Mold in the apartment: why is it dangerous and how to deal with it?

Mold in the house the problem is not uncommon. Mold there is absolutely V everyone home, even if you don’t see it or just don’t pay attention. It can upset you by appearing on the walls, ceiling and even furniture. Mold appears on vegetables and fruits, which have been lying for a long time. One way or another, you constantly encounter mold in your home.

Surely you, just like us, are very interested in knowing what types of mold there are. What harm can this or that type of mold ? And of course, the most important question is how to get rid of mold in the house .

Groups of microorganisms

1. The first group includes mold fungi. They affect building materials (concrete, stone) and surfaces treated with paint, plaster, and wallpaper. They come in a variety of colors, including black. They are clearly visible in contaminated areas, including on the walls of homes. At first they are located pointwise, and then form spots of points, gradually increasing in size. Some fungi from this group are able to glow in the dark.
2. The second group consists of blue fungi. They have a detrimental effect on tree species, especially pine. Owners of wooden buildings should be attentive to this type of mold, protecting their buildings with preventive treatments.
3. The third group is represented by putrefactive fungi. This is a brown microorganism that destroys all wood, without exception. Putrefactive changes appear as black (or other colored) stripes on wooden surfaces.

It belongs to the first group of microorganisms and has a detrimental effect on the human body. It is especially dangerous for older and younger age groups, people with weak immune systems and expectant mothers.

Malicious effects

All organisms on the planet have their purpose and, despite the importance of the presence of black mold in the ecosystem, its presence in human life leads to medical problems. Toxins released by microorganisms poison the respiratory tract and organs. Black mold feeds on dead organic matter and reproduces rapidly through spores. The rate of its growth cannot be controlled.

The health effects from airborne and direct contact are equally dangerous. If you don’t put all your efforts into destroying it, the consequences of fungal damage to walls for residents can be:

• allergy;
• asthma;
• dermatitis;
• rhinitis;
• bronchitis.
• conjunctivitis.

Black fungi can cause tuberculosis, suffocation and many other problems. To protect yourself from their effects, you must initially not neglect prevention, not giving microorganisms a single chance to settle in the house.

Symptoms of diseases

The problems arising from fungal exposure are many and varied. The initial symptom of toxic damage is considered to be an allergy to mold in the form of a reaction to cold or dust. It is necessary to carefully assess the quantity and quality of symptoms and take appropriate measures to eliminate the microorganism, without ignoring them.

Other signs of the consequences of contact are: lack of air, difficulty breathing, sore throat. Frequent headaches, runny nose and weakness should alert you. Allergic reactions are possible in the form of rashes on the skin, itching and swelling. Asthmatics may experience worsening of the disease.

As a result of damage by mold formations, diarrhea occurs and the immune system weakens. Why is black mold dangerous for humans? The fact that after the initial symptoms, in the absence of measures taken to eliminate it, serious problems begin, sometimes leading to cancer and death.

Fighting dampness

How to fight fungi? First you need to find out why mold appeared on the walls. After all, microorganisms cannot appear just like that. They form only at high humidity in the room. That is why, if you decide to fight mold on the walls, then eliminate excess moisture.

Please note that the fungus first appears in the bathroom (after all, this is where high humidity is constantly observed).

What else can cause fungus on the walls? As a rule, these are: poor ventilation, PVC windows, defects during construction, and so on.

When arranging their home, everyone strives to make the interior of their house or apartment unique. To do this, parts are selected by color and style. Paying attention to little things, people often do not notice serious problems. We are talking about black mold, which appears in almost every home due to insufficient ventilation. It not only spoils the appearance of the room, it causes harm to health. The worst thing is that residents do not realize the existing danger and do not attach any importance to the emerging fungus. You will learn why black mold is dangerous in an apartment and house, and make sure that it spoils not only the interior, but also your health.

Black mold is a microfungus whose spores spread everywhere: on furniture, food, in the air and on the floor.

Causes of fungi (mold).

