human health. Thinking about how dangerous mold is in an apartment, carefully look around. Fungus can cause damage to your property. Particularly susceptible to harmful effects wooden structures. Certain types of mold are capable of making dust out of furniture in a short time.
Fungal spores are found almost everywhere: in the air, in water. And only once in a favorable environment, they begin to multiply rapidly. Construction- Decoration Materials, regardless of quantity and cost, are also susceptible to mold.
The main symptom characterizing the occurrence of fungus is the presence unpleasant odor dampness and pungency. And only then there are characteristic spots of white, gray or black.
The appearance of fungus in an apartment is extremely undesirable, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also because of the detrimental effect on the health of the owner of this house. It appears and takes root very well not only in apartments with old renovations. Since fungus spreads very quickly, the slightest accumulation of dampness and high humidity can cause it to appear even on new tiles in the bathroom or other places. To prevent this from happening, you need to act decisively at the first symptoms of its occurrence, since old mold is much more difficult to remove than fresh mold.
Harm from mold
The appearance of mold in an apartment or house can cause a variety of diseases in its residents: for example, allergies, cough, runny nose, feeling of lack of air and other problems with the immune system. Detecting and removing mold is absolutely necessary for the safety of your home and the ability to live in it.
Sometimes a person is cured of complex, difficult to diagnose, chronic diseases simply after moving to another apartment, dry, without mold contamination.
And of course, the aesthetic side of the matter: no apartment is decorated with stains and dirty deposits in the corners.
Causes
To completely and irrevocably get rid of the fungus, you first need to determine the reasons for its appearance. More often it appears due to high humidity and lack of ventilation. Fungi love just such rooms. IN damp houses, apartments located on the ground floor, in a room where the humidifier was not used correctly, in the case of maintaining a tropical climate for special plants growing in large quantities in small rooms - this is where mold will feel comfortable.
Almost all modern building and finishing materials are affected by fungus. It can be found in the bathroom, toilet, and air conditioner. Even washing machine, refrigerator, books, wallpaper or just walls can be infected with mold. It is sometimes very difficult to get rid of it.
Among the signs of mold in the house, one should note the appearance of a specific smell, damp and pungent. The next stage will be the appearance of spots - gray, black or whitish.
If you do not eliminate the increased humidity and do not ventilate the room in the future, all the measures you have taken will be useless, since the fungus will reappear.
In what areas should you start working:
- mechanical cleaning of walls, floors, ceilings from fungus;
- treating all surfaces with a product that will destroy mold;
- getting rid of all things damaged by fungus and as a result unsuitable for further use;
- equipment for constant good ventilation of the room, preventing stagnation of air masses;
- reducing room humidity. Detection and elimination of all sources of high humidity.
By what means can I remove the “uninvited guest”?
To eliminate this problem, special antiseptic agents are produced. Any store that sells building materials will offer you a large selection. Always remember that everything chemicals to combat fungus, they are very poisonous and any work with them must be done with great care, having first read the attached instructions.
In the struggle for a clean home, you must also consider the fact that defeat upholstered furniture, wallpaper, porous materials can be very deep and cannot be cleaned. In such cases, it is better to get rid of them.
Most The best way eliminating fungus - treatment with a special antiseptic primer, sold in any hardware store. This product is easy to use; as a rule, you do not need to add water to it. When purchasing it undiluted, read the instructions to obtain the required composition.
The surface must be cleaned before applying the product. If the fungus penetrates deeply into the plaster, it is necessary to remove it to a clean surface, maybe even to concrete slab or brickwork. The primer is spread over a dry surface using paint brush. After it dries, the surfaces are painted or wallpapered.
Fungus can also be combated using home remedies. They have a slightly lesser effect, but are not so toxic. Regular bleach can remove all types of fungi. The sodium hypochlorite in its composition kills both the fungus itself and its spores. Bleach perfectly cleans bathroom tiles, glass, and floors, but its effect is such that some of the treated items may lose color.
If this product is used incorrectly, you can damage the skin on your hands. Be sure to use rubber gloves. Before starting work, it is also necessary to ensure that the room is ventilated to protect it from harsh and toxic fumes. To treat surfaces, prepare a mixture of bleach and water in a ratio of 1 to 10.
Many common types of fungus can be combated with regular table vinegar, which is essentially a weak acid. This product also does not smell very nice, but its fumes are not as toxic as bleach. To get rid of fungus, vinegar is applied to the affected surface with a spray bottle or using a dampened rag. After an hour, the treated surface is washed with water, and the room is ventilated.
To prevent the fungus from appearing again in the future, it is enough to spray vinegar in the problem area once a week.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide - it is also an antibacterial and antifungal agent. You can go to any pharmacy for a three percent peroxide solution. The solution is non-toxic and does not have a pungent odor.
