More about mold

[theatokos]

I'm starting to get freaked out. Now that I'm pulling things away from the walls and looking down at the trim, I see it everywhere. The spots in the corners are worse than I realized. The mold along the trim is hard to see, but it's clearly in the early stages. I'm completely grossed out. I don't want anything to touch the walls or the floor. I made the mistake of looking up black mold on the internet. There isn't a lot of good information out there (other than how to treat your house for it, which isn't what I'm interested in) and there are a lot of alarmist sites - including a documentary trailer on youtube. I'm nervous we're going to be sick for a long time.

Today our plan is this: at 11 the landlords' cleaning lady is coming over. I will not let her touch the mold unless she brings sheets/tarps/etc to cover our belongings. She also needs to take the curtains away to wash. I don't want to stir up the spores and spread it further - mainly into our things anymore than it probably is. After that, we are walking around the entire town looking for 'to let' signs, and just generally getting out into the sunshine and fresh air on this beautiful clear day. We're seeing a house at 6.30 this evening.

I do have some pictures of the mold, but I'm too afraid to post them. I don't want people freaking out - I'm freaked out enough as it is. Until we have another place to live, we can't leave. We can't afford to move into a hotel. We do know the manager of one of the hotels. Do you think he'd let us move in for free? I may ask. Am I being alarmist?

Comments

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Good luck. I think the mold combined with how long you've been sick is good reason to be upset, and to act as quickly as possible.

[bloodfever.livejournal.com]

Am I being alarmist?

Hard to say without actually living it, but my approach in your situation would probably be to remove the visible colonies and find another place to live. At the end of the day while the colonies are still live they are producing spores, and have been since you moved in. Spores are *already* on all your stuff (and you are breathing them in constantly). Not cleaning at this point to prevent spore displacement is a little like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. Dead mould = no more spores.

It's worth noting that there are significant amounts of mould spores in the air all of the time, and there are lots of species of dark moulds that do not produce mycotoxins. Also even if you didn't have mould growing on your walls, your stuff would still be covered in spores because you would bring them in from outside every time you left the house - in a dry well ventilated environment they never get the chance to grow, of course.

Ultimately, if you are nervous and stressed, then trying to fight that is only going to exacerbate the situation, so go with what you think is necessary.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the science lesson! I know that molds and all kinds of stuff are in the air generally, but they don't take root normally. However, I think we will take your advice and clean them up either tomorrow or Monday - for the reasons you say.

[bloodfever.livejournal.com]

I was just trying to help. Sometimes freaking out brain overrides logical brain, as I know well.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

No, no - I wasn't being sarcastic. I genuinely meant thanks.

[readthisandweep.livejournal.com]

I've texted this info but here it is in case you're on line. Call the Environmenal Health department at Aberaeron immediately. 01545 572151.

The number for Environmental Services & Housing is 01545 572105 & the contact is Mr Bryn Thomas.

It's their job to help you!

Good luck.

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

Yay! I was going to suggest calling a housing inspector--this is not something you should have to resolve privately with the landlord and hope for his/her good graces.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. I just called them. An environmental health agent will be calling me on Monday.

[seaivy.livejournal.com]

I hope you have called the numbers readthisandweep has given you. Here the health authorities would condemn the house until throughly disinfected and certified habitable and would provide you with emergency housing until you could find real housing.

I am soooo sorry this is adding to your stress and yet another stumbling block to your work. You really do need to get into healthful peaceful quarters as soon as possible. I will be asking the Goddess for you.
Blessings

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Thank you.