What Is Mold?
What
exactly is Mold?
Molds
are part of the natural environment.
Molds produce tiny spores, and these spores waft through
the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores
find a damp spot indoors, they usually start digesting whatever
they land on in order to survive. There are molds that can
grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture
or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur,
particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered
or unaddressed. Water can come from many sources but usually
comes from:
Rain
water (or flood),
Plumbing
supply lines,
Plumbing
waste lines and
HVAC
condensation pans and lines that are stopped up.
I
hope you find the following helpful. You will find additional
information on the websites and booklets cited at the bottom
of this page.
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Can
Mold Affect My Health?
Health
and Mold
The effects of mold exposure have been linked to allergic
reactions such as nasal stuffiness and eye irritation, asthma,
respiratory difficulties, and skin irritation. More severe
reactions, such as fever and shortness of breath, have occurred
among those exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational
settings. Some people with chronic respiratory conditions,
such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections
in their lungs. EPA's publication entitle
Indoor
Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
assists health professionals in determining if symptoms
are related to an indoor air pollution problem. It addresses
the health problems that may be caused by contaminants encountered
daily in the home and office. This booklet is organized
according to pollutant or pollutant groups such as environmental
tobacco smoke, VOCs, biological pollutants, and sick building
syndrome. It lists key symptoms caused by exposure to these
pollutants, provides a diagnostic checklist and quick reference
summary, and includes suggestions for remedial action. This
booklet was developed by the American Lung Association,
the American Medical Association, the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, and the EPA. EPA Document Reference Number
402-R-94-007, 1994.
Allergic
Reactions
- excerpted from Indoor Air Pollution:
An
Introduction for Health Professionals section on: Animal
Dander, Molds, Dust Mites, Other Biologicals.
\"A
major concern associated with exposure to biological pollutants
is allergic reactions, which range from rhinitis, nasal
congestion, conjunctival inflammation, and urticaria to
asthma. Notable triggers for these diseases are allergens
derived from house dust mites; other arthropods including
cockroaches; pets (cats, dogs, birds, rodents); molds; and
protein-containing furnishings including feathers, kapok,
etc. In occupational settings, more unusual allergens (e.g.,
bacterial enzymes, algae) have caused asthma epidemics.
Probably most proteins of non-human origin can cause asthma
in a subset of any appropriately exposed population.\"
Consult the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website
CDC's
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) has a toll-free
telephone number for information and FAXs, including a list
of publications: NCEH Health Line 1-888-232-6789.
CDC's
\"Molds in the Environment\" Fact sheet Stachybotrys
or Stachybotrys atra (chartarum) and health effects
CDC's
\"Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and
other molds
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How
Can I Control Mold?
Controlling
Mold
Although
it is virtually impossible to eliminate all mold spores
in the indoor environment, you can control mold growth by
controlling moisture.
It
is important to thoroughly dry furnishing and structual
materials within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
If
mold has developed, clean it up and get rid of the excess
water or moisture. Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of
the moisture, wash the mold off hard surfaces with detergent
and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials, such
as ceiling tiles and carpet, that contain mold should be
replaced.
Reduce
indoor humidity to 30-60% and discourage mold growth by
venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating
sources to the outside. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers,
increase ventilation, and use exhaust fans whenever cooking,
washing dishes, and cleaning.
Prevent
condensation on cold surfaces, such as windows, piping,
exterior walls, roofing, and floors, by adding insulation.
Do
not install carpeting in areas where there is a perpetual
source of moisture such as drinking fountains, classroom
sinks, or on concrete floors with potential leaks or frequent
condensation.
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How Do You Control Moisture?
Controlling
Moisture
Moisture
control is the key to mold control. The following link is
an excerpt from Biological
Pollutants in Your Home. Excess moisture can come into
your home in a variety of ways--a leak, a seeping basement
floor, the shower, the dishwasher, and even cooking. The
amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends
on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down,
the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why moisture
condenses on cold surfaces, such as windows, in cold weather.
This excess moisture inside your home can encourage biological
pollutants to grow.
Moisture
problems and their solutions differ from one climate to
another. The Northeast is cold and wet while the Southwest
is hot and dry. The South is hot and wet, and the Western
Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can
have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers
used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological
pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners
which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners
from running long enough to remove excess moisture from
the air. The types of construction and weatherization for
the different climates can lead to different problems and
solutions.
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Can
You Offer Any Advise?
Consider
these suggestions:
Fix
leaks and seepage immediately.
If
water is entering your house from the outside, your options
range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and
waterproofing. Make sure that the ground slopes away from
the house.
Water
in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a
water flow toward the house.
Water
leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place
for biological pollutants to grow.
Put
a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture
from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are
well ventilated.
Use
exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture
to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer
to the outside.
Turn
off appliances such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters if
you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
Use
dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid
climates, to reduce moisture in the air. Be sure that the
appliances themselves are not sources of biological pollutants.
Raise
the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.
Use insulation or storm windows. Keep in mind that a storm
window installed on the inside is more effective than one
installed on the outside.
Open
doors between rooms, especially doors to closets which may
be colder than the rooms. This increases circulation which
carries heat to the cold surfaces. Further increase circulation
by using fans and by moving furniture away wall and corners.
Be
sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel
excessive moisture from the home.
Pay
special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can
absorb moisture and become a breeding ground for biological
pollutants. Use area rugs--check them frequently and wash
them often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed
over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor
barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that
with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent
a moisture problem.
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Windows
Can And Will Collect Moisture.
Moisture
On Windows
Excess humidity inside your home for a prolonged period
of time can damage walls, especially when outdoor air temperatures
are very cold. Your humidistat is set too high if excessive
moisture collects on windows and other cold surfaces. Other
sources of excess moisture besides overuse of a humidifier
may be long showers, running hot water for long periods
of time, boiling or steaming foods, certain plants, and
drying clothes indoors. A tight, energy efficient house
holds more moisture so you may need to run a kitchen or
bath ventilating fan at times or open a window briefly.
Storm windows and caulking around windows keep the interior
glass warmer and reduce condensation of moisture there.
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Clean
Air Ducts...
Should
You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned
if there is substantial visible mold growth inside hard
surface ducts (e.g., sheet metal) or on other components
of your heating and cooling system. There are several important
points to understand concerning mold detection in heating
and cooling systems:
Many
sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible
for a visible inspection so ask the service provider to
show you any mold they find.
Although
a substance may look like mold, a positive determination
can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory
analysis for final confirmation. For about $100, your inspector
can sent a sample to a microbiology laboratory can tell
you whether a sample sent to them is mold or simply a substance
that resembles it.
If
you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet
or moldy, it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be
removed and replaced.
If
the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place
are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
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