Below, you will find general information about mold and mold
control, including causes, preventions, health effects, and more.
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Mold may not be a welcome guest in homes, but all homes and businesses have it. Even when it can’t be seen or smelled, under certain conditions it can affect the health of occupants. At Active Mold Control, we can help you find out if you have it, and fight back if you do. Following are answers to many frequently asked questions. You may find what you are interested in or feel free to call us and we will answer your questions to the best of our ability: |
Quick LinksHow do molds grow in buildings How do I know if I have a mold problem How can I control mold growth in my building How can I decrease exposure to mold What are the health effects of mold |
Mold! Meet the enemy, mold… It pops up and lingers in attics, bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, kitchens and even in places where it might not be expected. Without it, we wouldn't have great foods and medicines, such as cheese and penicillin. However, problems arise when mold starts digesting organic materials we don't want them to, like building materials and other items in our homes. With more than 75,000 types of mold on this planet, it is not surprising that we find so many in our buildings. They are not animal or plant, they are tiny organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic matter, and spores (similar to seeds), to propagate. They are part of the fungus family, a family shared with mushrooms, yeast, and mildews. Mold plays a key role in the decomposition of plants, wood, and other plant debris. Molds thrive in warm and humid conditions, but you can find them year-round in virtually every type of environment, both indoors and outdoors. You'll find them outdoors in shady, damp areas and places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors you will find them in basements, showers and in other areas where humidity levels are high. It's worth noting that you can use the terms "mold" and "mildew" interchangeably, although mildew is often applied to growth of fungi on fabrics, window sills or bathroom tiles. How do molds grow in a building? Once mold spores settle in a building, they need moisture to begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on. There are molds that can grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. When excess moisture or water builds up in any building from say, a leaky roof, high humidity, or flooding, conditions are often ideal for molds. Longstanding moisture or high humidity conditions and mold growth go together. Realistically, there is no way to rid all mold and mold spores from your home; the way to control mold growth is to control moisture. When molds are disturbed, their spores may be released into the air. You then can be exposed to the spores through the air you breathe. Also, if you directly handle moldy materials, you can be exposed to mold and mold spores through contact with your skin. Eating moldy foods or hand-to-mouth contact after handling moldy materials is yet another way you may be exposed. How do I know if I have a mold problem? You may have seen white thread-like growths or clusters of small black specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls, or smelled a "musty" odor. Seeing and smelling mold is a good indication that you have a mold problem. However, you cannot always rely upon your senses to locate molds. Hidden mold can be growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles. Common places to find mold are in areas where water has damaged building materials and furnishings perhaps from flooding or plumbing leaks. Mold can also be found growing along walls where warm moist air condenses on cooler wall surfaces, such as inside cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and in closets where articles are stored against walls. Rooms with both high water usage and humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are often havens for mold. If you notice mold or know of water damaged areas in your building, it is time to take action to control its growth. How can I control mold growth in my building? Fix any moisture problems:
How is mold safely eliminated? The time you are most likely to stir up spores and be exposed is the very time you are trying to clean up your mold problem. That's when you need to be the most careful. First, try to determine the extent of the mold infestation. If the area is small and well-defined, you can do the clean up, as long as you are free of any health symptoms or allergies. However, if the mold problem is extensive, or between the walls or under the floors, you should leave clean up to professionals. Large Areas: If you have a large area of mold infestation you should consider having professional mold remediation specialists such as Active Mold Control cleanup the area. It is difficult to avoid spreading the contamination and ensuring that the problem is completely eliminated, without professional equipment and procedures. Small Areas: 1. Still consider having a mold remediation professional clean up your location. If you do decide to try doing it yourself, protect yourself by using personal protective gear including goggles, gloves, and breathing protection while working in the area. If contamination is widespread, consider installing air controlling barriers to limit spreading of the contamination during cleanup. 