10 Things to Know About Mold
Mold problems in building are public health concern. There is need for building occupants to be aware of the subject. Exposure to mold spores and their mycotoxins can lead to a variety of non-specific health problems.
- Exposure to elevated levels of molds can cause serious health problems, such as sinus problems, respiratory problems (wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing), headaches, cold and flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle ache, fatigue), sore throats, eye irritation, frequent bloody noses, trouble concentrating, and memory loss. Those most susceptible include young children, the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and other sensitive individuals.
- There are many molds that have the potential to cause health problems including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. (Just because you can't pronounce it doesn't mean it can't harm you.)
- Mold spores can cause health problems even if the spores are dead.
- Mold requires an organic food source, such as cloth, sheet rock, or wood, and a moisture source to grow. Mold can begin to grow if any organic material that remains wet for more than 48 hours. The way to control mold growth indoors is to control moisture indoors.
- Mold spores are very common outdoors and there is no practical way to eliminate all mold spores indoors.
- Molds can grow undetected inside wall spaces, under carpet, and inside Air conditioning and Mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems.
- Mold growth can often be the visible sign of a structural defect that allows moisture to intrude into a building.
- When doing mold abatement, it is first necessary to find and eliminate the moisture source. If the moisture problem is not resolved, the mold growth will return.
- Cleanup of large areas of mold growth can cause airborne levels of spores to increase up to 10,000 times that of background levels resulting in acute exposure to those doing the cleanup if personal protective equipment is not worn.
- The best way to abate mold growth indoors is to remove the impacted materials. Cleaning the surface of a material with mold growth may not always kill the mold, especially if mold is growing on porous materials like sheet rock or wood.