What is mold? Molds are fungi. Molds grow
throughout the natural and built environment. Tiny particles of mold are
present in indoor and outdoor air. In nature, molds help break down
dead materials and can be found growing on soil, foods, plant matter,
and other items. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" which
are very tiny and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like
seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) when they find the right
conditions.
What does mold need to grow? Mold only needs a few simple things to
grow and multiply: - Moisture
- Nutrients
- Suitable place to grow
Of these, controlling
excess moisture is the key to preventing and stopping indoor mold
growth. Should I be concerned about mold in my home?Mold should not be
permitted to grow and multiply indoors. When this happens, health
problems can occur and building materials, goods and furnishings may be
damaged.
Health EffectsCan mold make me and my family sick?Mold can affect the health
of people who are exposed to it. People are mainly exposed to mold by
breathing spores or other tiny fragments. People can also be exposed
through skin contact with mold contaminants (for example, by touching
moldy surfaces) and by swallowing it. The type and severity of health effects
that mold may produce are usually difficult to predict. The risks can
vary greatly from one location to another, over time, and from person to
person. What symptoms might I see? The most common health
problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and
more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly report
problems such as:
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Cough
- Wheeze/breathing
difficulties
- Sore throat
- Skin and eye irritation
- Upper respiratory
infections (including sinus)
Are the risks greater for some people?There is wide variability
in how different people are affected by indoor mold. However, the long
term presence of indoor mold growth may eventually become unhealthy for
anyone. The following types of people may be affected more severely and
sooner than others: - Infants and children
- Elderly people
- Individuals with
respiratory conditions or sensitivities such as allergies and asthma
- Persons having weakened
immune systems (for example, people with HIV infection, chemotherapy
patients, organ transplant recipients)
- Those with special health
concerns should consult a medical professional if they feel their health
is affected by indoor mold. Are some molds more hazardous than others?
Some types of mold can
produce chemical compounds (called mycotoxins) although they do not
always do so. Molds that are able to produce toxins are common. In some
circumstances, the toxins produced by indoor mold may cause health
problems. However, all indoor mold growth is potentially harmful and
should be removed promptly, no matter what types of mold is present or
whether it can produce toxins.
Home InvestigationHow do I tell if I have a mold problem?Investigate, don't test.
The most practical way to find a mold problem is by using your eyes to
look for mold growth and by using your nose to locate the source of a
suspicious odor. If you see mold or if there is an earthy or musty
smell, you should assume a mold problem exists. Other clues are signs of
excess moisture or the worsening of allergy-like symptoms. Look for visible mold
growth (may appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery and have
varied colors of white, gray, brown, black, yellow, green). Mold often
appears as discoloration, staining, or fuzzy growth on the surface of
building materials or furnishings. When mold is visible, testing is not
recommended. Search
areas with noticeable mold odors. - Look for signs of excess moisture or
water damage.
- Look for water leaks, standing water, water stains,
condensation problems. For example, do you see any watermarks or
discoloration on walls, ceilings, carpet, woodwork or other building
materials?
- Search behind and underneath materials (carpet and pad,
wallpaper, vinyl flooring, sink cabinets), furniture, or stored items
(especially things placed near outside walls or on cold floors).
- Sometimes destructive
techniques may be needed to inspect and clean enclosed spaces where mold
and moisture are hidden; for example, opening up a wall cavity.
Should I test for mold?We do not recommend
testing for mold yourself. Instead, you should simply assume there is a
problem whenever you see mold or smell mold odors. Testing should never
take the place of visual inspection and it should never use up resources
that are needed to correct moisture problems and remove all visible
growth. Sometimes,
mold growth is hidden and difficult to locate. In such cases, a
combination of air (outdoor and indoor air samples) and bulk (material)
samples may help determine the extent of contamination and where
cleaning is needed. However, mold testing is rarely useful for trying to
answer questions about health concerns.
