Mold Basics
We have all seen the television news stories and have read the periodicals about mold and its associated health problems. Is it all true and should you become concerned?
Molds are a part of our natural environment. Without them we would not have soils. Molds break down organic materials such as trees and leaves. We need them, but not indoors. Molds begin growing in our homes and businesses when moisture is present. Mold spores are present indoors and out, but only grow and become a problem when moisture is present. No molds can grow without moisture.
Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds can cause allergic reactions, irritations and some molds can produce mycotoxins that have been proven to be harmful to our health.
Touching or inhaling molds can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacts or irritate the eyes, nose or lungs. More studies are ongoing to determine other potential toxic health effects of molds.
If you have mold in your home or workplace in large quantities, you need to get rid of it. If there is mold in your home or business you need to fix the water intrusion or moisture problem first, then remove the mold. If you remove the mold without correcting the water or moisture problem, the mold will return.
If you find mold, you should address it quickly. Typically, within 48 hours mold will begin degrading any organic material it grows on.
If you elect to clean it up yourself, EPA recommends that it be limited to a 10 square foot area. If the area is larger than 10 square feet, you should obtain a copy of EPA's guide titled, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings". This will give you information on personal protective equipment, containment, remediation methods and air sampling. The toll free number to call is 1-800-438-4318, or you can get it off the internet at www.epa.gov/mold. If you choose a contractor to do the remediation make sure they are experienced, insured and have references from clients with similar projects. There are as many experts in the mold industry as there are species of mold.
If you can see mold, EPA states that there is no reason to sample it. This is just extra cost that could be used to repair problem and remove the mold. If however, you smell mold (musty odor), but cannot see it, you may have what is referred to as "Hidden mold". Mold could be behind drywall, on the back side of the wall paper, inside the HVAC systems and/or roofing or ceiling systems. You can make the problem worse, for example, should you remove wallpaper, causeing mold spores to become airborne, so consider hiring a professional if you believe you have a hidden mold problem.
One last tip, if you are cleaning a small mold area, do not use bleach. It is a very aggressive chimical and there are other products that are safer to use to kill or prevent mold. Most of the time, if the moisture problem is solved, the mold will not return.
By: Leroy Schaefer CHMM, CEA, REM