Mold Protection Measures

Protect Against the Health Hazards of Checking for Mold

Molds can produce a variety of allergenic substances, odorous chemicals, and toxic metabolites. High mold levels can cause various health effects when it multiplies and spread indoors.

Actively-growing mold also releases chemicals into the air that people breathe. People are mainly exposed to mold by inhaling spores and skin or eye contact.

Tolerance or susceptibility to molds varies by population, and health impacts can vary significantly from person to person.

Allergic symptoms are the most common problems, such as:

• Mucous membrane irritation
• Rhinitis
• Rashes

More severe effects may also occur that include:

• Asthma attacks
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Infections or toxic reactions

Individuals who are more susceptible to mold include those living with:

• Newborn children
• The elderly and the very young
• Compromised immune systems
• Respiratory problems

Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet spot and begin growing; molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and 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 mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported due to inhaling mold.

Research on mold and its health effects is ongoing. This page provides a brief overview; it does not describe all the potential health effects of mold exposure.

For more detailed information, consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.

For more information, feel free to visit these informative sites:

Center For Disease Control

Environmental Protection Agency

How to Track Mold Safely

Before you treat mold outbreaks, try to determine what has caused it in the first place. You need to pinpoint whatever caused the mold to develop and then fix it. Until you solve that problem, mold will continue to grow no matter how often you treat the affected material.

Look for a water source, such as an unnoticed leak, broken window, or moisture along outside walls.

Check the heat-exchange coils in the heating and air conditioning systems. They are a prime area for fungus growth and spore distribution. Clean with an ordinary fungus-killing household cleaner.

Active mold looks fuzzy and has a musty odor. Please do not attempt to remove active mold; it must be dormant for removal. Trying to clean active mold will result in stains that are often impossible to remove, and again wear protective gear as mentioned above.

Install or adjust outside gutters and drains so that water does not collect near the outside walls. Check channels and drains regularly to avoid clogs—waterproof basements and walls below ground level.

Use water-sealant paint on floors and walls and reapply every few years. Allowing air to circulate against the walls will enable the moisture to evaporate.

Dormant mold is dry and powdery in appearance. It may also have a musty smell. It can be removed using a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuum cleaner, soft brush, or a brush attachment. Clean brushes and dispose of vacuum bags to prevent mold spores from spreading.

Charcoal and baking soda can be used to remove mold odor. Place briquettes and bowls of baking soda in the area to absorb the odor.

Low temperatures (below 68 degrees F) and humidity levels as low as possible, below 75%, will stop most mold growth.

In warm and humid conditions, mold can begin to grow on a surface within 24-48 hours of it coming into contact with a continual water source. The spores of fungi that become mold or mildew are always present in the air and on objects.

When the temperature and moisture in the environment are suitable for germination, the fungus spore bursts, and growth begins rapidly.

Potential Mold Producers and Hidden Incubators

Micro-climates, and the higher humidity levels they typically have, can be significant mold producers in a home. Humidity levels in a house are vital in reducing and controlling the growth and spread of mold and mildew. In the winter, the typical comfort range for indoor humidity in northern climates is approximately 30% – 40%. While indoor “core” humidity levels can be kept relatively stable and easily sustained at or about 40% RH (relative humidity), “micro-climates” can easily double this.

Basement Water Leakage

If your house has a basement, then basement water leakage and excess basement humidity levels are likely the number one contributors to mold growth in your home. It has been documented that at least “98% of all sub-surface basement areas will leak, at some point in their life.”

There can be many reasons for a damp or leaky basement, and they all add to problems for you as a homeowner if not corrected. Actual water leakage should not be confused with the high relative humidity typically found in basements. Both can pose serious problems but need different approaches to affect a cure.

Moisture trapped between the foundation and finished basement walls can allow mold to grow unnoticed. Long-standing moisture problems can lead to decay, resulting in structural damage to the house.

Some de-humidification in a basement is a must.

Sump Basket and Drain Tile Systems

The perimeter drain tile system underneath a basement floor and the sump basket it drains into both serve a beneficial purpose. This system provides a critical element in helping to protect your house from water damage by providing an artificial “low-level” drainage and collection point under your basement floor. If the system works properly, water should drain from the tile into your sump basket. You can then pump the excess water collected in the sump basket outside.

Since, by its very design, it is intended to carry and hold water, this system also provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, molds, and mildew. Water seepage into the basement level can saturate the foundation walls, basement floor, and finishes. Also, drain tiles can hold moisture for an extended period, allowing mold to grow unnoticed.

