Black Mold vs. Asbestos

When it comes to household contaminants, many people know that black mold and asbestos can both be extremely dangerous to their health. But what is the main difference between the two household dangers? Whether you are dealing with black mold or asbestos, it is important that you professionally remove the contamination before it can cause damage to your health and the structural integrity of your home. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the main differences between black mold and asbestos in your home. We will also discuss warning signs to look out for and how to access the appropriate removal services to ensure you and your family are safe from these common household dangers.

The main differences between black mold and asbestos are that one is an environmental fungus that can grow on any surface, whereas asbestos is a carcinogenic material that was used for construction in the past. Both black mold and asbestos are dangerous to human health and should be appropriately removed as soon as they are identified. However, once asbestos is removed, there is no danger of it coming back, whereas black mold can continue to grow in homes if it is not thoroughly removed and water leaks aren’t identified and fixed. If moisture continues to build up in your home, black mold can return and continue to affect your family’s health.

Black Mold

First, let’s discuss the unique characteristics of black mold. As a fungus, black mold is found naturally in the environment, but can thrive in moist areas of the home and release spores that are dangerous to human health. Some of the symptoms associated with black mold exposure include

• respiratory problems
• headaches
• dizziness
• itchy and runny eyes.

Black mold may be growing in your home if you notice these symptoms worsen inside your house and improve whenever you leave. These symptoms can also be exacerbated during cold months, when most people spend extended periods of time at home without any air flow. If you suspect you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is important to book a professional mold inspection and organize subsequent removal of any identified contamination.

Discovering black mold in your home means not only that you have contamination that needs to be removed, but also that you have a build-up of moisture potentially due to a water leak or water damage. Mold growth usually coincides with significant amounts of moisture and mold removal specialists can help identify if a water leak is contributing to the build up of mold in your home.

Always remember that even if you cannot see visible mold, it may still be growing in difficult to reach corners of your home including attics, basements, crawl spaces, below floorboards or behind drywall. Once you organize a professional inspection and removal service, they will perform a thorough inspection of your home and test the air quality. If mold is identified, they will then use professional products to remove the contamination and perform additional tests to ensure you are once again breathing the best quality of air.

Asbestos

In contrast to black mold, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that was used in a wide variety of building materials prior to 1980. This included insulation products, ceiling tiles, drywall, some paints and plaster. In the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency of the USA determined that inhaling asbestos fibres can cause a variety of lung-related illnesses, including lung cancer.

After this landmark finding, asbestos was banned from use in new construction projects, but it continues to be present in homes and buildings built prior to 1980. If you are performing renovations or additional construction on a home with asbestos, you will require a certified asbestos abatement contractor to properly remove the material and ensure the safety of your home.

If you suspect you have asbestos in your home, it is important that you do not try to remove it on your own. Inhaling asbestos fibres poses a serious threat to your health and can cause long-term complications. Removal of asbestos is government regulated and a certified professional should be hired to assist with the elimination of any materials identified to contain asbestos.

It is the job of these professionals to inspect your home and remove materials that could be releasing fibres into the air to be inhaled by your family. The good news is that asbestos can be successfully removed to allow safe renovation of homes, you simply need to hire a professional to assist with appropriate removal of the dangerous material.

Effective Black Mold Remediation & Asbestos Abatement

Black mold and asbestos are both dangerous if inhaled, posing significant health risks to anyone who is exposed. Professional help should be sought to help you deal with either substance in your home. In Calgary, Edmonton and surrounding areas, Matrix Remediation can provide both mold and asbestos removal services. The friendly team at Matrix is experienced with identifying black mold growth and materials that may contain asbestos.

A Matrix inspection always begins with an air quality test, allowing our professionals to determine the extent of the contamination present in your air. With professional certifications and access to appropriate cleaning materials, Matrix Remediation can not only identify black mold or asbestos but remove the contamination to ensure you are able to breathe the best quality air in your home. Every removal service then ends with an additional air quality test to confirm that all contamination has been removed.

If you suspect that black mold is growing in your home or are worried about building materials that may contain asbestos, contact Matrix Remediation today to book your home inspection and air quality test. Contact our technicians at 1-888-885-8683 or check out our Calgary and Edmonton to learn about your options. We are here to help ensure you and your family are breathing the best quality air and feel safe and healthy in your home. There’s no better time than now to book an inspection and protect the health of your family.