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These are some of the most frequently asked question about
mold. If you have a question that is not addressed here,
ask a specialist.
WHAT IS MOLD?
Mold is a generic name for over 100,000 different kinds of
fungus. Essentially, molds are living organisms that make up
a large portion of the fungi kingdom. Once thought to be
part of the plant kingdom, molds make spores instead of
seeds which float in the air like pollen. Spores are
regenerative cells surrounded by a very tough coating that
can survive detergents, chemicals, bleach and extreme
temperatures.
Mold spores are microscopic in size, typically requiring
600X magnification to identify. It is has been said that
250,000 mold spores can fit on the head of a pin. A visible
patch of mold the size of a quarter can represent billions
of spores.
Molds reproduce by releasing spores. When mold spores
colonize (settle) on a surface they can grow and spread
rapidly, giving off a variety of odors and exhibiting
hundreds of different colors and textures.
ISN'T MOLD EVERYWHERE?
Mold is part of the natural environment and is virtually
everywhere, all the time, indoors and out. It would be a
grievous mistake, however, to assume that just because mold
is everywhere, it's not a problem.
Outdoors, mold plays an important role in nature by breaking
down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead
trees. Indoors, mold can be a significant problem,
destroying property and posing a number of serious health
risks.
[see more on mold and
property damage]
HOW DOES MOLD
BECOME A PROBLEM?
Since mold spores are everywhere all the time, we are always
exposed to mold. At any given time, outdoor air will have as
many as 100 different types of mold spores floating about,
along with a number of other airborne pollutants. Because
mold spores are ever-present in the air, they drift freely
in and out of buildings through doors, windows, attic vents,
HVAC systems, etc. On any given day, airborne mold spore
levels indoors should always be about the same as outdoors,
unless mold is originating indoors.
Increased spore amounts:
When airborne mold spores find something damp to stick to,
they colonize (grow) and release new spores. Mold growing
outdoors is seldom ever a health risk. But when mold grows
indoors, spore levels can reach concentrations significantly
higher than outdoors and cause a number of adverse reactions
in people and animals, including rashes and itching skin,
eye - nose and throat irritations, chronic headaches,
respiratory infections, nausea, and trigger asthma attacks.
Increased spore types:
In addition to increasing the amount of spores indoors,
mold growing indoors on wet construction materials tend to
produce different types of spores that are not found
outdoors.
For example, it is rare to find Stachybotrys outdoors.
However, Stachybrotrys is commonly found growing indoors on
drywall and carpet after a flood or other water intrusion
has occurred. Stachybrotrys is often referred to as "black
mold" and can be toxigenic. Exposure to high concentrations
of toxigenic mold spores inside a building can present a
wide range of very serious health risks to the occupants. [see
more on Health Effects & Risks]
While you cannot control Mother Nature, you can certainly
limit the potential for indoor mold growth by limiting
moisture sources and responding rapidly to every water
intrusion issue. The biggest mistake people make is ignoring
minor issues until they become major problems. Early
detection and assessment can minimize the risk of exposure
to toxic molds and save thousands of dollars in repair
costs.
IS ALL MOLD BAD?
To answer that question you must first understand that
mold has two faces;
There's the face you can visually see (mold growing on a
surface), which can cause property damage.
Then there's the face you don't see (mold floating in the
air), which can cause people damage.
In both cases, the level of damage is directly related to
the level of infestation.
Surface mold has the potential to cause significant property
damage.
Molds spores secrete digestive enzymes that decompose the
surfaces they live on. For that reason, all mold is bad. The
longer mold is allowed to infest any surface, the more
damage it can cause. That is why hidden mold is such a
tremendous threat. It's potential to cause damage is
devastating because a great deal of time can pass before it
is detected.
[see more on Hidden Mold]
The visual appearance of mold on construction materials and
personal contents indoors is an obvious indication of a mold
problem. The pungent mildew or musty odor of mold indoors is
another obvious indicator, even when mold is not visibly
present. If you suspect you have a mold problem in your home
or office, immediate steps should be taken to identify and
correct the cause. The longer mold is allowed to grow, the
more damage it will cause to your property and the more it
will cost to remediate. Prompt action can mean the
difference between a few hundred dollars in repairs or
several thousands of dollars.
Considering the potential mold has to damage and depreciated
the value of property, all molds have the potential to be
bad. [see more on Mold &
Property Damage]
Airborne mold has the potential to cause adverse health
reactions.
Since airborne mold spores are everywhere all the time,
indoors and out, we are always exposed to mold at some
level. In an open outdoor environment we are seldom exposed
to any significant levels of spores because the air is
continually moving. But indoors, where ventilation is
restricted and air is often recycled through heaters and air
conditioners, the exact same molds that don't bother anyone
outdoors can cause severe reactions indoors, especially when
levels are exceedingly higher than outside.
When mold is growing indoors, the amount of mold in the air
can be significantly higher than outdoors. Exposure to high
concentrations of molds in enclosed spaces such as
residential homes, commercial buildings, schools,
automobiles, airplanes, etc., can trigger asthma attacks,
cause respiratory infections, bronchial polyps, and a number
of other reactions.
Exposure to extremely high concentrations of airborne mold
over extended periods of time can over-come the lungs
capacity to filter out spores. Once mold enters the
bloodstream the severity of symptoms and reactions increase
exponentially.
Considering the potential health risks of airborne mold
spores indoors, all molds have the potential to be bad. [see
more on Mold and Health Effects]
SHOULD YOU BE
CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD?
Absolutely! Eventually, mold destroys whatever it grows on.
It can ruin furnishings, destroy cabinets and cause serious
damage to the structural elements in your property. It can
trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma and give asthma
to people who don't have it. Asthma kills 5,000 people every
year in the U.S. alone and most of them are children. Of
course you should be concerned about mold.
The best time to respond to mold is before it gets to do
it's worst damage. Eliminating leaks and moisture can slow
the spread of mold, but a professional inspection by a
qualified specialist and testing in accordance with industry
standard protocols is the only way to properly identify the
problem and create an appropriate action plan.
FYI
Whether you had your property inspected for mold before you
recently moved in, or had a mold inspection a year ago, you
should be aware that mold can begin growing anytime,
anywhere, no matter how clean you keep your casa.
If you haven't had a mold inspection within the past 18
months, now might be the perfect time have a professional
mold inspection - even if there are no visible signs of mold
infestations. A professional certified mold inspector can
help you identify potential mold problems and save thousands
of dollars repairs costs that occur when indoor mold is
ignored or goes undetected.
Some people think mold only grows in dirty, unkempt
buildings. Not so. Though poor household hygiene certainly
contributes to mold problems, mold can flourish in sparkling
clean environments as well.
Some people mistakenly think that properties near the beach
naturally have mold and that properties in dry desert
climates don't. Not so. The vast majority of indoor mold
problems have nothing to do with climate conditions. There
are just as many mold problems in the desert as there are at
the beach, and just as many mold-free properties at the
beach as there are in the desert. |
WHAT
IS MOLD?