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Express Newsline Articles From Experts |
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The toxic mold that is being talked by the home buying and selling community about, recent insurance and liability issues is Stachybotrys chartarum, (black mold or toxic mold). This slimy, greenish-black mold grows on moisture-laden materials that contain cellulose, such as wood, paper, drywall, and other similar products. It does not grow on tile or cement. This mold has been in the news as handful of US homeowners burned down their homes, and everything in them, because they felt it was the only way to eradicate toxic mold from their surroundings. Juries have awarded huge sums of money to homeowners who initiated lawsuits against their insurance companies (for not paying for moisture-related repairs in time to prevent severe problems) and home builders Molds are fungi that reproduce by releasing tiny spores into the air. Spores lucky enough to land on moist objects may begin to grow. There are thousands of different types of mold and we encounter many of them every day, inside and out.Problems caused: Produces hazardous byproducts, called mycotoxins. While individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, it's thought that mycotoxins are more likely to trigger health problems in even healthy individuals. These toxins are believed to be linked to memory loss and to severe lung problems in infants and the elderly. Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it's impossible to see where they might have landed unless they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on items within a house are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets that live there. While toxic mold can definitely be a problem, in most instances its growth can be prevented or stopped before such drastic actions are necessary.
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