Those dark stains on your roof are actually algae. And that algae growing on your roof is not just an eyesore, it’s a health hazard as well. Every mold species can have a different health effect. But what’s important is that excessive mold growth must be taken care of, no matter what species you’re dealing with. While most people have immune systems that are strong enough to resist the effects of fungi in normal circumstances, there is still the chance for your health to be compromised.
Fungi normally begin their life cycle as an airborne spore that settles on roofs, asphalt shingles in particular.
“While not all mold (fungi) and algae pose a health danger, some are harmful, especially for us older folks, younger children and people who suffer from asthma and respiratory problems,” says Dr. Victor H. Morgenroth, a principal administrator in the Environment Health and Safety Division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for 20 years.
Here are some of the types of molds, algae and fungus that can not only grow on your roof, but in other parts of your home or office:
Gloeocapsa magma – Some of those dark roof stains are caused by resilient algae called Gloeocapsa magma, a type of blue-green algae commonly found in places where summers are warm and humid. Those black stains are likely to harbor a number of molds or fungi.
There are other molds and fungi that can form on building materials:
Stachybotrys chartarum – These molds can thrive on water damaged, cellulose-rich building materials such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, and wallpaper. In most cases where Stachybotrys is found indoors, water damage has Functional Requirements Of A Floor gone unnoticed or ignored. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance. When situations where there is water intrusion that is not addressed in a timely manner, there can be more fungal growth, such as Pencillium and Aspergillus.
Stachybotrys – These fungi has the ability to produce mycotoxins that are not just toxic, but they can be immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, Classification Of Roof ingestion, and dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever.
There are other organic materials that can grow on your roof. Lichen, a white, green, yellow, and brown substance, often forms in circular patches at about the size of a dime on average. It’s also noticeably raised from the surface, unlike the black algae stains. Moss, if left untreated, can cause damage to untreated wood and asphalt roofing materials.
The good news is that the moss is pretty easy to remove. Just use a standard bristle scrub brush attached to a pole and push the brush down the roof to tear the moss’s root system from the shingles.
