Mold can be bad for buildings, bodies

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Posted on Sat, Jul. 31, 2004

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/living/home/9259668.htm

MORE ON MOLD

Mold can be bad for buildings, bodies

By Sexton

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Think you have a mold problem in your home? If you

can see it or smell it, chances are you do.

And if you have a mold problem, chances are you have water where it's

not supposed to be.

" Mold requires water or moisture. Unless you have that ingredient,

you won't have a mold issue, " said Dianne Minasiam, program

coordinator in the South Carolina health department's Bureau of Air

Quality. " The right temperature and humidity helps it. But water's

the first thing. "

The news that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's family moved out of

the governor's mansion recently because of mold problems prompted

worried homeowners to call health offices and mold-removal companies.

At the mansion, Stachybotrys, a greenish-black, slimy mold, was found

on the inside of the mansion's air-handling system. The family left

the home while the air handlers, ducts and mechanical equipment in

the system were disassembled and cleaned.

The chilled-water air-conditioning system in the mansion is different

from those used in most homes, but mold can be a problem any time

moisture gets where it doesn't belong.

Broken pipes, an undetected leak in an air-conditioning system or

under an appliance, water accumulating in the wall behind a shower, a

leak in the attic -- all can be breeding grounds for mold.

And rain and humidity don't help. So if there's a problem with

drainage around or under your house, the rain could make things worse.

Problems don't take long to occur. If water sits for 24 to 48 hours,

mold will begin to grow.

" The key is to control humidity and keep water out of a building, "

said , a certified industrial hygienist and chief

science officer with Risk Tech LLC, an environmental-health services

company in South Carolina.

How much is bad?

What should you do if you suspect mold?

" You've got to figure out why you're having the water and moisture

problem, " said Minasiam, who receives many calls about mold at her

office at the Department of Health and Environment Control. " Do a

visual inspection. Once you've determined what's causing the problem,

the next thing you've got to do is fix it. "

No federal standards dictate how much mold should be allowed in the

air.

" It doesn't matter in most situations what type of mold it is; you've

got to remediate it, " Minasiam said.

In the case of a relatively small area, such as mold in the cabinet

beneath the bathroom sink, the homeowner can handle the cleanup.

Minasiam' agency recommends calling a reputable heating and air-

conditioning company or an environmental consultant.

" Ask what type of experience they have had dealing with a mold

problem, " she said. She recommends people read the information the

the Environmental Protection Agency has on the Internet, www.epa.

gov/mold. " Educate yourself so you know the questions to ask, so you

know about your problem, " you said.

Companies can assess the problem, draw up a removal plan, oversee the

work and follow up to be sure the contaminated material has been

removed.

Why now?

Leaky roofs and bad drainage have been around forever, so why all the

problems with mold now?

Part of the reason could be the way buildings are built,

said. " After the energy crisis in the 1970s, we sealed our buildings

up, " he said.

That's a good thing from an energy-conservation standpoint, but " when

water goes into a building now, it can't get back out, and it doesn't

dry quickly, " he said.

Another issue is with buildings that predate air conditioning.

" Those structures were not designed to be cooled in summertime, "

said. " So you take an old courthouse or an old farmhouse or

an old plantation house and modernize it and put air conditioning in.

It wasn't designed for it, and condensation forms on surfaces. "

As a homeowner, you should be sure you have high-efficiency

filtration in your heating and air-conditioning system. You also

should make sure your cooling coils are cleaned annually, because

mold can build up on the coils.

Also, suggested having a plan to make sure that if you have a

leak, you know a professional drying firm to get there quickly before

mold can take hold.

If not, things can become expensive.

Cleanup costs depend on the home's structure and building materials,

the scope of the problem, the size of the house and other issues,

and McCutcheon said.

said a full cleanup of even a modest residential home could

run $50,000 to $100,000 or more.

Insurance companies tend not to cover mold problems or to limit

claims to a few thousand dollars.

" Typically, mold is not covered in a homeowner-insurance policy, "

said Dean , executive director of the S.C. Insurance

News Service.

Some insurance companies may cover mold abatement. She recommended

checking with your insurance company.

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Preventing mold

10 facts about mold

Here are ways to prevent mold from starting:

• Keep humidity level in the house lower than 50 percent.

• Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.

• Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans

in the kitchen and bathrooms.

• Use mold inhibitors, which can be added to paints.

• Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.

• Do not carpet bathrooms.

• Remove and replace flooded carpet.

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Preventing mold

10 facts about mold

• Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure

include allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.

• There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores

indoors; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

• If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the

mold and eliminate sources of moisture.

• Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.

• Reduce indoor humidity to decrease mold growth by venting

bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the

outside; using air conditioners and dehumidifiers; increasing

ventilation; and using exhaust fans when cooking, dishwashing and

cleaning.

• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings

within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

• Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry

completely. Absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles, that become

moldy might need to be replaced.

• Prevent condensation. Add insulation to reduce the potential for

condensation on cold surfaces (windows, piping, exterior walls, roof

or floors).

• In areas with perpetual moisture problems, do not install carpeting

(for example, in bathrooms or on concrete floors with leaks or

frequent condensation).

• Mold can be found almost anywhere; it can grow on virtually any

substance if moisture is present. Mold can grow on wood, paper,

carpeting and food.

Can it make you sick?

Research on mold and health effects continues.

Molds produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially

toxic substances.

Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause allergic reactions

in sensitive people.

Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms (sneezing, runny

nose, red eyes and skin rash). Molds also can cause asthma attacks in

asthmatics who are allergic to mold.

Mold can irritate the eyes, skin, noses, throats and lungs of mold-

allergic as well as non-allergic people.

People with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses, such as

obstructive lung disease, can develop mold infections in their lungs.

For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can trigger

an asthma attack or lead to other health problems. For other people,

symptoms may occur only when exposure levels are much higher.

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