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What
is Mold and Where Is It Found?
Molds are microscopic organisms, found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
Molds can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Also susceptible to mold growth are cellulose
materials, such as, cardboard, paper, ceiling tiles, and sheet rock. Mold spores are easily detached and made airborne by
vacuuming, walking on a carpet or sitting on a couch. In indoor environments, mold can grow in air conditioning ducts, carpets,
pots of houseplants, etc.
How Can Mold Affect Your Health?
Exposure to mold is not healthy for anyone
but the following individuals are at a higher risk for adverse health effects: infants, children, elderly, immune compromised
patients, pregnant women, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions. When inhaled, even in small amounts, mold
can cause a wide range of health problems including respiratory problems (wheezing), nasal and sinus congestion, watery and
red eyes, nose and throat irritation, skin irritation, aches and pains, fevers, asthma, emphysema and in some cases even death.
Mold Can Be Found In Many Areas Of Your Home
Attic
Living Rooms
Bathrooms
(HVAC) Ventilation
System
Bedrooms
Kitchens
Basements
Any Moist Areas
Carpets
Garage
How Can You Be
Exposed To Mold?
When moldy materials become damaged or disturbed, spores (reproductive bodies similar to seeds)
can be released into the air. The following are sources of indoor moisture that may cause mold problems in your home or office:
flooding, leaky roofs, humidifiers, damp basements or crawl spaces, constant plumbing leaks, house plants, steam from cooking,
shower/bath steam and leaks, wet clothes, and clothes dryers vented indoors. Protection...Testing Is Your First Line Of Defense
To find out if mold is a problem in your home or office, you must conduct a mold test!
The Black Mold Stachybotrys
Chartarum (atra)
Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) is a greenish-black toxic mold that colonizes particularly well
in high-cellulose material, such as straw, hay, wet leaves, dry wall, carpet, wall paper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles, thermal
insulation, etc. Stachbotrys, before drying, is wet and slightly slimy to touch. There are about 15 species of Stachybotrys,
known throughout the world. This toxic mold grows in areas where the relative humidity is above 55%. This type of mold does
not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete products, or ceramic tiles. It is not found in the green mold on bread or the black mold
on the shower tiles.
Stachybotrys produces a mycotoxin that causes human mycotoxicosis.
This type of
mold is thought to be a possible cause of the sick building syndrome. Children's exposure to Stachybotrys spores are thought
most likely to cause pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs). The following is a list of symptoms associated with
exposure to Stachybotrys mold spores:
Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, and difficulty in breathing
Nasal
and sinus congestion
Eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity
Dry, hacking cough
Sore
throat
Nose and throat irritation
Shortness of breath
Chronic fatigue
Skin irritation
Central
nervous system problems (constant headaches, memory problems, and mood changes)
Aches and pains
Possible fever
Diarrhea
Possible hemosiderosis
Immune suppression
Testing or Sampling for Mold
Is
sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other
federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal
mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling
for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling
methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial
Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.
Suspicion of hidden mold
You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see
the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in
places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets
and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing
pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling
tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).
Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will
require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper
can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may
have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.
Cleanup and Biocides
Biocides
are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine
bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional
judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible
or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not grow if the moisture
problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to
the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because
toxic fumes could be produced.
Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so
it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.
Ten Things You Should Know About Mold
1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other
respiratory complaints.
2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment;
the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
3. If mold is a problem in your home or school,
you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak
to prevent mold growth.
5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by:
a. venting bathrooms,
dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside;
b. using air conditioners and de-humidifiers;
c.
increasing ventilation;
d. and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning
6. Clean and dry
any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
7. Clean mold off
hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may
need to be replaced.
8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e.,
windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
9. In areas where there is a perpetual
moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks
or frequent condensation).
10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing
moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
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