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Toxic Mold in Your Home: Questions & Answers - 2008-06-01 |
Q: What's the difference between mold and mildew?
A: Technically, mold and mildew are different types of fungi. They are often lumped together because both tend to grow in warm, moist environments and can be mistaken for each other visually. Mold is more frequently found in foods (such as old bread) and mildew is more frequently seen in showers and areas of water intrusion. Both mold and mildew spread from spores in the air.
Q: Where does mold and mildew come from?
A: You can think of mold and mildew each as a fungus that spreads by flushing spores into the air. These spores (similar to seeds) are in the air all around us, but typically are only able to grow and flourish in a warm and moist environment. It would be impossible to remove all fungus spores from the air around us.
Q: Should I be worried about mold around the house?
A: For the average healthy individual, limited natural exposure to mold spores is a part of everyday life and is typically not a health threat. However, prolonged exposure to elevated levels of these spores can cause a reaction in otherwise healthy individuals. Likewise, certain individuals have hypersensitivity to mold spores and can experience serious health reactions with only minor exposure to certain mold secretions.
Q: What would be an example of an elevated level?
A: In an effort to increase energy efficiency, home builders in recent years have built homes more tightly and allowed for much less air leakage around doors and windows. From an energy standpoint, this is a good practice. But from an air quality standpoint, such a tight house prevents the natural dilution of spores that might build up in a mold infested house.
So if a tightly built home experienced a prolonged water intrusion, such as a roof leak or a shower pan leak, and large areas of mold and/or mildew grew in the home, any person living inside this house might expose themselves to elevated levels of mold or mildew spores.
Q: So would that be dangerous?
A: It would depend on the individual. The CDC says that molds can trigger asthma episodes in sensitive individuals with asthma. Additionally, we know that certain persons are particularly sensitive to these spores, and they may have allergic reactions or other respiratory complaints.
Depending on one's level of sensitivity, the exposure needed to trigger health effects might range from a brief encounter to years of close contact. Likewise, the health reaction might range from a sneeze or a cough to a serious allergic reaction.
The most that the EPA will say is that some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. No one is willing to say what percentage of the otherwise healthy population is not sensitive to mold or mildew spores.
Q: If I have mold or mildew in my house, do I need professional help?
A: Probably not. Unless you have vast areas of your house covered in mold or mildew, you can probably clean it up yourself. If you begin to experience an unpleasant reaction to your cleaning, you should stop and consult your health care professional. If they recommend professional remediation, then it makes sense to seek help.
The EPA states that moisture control is the key to mold control.
"If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or moisture. Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced."
Q: Are you suggesting that the vast majority of healthy Americans are not particularly sensitive to exposure to mold or mildew?
A: I believe that most healthy Americans who experience only occasional exposure to relatively small amounts of mold and mildew will likely experience no ill effects from that exposure.
Q: What about "Toxic Mold?"
A: According to the CDC, the term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds can produce toxins, the molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous. The CDC goes on to say on its website:
"There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven."
Q: So why do I hear about "toxic mold" so frequently?
A: Because in the last twenty years, a multi-million dollar industry has sprung up around the cause of "toxic mold."
Finding it, identifying it, testing it, documenting it, suing over it, defending against it, cleaning it up, preventing it, and paying for it have all become very big business.
Q: So how should I deal with mold and mildew in my home?
A: In most cases, moisture control is the key to preventing mold and mildew, so you should eliminate ongoing sources of interior excess moisture. Then, the CDC recommends that you clean hard surfaces with a mixture of 1 cup bleach in 1 gallon of hot water, then rinse and dry. It may help to fully ventilate wet areas of your home such as baths, kitchens, and basements.
For an expanded discussion on mold and mildew, visit my website at money99.com.
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