Peroxide has been proven to be effective, but it also bleaches many materials, so care must be taken when working with fabrics and painted surfaces.
The use of this product is quite effective when working with hard, non-porous surfaces - tiles or glass, on porous materials it is ineffective. To work, ammonia and water are mixed in equal proportions, the resulting mixture is sprayed over the infected area, and washed off after a few hours.
Be careful, as ammonia, when it evaporates, causes headaches and discomfort in the throat, and when mixing bleach and ammonia In general, toxic gas is released.
Baking soda is a natural and safe household cleaner. It does not contain such aggressive chemicals as other products, so its use is not dangerous to either people or animals. Take one teaspoon of soda per glass of water and treat moldy surfaces with the resulting solution. You can spray or simply soak a sponge in the solution and clean the infected area with it. In this case, it is better if the remaining soda is not completely washed away - this will prevent the fungus from returning.
It is not difficult to remove fungal plaque using a variety of means, but this is only part of the job. A prerequisite for success is to ensure dryness and regular ventilation of the home.
Step-by-step instructions for getting rid of mold
- We remove and eliminate sources of moisture. It is necessary to check the condition of the tile joints on the outside of the house, leaking taps, cracks in the walls or under the windows through which moisture seeps in, breeding pathogenic spores. We check the ventilation draft and troubleshoot problems.
- After eliminating the causes of mold, we begin its removal. Use a wide metal spatula to clean the affected plaster.
- We dry the walls with heating devices or blowtorch. Do not forget about safety precautions and extreme caution. We purchase an antifungal agent.
- We produce high-quality application of antiseptic with a brush or paint sprayer. After five to six hours, the surface is cleaned a second time, washed and dried. Antiseptic treatment is carried out again. The treated walls will be ready for pasting or painting within a day.
Video of how to combat mold in American homes
Instructions for maintaining achieved results
- Do not forget about the constant ventilation of the premises, if necessary, use heaters.
- We install a device to control and absorb humidity.
- We treat problem areas with a soda solution (1 tsp per liter of water) once a month. Before washing, clean the tiles with a stiff brush.
- You can use a chlorine solution instead of soda, but after treatment you must ventilate the room with it.
Fungi represent a large group of living organisms that can be found absolutely anywhere. Mold is also a type of fungus that grows in warm, humid conditions. Fungi can live both indoors and outdoors. Today there are about 80,000 species of these organisms. Scientists say this is only 10% of the total.
Fungi that grow on the street do not pose any threat to humans. dangers. Of course, if you don't contact them. But fungi that live in apartments and houses can have Negative influence on the health status of residents.
Danger of fungus and mold for children and other family members.
Fungi are dangerous because they are quite strong allergens. Often these organisms cause severe asthma.
Molds produce disputes, which enter the human body through the respiratory tract and cause allergic reactions.
These spores cannot be seen because their size is microscopic. It’s not easy to get rid of them, and it’s not easy to protect yourself from their influence, since they can pass even through thick masks and filters.
Different types of mold release spores at different times. However, their release is most intense in February-March, as well as in August-September. In addition, some fungi produce spores during the day, and some at night. For this reason, both kids and their parents Those who have a predisposition to allergies are constantly at risk.
At first, you may not even suspect that there is mold. It can appear anywhere: on the walls, in the closet, on windows, mattresses, wallpaper, in the bathroom, on plants. If you notice black and green spots anywhere, this is mold.
The baby is allergic to mold: what should parents do?
If your baby has an allergy: the child has a runny nose, cough, itching, skin rash, swelling, parents should immediately show the baby allergist. Under no circumstances should you treat your child yourself, as this may only make the situation worse.
The doctor will order blood tests and skin tests to determine the cause of the allergic reaction. Perhaps mold is the causative agent. In this case, the specialist will prescribe appropriate drugs, and will also advise modern methods of allergy therapy, which involve the introduction of small doses of the allergen. This will help you forget about this disease in the future.
Besides an important condition in the treatment of allergies in a child is the elimination of contact with the allergen itself. Therefore, parents should know how to remove mold from apartments so that the child can recover faster and live a full life.
Methods to combat mold.
The only way to eliminate mold is to eliminate areas of accumulation moisture and maintaining its low level in residential premises.
To do this, you should as often as possible ventilate apartment. In addition, experts recommend purchasing a dehumidifier and an air conditioner with a heat pump and installing them in the apartment.
You can find it in specialized stores facilities that actively eliminate mold. After using them, the surface should be cleaned of dead mold, otherwise its remains will continue to cause allergies. You can also try alcohol and lye to combat mold.
To prevent the appearance of mold in the apartment, you should refuse plants, since it forms on leaves and soil. Be sure to throw away items that have a musty odor.
