cbs news Jeff May speaks about mold.

June 5, 2004

shtml

" If you're sensitized to the mold then actually it is quite serious, "

says mold expert May, author of " The Mold Survival Guide, " on

The Early Show. " But very often people get upset by seeing just the

mildew on a window. And some companies actually take advantage of

that concern. "

The key to stop mold from growing he says is not just to take a

sponge with bleach on it and take it off, but to figure out the

conditions that brought it on. " Controlling the moisture, controlling

the relative humidity is really key, " May tells co-anchor Rene Syler

who admitted she has mold problems in her basement.

" Most people won't fess up. Dehumidification is important, " May

says. " There are machines that suck air through the basement. You

have to buy a dehumidifier. It's a cost. "

And if you have children who are asthmatic, May says, having a

dehumidifier is essential.

Asked about the types of mold, he notes most are black, though there

is such thing as black toxic mold.

" The real issue with mold is allergy, " May explains, " It's this mold

that you can't see often that makes people sick. It's mold growing in

carpet, mold growing in basements and carpets, or even mold growing

in air conditioning and heating systems. That's really what gets

people sick. "

Recommended Posts