Mold and Allergies – How Do They Affect People?

Mold is everywhere, indoors and outdoors. We breath in mold spores every day. But as we all know mold has the potential to cause health problems. According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Allergic-responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.

Mold are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and began growing. Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, mold plays a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are
invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may began growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

It is possible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in-house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Allergic reactions to mold are common. These reactions can be immediate or delayed. Certain molds can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non- allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported because of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.

The EPA also states the above information does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional, your state or local health department, or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Mold website.

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold (EPA)

1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.
2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
3. If mold is a problem in your home, business or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate the sources of mold.
4. Fix the source of the water or leak to prevent mold growth.

• Reduce indoor humidity (to 30 – 60%) to decrease mold growth by:
• Venting bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside
• Using air conditioners and de-humidifiers
• Increasing ventilation
• Using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing and cleaning

6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24 – 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not installed carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

Molds can trigger asthma episodes in sensitive individuals with asthma. People with asthma should avoid contact with or exposure to molds. Read more about asthma triggers on the EPA’s Asthma Website.

Since mold is everywhere, how do we know what kind of molds are in your home or business? And you hear about black mold, how can you find out if that is the type of mold you have in your home? Is sampling for mold available. Per the EPA, if visible mold is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores,
sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or other professional associations.

Information in article provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.