Homeowners should try to eliminate mold from houses

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Homeowners should try to eliminate mold from houses

KC Community News - Overland Park,KS*

By Kathy Crawford

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

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Fleming's discovery of penicillin aside, most homeowners

don't view mold as their friend and for good reason.

The fungus is a decomposer that feeds on dead organic material such

as wood, which works well for the environment. But mold can destroy

building materials and cause health problems when it's found

indoors, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services Web site. Moisture is the culprit because the spores

require it to grow.

" The first key to cleaning up mold is to remove the moisture

source, " said Cherri Baysinger, chief of the bureau of Environmental

Epidemiology at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services, in a press release. " Cleanup will not be effective if the

area continues to be exposed to wet conditions. "

Jack Hendrix, ville community development director, said that

the city inspectors don't ordinarily run into mold in the new homes,

but they look for moisture such as stains on the drywall. He

recommended that homeowners contact a professional or the

Environmental Protection Agency if they suspect mold because of the

possible health complications it can cause.

" I wouldn't recommend homeowners do the work themselves, " he said.

For some people, especially those with a history of allergies or

asthma, hiring a contractor to clean up mold may be a good option.

But the DHHS Web site warns that " Neither Missouri nor the Federal

Government `certifies' any individual or firm claiming such

designation of mold tester. " Also, any third parties that do

certifying or licensing do it without any government oversight. The

EPA doesn't oversee airborne mold contaminants either, according to

its Web site.

Realtor Shirley Fuller of Reece and Nichols said that she tells

buyers and sellers that any moisture issues should be fixed.

" You have health issues with mold, " she said.

Government regulations with regard to airborne mold are problematic

because different people are allergic to different species. An

inspector would have to know who in the house is allergic to what

kind of mold in order to determine any health risk. Thousands of

different species of mold make that virtually impossible but ensure

that all homes have some degree of mold in them, according to the

DHHS Web site. Even the evidence surrounding the infamous " toxic

black mold " is inconclusive.

Still, the DHHS recommends that " all molds in the home should be

treated as possible health threats and eliminated following the

remediation guidelines. " The site also recommends seeing a doctor

for any symptoms that may be related to mold.

For more information, visit www.dhss.mo.gov/IndoorAir or

www.epa.gov/iaq.

Tips for cleaning up mold:

- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.

- Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles and N-95 mask.

- Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.

- Mix no more than one cup of bleach in one gallon of water.

- Wash the item with the bleach and water mixture.

- If the surface of the item is rough, scrub the surface with a

stiff brush.

- Rinse the item with clean water.

- Dry the item or leave it out to dry.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or

kathycrawford@....