2. Seal off area from the rest of the building. Cover heat registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Cover all furniture. Open a window before you start clean up. 3. Bag all moldy materials, you will be discarding. 4. Scrub all affected hard surfaces: First with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Then use a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes. Last, apply a borate-based detergent solution and do not rinse. This will help prevent mold from growing again. To find a borate-based detergent, read the ingredients listed on the package label for borates. 5. Give the entire area a good cleaning, vacuum floors, and wash bedding and clothes if exposed. How to clean furnishings exposed to mold. Permeable and washable: Such as clothing, bedding, and other washable articles. Simply run through the laundry. Non-permeable and washable: Such as wood, metal, plastic, glass, and ceramics. Mix a solution of one cap bleach to one quart of water. Bleach may fade colors, so test your beach solution before using. If fine, wipe down your articles. Permeable but not washable: Such as beds and furniture. If these furnishings are moldy, you should consider discarding and replacing them. If you decide it is a keeper, take the furnishing outside. Give it a good vacuuming, and let it air out. When finished, if you do not notice an odor it should be okay. However, watch for any mold growth or health problems. How can I decrease exposure to mold? Inside a building, you can slow mold growth by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 55%. Ventilate damp areas such as showers and cooking areas. If there is mold growth in your building, you should have the mold cleaned up and eliminate any moisture source. Very small beginning mold infestations should be quickly removed. You can remove mold growth from hard surfaces and minimize their allergenic effects by using commercial products, soap and water, or a weak bleach solution (1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water). Specific recommendations:
Do building occupants get colds that don’t seem to go away? Do they have itchy eyes or skin rashes? Mold might be the culprit. Learn about the symptoms and what you can do to combat them. Generally, the majority of common molds are not a concern to someone who is healthy. However, there are some individuals, especially those who have existing health concerns, who may be sensitive to mold exposure. How can molds affect one’s health? If one has allergies or asthma, they may experience skin rash and itching, running nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, and aggravation of asthma. Also, those with an immune suppression or underlying lung disease may be at increased risk for infections from molds. Just because you live in a dry climate, don't think you're off the hook. You may experience a reduced incidence of mold growth, but by no means is your environment immune to infestation. Severe effects Some researches believe more serious effects may result from mold exposure, including fever, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, respiratory dysfunction (including coughing-up blood), frequent and excessive nose bleeds, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, and liver damage. Severe reactions may also occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Such symptoms may disappear when exposure to mold no longer exists. Other health problems may be permanent Some people reportedly have taken extreme measures to combat severe mold reactions. One California family claimed that exposure to mold infestation caused a number of their illnesses, including respiratory problems, nose bleeds and rashes. They burned their home to the ground, believing that it would cost less to simply rebuild than to remove the mold. In Texas, a couple’s 11,500 square-foot home was quarantined after molds were thought to have caused stomach problems, diarrhea, vomiting, severe respiratory scarring, and other illnesses in their son, as well as severe memory loss in the husband, ultimately resulting in his inability to work. Microbial volatile organic compounds Substances known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) are another source of health problems caused by mold exposure. These compounds are produced by fungal metabolism and are released directly into the air, often giving off strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure to mVOCs from molds can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation and nausea. It's important to realize that research in this area is still in the early stages. Mycotoxins When necessary, some resourceful molds produce toxins in defense against other molds and bacteria called mycotoxins. Depending on exposure level, these mycotoxins may cause toxic effects in people, also. Some symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, headaches, and respiratory and eye irritation If occupants have health problems that you suspect are caused by exposure to mold, you should consult with your physician. Is there a test to determine if I have been exposed to mold? Some physicians recommend testing for mold-specific antibodies. The presence of antibodies only indicates that you have been exposed to a substance at some time. However, it does not tell you when you were exposed, where the exposure took place, or how much of the mold you