TOXIC MOLD FAQ

Is it true that toxic mold occurs mostly in grain food for animals?: Yes, strangely. Back in the 1930s, toxic mold was the cause behind mysterious deaths of farm animals in Russia. The mold type known as stachybotrys chartarum was found growing on wet grain that was used for animal feed. Then illnesses and deaths began to occur in humans when starving people ate large quantities of rotten food grains and cereals that were overgrown with the stachybotrys mold. These days the United States Food and Drug Administration as well as the agriculture industry closely monitor mold and mycotoxin levels found in grains as well as foodstuffs in order to keep the contamination of animal feed and human food supplies below certain levels. That is not to say, however, that it doesn't occasionally happen. In 2005 Diamond Pet Foods experienced a significant rise in elevated levels of aflatoxin within some corn products. This mold toxin eventually made it into the pet food supply which caused dozens of dogs and cats to die before the company was forced to recall the affected products.

I have a huge swath of mold in my garage – it looks horrible but I'm told it isn't dangerous. Should I remove it before it gets worse?: For the most part large growths of mold can be unsightly at best and though they may become unhealthy for the homeowner over time. Most types of mold are relatively harmless and can be removed with a regular household cleaner and a few paper towels. However, you should be aware that there are some kinds of mold that are dangerous and can cause rather severe health problems that includes brain damage as well as cancer. Once a mold infestation takes place in the home then getting rid of it can be extremely challenging, not to mention pricey. This is why mold removal is crucial even if you don't suspect that the mold is toxic to your health.

However, mold removal extends beyond the use of simple chemicals to clean up the mold and mildew growths. If you are serious about fully protecting your home then you must correct the problem that has caused the mold to grow in your garage in the first place. In these cases just fixing the problem isn't possible. However, if you are fixing mold inside your home – or in your case your garage – then you can usually adjust your ventilation, air conditioning unit or exhaust fans to control the buildup of moisture – or condensation – in your garage. For mold to continue to grow, it requires moisture as mold cannot survive without it. If you find and remove the source of the moisture then you'll remove the threat of the mold growths reoccurring.

What is the best product out there to fight mold?: Well, that's a good but tricky question to answer since most mold can only be identified by a professional. Since black mold is easily identified then at least you know what's wrong. The problem is that if you're living area or building has black mold then you need special equipment to remove it and that cannot be done by just anyone. There are numerous mold removal products and chemicals that are available for cleaning mold and mildew in your home. While most chemicals are similar to other household cleaners, you should keep in mind that for the most part they are made from the same chemical agents that constitute most cleaning agents. However, there are mold removal products which are based on natural cleaning ingredients.

If you suspect that your mold is toxic and you are experiencing a specific symptoms when you are near it, then I would make sure that you contact a mold removal specialist as soon as possible so that you are able to identify the mold and then make a determination about what steps are then necessary to fix the situation and remove it from your home. You should keep in mind that for the most part toxic mold occurs very rarely when compared to other types of household molds. You can buy home test kits that vary in efficacy to determine whether the mold in your home is toxic, or you can hire a mold removal company to gauge your situation.