CHAPTER
VI -
MOLD
What
are molds?
Molds are simple, microscopic organisms, present virtually everywhere,
indoors and outdoors. Molds, along with mushrooms and yeasts, are fungi and
are needed to break down dead material and recycle nutrients in the
environment. For molds to grow and reproduce, they need only a food source
any organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt and moisture.
Because molds grow by digesting the organic material, they gradually
destroy whatever they grow on.
Sometimes, new molds
grow on old mold colonies; Mold growth on surfaces can often be seen in
the form of discoloration, frequently green, gray, brown, or black but
also white and other colors. Molds release countless tiny, lightweight
spores, which travel through the air.
How
am I exposed to indoor molds?
Everyone is exposed to some mold on a daily basis without evident harm. It
is common to find mold spores in the air inside homes, and most of the
airborne spores found indoors come from outdoor sources. Mold spores
primarily cause health problems when they are present in large numbers and
people inhale many of them. This occurs primarily when there is active
mold growth within home, office or school where people live or work.
People can also be exposed to mold by touching contaminated materials and
by eating contaminated foods. Molds will grow and multiply whenever
conditions are right - sufficient moisture is available and organic material
is present. The following are common sources of indoor moisture that may
lead to mold problems:
¨
Flooding
¨
Leaky roofs
¨
Sprinkler spray hitting the
house
¨
Plumbing leaks
¨
Overflow from sinks or
sewers
¨
Damp basement or crawl space
¨
Steam from shower or cooking
¨
humidifiers
¨
Wet clothes drying indoors
or clothes dryers exhausting indoors
Warping floors and
discoloration of walls and ceilings can be indications of moisture
problems. Condensation on windows or walls is also an important
indication, but it can sometimes be caused by an indoor combustion
problem! Have fuel-burning appliances routinely inspected by your local
utility or a professional heating contractor,
Should
I be concerned about mold in my home?
Yes, if indoor mold contamination is extensive, it can cause very high and
persistent airborne spore exposures. Persons exposed to high spore levels
can become sensitized and develop allergies to the mold or other health
problems. Mold growth can damage your furnishings, such as carpets, sofas
and cabinets. Clothes and shoes in damp closets can become soiled. In
time, unchecked mold growth can cause serious damage to the structural
elements in your home.
What
symptoms are commonly seen with mold exposure?
Molds produce health effects through inflammation, allergy, or
infection. Allergic reactions (Often referred to as hay fever) are most
common following mold exposure. Typical symptoms that timed-exposed
persons report (alone or in combination) include:
¨
Respiratory problems, such as wheezing,
difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath
¨
Nasal and sinus congestion
¨
Eye irritation (burning,
watery, or reddened eyes)
¨
Dry, hacking cough
¨
Nose or throat irritation
¨
Skin rashes or irritation
Headaches, memory
problems, mood swings, nosebleeds, body aches and pains, and fevers are
occasionally reported in mold cases, but their cause is not understood.
How
much mold can make me sick?
For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can trigger an
asthma attack or lead to other health problems. For other persons,
symptoms may occur only when exposure levels are much higher. Nonetheless,
indoor mold growth is unsanitary and undesirable. Basically, if you can
see or smell mold inside your home, take steps to identity and eliminate
the excess moisture and to cleanup and remove the mold.
Are
some molds more hazardous than others?
Allergic persons vary in their sensitivities to mold, both as to the
amount and the types to which they react. In addition to their allergic
properties, certain types of molds, such as Stachybotris chartarum may produce compounds that have toxic properties, which are called mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins are not
always produced, and whether a mold produces mycotoxins while growing in a
building depends on what the mold is growing on, conditions such as
temperature, pH, humidity or other unknown factors. When mycotoxins are
present, they occur in both living and dead mold spores and may be present
in materials that have become contaminated with molds. While Stachybotrys
is growing, a wet slime layer covers its spores, preventing them from
becoming airborne. However, when the mold dies and dries up, air
currents or physical handling can cause spores to become airborne.
At present
there is no environmental test to determine whether Stachybotrys growth
found in buildings is producing toxins. There is also no blood or urine
test that can establish if an individual has been exposed to Stachybotris
chartarum spores or its toxins.
How
can I tell if I have mold in my house?
You may suspect that you have mold if you see discolored patches or
cottony or speckled growth on wails or furniture or if you smell an
earthy or musty odor. You also may suspect mold contamination if
mold-allergic individuals experience some of the symptoms listed above
when in the house. Evidence of peat or ongoing water damage should also
trigger more thorough inspection. You may find mold growth underneath
water-damaged surfaces or behind walls, floors or ceilings.