were exposed to. Having a positive test for mold-specific antibodies alone is generally not sufficient to prove that any health effects were in fact caused by exposure to mold. Are there any medical tests available to determine if I am allergic to mold? There are medical tests to determine if you are allergic to a particular substance, such as mold. These can be performed on skin or blood, although skin tests are considered more reliable, yield results more quickly, are less expensive than blood tests and are generally considered more sensitive. Skin testing may be recommended for individuals with year-round symptoms thought to be caused by an indoor allergy. The RAST (radio allegro sorbent) test is a blood test that detects levels of antibodies to particular allergens. The test is expensive to perform, and results are usually not available for about two weeks. What type of doctor should I see concerning mold exposure? You should first consult a family or general health care provider who will decide whether you need referral to a specialist. Such specialists might include an allergist who treats patients with mold allergies or an infectious disease physician who treats mold infections. If an infection is in the lungs, a pulmonary physician might be recommended. Patients who have been exposed to molds in their workplace may be referred to an occupational physician. Act Quickly if Water Intrusion Into Your Building Occurs If water intrusion occurs, you can minimize the damage by addressing the problem quickly and thoroughly. If water is flowing into the building from burst piping or damaged appliances, shut off the water supply, typically found outside the building or at the meter. Immediately remove standing water and all moist materials, and consult with a licensed building and mold professional who can determine the extent of the repairs necessary. Water damage left unattended can result in structural failure or mold growth. Should your building become damaged by a catastrophic event such as fire, flood or storm, take appropriate actions to prevent further water damage once it is safe to do so. This may include boarding up damaged windows, covering a damaged roof with plastic sheeting, or removing wet, damaged rugs, carpet, or personal belongings. Fast action on your part will help minimize the time and expense for repairs, resulting in a faster recovery.
Maintaining the right level of humidity inside your building promotes good health. Learn ways to strike that optimal balance. Step outside on a summer day, and it's easy to feel the effects of humidity -- sticky skin, a sweaty brow, air thick with moisture. But when it comes to humidity inside, those tell-tale signs are replaced by itching, sneezing and coughing, and they're not limited to the summer months. Humidity makes you sneeze The word humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. So, how is it that microscopic water molecules can make you itch, sneeze and cough? Those symptoms arise when people have allergic reactions to the organisms that thrive in humidity. "Humidity promotes mold growth and dust mite population growth. Both are significant indoor allergens and can set off allergic sensitivity and can trigger rhinitis and asthma," said Dr. Michael Ruff, an allergist who works to raise awareness about asthma and allergies for the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. These are things that people can't see or feel, but they live on countertops, table surfaces, carpet, pillows, mattresses -- just about anywhere that people are, say experts. And they depend on warm temperatures and high humidity to live and grow. If the presence of mold or dust mites sends you for a tissue or your doctor's office, then keeping the humidity inside your home at 50 percent or lower may provide some relief, said Ruff. Lower humidity will result in lower mold and dust mite growth. A wet house Airborne water can be detrimental to your building, as well as your health. High humidity in a building can cause rot. And, it draws pests. Bugs are always looking for water. Condensation provides [bugs] with the water they need. If you don't build properly, [moisture] can condense inside walls and cause rot. It's not obvious on the outside, but it could be rotting on the inside. Solutions If you suspect that the air in your building is too moist, then the first thing to do is verify the facts. Have the humidity level determined in your building. Then, if the indoor humidity is too high, experts recommend you tackle the problem with dehumidifiers, ventilation, air conditioning and even what you put on your floors. Vent the areas that create moisture, like the shower or bathroom. Make sure you turn on the vent fans if you have them or consider having an electrician install one to the outside [of your home]. The same is true for cooking. Contractors can install humidifiers and other equipment that works in concert with your air conditioner to better control indoor air quality. If you're getting ready to install an air conditioner, make sure you size the unit properly. You need one ton of air conditioning for every 600 square feet of indoor space. If you size it correctly, then when the air conditioner runs, it may run a little longer, but it's pulling out the moisture. And it has an easier time cooling, so it's not costing you any more. Back to Top Home Statement of Qualifications
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