When it comes into contact with a damp surface, such as wood, stone or concrete, fungal spores sprout in thin filaments. The ideal conditions for the appearance and spread of such fungi are considered to be: temperature +20°C (some varieties can grow at zero temperature or even below zero) and relative air humidity above 95%. In general, there are not so few opportunities for creating living conditions for harmful fungi. This is, first of all, capillary suction of moisture along the walls of moistened foundations. This is especially common in old buildings due to the lack of waterproofing. In modern houses, the most common cause of mold is the increased thermal conductivity of the corners and additional heat losses in the end rooms compared to ordinary rooms located inside the building, due to the increased area of ​​the external walls facing the street. It is also necessary to say about one more circumstance specific to our country - the very early shutdown of heating in the spring and the delay in turning it on in the fall. This also creates favorable conditions for the development of fungus. And of course, the massive introduction of plastic window technology, insulating from noise and retaining heat, disrupts the processes of natural ventilation of rooms and contributes to the formation of high humidity. Normal for a comfortable human existence is humidity in the range of 70% - 80%. If a space at home or a room has a high level of humidity (house plants, animals, frequent laundry in the presence of small children, cool rooms with high humidity outside, uneven heating of rooms, poor ventilation, etc.) moisture condenses in suitable places. Such places are future sources of the appearance and rapid proliferation of mold fungi.

Conditions for mold growth

In residential premises, mold most often forms in the presence of thermal bridges (on the inner surface of external walls, edges and corners, thresholds, gypsum plaster walls, etc.). Its presence means that the home has the right conditions for mold growth, namely:

• lack of air movement;
• relatively low wall temperature;
• high relative humidity in the room (more than 75-80%);
• presence of organic material such as household dust, wood materials, paper, textiles, food or plants.

People react differently to the presence of mold in a room. Some may live in a mold-affected home for decades, while others may experience discomfort when they enter a room. The harmful effects are caused by spores released into the air, as well as by released biologically active substances such as mycotoxins.

Harm of mold fungi to human health.

Let us note: mold is dangerous not only and not so much for the building structure, but also harmful to human health. Once in the respiratory and circulatory system, spores can cause a number of diseases. In addition, when mold multiplies, it releases volatile organic compounds, which are responsible for a specific odor and are very harmful to health. The consequences may vary. First of all, these are difficult to diagnose and treatable allergic diseases of the skin (dermatoses, mycoses) and respiratory tract (runny nose, cough, even bronchial asthma). As well as diseases of the musculoskeletal system or joint-rheumatic, headaches of unknown origin, nausea, dizziness and even exhaustion. Children, elderly people and people with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to this scourge.

Danger of mold

Mold spores are a strong allergen, and some types produce dangerous toxins. Entering the human body, mainly through the respiratory tract, they often cause many diseases, some of which can be fatal. Mold is especially dangerous for children, whose immunity is weaker than that of adults.

Constant contact with mold can lead to the following consequences:

• Most often, mold causes allergic diseases of the respiratory tract, mainly rhinitis and bronchitis, even asthmatic attacks;
• Some types of mold are causative agents of mycoses and can cause skin diseases and cause damage to hair and nails.
• Constant contact with the fungus leads to decreased immunity;
• Toxins that enter the body can affect the liver, kidneys and cause severe intoxication of the body.

How to protect yourself from the “attack” of the fungus?

First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of the “headache” in specific places and consider measures to eliminate high humidity. At the same time, you need to know that heating and ventilation must function at the level of design standards, the walls of the premises must have thermal resistance strictly in accordance with the design, and heating devices must be correctly placed in the end rooms. Treat any small stains found with hydrogen peroxide or table vinegar as a first emergency measure.

Install only “hinged” plastic windows and ventilate the premises by opening the windows completely, try to install ventilated facades .

Do not close bathroom doors tightly, leaving room for temperature and humidity to equalize.

Treat contaminated surfaces with a special agent, if necessary, then to the level of the concrete (brick) surface.

