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Mold

[SKIP NAVIGATION] :: INTRODUCTION :: HOW MOLD AFFECTS PEOPLE :: DON'T BE MOLDY :: STACHYBOTRYS :: HOMES, SCHOOL BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTION & MOLD :: BACK TO BLUEPLANET ::

Introduction to Mold

Exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. Mold and the tiny spores they create to reproduce continually float through our indoor and outdoor air. Mold begins to grow when the mold spores land on damp spots indoors. Different molds can grow on wood, paper, carpets, and foods. When moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains unseen or untreated. Although even the best practices cannot get rid of all the mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the best way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture, and to take quick action to eliminate mold growth. Some indoor molds are: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Mucor and Stachybotrys.

How Does Mold Affects People?

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, or wheezing. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. People with chronic illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. ~ from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/moldfacts.htm

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Don't Be Moldy

1. Dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold from growing.
2. Clean up any mold that is present within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth
3. Get rid of the excess water or moisture
4. Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.
5. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and dry completely.
6. Clean bathrooms with mold killing products
7. Mold can be removed with commercial products or a weak bleach solution (1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water).
8. Check materials that have absorbed moisture - such as carpets, ceiling tiles, older cellulose insulation - and replace any that have become moldy.
9. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by:
   • Venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside
   • Using air conditioners and de-humidifiers during humid months or in humid areas such as basements
   • Increasing ventilation
   • Using exhaust fans when cooking, washing dishes and cleaning.
10. Prevent condensation by reducing the potential for condensation on cold surfaces such as windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors by adding insulation.
11. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, such as drinking fountains, classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation, do not install carpeting or other absorbent materials.
12. Add mold inhibitors to paints before application
13. Molds can grow almost anywhere where moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.(End of Things You Should Know About Mold list)

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More Information about Mold

• Mold (filamentous fungi)
• Introduction to Fungi
• Assessment for Environmental Moulds
• Cladosporium: mold-help.org/cladosporium.htm
• EPA Mold Resources
• Mold News(Information about mold links)

~ from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldresources.html

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Stachybotrys is a greenish-black mold that grows well on materials with a high cellulose content such as wall studs, dry wall, and ceiling tiles that are exposed to water and excessive humidity. Buildings that have been in floods or have long-term, or recurring leaks can be a breeding ground for Stachybotrys. S. chartarum (SC) is dangerous to humans because it can create multiple toxic chemicals called mycotoxins.

By the time the fungi becomes visible to the naked eye, millions of reproductive spores can be spread throughout your home or office. These dangerous microorganisms remain airborne and are consequently inhaled as we breathe. In this way, spores introduce toxins into your body, causing adverse health effects such as those listed below:

In the most extreme cases, mold can cause neurological problems, brain damage, internal hemorrhaging and death. Leighton Associates, Inc. LEARN MORE

• Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other molds(End of stachybotrys mold links)

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Homes, School Buildings, Construction & Mold

• Poor Building Design Leads to Fungal Growth
• Healthy and Affordable Housing - Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing
  • Before You Design, Build or Renovate [pdf]
  • Before You Move In [pdf]
  • Before You Turn Over a Unit [pdf]
• Moisture, Building Enclosures & Mold: How water gets into a structure, why it doesn't leave, and how these architectural flaws become HVAC headaches
  • Part 1 [pdf]
  • Part 2 [pdf]
• Humidity Control & VentilationIn Schools [pdf]
• Mold in Buildings
• Sick Building Syndrome
• Mold Remediation in Occupied Homes [pdf]
• Preventing Mold Growth
• Moisture and Humidity and the Negative Implications on Your Indoor Air: Preventing the allergy and asthma triggers like dust mites, fungi, and cockroaches that thrive in moist or humid conditions.
• safehome4u.com
• Certified Mold Contractors(End of Home, School Building & Construction & Mold links)

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