UNDERSTANDING MOLD PROBLEMS IN HOUSING

Is Mold a Concern in South Dakota?

Yes. Sometimes serious mold problems have been found in SD offices, schools, homes and other buildings. Mold is an important indoor allergen and can aggravate allergies and asthma. Rates of asthma in the U.S. appear to be rapidly increasing, especially in children. About 17 million in the U.S. are estimated to have asthma and about 50 million have allergies. Mold problems can contribute to health problems, increased sick leave, reduced productivity, and potential liability risks.

What Are Mold Warning Signs?

Mold problems are not always obvious and some persons are much more sensitive to mold than other.

Some warning signs include:

- Persistent Health Complaints (Weeks to Months),
- Persons feel better when away from the building,
- Musty Odors, Water Damage, or Visible Mold increases Airborne Molds (Lab Tests)

Many times mold grows behind walls or in cellars or basements and is not always readily visible. However, airborne tests collected by a consultant and submitted to a lab can often determine if a problem exists.

What are health symptoms from mold exposure?

Health symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Some symptoms may be similar to flu, etc.

These may include:

- Headaches (often associated with sinus problems),
- Runny Nose or Sinus Congestion (Clear Fluid)
- Lung Congestions, Tight Chest, Stuffiness
- Allergic Reactions, Including Asthma
- Eye irritation, fatigue, and confusion
- Lack of concentration

Molds are a form of fungus. They are microorganisms that can spread rapidly through air via very tiny and extremely tough spores. They are very efficient at breaking down wood and other difficult materials that most other organisms can’t digest. Unfortunately, this also includes many housing materials including paper, sheet-rock, particleboard, carpeting, etc.

Molds release various substances. These can include allergens (cause allergies and asthma), toxins (poisons meant to kill competitive bacteria but often very irritating to people), and pathogens (disease-causing molds that can affect weakened persons). For example, some mushrooms (a type of fungus) are known for their powerful toxins. Both living and dead mold substances can cause problems.

How can mold problems be reduced?

The key to controlling mold is moisture. Mold requires water or high humidity (>70% RH) to grow. Standing water is not necessary for growth. All that is needed is a cool area where warm, moisture-laden air can build up or condense. This includes basements or crawlspaces or the cool north and east sides of poorly insulated buildings. These cool areas can be very small; such as in wall corners or the joint between ceilings and walls. Drainage problems, excess lawn watering, faulty exhaust fans, etc. can cause water damage and subsequent mold problems.

Many buildings and houses are tightly sealed and insulated. This tends to trap moisture from breathing, washing, cooking, etc. inside these structures. The moisture condenses against cool surfaces and allows mold growth.

Some mold control measures:

1. Use a dehumidifier. Keep moisture below 50% relative humidity (RH%) in the warmer months. Automatic dehumidifiers are available. Meters to measure RH % can be bought for about $50.

2. Reduce Dust. Excess dust contributes to mold growth and other indoor air complaints. Standard vacuum cleaners actually blow fine dust and mold around. HEPA-type vacuum cleaners can remove mold.

3. Check HVAC System. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for many buildings often provide limited filtration. HVAC firms can recommend more efficient filters to remove mold and dust. HVAC ducts can be inspected and cleaned.

4. Check and Fix Water Leaks. Rapid mold growth can occur within 2-3 days of a leak or spill. This means water leaks should be cleaned up immediately. Home inspectors and plumbers can often help identify problems.

5. See a Doctor. Medications are available to reduce allergy and asthma symptoms but should not be taken without seeing a doctor.

6. Clean up mold problems. Visible mold on concrete, wood, etc. can be removed with a cleaner such as bleach, but water-soaked sheetrock, carpeting, etc should probably be thrown away. Cleaning activities should avoid spreading mold to other areas. For larger problems, respiratory protection and professional cleaning firms may be preferable.

Should I test for mold?

Mold testing is not always necessary. If a mold problem is obvious, it is often better to spend your money on fixing the problem rather than on mold testing. Mold testing should be considered when it is not certain mold is the cause of a health problem or for liability concerns.

Samples of visible mold can be collected with a knife or on clear (not frosted) scotch tape, put in a labeled plastic bag, and sent to a lab. These cost about $50/sample.

Airborne testing requires a consultant trained in collecting samples. These typically include both total (living and dead) and viable (cultural samples).

Mold samples are usually collected both inside and outside. Sometimes problem and non-problem areas are compared. Airborne testing is also very good for comparing before and after cleanup. Costs may very from small houses to larger buildings depending on the number of samples taken.

For healthy, non-problem buildings, the same types (species) and approximate concentrations of mold will be the same inside as outside (although outside air usually has more mold in warmer weather).

For problem buildings, mold concentrations will often be higher than outside and may include greater ratios of problem indicator mold such are Aspergillus, Penicillium or Stachybotrys.

Is Your Home Moldy?

Mold - Warning Signs

- Musty Odors/Water Damage, Visible Mold on Walls
- Persistent Health Complaints,
- You Feel Better When Away,
- Eye Irritation, Lung Congestion, Fatigue
 

Mold problems are often not obvious. Airborne mold testing is a reliable method to determine if a serious mold problem exists.

Mold samples are submitted to a laboratory for culture and identification of mold genera. Turn-around time is usually 3-5 days for Zefon spore trap samples.

A brief written summary of the lab results along with suggestions and recommendations is $350; a complete report that is a qualified legal documentation of the results and professional recommendations on remediation, is $500.

An outside air sample is collected and compared to three inside air samples. Problem buildings typically have higher mold counts inside than outside. Problem indicator molds, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, etc. are often present at much higher ratios inside than outside.

For problem situations, experts recommend sampling for both total (living and dead) and viable (living) mold. Viable tests provide better identification of mold species but typically detect only 10-30% of total mold. Both living and dead molds are allergens, and tests for both should be conducted if symptoms are noticed or if there is remediation needed.

Information

For more information, contact Haz-Matters, phone 605-343-4898, fax 605-343-5061.

An outside air sample is collected and compared to three inside air samples. Problem buildings typically have higher mold counts inside than outside. Problem indicator molds, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, etc. are often present at much higher ratios inside than outside.

Information

For more information, contact 

Haz-Matters, Inc.                                       Phone (605) 343-4898
6801 N Hwy 79                                          Fax (605) 343-5061
Black Hawk SD  57718                            Toll Free (800) 341-4898


Email:info@hazmatters.com