Is Black Mold really a silent killer in North Georgia?

Even thinking about black mold is enough to send any home or business owner scrambling to safety. Has your home or business been exposed to of any type of black mold? Black mold is often thought to be the most dangerous. But is it?

There must be a true understanding of black mold and knowing how to separate fact from fiction is the first step to confidently and effectively treating mold when you spot it in your home. How much do you know about “toxic” black mold?

Have you been told, All Black Mold Is Toxic?

This is a Lie! In fact, none of the million types of mold that exist are always toxic. You can be certain of two things when you see black mold.

You do have some type of mold.

The mold appears to be black in color.

The toxic type of black mold is typically greenish-black in color, and most commonly known as Stachybotrys. Sometimes this “black” mold can even be white or pink – so black mold does not always equal toxic. Even the true black mold Stachybotrys spores are not toxic all the time. If mold is to be considered truly toxic, two conditions must be present.

Mold has to be eating something so it can produce secondary metabolites

(to stimulate spore formation and inhibit or stimulate germination producing competitive weapons used against other bacteria, animals and insects).

Mold also needs to be in the presence of other mold or competing bacteria to survive.

The mold problem becomes very serious and begins to develop different gases and spores that are carried through your home when these conditions occur. These type of airborne toxins can cause many different adverse health effects like skin irritations, respiratory problems, and can even cause hospitalization and death if gone untreated for extended periods of time, especially in those with compromised immune systems or pre-existing lung ailments such as asthma or COPD.

You will not have toxic mold ff these two conditions are not met.

Mycotoxins Carry Radiation

This is a Lie!  Mycotoxins are produced by mold and are some of the most toxic substances in existence, but are different than mold spores. While mycotoxins are dangerous in their untreated form, they are not a magical substance created by mold that carries radiation or can come directly through walls and into your home. Cross-contamination will not happen as mycotoxins will not stick to anything. While these toxins are not good for you, they most definitely do not contain radiation or other harmful particles.

The Biggest Part of Mold is made up of Mycotoxins and Causes Most Bad Reactions

This is a Lie! The mycotoxin component in mold will cause the least reaction. Mold growth produces a type of gas that is much more common than mycotoxins. Restoration and cleanup crews are more concerned with removing those spores than the mycotoxins.

Black Mold Can Take a Long Time to Appear

This is a Lie!  In less that 48 hours, Black mold can start growing in your home. Since all types of mold require dark, humid, and moisture filled areas to grow, mold will thrive in areas such as attics, crawl spaces, and basements where you may not notice the effects until the mold has already spread through the area.

Black Mold is Treatable and can be prevented.

This is a True . Black mold can be easily treatable, as long as you work with a professional mold removal/remediation team. At Restoration 1 North Georgia, we provide mold remediation services with IICRC-Certified technicians ready to go. We have an outstanding remediation process that is simple, and we’ll bring your home or business back to pre-mold conditions as quickly as possible:

• First, we will identify the source of the mold and fix that before the remediation process begins.
• Secondly, we will work with an air quality specialist to make sure your home is up to the highest safety standards possible.
• Lastly, we will begin working on the restoration and removal process, returning your home or business back to pre-mold conditions.

If you need mold cleanup and remediation in GA, call Restoration 1 North Georgia for a comprehensive evaluation of your situation!