- Molds grow everywhere. Molds only become a problem when they start
growing indoors and the air inside your home becomes concentrated with
allergenic spores and mycotoxins, a chemical toxin.
- Airborne mold spores coming from the outside are not a problem - not
until they find a damp indoor haven ( a roof or plumbing leak, or high
indoor humidity). The mold spores and mycotoxins are recirculated
throughout your home by the HVAC system and can be a serious health
problem, particularly to sensitive or allergic individuals. The elderly,
infants and people who are immune compromised (people on chemotherapy,
AIDS patients,etc.) are particularly at risk for mold-related health
problems.
- Molds can cause many health problems, including allergic and toxic
reactions. Allergic reactions such as asthma attacks, chronic sinusitis
and other respiratory problems, are much more common especially among
people with a family history of allergies. Recent studies have also
suggested that certain mycotoxin-producing molds may cause pulmonary
hemorrhaging in infants and memory impairment in older children and
adults. The mycotoxins appear to have toxic effects on the lungs and
nervous system, though doctors are not certain exactly how the damage
occurs.
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- Molds need water to grow. When a porous material like wood, ceiling
tile, wallpaper or wallboard becomes wet, it becomes a food source for
mold. Mold cannot survive without water.
- Testing for mold can be done without bringing in experts. If there is
a musty odor or an earthy odor, or if you can see the mold, find the
moisture source and fix it. However, mold can grow behind walls and may
not show up in air samplings. Air samplings do not always show mold
spores, especially those that are not airborne or those that are dead.
- Dead molds are just as toxic as live molds - they can still make you
sick.
- Molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys and Trichoderma,
present a greater hazard than common allergenic molds like Cladosporium
and Alternaria.
- Keep your home and the air inside it dry - run a dehumidifier to keep
the humidity in the air dry. But remember to clean the dehumidifier often
because it too can become a source of mold contamination.
Purify your indoor air by disinfection,
oxidation and particulate control.
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