Ulocladium Mold Exposure

Ulocladium is a fast-growing strain of mold frequently found indoors. It requires more water than some other strains of mold and often develops after a home has been flooded or sustained significant water damage. It's often found in bathrooms, basements, and kitchens, and on wallpaper, painted walls, and other painted surfaces.

The mold may appear brown, gray, or greenish-black in color and has a suede-like texture. It is often found growing along with other kinds of mold, such as chaetomium, fusarium, and stachybotrys, otherwise known as black mold.

Damage to Your Home Due to Ulocladium

Like all strains of mold, this one can cause damage to your home. There are many materials from which mold cannot be adequately removed, including wallpaper and drywall, so those materials must be removed and replaced. Mold can also cause significant structural damage to homes if left unchecked. You can follow this link to read more about how mold damages a home.

Because this strain of mold grows and spreads rapidly, it's important to act fast in order to remove it from your home before the damage becomes too great, as well as extremely costly to repair.

Remember that this strain of mold is often found in homes with significant water damage and is often found growing along with other forms of mold, and these two factors increase the severity of the damage that can result to your home.

Mold on basement wall

Health Problem Associated with Ulocladium

Like all strains of mold, this one can cause health problems, some of them minor, some of them very serious.

It is a known allergen and can cause hay fever-like symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headache, sinus congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. Those with other environmental allergies and those with respiratory problems such as asthma may be most affected. Over-the-counter allergy medications might offer some relief but if you continue to be exposed to mold in the home, you'll continue to experience symptoms and they will probably worsen over time.

This strain of mold has also been known to cause eye infections and skin infections, especially in immune-supressed patients, like those undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone an organ transplant, those with HIV or AIDS, and those taking certain medications. If you or any member of your household have a condition affecting the immune system, it will be especially important to have the mold removed from your home as soon as possible.

Remember that this strain of mold is often found growing along with stachybotrys, a strain of mold much more likely to cause serious health problems. You can read more about health problems related to stachybotrys.

If you have health problems you think might be caused by exposure to mold, you should see a doctor right away. Let your doctor know if you've been exposed to mold in the home and, if you know, the type or types of mold to which you've been exposed.

If You've Got Ulocladium in Your Home

If you've got any type of mold in your home, you need to get rid of it, and the sooner you do, the better. If mold results from flooding, especially if it is possible the water was contaminated with sewage or some other hazardous substance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends calling in a mold remediation professional. The Environmental Protection Agency also suggests calling in a professional if you have mold-related health problems, in order to avoid making your condition worse.

If the mold in your home resulted from flooding and you have flood insurance, your homeowner's insurance may cover the cost of mold remediation. Likewise, if the mold developed after some other type of water damage that is covered by your homeowner's insurance, such as a broken pipe in the wall, your insurance policy may also cover the mold remediation. Contact your insurance agent to find out if your policy will cover the mold remediation in your case.

Even if you hope to do the mold remediation yourself, we recommend scheduling a free consultation in your home with an experienced mold remediation professional. He or she will visit your home, inspect for mold, and advise you about the work that needs to be done. If mold remediation is covered by your homeowner's insurance policy, he or she can assist you in filing your claim. And even if you decide to do the work yourself, you will benefit from some free expert advice. Follow this link to find experienced mold remediation professionals offering free in-home consultations in your area.

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Ref: EPA