Should
I test my home for mold?
The California Department of Health Services does not recommend
testing as a first step to determine if you have a mold problem. Reliable
air sampling for mold can be expensive and requires expertise and
equipment that is not available to the general public. Owners of
individual private homes and apartments generally will need to pay a
contractor to carry out such sampling, because insurance companies and
public health agencies seldom provide this service. Mold inspection and
cleanup is usually considered a housekeeping task that is the
responsibility of homeowner or landlord, as are roof and plumbing repairs,
house cleaning, and yard maintenance.
Another reason the
health department does not recommend testing for mold contamination is
that there are few available standards for judging what is an acceptable
quantity of mold. In all
locations, there is
some level of airborne mold outdoors. If sampling is carried out in a
home, an outdoor air sample also must be collected at the same time as the
indoor samples, to provide a baseline measurement. Because individual
susceptibility varies so greatly, sampling is at best a general guide.
The simplest way to
deal with a suspicion of mold contamination is, if you can see or smell
mold, you likely have a problem and should take the steps outlined below.
Mold growth is likely to recur unless the source of moisture that is
allowing mold to grow is removed and the contaminated area is cleaned.
Assessing
the Size of a Mold Contamination Problem
There will be a significant difference in the approach used for a small
mold problem — total area affected is less than lOft2 — and a large
contamination problem — more than 100ft2. In the case of a relatively
small area, the homeowner using personal protective equipment can handle
the cleanup. However, for much larger areas, choose an experienced,
professional contractor. For medium cases, the type of containment and
personal protection equipment to be used will be a matter of judgment.
General
Cleanup Procedures
¨
Identify and eliminate
sources of moisture
¨
Identify and assess he
magnitude and area of mold contamination
¨
Clean and dry moldy areas
— use containment of affected areas
¨
Bag and dispose of all
material that may have moldy residues, such as rags, paper, leaves, and
debris.
Clean up should begin
after the moisture source is fixed and excess water has been removed. Wear
gloves when handling moldy materials. Spores are more easily released when
moldy materials dry out, so it is advisable to remove moldy items as soon
as possible. Detailed cleanup procedures are available in the California
Department of Health Services Indoor Air Quality Section fact sheet
entitled, “Mold
in My Home: What Do I Do?” It is available on the Internet at
w’ww.dhs-iaq.org or by calling the (510) 540-2476.
How
can I prevent in-door mold problems in my home?
Inspect your borne regularly
for the indications and sources of indoor moisture and mold. Take steps to eliminate
sources of water as quickly as possible. If a leak or flooding occurs, it
is essential to act quickly:
¨
Stop the source of leak or
flooding.
¨
Remove excess water with
mops or wet vacuum.
¨
Move wet items to a dry,
well ventilated area. Move rugs and pull up wet carpet as soon as
possible.
¨
Open closet and cabinet
doors and move furniture away from walls to increase circulation.
¨
Run portable fans to
increase air circulation. Do NOT use the home's central blower if flooding
has occurred in it or in any of the ducts. Do NOT use fans if mold may
have already started to grow — more than 48 hours since flooding.
¨
Run dehumidifiers and window
air conditioners to lower humidity,
¨
Do NOT turn up the heat or
use heaters in confined areas, as higher temperatures increase the rate of
mold growth.
¨
If water has soaked inside
the walls, it may be necessary to open wall cavities, remove baseboards,
and/or pry open wall paneling.
Publications
Mold
in My Home: What Do I Do?
This document is available on the Internet, or at no cost from:
California Department of Health Services
Indoor Air Quality Section
2151 Berkeley Way (EHLB)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: (510) 622-4500
Web: www.dhs-iaq.ca.gov
Health
Effects of Toxin-Producing Molds in California
Stachybotrys
chartarum (atra) — a mold that may be found in water-damaged homes
Fungi
and Indoor Air Quality
Misinterpretation
of Stachybotrys Serology
These documents are available on the Internet, or at no cost from:
California Department of Health Services
Environmental Health Investigation Branch
2151 Berkeley Way (BULB)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: (510) 622-4500
Web: www.dhs.ca.gov/ehib/
General Information
on Toxic Mold, and indoor Air Quality
This document is available an the internet at www.epa-iaq.org/MOLD
Biological Pollutants
in Your Home
This document is available at no cost from:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
IAQ Information Clearinghouse
Telephone:
(800) 438-4318
Web: www.epagov
Repairing
Your Flooded Home
American Red Cross
8928 Volunteer Lane
Sacramento, CA 95826
Telephone: (916) 368-3131
Web: www.redcross.org
Assistance:
For local assistance, contact your county or city Department of
Health, Housing, or Environmental Health