MOLD IN YOUR HOME: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
Most of us are aware of mold in some fashion. Many of us have relied upon penicillin, a derivative of blue-green mold often found on fruits and breads, to cure us of infection. While this moldy discovery has saved unknown numbers of lives, mold growth in homes is a bad situation.
If conditions are right in the home, mold can be found growing on any type of organic material-food, leaves, paper, leather, or dirt. If mold is already growing in a home, new mold species can begin growing on top of existing mold species. Molds are observed growing in a wide array of colors, but most often are black, brown, grey, or green. Mold in the home is often found in rooms such as bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, and closets.
The key that triggers mold growth is moisture. Controlling moisture or humidity in your home not only makes a home more comfortable but also keeps it in good condition while maintaining a healthy living environment. Moisture can create unsightly stains and smells in a home and can quickly undermine its structural integrity. Common sources of moisture include leaky roofs, sprinklers hitting the side of a house, plumbing leaks, overflow from sinks, showers, tubs and sewers, leaky dryer vents, and moisture seepage from foundation issues. All of these create a bad situation for a homeowner.
Of course, if protecting your home is not enough, mold growth in a home can create an ugly situation for inhabitants. Persons exposed to elevated mold levels can become sensitized and develop allergies and other health problems. It is said that about one in three people can have an allergic reaction to mold. Continuous mold exposure can trigger symptoms such as watery eyes, sore throat, wheezing, dizziness, skin rashes and asthma attacks. However, numerous other symptoms may also indicate mold exposure. Additionally, some molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum produce toxic compounds called mycotoxins thereby escalating reactions to mold exposure creating grave and/or irreversible effects.
Do realize that mold spores are present everywhere, both inside and outside. However elevated mold spore levels is where the problem lies due to actively growing mold colonies in an enclosed environment such as a home. Resolving such a situation is paramount. Recognition and identification of the problem is the first step. Vigilant homeowners should routinely inspect their homes for "red flags" that may indicate mold growth, particularly rooms that may have a musty smell or high potential for moisture intrusion. Such "red flags" include visible mold-like substances, presence of moisture, areas conducive for moisture intrusion and/or fungal growth, musty odor or dampness, and/or suspicious or unexplained health effects.
If any moisture issues are found, steps should be taken to immediately control the moisture source. If any "red flag" conditions are present, testing to identify the types of mold present should be completed. It is important to understand that all homes have mold spores present in the air, however identifying the types of mold present and their levels compared to "normal" or outside conditions is critical to remediate the home properly from a mold problem. Testing for mold before and after remediation is critical to know that the "clean up" was successful. It is strongly advised to have mold tests performed independent of the person or company completing the remediation.
Cleaning up mold situations can become quite complex, quickly-especially depending upon the size of the affected area. Affected areas greater than 100 square feet (10 ft X 10 ft) may require advanced forms of remediation to not only remove all mold contaminated items but to prevent dispersal of mold spores into the rest of the house. Oftentimes porous materials such as drywall, ceiling tiles, and carpet cannot be cleaned properly and should be removed. Semi-porous materials such as wood may be sanded and scraped. Cleaners specifically formulated to kill and inhibit mold growth should be used on non-porous materials. Please note that bleach is not 100% effective in killing mold.
To learn more about mold in your home, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency produces an excellent brochure titled "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" and can be downloaded free at http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html.
