FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How do molds grow?
Mold spores are always being blown around in
the air. Once mold spores settle in your building, they must have moisture to begin
growing and digesting whatever they are growing on. There are molds that can
grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and
insulation. When excess moisture or water builds up in your building from say, a
leaky roof, high humidity, or flooding, conditions are often ideal for molds.
Longstanding moisture or high humidity conditions and mold growth go together.
Realistically, there is no way to rid all mold and mold spores from your
building; the way to control mold growth is to control moisture. Molds
must have moisture to grow.
How can I be exposed to molds?
Mold spores are constantly released into the air. You
then can be exposed to the spores through the air you breathe. Also, if you
directly handle moldy materials, you can be exposed to mold and mold spores
through contact with your skin. Eating moldy foods or hand-to-mouth contact
after handling moldy materials is yet another way you may be exposed.
There should be no mold in habitable buildings.
How can molds effect my health?
Generally, the majority of common molds are not a concern
to someone who is healthy. However if you have allergies or asthma,
you may be sensitive to molds. You may experience skin rash, running nose,
eye irritation, cough, congestion, and aggravation of asthma. Also children,
and those with an immune suppression or
underlying lung disease, may be at increased risk for infections from molds.
When necessary, some resourceful molds produce toxins in defense against other
molds and bacteria called mycotoxins. Depending on exposure level, these
mycotoxins may cause toxic effects in people, also. Fatigue, nausea, headaches,
and respiratory and eye irritation are some symptoms that may be experienced
from exposure to mycotoxins.
Molds are organized into three groups according to human responses: Allergenic, Pathogenic and Toxigenic.
Allergenic Molds
Allergenic molds do not usually
produce life-threatening health effects and are most likely to affect
those who are already allergic or asthmatic. The human system responses
to allergenic molds tend to be relatively mild, depending on individual
sensitivities, typically producing scratchy throats, eye and nose
irritations and rashes. Those exposed to high levels can develop
allergies.
Pathogenic Molds
Pathogenic molds usually produce
some type of infection. They can cause serious health effects in persons
with suppressed immune systems. Healthy people can usually resist
infection by these organisms regardless of dose. In some cases, high
exposure may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis (an acute response to
exposure to an organism).
Toxigenic Molds
Mycotoxins can cause serious health
effects in almost anybody. These agents have toxic effects ranging from
short-term irritation to immunosuppression and possibly cancer.
Therefore, when toxigenic molds are found further evaluation is
recommended. The toxins on the spores and other fragments are why
mold must be removed and not treated with additional man mad toxins.
If you or your family members have health problems that you suspect are caused by exposure to mold, you should consult with your physician.
How do I know if I have a mold
problem?
You may have seen white thread-like growths or clusters of small black
specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls, or smelled a "musty" odor.
Seeing and smelling mold is a good indication that you have a mold problem.
However, you cannot always rely upon your senses to locate molds. Hidden mold
can be growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles.
Common places to find mold are in areas where water has damaged building
materials and furnishings perhaps from flooding, plumbing leaks, or high
humidity. Mold can also
be found growing along walls where warm moist air condenses on cooler wall
surfaces, such as inside cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and
in closets where articles are stored against walls. Rooms with both high water
usage and humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements
are often havens for mold. If you notice mold or know of water damaged areas in
your home, it is time to take action to control its growth.
Caution: Disturbing mold can cause the release of millions of spores ranging in size from one to twenty microns. These very small particles can stay airborne and and take a long time to settle. Never vacuum a mold problem with a regular house hold vacuum as the spores may pass right through the vacuum.
How can I have my home or building
tested for mold?
Contact us at 541-995-6008 for your mold sampling needs. Our sampling
technicians are certified by the:
American Indoor Air Quality Council, www.iaqcouncil.org
Environmental Assessment Association, www.iami.org/EAA/home.cfm
Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration, www.iicrc.org
ATEZ, Inc. can provide biocassette air spore sampling, tape-lift sampling, and bulk materials sampling. The cost for testing is variable, dependant on location of building, and testing needed. Mold samples are $75.00 each, a mold report is $150.00, and travel cost is based on distance outside the greater Eugene area.
How can I contact ATEZ, Inc. for more answers or
to discuss a project?
Call us at (541) 995-6008, or email us
atez@atezinc.com.
CCB 64090
With more than a million species in the world, it is no wonder molds can be found everywhere. Neither animal or plant, molds are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic matter and spores to reproduce. These organisms are part of the fungi kingdom, a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast, and mildews. In nature, mold plays a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Without mold, we would find ourselves wading neck-deep in dead plant matter. And we wouldn't have great foods and medicines, such as cheese and penicillin. However, problems arise when mold starts digesting organic materials we don't want them to, like our homes.
MOLD
