Apartment Health Issues (fumes/mold)

[Gorthaur]

Hi folks, I had a few questions for you guys covering a few different topics. All of this is in relation to my 1 bedroom apartment in CA. Basically, I don't think this place has been very well maintained. It looks as if there was a mold issue and they just painted white paint over everything wrong with the place. Second, im worried about the air quality in the area. There is:
1. An autoshop about 30 feet behind my apartment, and at my front door and if I leave it open spray paint fumes will come in, and these fumes linger outside my front door. They spray seemingly every damn day. There is also a freeway about 80 feet away as well. So the air quality here is shifty.
2. Black mold, small patches can be seen between the wood paneling on the ceiling, and in the cracks in the bathroom.
3. Stove has caused an oil buildup on the ceiling, turning he wooden support beams black on top, yellowing the ceiling etc. I have no clue how to solve this one. There is a simple vented hole above the stove for ventilation but its super grimy.

Every since I started living here ive had dozens of health issus crop up.
Chronic fatigue
depression, chronic pain
chronic daily nausea/poor appetite
dizziness, vertigo, feel braindead, brain damaged,  I have spells where I stare and am almost not even present.
I almost want to say I look as if ive aged, my ski isn't as healthy
chronic dry mouth, restless
chronic yawning
extremely irritable
slurred speech, difficulty conversing with family and others.

Im wondering if living in this seemingly toxic place has caused irreparable damage to my health and brain. I cannot afford to move right now, im not even independant yet. It costs to much to move, my family cant afford it.

[caregiver222]

The fumes from the pain are a genuine issue. File a complaint(s) with as many agencies as you can. Written complaints. This should include a federal complaint to the EPA. And a complaint to the police.

The mold under the pain has to be removed by sanding to bare sheetrock, spraying with ammonia, which will evaporate, and repainting. Also a dehumidifier will help as the mold likes moist places. I had a lot of mold when I moved in and this was what I did. The entire bathroom had black mold.

[Fruttibiscotti]

Wow, that sounds like a tough situation.  Yes, toxic fumes, mold and chemicals in the air can affect your health.  Since your place is an apartment, I'm guessing maybe you can invest in an air purifier.  Be careful when selecting them, as some can only remove large suspended particles in the air, like dust and hair, while other better purifiers can take out much smaller particles (like HEPA filters) or molecules.  Typically, the devices that can remove smaller particles and chemicals in the air are more expensive than the ones that take out the large particles.  Not sure what you can afford, but maybe a trip to Home Depot, Walmart, Home Hardware, and other stores can reveal the options available to you?  I have an air purifier I use when I have guests come over who are allergic to my pets.  It works so well, within minutes, my allergic-prone friends feel the difference.  Good luck to you.