Beware: yellow mold is that dangerous
Created: 01/05/2022, 10:53 AM
By: Janine Napirca
Different yellow molds cause different health problems.
Aspergillus flavus is the most poisonous and in the worst case leads to aspergillosis.
© Wolfness72 / Imago
Is yellow mold dangerous?
- Yes!
Read here about the health consequences it causes and how you can combat yellow mold.
Have you ever asked yourself what color of mold is dangerous?
The answer is: molds are always a serious problem
for humans due to their
aggressiveness
and
survivability .
Whether on
food
, in
plants
* or on the
wall
- as soon as you discover mold somewhere, you need to act quickly.
How do you recognize yellow mold?
Yellow mold is rarely a homogeneous yellow.
The color variations range from
yellow-brown
to
yellow-red
to
ocher
.
In addition, there are often black, green or white mold spots.
In addition, a mold can change color throughout its life.
The consistency of yellow mold also varies.
While some types of mold, such as Aspergillus flavus and Geomyces pannorum, tend to be
powdery
, other yellow molds look more like
cotton wool
.
Also read
: Is there red mold?
Health Consequences: Is Yellow Mold Dangerous?
Most of the time, yellow mold is
Aspergillus flavus
. Since this mold exudes poison, it is particularly harmful to health. This is why this yellow mold is one of the
most poisonous
molds
of all. Aspergillus flavus can
damage the
lungs
and
kidneys
as well as the
liver
. People with previous illnesses can even get a dangerous respiratory infection called
aspergillosis
. In addition, the mold has a long-term
carcinogenic
effect .
In Germany, Aspergillus flavus occurs mainly in imported foods such as
nuts
and
dried fruits
.
Even when strict controls are in place, it is better for you as a consumer to take a closer look.
Check your food regularly for mold and dispose of it if necessary.
Also
interesting
: how dangerous is green mold?
Where does yellow mold appear?
Like other colored molds, yellow mold also needs one thing above all to grow and thrive:
moisture
.
In addition,
oxygen
and the right
temperature conditions are
crucial.
However, this varies from mold to mold.
There are these types of yellow mold:
Mold | temperature | Happen | Look | Health consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Aspergillus flavus | 12 to 48 degrees Celsius | Soil, plants (wheat, corn, nuts) | dusty, yellow-green above, red-gold below | Damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, aspergillosis |
Epicoccum nigrum | Room temperatures | Plants, food, soil, textiles | yellow-red, brown, black | Drug manufacturing (kills other bacteria and fungi), allergies |
Geomyces pannorum | -20 to 0 degrees Celsius | Ground, wall, wallpaper, wood | yellow | - |
Mucor | from 50 degrees Celsius | Bread, fruits, vegetables | white-yellow, cotton-like | severe inflammation, thrombosis, necrosis, pneumonia, gastrointestinal complaints |
Also Read : How
Do
I Get Rid of White Mold Forever?
How to remove yellow mold - what helps?
Food
affected by yellow mold
can and should also be
disposed
of .
You can remove the yellow mold yourself from
affected
walls
, including
wallpaper
, depending on the extent of the mold infestation
.
Use mold remover based on high percentage alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to remove the yellow mold on the wall or wallpaper.
However, if the infestation exceeds half a square meter, you should seek
professional mold
removal services.
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Can you prevent yellow mold?
The best way to avoid yellow mold on food is to store your
supplies in a cool, dry place
. You should also use them promptly and keep your pantry and kitchen hygienically clean. Then yellow mold has no chance!
To prevent yellow mold from growing on the wall or wallpaper, you should always
ventilate properly.
That means, ventilate three times a day.
This will prevent condensation on the window.
Even after showering and cooking, you should leave the windows open for at least five minutes, preferably with a draft.
The humidity
does not exceed the
limit of
60 percent
.
You should also pay attention to the correct temperature control of your rooms.
19 to 22 degrees Celsius in living rooms and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius in the bathroom are recommended.
Also read : Hidden fragrances: This is how your bathroom stays fragrant over the long term.
Warning - this is not a yellow mold!
Not everything that looks like yellow mold is yellow mold.
These mushrooms look very similar to yellow mold:
Serpula
lacrymans
: Colloquially also called dry
rot
, the fungus spreads in damp wood and can destroy buildings.
Serpula lacrymans can survive at temperatures between 3 and 26 degrees Celsius.
Its yellow-brown, furry surface is similar to yellow mold, but with dry rot, large, white fruiting bodies often form on the affected areas.
Donkioporia
expansa
: The spreading house
sporrow
breaks down the lignin in the wood, which leads to the affected beams, for example, becoming fibrous.
Donkioporia expansa is yellow-brown, white, orange or red and foam-like.
Antrodia
Xanta
: Also called
yellow
pore sponge
and also affects wooden beams.
However, it occurs only rarely and mostly in combination with the brown cellar sponge.
Antrodia Xanta is white or lemon yellow and its consistency is fluffy to spongy.
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