Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below.
The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.
You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem before the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished.
Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.
You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).
Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.
Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain – these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.
Please note:Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.
VoC stands for Volatile Organic Compound
Volatile means that the substance vaporizes easily under normal room temperature conditions. Organic is a naturally occurring substance. Compounds are things comprised of 2 or more actions or functions. Relating this to black mold, it is the musty, or moldy smell that occurs as the mold grows on an organic moist surface. As it grows and spreads this chemical reaction occurs. Many times this is the only way you know you have a mold problem. We often see the small lines of black mold growing in the bathroom tub due to improper ventilation. This is quickly taken care of by thorough cleaning and can be prevented by installing a small vent fan in the ceiling to reduce humidity build-up. To prevent a mold problem on plastic shower curtains always open them fully to aid in drying. Wipe down your shower walls, ceiling, and bathroom floor if there are puddles of water. Moisture allows any mold spore to begin growing.
Mold can be hidden behind walls, in ceilings, around pipes that have condensation on them, under floors where the humidity has built up and created a moist atmosphere, and anywhere there is some type of organic material along with the moisture it needs to grow. There are several ways to prevent a toxic build up . Adequate ventilation will keep the moisture down, helping to prevent any spores from growing. Removing food sources is another. By keeping the environment clean and dry the mold spores won’t have a place to begin growing. An activated carbon or charcoal filter is quite effective in removing VOCs as long as the filters are replaced frequently. Air purifiers come with HEPA filters which trap large amounts of mold spores. Also some vacuum cleaners are now equipped with them, which also removes dust mites from the carpet. This is good for asthma and allergy sufferers.
Some of the health problems that can occur from mold exposure are mild to quite serious. This depends on the sensitivity, health of the person, length of exposure, and type of mold. It can be as mild as sneezing, headaches, runny nose, watery eyes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and an increase of asthma symptoms. More serious effects can include allergic fungal sinusitis—fungus can get stuck in your sinuses and begin to grow. The sinus area is small, and the fungal growth can become impacted, requiring surgery. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis—this is a fungal infection of the lungs. Those who are allergic to mold and also have asthma or cystic fibrosis are vulnerable to aspergillosis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis—a rare condition which occurs when the lungs become inflamed as a response to airborne particles such as mold spores.
In conclusion, by keeping as many organic food sources cleaned up, along with proper ventilation and low moisture levels, mold won’t find a home in your home. For more information on mold see www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html
Certified Residential and Commercial Inspectors in South Eastern Tennessee & Northern Georgia.