Folk remedies that help in the fight against mold:

The surface is treated with creosote;

A solution containing 1-1.5 kg of sodium fluoride, or 1 kg of copper sulfate, or 1.5 kg of iron sulfate in 10 liters of water. You can add both iron and copper sulfate (0.5 kg each) to the solution at the same time;

A solution containing 0.5 kg of copper sulfate and 1.5-2 liters of acetic acid in 10 liters of water;

A solution containing 0.9 kg of borax, 0.4 kg of boric acid and 1.4 liters of table vinegar in 10 liters of water.

The prepared solution is heated to 50-70°C and sprayed or applied with a brush to those areas that are affected by the fungus. The wood is allowed to dry, and after a month the treatment is repeated; Anthracene oil penetrates deeply into the pores of the wood and completely destroys the fungus, however, after such treatment, the wood is well colored only after a few years. It is recommended to treat other affected building materials with copper sulfate, office glue or urea. However, folk remedies only temporarily stop mold growth.

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As a result of exposure to constant moisture and heat, fungus may appear on the walls and ceiling. Of course, black mold is harmful to health, but not everyone thinks about it.

When arranging the interior of an apartment or private house, residents try to give it originality, but forget about serious problems. Thus, black mold not only spoils the appearance of the room, but also negatively affects the well-being of household members. We will discuss further why mold is dangerous for humans and what pathologies it causes.

How to prevent the occurrence

The fight against dangerous mold formations in the apartment can drag on for an indefinite period of time. Mold is reluctant to give up its positions. Therefore, it is better to prevent its occurrence, and for this it is necessary:

• eliminate all sources of moisture in an apartment or house: leaking taps, old, plaque-covered pipes, replacing them with plastic ones;
• Do not dry laundry indoors, even if it is baby diapers. It evaporates a large amount of moisture, which settles on the walls;
• check the general ventilation and repair it if necessary, install hoods in poorly ventilated areas;
• throw away or thoroughly process all things that have a specific “damp” smell;
• reduce the number of old pots and flowers in your home greenhouse;
• common ventilation holes can be cleaned with a special device, for this you need to involve housing office workers;
• carefully cover all cracks and holes in wet areas with special silicone paste with antifungal additives;
• move all furniture away from the walls, creating conditions for free air circulation;
• eliminate all external cracks of the building, since dangerous mold can easily grow inside, destroying brick and concrete;
• clean external drainpipes and repair leaking areas of the roof;
• dry the room using fan heaters, reducing the total humidity to 50 - 55%;
• if the room has cold walls or corners that regularly become damp, it is necessary to insulate them and make good waterproofing.

An excellent preventive measure against dangerous fungus in an apartment is regular treatment with a UV lamp; it should be done 2-3 times a year, turning on the device for 1.5 - 2 hours. A good chemical way to prevent stains from appearing on any surface is to treat with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 6% table vinegar, household bleach with chlorine diluted 1:10 with water, ammonia diluted with water 1:1.

For the same purposes, during repairs, various antifungal compounds and primers are applied over the plaster, which you can prepare yourself, for example, a 1% solution of copper sulfate. Wood is also processed, even more carefully, since it is more easily destroyed by fungus.

All of the above methods will help you prevent the appearance of fungus, since it is much more difficult to fight. To remove mold on the walls, you will have to remove a layer of plaster, drywall and treat them with strong antifungal agents, or burn them.

The appearance of mold in an apartment is very dangerous for humans; it causes various diseases, can greatly weaken the immune system and lead to the development of cancer and death. Therefore, try to prevent excessive dampness and moisture in the living space.

Mold - what is it and why does it develop?

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Mold in an apartment is a special type of fungus that spreads through spores.

This type of fungus can attack the walls of buildings with increased dampness.

The largest amount of black mold can be seen on slopes near windows, since condensation most often accumulates there.

There are several types of fungus that negatively affect the human body:

1. Aspergillus is a microorganism that spreads during repair work on building materials.
2. Penicillus is a fungus that spreads on damp materials in the form of blue or green spots.
3. Cladosporium is a microorganism that lives on fabrics and wood surfaces.
4. Alternaria is a fungus that grows in moist environments in kitchens and bathrooms.

