Toxic Mold Seen as Growing Household Hazard

[Guest guest]

April 2002

Toxic Mold Seen as Growing Household Hazard

from Physician's Financial News

By Lew Sichelman

First it was asbestos. Then came formaldehyde. Then radon and lead. Now, the

latest environmental hot button is Stachybotrys chartarum, better known as

common household mold. The presence of mold is the basis of a new wave of

litigation against builders and the subject of numerous disputes between

insurers and their policyholders. And, of course, all the horror stories

have stirred up a media frenzy that has brought the issue to the attention

of state legislators.

So far, though, the chance that mold might make people sick or a home

unsalable seems to have escaped the radar screens of the nation's scam

artists, who have heretofore used scare tactics to bilk people out of

millions over the years with fake testing devices and unnecessary repairs.

Who can forget the crooks who rushed into houses, scooped up some air in

mayonnaise jars, went back to their trucks and then returned 10 minutes

later with phony results showing that basement floors had to be ripped open

or living room ceilings torn down lest the home's anxious inhabitants would

surely die of cancer?

Still, the ingredients are there-huge insurance settlements in California

and Texas, thousands of claims and dire health warnings that have made

millions of people nervous-for another round of filching by bogus

contractors. Consequently, it is a good idea for owners, buyers and sellers

to familiarize themselves with mold and know a little something about how to

determine whether it is a problem.

Why all the fuss? Hasn't mold been around forever? It's even mentioned in

the Old Testament. And there is always a little mold everywhere, according

to the National Center for Environmental Health. The greenish-black stuff

grows practically anywhere indoors where there is moisture.

So why all the concern now? According to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, there have been only a few cases in which mold has caused

extreme health problems, such as pulmonary hemorrhage. Still, if it's not

treated and removed, the fungus can make people ill. It is not carcinogenic

like asbestos or radon, but it can make some folks awfully sick. The CDC

says people with allergies are probably the most sensitive, and those with

immune deficiencies are more susceptible to infection when mold is present.

One reason mold has become a problem is that houses now are built

differently than in the late 1960s. Houses today " are perfect breeding

grounds for mold, " says Jim Bland of Hometest METS Laboratories, a Waldorf,

Md., firm that trains home inspectors and others in how to test buildings

for environmental hazards, and analyzes the samples they collect for

lead-based paint dust, radon gas, water quality and toxic mold.

Start with cellulose, which is a " very mold-friendly building material, "

says Mr. Bland. Builders are using more cellulose-based building products

than ever before. Then add a little water because, say, there is a crack in

the foundation or the self-flashing windows were not installed just right.

Now you have the potential for problems.

" Our houses are so tight that when moisture gets in, it can't get out, and

building materials start breaking down, " Mr. Bland explains. " When cellulose

gets wet, it produces mold. And 40-50 percent of all houses leak. "

Molds are simple, microscopic organisms that break down dead materials.

There are more than 100,000 species, though only a handful are considered

toxic. However, too much exposure may cause or worsen such conditions as

asthma, hay fever and other allergies.

" We're pumped so full of antibiotics that our systems haven't built up as

much natural resistance as they used to, " says Mr. Bland. " Worse, we're now

spending 90 percent of our time indoors. So when we handle moldy materials,

inhale mold spores or accidentally ingest mold, our systems are much more

sensitive. "

Fortunately, when mold is present, there are plenty of tell-tale signs. A

musty smell is one. Stains on drywall, trim or foundation walls are another,

as is rust on plumbing underneath sinks or behind washing machines and

refrigerators with ice makers.

But mold also could be growing behind wallpaper and baseboards, or even

inside wall cavities or heating ducts. So the only way to know for sure is

to measure for it. And the best way to do that is first by collecting air

samples outside the home and then by collecting samples inside in any room

where there is evidence of moisture, now or in the past.

The exterior sample will show what species of mold are present in the

natural environment in which the house is located. And the interior samples

will show what's inside. If the types of mold inside are similar to those

found outside and the spore count inside is the same as or a little less

than outside, the place is healthy, Mr. Bland says. If there are species

inside that cannot be found outside, you may have a problem. And if the

spore count within is significantly higher, a more extensive investigation

is necessary.

To hear Mr. Bland tell it, mold tests are relatively simple to

administer-but not by just anyone, he warns. Consumers can test for visible

mold with a home test kit. But for the hidden stuff, you will have to call

an industrial hygienist or, better yet, a private home inspector who has

been taught to conduct microbial testing.

Private home inspectors are ideally suited to do the initial testing because

they know what causes water intrusion problems and are already looking for

signs of leaks. But you need to ask if the one you are considering is

qualified. Most are not, at least not yet. A capable inspector will know

where to test and how many samples to take, and will be able to follow the

proper protocol for handling samples. And he will send the samples to a

recognized laboratory which explains the results and suggests what should be

done next.

" It does you no good whatsoever to get back a bunch of meaningless numbers, "

warns Mr. Bland. " The report should tell you what molds are present, how

high the concentration and whether or not an additional investigation by

more qualified professionals is warranted. "

The cost of testing may be a little stiff, anywhere from $250 to $500 to

collect from three to five samples. That will probably come down some as

more and more inspectors learn the processes. But even now, the price is

reasonable considering what specialists charge and the long-term

consequences of mold.

In most cases, the spot where water is getting into the house can be

plugged, the area around it cleaned and the damaged materials replaced. But

just like dealing with termites, if you catch them early, it is relatively

inexpensive to repair the damage. If you wait, though, the little critters

will keep going and going and going.

" If the property has mold, it will show up eventually, " says Mr. Bland.

" It's just a matter of when and at what price. "

Lew Sichelman's weekly column on housing is syndicated to newspapers

throughout the country.

Physician's Financial News 20(5):10, 2002. © 2002 Physicians Financial News

Publishing, Inc.