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Mold is a fungal growth and spores are nearly everywhere. To grow, most spores require three things: Food, Warmth and Humidity. FOOD: Mold can feed on most carbon-based matter. It is especially fond of cellulose material, drywall, etc.
TEMP: Some molds can grow at very cold temperatures, however warm areas are preferred. That’s why bread will mold quite quickly on a kitchen counter, especially in warm, humid weather. Refrigerated bread may last much longer and frozen bread is not likely to mold.
HUMIDITY: Virtually all molds need humidity. Most will not grow if the relative humidity is lower than 70%. At 70%+ relative humidity, most will grow...and often rapidly. It’s simply impossible to eliminate all mold spores in any environment. They are everywhere, but dormant unless the conditions for colonization exist. There are thousands of molds. Many are harmless, some are actually helpful (yeast is a form of mold and is used in baking and making beer, etc.), but there are several molds, often generally referred to as the “black molds” that can present very serious health concerns. The phrase “black mold” is truly a misnomer - mold can range from white to yellow to green to black. Some are “fuzzy,” some “slimy,” but virtually all molds yield methane and ethanol gases, the source of the “musty” smell in many buildings. If it smells musty, mold is almost certainly present. Often, it’s not actually the molds that cause most health problems, but rather their by-products. These mycotoxins can actually be carcinogens (cancer causing) and/or allergenic. Molds and mycotoxins can cause a plethora of symptoms, such as headaches, nose bleeds, rashes, asthma attacks, itching or irritations of eyes or throat, sinus and respiratory infections, fatigue, memory lapses and trouble concentrating, digestive problems, chronic aches and pains, and even anxiety, mood swings and depression. At least one mold (stachybotrys) is suspected of causing bleeding lungs in infants (“Cleveland Syndrome”). Molds can also affect pets. Mold exposure can result from inhalation, skin contact or ingestion of spores or mycotoxins. Research on mold and its health effects is a science work in progress. Molds that affect some people may be rather innocuous to others. Persons sharing a living or working environment may not display the same symptoms. The only way to know if harmful molds are present is by taking air and/or material samples of suspect areas. These must then be cultured and analyzed by a qualified laboratory. Remediation is difficult and costly. Contaminated areas must be isolated and thoroughly sanitized. Most porous or semi-porous materials, i.e. carpet, drywall, insulation and many personal belongings, cannot be satisfactorily decontaminated and must be disposed of. Even some structural components, such as wall studs, floor joists and roof framing, may need to be removed and replaced. After remediation, air and surface samples are taken again to insure all viable mold spores have been removed or neutralized. Environmental changes, such as keeping humidity levels below 50%, will be recommended to deter regrowth. Mold testing and remediation are offered by Home Inspections North, Inc. A certified, insured member of N.A.M.P. will perform needed services. Estimates are available upon request. Facts About Mold: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ei/eimold.html Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ/Got_Mold.html Mold Allergy: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/allergens/mold.htm A
Brief Guide to Mold,
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