Mold is found everywhere, but black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, can be very dangerous if it is in your living space and you are exposed to it over the long-term.
It’s important to understand how prolonged black mold exposure can damage your health so you can make sure you get the treatment you need; and so you can ensure you hold the appropriate parties accountable for your harm if someone else caused your mold exposure to occur.
Matthew De Lira represents clients exposed to mold by landlords, property owners, and other negligent companies and individuals. Our experienced mold exposure attorney in San Diego will work with you to identify defendants, take legal action, and prove the extent of your losses so you can get the money you deserve when you suffer harm.
What are the consequences of long-term black mold exposure?
Black mold is considered to be more dangerous than typical household molds because it releases mycotoxins into the air. These toxic substances can be absorbed into the body through the skin, or can be inhaled and ingested, and cause long-term complications.
Some of the most common long-term health effects that can result from exposure to black mold include:
- Respiratory issues: Many people who breathe in or ingest black mold spores will experience lung irritation that can result in persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and chronic sinusitis. Some individuals who are affected even develop asthma.
- Immune system dysfunction. Black mold can trigger an immune response and prompt the immune system to produce IgE antibodies that trigger a histamine release. This can cause or exacerbate allergic reactions, make you more susceptible to infection, and cause you to develop new allergies. Chronic fatigue can also become an issue.
- Neurological symptoms: Mold exposure can cause neuroinflammation and can impact the central nervous system. It can also cause impairment in the hippocampus. This can result in concentration problems, mood swings, chronic headaches, memory loss, tremors, and dizziness.
- Allergic reactions: Common allergy symptoms can develop, including persistent congestion, eye irritation, and rashes.
- Myositis: This inflammatory disease of the muscles is a serious condition that can develop as a result of exposure to black mold.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: This is a chronic lung condition caused by black mold, which is more likely to develop in immunocompromised individuals
These are just some of the many potential health issues that can come from being exposed to black mold over long periods of time.
Who is responsible for long-term black mold exposure?
In some cases, long-term black mold exposure occurs as a direct result of negligence or wrongdoing. For example, this may be the case if:
- A landlord fails to provide a habitable living space and instead allows water damage and mold to persist in a rental unit.
- A home seller sells a home with known water damage or mold issues and does not disclose this, causing new buyers to move into an area with mold without their knowledge
In these situations, you will need to prove the landlord or seller was negligent or failed to fulfill their responsibilities to you and that you experienced health complications as a direct result of these failures.
A mold exposure lawyer in San Diego, CA can help
Matthew De Lira APC is here and ready to fight for you if you were exposed to black mold over the long-term. Our team has recovered substantial compensation from landlords and others held liable for mold-related illnesses, and we’re ready to put our legal experience to work on your case.
Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.