Is Black Mold Making You Sick?

Types of Toxic Black Mold Symptoms

Toxic black mold causes serious symptoms and health problems such as mental impairment, breathing problems, damage to internal organs and sometimes even death. The main groups of symptoms toxic black mold causes are:

Mental and neurological symptoms
Respiratory symptoms
Circulatory symptoms
Vision and eye problems
Skin problems
Immune system problems
Reproductive system problems
Tiredness and discomfort
Other illnesses and health effects

Mental & Neurological Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold are neurotoxic. This means they can kill neurons in the brain and impair a person's mental ability. They also cause nervous disorders such as tremors and can cause personality changes such as mood swings and irritability.

Symptoms:

Confusion
Brain fog
Shortened attention span
Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
Slowed reflexes
Disorientation
Dizziness
Memory loss and memory problems
Impaired learning ability
Hallucinations
Shock
Anxiety
Depression
Aggression and other personality changes
Tingling
Trembling
Shaking
Seizure
Numbness

Respiratory Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

People living in homes with toxic black mold are exposed mainly through breathing in toxic black mold spores and mycotoxins. Toxic black mold mycotoxins create irritation and a burning feeling in a person's air passages such as the nasal cavity, mouth and throat.

The mycotoxins can even become lodged in the mucus membranes, sinuses and the lungs which then causes a burning feeling, breathing problems and bleeding in the lungs.

Symptoms:

Difficulty breathing - breathlessness or shortness of breath
Wheezing
Coughing
Pulmonary edema - swelling of the lungs
Pulmonary hemorrhage - bleeding in the lungs
Sore throat
Burning sensation of the mouth
Bleeding gums
Runny nose
Itchy nose
Stuffy, blocked nose
Nose bleeds

Circulatory Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold mycotoxins can be breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through a person's skin or eyes. Eventually the mycotoxins then find their way into the person's blood. This leads to heart damage, problems with blood clotting and internal or external hemorrhaging.

Symptoms:

Irregular heartbeat
Heart inflammation
Damage to heart
Low blood pressure
Bone marrow disruption
Bleeding tendency
Blood not clotting properly
Hemorrhage - internal bleeding
Vomiting up blood
Bleeding in the brain and in other organs

Vision & Eye Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold mycotoxins that are in the air can enter a person's eyes. The mycotoxins are cytotoxic (toxic to cells) and when they come into contact with eye cells they cause inflamed and injured eyes and create vision problems.

Symptoms:

Eye inflammation and soreness
Red or bloodshot eyes
Eye damage
Blurry vision and vision worsening
Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes)

Skin Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Through the skin is one of the three main ways that toxic black mold mycotoxins enter the human body. There have been cases in the past where people have handled hay contaminated with toxic black mold and developed severe rashes and skin problems on their body where they touched the hay, as well as on sweaty areas like the armpits.

Symptoms:

Crawling skin
Dermatitis - skin inflammation, rash, blisters, itchiness
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Immune System Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Toxic black mold puts out chemicals which suppress the immune system. In fact many immunosuppressive drugs are actually created from toxic molds. A person who is immunocompromised from being around toxic black mold will more easily get infections and sicknesses.

Symptoms:

Immunosuppression - immune system not functioning properly
Infections reoccurring

Reproductive System Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Mycotoxins from toxic black mold are teratogenic. This means they can cause problems in the fetus during pregnancy which then leads to birth defects. Toxic black mold mycotoxins are also cytoxotic and mutagenic (cause cell mutations) and inhibit protein synthesis including DNA and RNA.

Symptoms:

Infertility
Miscarriage
Impotence
Fetal development problems

Tiredness & Discomfort Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

When a person is around toxic black mold the immune system may release a sedative called Chloral Hydrate. This is used as a defense to try to slow down the effects of toxic black mold. But this also makes a person tired and causes fatigue. Toxic black mold can also cause soreness of the muscles and joints.