Mold Clean-up and RemovalTo clean up and remove indoor mold growth, follow
steps 1-6 as they apply to your home. 1-Identify and Fix the Moisture
Problem - the most important step in solving a mold problem is
to identify and correct the moisture sources that allowed the growth in
the first place. Common indoor moisture sources include: - Flooding
- Condensation (caused by
indoor humidity that is too high or surfaces that are too cold)
- Movement through basement
walls and slab
- Roof leaks
- Plumbing leaks
- Overflow from tubs, sinks, or toilets
- Firewood stored indoors
- Humidifier use
- Inadequate venting of
kitchen and bath humidity
- Improper venting of combustion appliances
- Failure to vent clothes
dryer exhaust outdoors (including electric dryers)
- Line drying laundry
indoors
- House plants - watering them can generate large amounts of
moisture
To keep indoor surfaces as dry as possible, try to maintain the
home's relative humidity between 20-40 percent in the winter and less
than 60 percent the rest of the year. You can purchase devices to
measure relative humidity at some home supply stores. Ventilation, air
circulation near cold surfaces, dehumidification, and efforts to
minimize the production of moisture in the home are all very important
in controlling high humidity that frequently causes mold growth in our
cold climate. 2-Begin Drying All Wet
Materials - as soon as possible, begin drying any materials
that are wet. For severe moisture problems, use fans and dehumidifiers
and move wet items away from walls and off floors. Check with equipment
rental companies or restoration firms to see if you can rent fans and
dehumidifiers.
3-Remove and Dispose of Mold Contaminated Materials
- items which have absorbed moisture (porous materials) and which have
mold growing on them need to be removed, bagged and thrown out. Such
materials may include sheet rock, insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet
pad, ceiling tiles, wood products (other than solid wood), and paper
products. Likewise, any such porous materials that have contacted sewage
should also be bagged and thrown away. Non-porous materials with
surface mold growth may be saved if they are cleaned well and kept dry
(see step 4). Take Steps to Protect Yourself
- the amount of mold particles in air can increase greatly
when mold is disturbed. Consider using protective equipment when
handling or working around mold contaminated materials. The following
equipment can help minimize exposure to mold: - Rubber gloves
- Eye goggles
- Outer clothing (long
sleeves and long pants) that can be easily removed in the work area and
laundered or discarded
- Medium-efficiency or high-efficiency filter dust
mask (these can be found at safety equipment suppliers, hardware stores,
or some other large stores that sell home repair supplies) -- at a
minimum, use an N-95 or equivalent dust mask
Take Steps to Protect Others - plan and
perform all work to minimize the amount of dust generated. The following
actions can help minimize the spread of mold spores: - Enclose all moldy
materials in plastic (bags or sheets) before carrying through the home
- Hang plastic sheeting to
separate the work area from the rest of the home
- Remove outer layer of work
clothing in the work area and wash separately or bag
- Damp clean the entire work
area to pick up settled contaminants in dust
4-Clean Surfaces
- surface mold growing on non-porous materials such as hard plastic,
concrete, glass, metal, and solid wood can usually be cleaned. Cleaning
must remove and capture the mold contamination, because dead spores and
mold particles still cause health problems if they are left in place. - Thoroughly scrub all
contaminated surfaces using a stiff brush, hot water and a non-ammonia
soap/detergent or commercial cleaner
- Collect excess cleaning liquid with a
wet/dry vacuum, mop or sponge
- Rinse area with clean water and collect
excess rinse water
5-Disinfect Surfaces (if desired) -
after cleaning has removed all visible mold and other soiling from
contaminated surfaces, a disinfectant may be used to kill mold missed by
the cleaning. In the case of sewage contamination, disinfection must be
performed. Contact your home inspector for advice. Mix 1/4 to 1/2
cup bleach per gallon of water and apply to surfaces where mold growth
was visible before cleaning. The solution can be applied with a spray
bottle, garden sprayer, it can be sponged on, or applied by other
methods. Collect any run-off of bleach solution with a wet/ dry vacuum,
sponge or mop. However, do not rinse or wipe the bleach solution off the
areas being treated -- allow it to dry on the surface. Always handle bleach with
caution. Never mix bleach with ammonia -- toxic chlorine gas may result.
Bleach can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Provide fresh air
(for example, open a window or door). Protect skin and eyes from
contact with bleach. Test solution on a small area before treatment,
since bleach is very corrosive and may damage some materials. 6-Remain on Mold
Alert - Continue looking for signs of moisture problems or
return of mold growth. Be particularly alert to moisture in areas of
past growth. If mold returns, repeat cleaning steps and consider using a
stronger solution to disinfect the area again. Regrowth may signal that
the material should be removed or that moisture is not yet controlled. When
can we rebuild? Rebuilding and refurnishing must wait until all
affected materials have dried completely. Be patient it takes time to
dry out wet building materials.
When Can We Rebuild?Rebuilding and
refurnishing must wait until all affected materials have dried
completely. Be patient it takes time to dry out wet building materials. |