I apologize if i'm posting in the wrong area but i wasn't completely sure where to put this thread.
I live in an apartment complex in clear lake tx very close to the water and the area in general is always pretty humid.
I've recently started to notice big black spots on our air vent in our room.
With further inspection of the entire apartment i saw the same black spots on all of our vents...

i knew right away that it was black mold.
Me and my boyfriend have been having several health issues in the past year since living in the complex that we haven't been able to explain.
I even went to the doctor because i thought i had a thyroid problem.
I've been feeling very lethargic , having problems with my memory, and a very short attention span.
but very recently in the past few months ive noticed that my eyes are very puffy when i wake up and very red and itchy and my nose is ALWAYS stuffed up..I even had severe kidney pain and i've been getting urinary infections way too easily i drink alot of fluids! alot of teas and water.
anyways, with all the symptoms so close to those of over exposure of black mold i'm pretty sure that is why we've both been sick.
We've lived in the same complex for a year 6 months in a one bedroom and 6 months and this past 6 or 7 months in a 2 bedroom.
I'm almost 100% positive all the other people have it too.
They use cheap ac vents and you can tell they've been painted over to match the walls but probably to hide the mold.
You can see it inside the vents and i think (if not treated) it could cover our whole apartment.
These apartments are also pretty old , been here since the 70s i believe and we just went through hurrican ike and they survived it..
We always keep are apartment clean and free of dust and its upsetting that I have to feel so sick because of something I cant control.
My ultimate question is if you guys have any advice as to what i should do?
Is the apartment complex responsible to get rid of it or do I have to call a profesional myself?
Me and my boyfriend are very young this is our first place together and i really dont know what to do...
Are we going to have to leave the apartment?
And what should we do about our health issues from the mold?
I also have some small pets, 2 rats and a hampster will they be affected and should i take them to get checked from a vet?
I'm posting here because every black mold search i've done told me the symptoms and what it was but not what to do when you need to treat it.
Thanks,
Beth
My vent in my room