Mold Can Be Costly, Risky To Health

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Mold Can Be Costly, Risky To Health

POSTED: 7:46 pm EDT August 12, 2005

http://www.wral.com/news/4846349/detail.html#

RALEIGH, N.C. -- It is a battle fought everywhere, but especially in

the South.

Experts say mold needs to be cleaned quickly -- before the price and

problem explodes and to keep yourself and your family healthy.

A high-profile case of mold infestation at the governor's mansion is

costing the state millions of dollars and forcing the governor and

his family to move out of the 35,000 square-foot house.

The governor's mansion is more than 100 years old, making the

cleanup very expensive. What you might pay to get rid of mold at

your house varies.

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Resource: All About Mold

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Whether you catch it or a home inspector does, if caught quickly, it

is not so bad. Experts say, however, they have seen cases in private

homes exceed $100,000.

" It's primarily because of the weather conditions, especially in the

summertime when we have high humidity, high temperatures, " said

Ernest, who works for Marshall & Associates of Raleigh,

a firm that does extensive mold assessment.

SURVEY

How concerned are you about mold in your home?

Very concerned. I have my house tested regulary.

Somewhat concerned and I need to start thinking about it more.

Not very concerned. I know it's important, but there are other

things I'm more concerned about.

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Ernest says he has seen mold in crawlspaces and crawling up walls.

It is mainly an issue in vacant houses or homes over 20 years old.

Ernest estimates three in 50 older homes have some degree of fungal

growth.

" If you find mold, you need to figure out why it's growing, " said

state mold expert Romie Herring.

Herring says a bad HVAC system or a leaky window could trigger mold.

It could also be caused by a major water loss, such as a flooded

basement.

Whatever the cause, Herring says you need to clean it quickly,

before the price and the problem explodes. More importantly, you

need to do it fast to protect yourself.

" If your immune system is compromised, it may cause serious issues

and there have been deaths associated with it, " Herring said.

So, what can you do to prevent an outbreak? The key is preventative

maintenance.

Have your crawlspace inspected for moisture. Make sure you do not

have any window leaks and have your air-conditioning unit checked

periodically to be certain it is controlling the humidity levels in

your home.

" If you maintain a watchful eye and do routine cleaning, most mold

problems can be addressed fairly economically, " Ernest said.

You can use over-the-counter products for small outbreaks. For a

larger case, experts say professional service is recommended.

When choosing a firm, keep in mind that there are no federal or

state guidelines for mold removal companies.

You should look for a company that has a professional engineer,

registered architect or certified industrial hygienist as its lead

person. These individuals should have training and expertise in mold

evaluation and remediation design.

Reporter: Buscher

Photographer: Chad Flowers

Web Editor: Gardner