Fungal spores are invisible to the human eye and can only be detected under a microscope. They enter the room with clothing, pets, or during normal ventilation. It is almost impossible to completely protect yourself and your loved ones from mold.

However, the fungus affects the ceiling and walls if conditions are favorable for this. The optimal humidity level in a living space is considered to be 80%, and it is better not to exceed it. An increase in this indicator is the main factor influencing the development of the fungus. The moisture concentration in the room increases as a result of:

• lack of normal ventilation in an apartment or house;
• high room temperature in frosty weather, which leads to the formation of condensation;
• uneven heating of the living space;
• abundance of indoor flowers in the apartment;
• drying wet clothes in the bathroom.

Most often, fungus appears on apartment walls, ceilings, under window sills, behind cabinets, in the kitchen and bath, that is, places where moisture accumulates. Having noticed mold on your walls or in other places, you need to urgently deal with it before it causes serious harm to your household.

What can cause mold to appear in the house?

Before you start fighting mold, you need to know about the causes of its occurrence. Any mold loves dampness, and with high humidity it is very easy to become the owner of mold. It appears in rooms where moisture accumulates. This often happens in a kitchen where it is cool and there is no hood above the stove. It also often appears when the heating of an apartment or house is not uniform; perhaps the heating system is installed incorrectly.

Walls that become very cold on the street side are often affected if they are not additionally insulated or if they have cracks and crevices. Mold can appear in a cold room if you hang a thick carpet on the wall, which will not release the moisture that accumulates under it if the wall is very cold. You can also infect your house with mold if you water your indoor flowers too much and the soil in them does not dry out well. Frequently washing and drying clothes in unventilated areas of the room can also cause mold to form.

Why is fungus dangerous to health?

It is impossible to immediately feel the harm of mold, which is why it is called a “time bomb.”

Initially, it does not affect human health, but with prolonged contact it causes serious illness.

The harm to human health has been proven by numerous medical studies.

The effect of black mold in an apartment or private house occurs as follows:

1. Toxic intoxication, which occurs as a result of fungus entering the digestive tract, which is accompanied by extremely unpleasant sensations (abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or constipation).
2. An allergic reaction is a process that occurs due to mold entering the mucous membrane of the nose, eyes or mouth. The cause of such reactions can be both dead and active fungi.
3. Direct infection is very rare and occurs mainly in immunocompromised people.

As a rule, long-term presence of fungus on the ceiling and walls in an apartment leads to the development of serious pathologies:

1. Mycoses and dermatoses are diseases of the skin that arise as a result of the settling of mold spores.
2. Joint and rheumatic diseases in combination provoke a deterioration in general health, the development of headaches, drowsiness and weakness.
3. Chronic diseases associated with irritation of the mucous membrane. This may be a chronic runny nose, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, or the development of a dry cough.
4. Diseases that occur in the upper and lower respiratory tract, for example, bronchitis, pneumonia.
5. Activation of cancer cells during prolonged contact of the fungus with the human body. As a result, malignant neoplasms may appear.

American scientists agree that fungal spores have a detrimental effect on children's bodies, causing exacerbation of asthma. In addition, they are a factor influencing the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

In order not to harm your health, it is necessary to properly and promptly combat black mold indoors, which we will discuss later.

What does mold look like in an apartment?

Fungus in the house is easy to recognize.
First of all, it is a distinctive color. Although the microorganism can be of different colors, black mold most often predominates on the walls in the house. Characteristic stains are clearly visible; usually corners and the inside of a wall or ceiling are susceptible to infection. The fungus gives itself away with an unpleasant odor that is easy to distinguish from any other. The apartment smells damp. When one of the signs of black plaque damage to your home is noticeable, you should immediately begin cleaning the apartment. Therefore, the question arises: why fight fungus, why is mold in an apartment dangerous for humans?

Black plaque negatively affects human health, causing a number of diseases. The fungus also destroys building materials. As a result, repairs may be required, and sometimes even redevelopment. So, mold in a house is dangerous both for the building itself and for its inhabitants.