Water is often left inside a sump basket, providing an ideal breeding ground for mold. The sump basket covers are frequently left open, and due to average pressure differentials, air from inside the drain tiles can be “pumped” throughout the house.

Air Conditioners and Whole House Humidifiers

The condensate drip pan, located on top of the furnace, can hold moisture for extended periods. Also, the older drum-type furnace humidifiers can provide the necessary ingredients for mold growth. Both systems' location is close to an air-handling unit, allowing mold spores to be quickly distributed throughout a house.

The AC condensate tray is tough to access. Consequently, it is very rarely cleaned. We offer free in-home video inspections of your home's A/C unit ducts and returns. Call us for a free no, cost inspection.

Bathroom-Related Mold Problems

Many times, mold growth can be a direct result of poor maintenance. For instance, if you don’t maintain your ceramic tile by inspecting your caulking and replacing as necessary, you will likely have to replace the shower.

Mold can grow inside an infrequently used shower head. Check around your toilet annually; a wax ring is under the bowl and connected to the drain pipe that guides your waste into the septic system.

It can fail, raw sewage will then leak under the flooring, and mold will grow. Have a licensed plumber change every four to five years. There have been cases of new homes with wax rings improperly installed and causing leaks.

Strategies For Reducing Mold Growth In Your Home

Some molds produce mycotoxins and other active compounds that can injure human and animal health.

One type of mold, Stachybotrys, presents a particular health risk. If areas contaminated with Stachybotrys are discovered in your home, or if you find sites in your home that are contaminated with mold and are unsure what type it is, don’t attempt to remove it without first calling us to inspect for you.

Always follow the recommended safety procedures for persons working with toxic molds (i.e., proper containment using hostile air units, use of a respirator, gloves, adequate covering for the skin and eyes, etc.).

We also recommend getting advice from a certified industrial hygienist or the Clark County Health Department. Contact the American Industrial Hygiene Association for referrals at (703) 849-8888.

Some Tips On How To Protect Yourself

Be aware of any noxious odors. When a mold colony grows, it can give off distinctive scents that are the by-product of its metabolism.

Be familiar with the symptoms of a mold-related illness. Different mold species can produce other health effects.

Some of the common symptoms of mold allergy include:

• Runny nose
• Itching of the eyes and nose
• Congestion
• Fatigue and general malaise

Ask yourself, “Do my symptoms get better when I’m away from home for any time?”

Perform a visual inspection of your home. Check out some more common places where mold could grow in your home.

Look for any signs of past water leakage, check under sinks, in and around bathrooms, and check out your basement (don’t forget to look at your sump basket!). If you don’t have a sealed cover over your sump basket, get one.

Call Mold Eliminators to inspect your heating and cooling system and clean your AC condensate tray.

Clean out and service the drip pan under your refrigerator, etc.

Allow for good airflow throughout the interior of your house. Keep furniture away from walls. Allow for adequate airflow over your windows and doors, as they will be the most extensive condensing surfaces in your home, and airflow is needed to help evaporate moisture buildup.

Check your attic (roof decking, rafters, etc.) for any signs of darkening that could indicate mold growth. If you notice any suspicious areas, contact us for a free inspection.

Check for any discoloration on walls or ceilings. Often, this can indicate moisture buildup, insulation problems, or ventilation problems that could be associated with future mold growth.

Be on the lookout for signs of excess moisture. Do your windows frequently have water on them in the wintertime? Excess moisture is the single most significant contributor to mold growth.

Is your heating/cooling duct work clean? When was the last time you had your vents professionally cleaned and sanitized?

Mold can be a health hazard to many people. The young and elderly are especially susceptible to the dangers of mold. If you’ve had a recent flood, you should have your home checked for mold.

Mold Safety Precautions

Conclusions and Recommendations

Prudent public health practice then indicates removal from exposure through clean-up or remediation, and public education about the potential for harm. Not all species within these genera are toxigenic, but it is wise to assume that when these molds are found in excess indoors that they should be treated as though they are toxin-producing.

It is not always cost-effective to measure toxicity, so cautious practice regards the potential for toxicity as serious, aside from other health effects associated with excessive exposure to molds and their products.

It is unwise to wait to take action until toxicity is determined after laboratory culture, especially since molds that are toxic in their normal environment may lose their toxicity in laboratory monoculture over time and therefore may not be identified as toxic.

While testing for toxins is useful for establishing etiology of disease, and adds to knowledge about mold toxicity in the indoor environment, prudent public health practice might advise speedy clean-up, or removal of a heavily exposed populations from exposure as a first resort.