It is impossible to completely destroy the fungus, but appropriate measures will help you reduce its number and prevent its spread, which will ultimately have a positive impact on the overall climate your home and the health status of your household.
Mold fungus is often found in a variety of places. Mold is found almost all over the globe.
Mold on the walls appears due to high humidity and poor ventilation of the room.
For the fungus to spread, you need very little - a damp and warm place, so very often mold on the walls is in residential buildings of people. Mold fungus is dangerous because throughout its life it produces metabolites that are very dangerous to the lives of people and animals, causing irreparable harm to health.
Toxic secretions produced by some species pose a danger to humans. Mold is also very dangerous because it produces billions of spores per day, which quickly spread around and land on all objects in the room. And if it spreads throughout the entire living space for years, it is difficult to imagine what harm it can cause to human health.
Mold spores enter the human body through the lungs along with spore-contaminated air, through skin or food. If the skin comes into contact with an infected surface, then there is a high chance that the skin will begin to suffer from a fungal infection. A toothbrush that is not changed in a timely manner can also spread harmful fungus. The harmful effects of fungus on the human body can lead to allergies.
Mold is in second place in terms of the level of allergen danger after the saprophytic mite. This type of allergy is very common in children. One should take into account the fact that each person has a different immunity, therefore the consequences of being in an infected place will be different for everyone. Those most susceptible to severe illness after exposure to black mold are children, the elderly, and people who have recently been seriously ill or who have weakened immune systems.
Diseases that may occur
Mold can be combated with copper sulfate, which can be purchased at any hardware store.
Due to the rapid spread of spores, there is also a danger of developing life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, sinusitis, skin rashes, nosebleeds, constant migraines and gastrointestinal disorders. Almost all species in our area belong to pathogenic forms.
The most common form is black mold, which with prolonged exposure to the human body leads to internal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, as well as mycosis. The causes of these diseases, which arise from black mold spores, can be diagnosed in almost all allergy centers and laboratories. Black mold usually spreads on walls and ceilings in rooms with high humidity.
There are no specific standards for keeping fungal spores indoors. The minimum harm of mold fungi on the human body is up to 500 spores per cubic meter of air. But modern studies of residential premises, especially old buildings and houses with high humidity, are very alarming, in 85% of cases the concentration of spores is significantly exceeded. In some residential premises, the concentration reached hundreds of thousands of spores per cubic meter, which makes this room very dangerous for human and animal health.
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The harmfulness of mold at the household level
Before treating the wall with an antiseptic, it must be cleaned with a spatula.
Black mold on walls and ceilings harms not only human health. Mold also affects many areas of human activity, having a negative impact not only on human health, but also on his property.
In the agricultural sector, mold greatly reduces the yield level in the affected areas. If black mold spreads on the walls of pens where livestock are kept, it can greatly harm the health of the animals. The fungus, which can grow in storage facilities, destroys a significant amount of vegetables, fruits, and grains and causes serious material damage to the owners.
Mold fungus has a strong destructive effect not only on living organisms, but also on building materials. If mold penetrates the surface of concrete, wood, gypsum and other materials, then the mold mycelium grows quickly, reducing the strength building materials, which ultimately leads to the destruction of the structure in an advanced stage. The presence of mold in the construction industry can destroy entire buildings.
Mold has a negative impact on unprotected, untreated wooden structures. A fungus can turn a tree into dust in a very short period of time, irreversibly destroying the structure.
There are more than 500 types of toxic mold spores. Is mold harmful to the body and what are the symptoms of poisoning? Fungi found on the walls in the room, on food, in flower pots, in household dust. Any type of spore can become a strong allergen and cause anaphylactic shock.
However, the greatest danger is caused by mold on food. When it enters the human body, acute poisoning, respiratory tract and liver diseases occur, which can lead to death or disability. You can’t even inhale the smell of mold on food, because it will a large number of microorganisms will enter the body along with the air.
Spores can enter the human body through the respiratory system. Mold poisoning disrupts metabolism and negatively affects the immune system, which can cause aspergillosis and candidiasis. A room with spores is dangerous for people prone to allergies.
Fungi can also destroy DNA structure. The harm of mold, which is a very powerful carcinogen, is the development of cancer.
Mold on bread
Mold on bread is fungi that appear on spoiled baked goods. They negatively affect health and are extremely harmful for pregnant women, children and the elderly.
Exist following reasons formation of fungi on baked goods:
- Violation of sanitary rules and bread baking temperature. Undercooked loaves may contain spores.
- Poor quality bread production. To reduce the cost of goods and increase their profits, some manufacturers add ground flour to flour. old bread, poor quality ingredients.
- Improper storage of products. The spores reproduce easily in moist and warm environments.
