Clean up That Moldy Mess

[Guest guest]

Clean up That Moldy Mess

Ivanhoe Broadcast News - Winter Park,FL*

Reported March 2008

http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2008/03/406a.html

ATLANTA, Ga. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A musty, mildewy smell is the

undeniable odor of mold. And it may be lurking in more places than

you know -- having harmful effects on your health. Now, we tell you

how to track down mold.

Holly Russo's tub comes clean now, but there was once a moldy

nightmare lurking underneath it. " Our first reaction, when we saw

the mold, was absolute horror. I could not believe what was under

there. I've never seen anything like it, " says Russo.

Mold that's made its way indoors can cause health problems, but many

people still don't understand the hazards. Now, industrial

hygienists are growing mold to learn more about how it grows, what

it grows on, and how mold makes us sick.

" I want to know what makes up that moldy, musty smell. I want to

know are there compounds there that can cause people to have health

problems, " says Terri Pearce, Ph.D., an industrial hygienist for The

Centers for Disease Control's National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH).

In a lab, with the perfect blend of moisture and warmth, mold

spores, or tiny cells, grow on different types of building

materials. With the right amount of moisture, mold can grow faster,

turning an ordinary ceiling tile into moldy messes.

Researchers learn which materials withstand mold better -- and which

moldy smells come from mold that may cause more serious health

problems. " Some of the chemicals that make up that odor actually are

known to be irritants and so they can cause people to have

respiratory health affects, " explains Dr. Pearce.

Learning more about mold helps researchers develop better ways to

find it, treat health problems, like asthma and allergies, and teach

how vital it is to clean up moldy messes.

" If you can see it, don't worry about what kind of mold it is … get

rid of it, " says Dr. Pearce … Holly did, and she feels better! " The

next morning, my allergies were gone. It was great! " Russo says. She

is finally mold-free and healthy.

Researchers point out that mold is actually present everywhere, all

the time. But when damp, humid conditions are present, mold can grow

out of control and cause problems.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association contributed to the

information contained in the TV portion of this report.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Fred Blosser, Public Affairs Officer

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(202) 260-8519

fbb0@...

American Industrial Hygiene Association

Hurley

(703) 846-0740

mhurley@...