Symptoms:

Chronic fatigue
Drowsiness
Weakness
Aches and pains
Muscle pain
Chest pain
Abdominal pain
Joint pain
Malaise - general discomfort
Headaches
Cold or flu type symptoms or recurring colds
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Other Symptoms From Toxic Black Mold

Symptoms:

Hair loss
Weight loss, anorexia
Hearing loss
Liver disease
Coma
Death

Toxic Black Mold Causes Allergic Symptoms

Like other molds, toxic black mold is allergenic. The spores from toxic black mold cause allergic reactions such as breathing problems, sore eyes, runny nose, itchiness, sneezing and a sore throat.

For a more detailed list of allergic reactions caused by mold visit Mold Symptoms and Allergic Reactions.

Differing Toxic Black Mold Symptoms

Toxic black mold affects different people in different ways. Some people won't experience symptoms as severe as what others experience. Children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are usually the worst affected by toxic black mold.

Toxic Black Mold and Cancer

Experts suspect that toxic black mold can cause cancer, although there still needs to be more research. Some other toxic molds, like Aspergillus for example, definitely cause cancer though. The aflatoxin mycotoxins which Aspergillus produce are among the most powerful carcinogens.

Are Toxic Black Mold Symptoms Permanent?

Once a person is no longer around toxic black mold most of their symptoms should gradually decrease. Some of the health problems caused by toxic black mold are permanent though. For example, after a person has lived with toxic black mold their immune system won't be as strong as it used to be and they'll be more sensitive to mold and mycotoxins in the future.

Repost of Star Ledger Article- Mold Warning Post Sandy

Officials warn Hurricane Sandy victims of mold, asbestos, lead paint

MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger
Published: Dec 18, 2012, 6:30 AM

TRENTON — As residents and business owners start to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, state and federal officials are trying to get one message out loud and clear: Beware of hidden health hazards.

At a forum Monday to discuss the health impacts the storm can have on New Jerseyans, the representatives said mold, asbestos and lead paint are of particular concern because of all the do-it-yourselfers who don’t know what they’re doing.

"These are issues that can affect workers, residents that are living in homes and tenants, and also volunteers who are graciously donating their time and their energy to clean up their communities," said Judith Enck, regional administrator for the federal Environmental Protection Agency. "We want to make sure that as the clean up is occurring that there are not problems with exposure to mold, exposure to lead, exposure to asbestos."

Exposure to mold can cause respiratory problems, particularly among those who do not wear the appropriate attire when removing moldy wall board.

Enck was one of six panelists who addressed a crowd of about 100 at the Wall Township headquarters of the Local Union 400 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is starting to fine contractors whose failure to adhere to safety regulations puts workers at risk of health dangers, said Robert Kulick, regional administrator for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration..

Kulick said OSHA is enforcing regulations aimed at preventing the four leading causes of fatalities after hurricanes: falling from high elevations, being electrocuted, being struck by objects and being caught between objects, such as heavy equipment.

"Right now we are looking for those four hazards throughout the impacted areas of New Jersey, New York and Long Island," Kulick said. "We are intervening and we’re removing employees from risk, and when appropriate, we’re issuing citations and penalties to employers who are not responsible and not doing what needs to be done to protect their workers.

He said there have been 12 worker deaths — three in New Jersey — in the New York/New Jersey area. All of the New Jersey cases were workers who were crushed while taking down the remnants of fallen trees, he said.


Cecelia Leto, project director for the New Jersey Work Environment Council, said the forum was a chance to get a more coordinated effort from federal and state agencies to get the health and safety information directly to workers.

"We have a good reach but we’re limited. We can’t get to the front lines as good as we should," she said after the forum.

Rita Dentino, director of Casa Freehold, a Freehold-based advocacy group for immigrants, told the panelists she’s seen many poor residents living in their mold-infested homes.

From the flyers found at these homes explaining the health risks associated with storm cleanup, there’s evidence word is trickling down, but there still needs to be direct training, Dentino said.

"We want workers to be trained," she said.

They also caution that airborne mold can cause respiratory problems and that many people are unknowingly using improper safety attire.