Mold that has settled on bread is classified as saprotrophic organisms that feed on the organic substances of dead bodies. You should not consume baked goods with fungus. These are mainly green and black mold.
It is unacceptable to cut off the part affected by spores and consume the rest, since they spread evenly throughout the entire product. Pink mold is also found - this is a sign of potato disease, which is formed when wheat is infected.
Can you get poisoned by mold? Consuming a product contaminated with fungi can cause. Frequent consumption of this dangerous food increases the likelihood of developing cancer.
Mold in jam
Is mold on jam dangerous? An opened jar can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time. Sometimes you can find mold on your favorite treat. There is an opinion that mold on jam leads to liver cancer. Fungi produce toxins, and regular consumption of the affected product can weaken a person's health.
To protect the jam, you should remove the layer of mold with a spoon, add a little water and boil the delicacy. This will kill any invisible fungi. You can bake a sweet cake with this product. However, some types of fungus can lead to serious poisoning even after heat treatment. If spores appear in a closed jar, this indicates a loss of seal or improper preparation. It is prohibited to use such a product.
Symptoms
If mold remains in the human body, its toxic effects can lead to chronic intoxication.
Mold poisoning is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- dizziness;
- joint diseases;
- changes in the respiratory organs;
- prostration;
- burning sensation in the eyes;
- headache;
- sometimes fever;
- allergy;
- chronic runny nose;
- dyspnea.
It is very difficult to identify the true cause of these symptoms. Incorrect treatment can result in progression of the disease. Mold can cause harm: nosebleeds, liver and kidney problems, and sometimes pulmonary emphysema.
Aspergillosis
Black mold can trigger the development of aspergillosis. How dangerous is this disease for humans? This is a complex form of mycosis that sometimes ends in death. The symptoms indicate a common cold, but a prolonged course of the disease and deterioration in the patient’s well-being indicate infection with black mold.
Signs of aspergillosis:
- Difficulty concentrating. Disputes that negatively affect brain function prevent you from concentrating on any subject for more than a few seconds.
- Pathologies of the respiratory system. Asthma attacks, shortness of breath, and possibly even bleeding from the lungs may occur.
- Frequent headaches.
- Sudden changes in pressure during the day.
- Problems with urination. These include frequent urges, pain, and thirst.
Antifungal food
Ways to fight fungus
How to remove mold that has appeared on surfaces? Can be used for this special means, sold in stores. However, the following methods will be no less effective:
- White vinegar. It removes spores and their smell well. You need to pour vinegar into a spray bottle and treat the affected surface. After a few hours you can wipe it with a wet cloth.
- Hydrogen peroxide. It has an antibacterial effect and prevents further development of mold. You need to spray 3% hydrogen peroxide on the surface for 10 minutes. Then you can wipe with a damp cloth.
- Baking soda. It perfectly removes mold and at the same time deodorizes the air. You need to mix 250 ml of boiled water and 1 tbsp. l. soda. Treat the surface affected by fungi with this solution and wipe with a cloth after 10 minutes.
- Bleach. It will perfectly remove mold and create a protective layer, which will prevent re-infection. You need to dilute 300 ml of bleach with three liters of water and treat the surface with this solution. After a few hours, wipe with a wet sponge. Since bleach is an aggressive product, it can only be used on non-porous surfaces. After the procedure, you need to ventilate the room.
- Ammonia. It should also be used on non-porous surfaces. It is necessary to dilute alcohol with warm boiled water in equal proportions. Apply to the affected area for 3 hours and rinse with water.
- Tea tree oil. To prepare the solution, dilute 5 tsp. oil in a liter of water. Treat the surface with a sprayer. After a while, wipe with a damp sponge. Then spray again and leave.
To remove mold from clothes, you can use the following methods:
- Clothes made of silk or wool can be saved with turpentine. Soak a cotton pad in it and apply to the affected area. Then you should sprinkle it with clay, cover with gauze and iron it. After that, the clothes must be washed.
- Clothes made of cotton, linen and satin can be saved with salt. It is necessary to dissolve 2 tbsp in a liter of water. l. salt, add 5 ml of ammonia and put on fire. Leave for half an hour, apply to the infected area for 20 minutes. Then the clothes should be washed.
Video: how to deal with mold?
Prevention
- Carry out biocidal treatment on the walls.
- Leave a gap between the furniture and the wall.
- Ventilate rooms more often.
- Don't forget to change protective coatings on the windows.
- Good waterproofing closed balcony.
- In the bathroom, use exclusively synthetic putties.
- Avoid water leakage.
- The air conditioner dries out the room, but you should clean it periodically.
You should know that the entry of mold spores into the human body can provoke the development of serious diseases. When the first foci of fungus appear, it must be removed immediately.
