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North Dakota Cautions Residents About Dangers Of Mold

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North Dakota Cautions Residents About Dangers Of Mold

eMaxHealth.com - Hickory,NC*

http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/5/25360/north-dakota-cautions-residents-

about-dangers-mold.html

In conjunction with Home Indoor Air Quality Month, the North Dakota

Department of Health is cautioning residents about the dangers of

mold in homes and other buildings. Concerns about mold growth should

be addressed quickly in order to prevent illness, according to State

Health Officer Terry Dwelle, M.D. Governor Hoeven has

proclaimed October 2008 as Home Indoor Air Quality Month to

encourage North Dakotans to learn more about indoor air quality

issues.

There are many reasons homes develop mold problems. New and

remodeled homes have been built tighter and may lack adequate

ventilation, causing moisture buildup. Other problems in homes

happen due to lack of proper maintenance, such as leaky roofs, poor

landscaping, gutters that direct water into or under the building,

plumbing leaks and condensation caused by inoperable exhaust fans.

People vary in their susceptibility to mold, but almost anyone who

breathes enough mold spores can develop an adverse reaction. When

airborne mold spores are present in large numbers, they can trigger

allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and other

respiratory problems. In addition, exposure can cause the

development of an allergy to mold, resulting in long-term health

problems.

" People who have asthma or lung problems and those who are allergic

to mold are especially vulnerable to mold-related illness, " Dwelle

said. " It is very important to clean and disinfect the areas

infested with mold and to remove the source of the moisture so mold

doesn't grow again. "

Wet building materials provide an ideal environment for mold growth.

Mold can infiltrate sheet rock, carpeting and insulation. These

materials generally should be discarded if they become saturated.

Structural building elements, such as wood, usually can be salvaged

with appropriate cleaning and disinfecting of the mold-impacted

areas.

Once non-salvageable materials are removed, the source of the

moisture must be removed or mold growth will recur. This may involve

caulking or sealing doors or windows, repairing leaking roofs,

installing sump pumps in basements, redirecting surface water away

from the outside of a building or ensuring adequate ventilation to

prevent condensation.

If you can see or smell mold, a mold problem likely exists. Mold

typically has a musty or earthy odor. Follow these Department of

Health recommendations to clean, disinfect and dry the moldy area:

• Use non-ammonia soap or detergent and hot water, or a commercial

cleaner.

• Thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces with liberal amounts of

the soap or detergent. (Use a stiff brush to clean cement or brick

walls.)

• Rinse all surfaces with clean water. A wet-dry vacuum may be used

to collect extra water.

• After cleaning, apply a disinfectant solution of household bleach

to the surface (two cups of bleach per gallon of water). Apply the

solution with a garden sprayer or spray bottle, or wipe it on with a

sponge or rag. Be sure to wet the studs, wall cavities and floors

thoroughly.

• Allow the bleach solution to dry naturally for six to eight hours.

Do not remove or dry the bleach solution too quickly because

extended contact is important to kill the mold.

• Never mix bleach with ammonia because the fumes are toxic. Wear

eye protection and rubber gloves when working with bleach, and

ventilate the area well by opening doors and windows. Use

respiratory protection when working around moldy areas.

By: North Dakota Department Of Health - Tue, 10/14/2008

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