MOLD - A Growing Concern ...Part 2 (The Facts)

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MOLD - A " Growing " Concern ...Part 2 (The Facts)

http://activerain.com/blogsview/23330/MOLD-A-Growing-Concern

In my previous blog I told you my story ... Now, let's see the

facts:

What is mold?

" Mold is a natural part of the environment and is found almost

everywhere. It produces tiny spores to reproduce, which waft through

the indoor and outdoor air continually. When excessive moisture or

water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur,

particularly if the moisture problem remains " (Children's Hospital

of Boston).

There are over 100,000 types of mold, and not all mold is " bad " -per

se. However, there are a few kinds that are dangerous, specifically

stachybotrys (pronounced " stacky-bow-triss " ) chartarum. It is called

black (or toxic) mold and is blackish green in color.

This type of mold is quite common, and contains hazardous and toxic

compounds called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can exist and spread, even

if there is no longer a presence of the mold it came from. This is a

very important fact, as just removing the mold may not remove the

dangers.

Where & Why does mold grow?

Although mold is more common in humid climates, toxic mold is quite

prevalent in the arid high deserts of the Colorado front range -

Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Mold needs nutrients, water (or

humidity above 70%), favorable temperatures and oxygen.

Nutrients- Mold can live off of any " dead organic material such as

wood, paper or fabrics " as well as synthetic materials like caulk

and paint (Dr. Yost, MD Frequently Asked Questions ABout

Mold).

Water- Mold needs water, or high humidity to survive. Where there is

consistant moisture, mold is prone to grow. So, when mold is removed

the moisture problem needs to be corrected, as well. What are some

common moisture problems?

- Leaky pipes

- Leaky windows

- Flooding

- Damp basements/ crawlspaces

- Leaky roof

- Condensation (around pipes and windows)

- Lots of houseplants

- Clogged gutters

- Improperly vented dryers

- Improperly vented bathrooms/ showers

Favorable Temperatures- Mold lives between 40 & 100 degrees. It

loves the average indoor temperature of most homes.

Oxygen- Like most living things, mold cannot live without oxygen.

So, " airing out your house " is not necessarily a way to prevent mold

from occurring.

Who can be affected?

Any type of mold can create allergic reactions, especially in

infants, elderly, people of poor health and people with allergies.

Black mold, on the other hand has been found to cause health

problems in healthy people as well. People who already have a

weakened immune system are at an even higher risk, as are infants

and elderly people.

What are some of the dangers of living with mold?

The science of mold - and its effects on human health is still in

its infancy stage, but enough evidence has surfaced showing it to be

of a major health concern. I have heard reports as serious as

insanity and even death. Some health problems that have been

directly linked to mold include:

immune system suppression

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

memory impairment

mood swings

irritable bowel syndrome

headaches

respiratory problems

How do we take care of it?

As I mentioned earlier, just because the mold is removed, does not

mean that the mycotoxins have been removed. Further, mold is a

symptom of a moisture problem. First, fix the problem. Do NOT take

care of mold on your own. If you fear that toxic mold is in your

home, move out until it can be remediated. Although there are ways

that you can remove some mold yourself, it is much safer to have a

CERTIFIED professional mold remediation specialist do this instead.

Improper clean up of mold can lead to serious health problems for

you and the people around you. You would not perform a root canal on

yourself, would you?

Sources for more information on all aspects of MOLD:

http://www.epa.gov/ and

http://www.realtor.org/libweb.nsf/pages/fg711#topica and

http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/www99/right/handsMan/air_qual/mold_remediatio

n.htm and http://www.childrenshospital.org/ and

http://www.healthandenergy.com/

How much do YOU know about MOLD? Take a quiz ... HERE.