Mold exists everywhere in our environment and is found both indoors and outdoors. For literally thousands of years mold has been part of the natural process of decomposition. This process involves the breaking down of organic materials such as wood, plants, fabric, and dead animals. Classified as being part of the kingdom Fungi, mold is a diverse singled-celled organism that is neither plant nor animal. Mold can spread or multiply quickly by producing spores, which are similar to the seeds produced by plants. Mold spores are as small as dust particles and can travel great distances with the slightest air flow.
The levels of mold spores present in a given environment can vary greatly from one moment to the next. Now although this organism is an integral part of our outdoor environment, at high enough quantities indoors it can be quite damaging to your health. Understanding the science behind this fungus will help to limit your exposure to this potentially hazardous organism.
What Kinds of Mold Exist?
It has been postulated that nearly half a million different types of mold currently exist in our environment. Of this number less than 100,000 have been identified and fewer still are commonly found indoors. Some of the most common household molds include; Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Stachybotrys atra. All the above mentioned molds emit what are referred to as mycotoxins, toxins that can cause negative health effects in those exposed. There are over 200 identifiable mycotoxins found in the most common molds and of course several more exist that have yet to be classified.
Molds known to produce these sometimes dangerous toxins are commonly found in old and water-damaged structures. These mycotoxins can enter an individual’s body via ingestion, inhalation, or even skin contact. In order for mold to thrive the right conditions must be met. The existence of nutrients, moisture, and the proper temperatures are all necessary for mold to fester. Some of the materials that attract mold colonies include wood, paper, fabrics, plants, and animals. Even certain paints and adhesives contain the organic materials that molds consume.
What is Black Mold?
One of the most notorious species of mold is Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum, often referred to as “black” or “toxic” mold. This description, however, is quite misleading as it insinuates that the toxic forms of mold are always black. This of course is not always the case. Toxic molds can be a variety of colors, including white, green, black, or brown. There is no way of determining what the species of mold is merely by looking at its physical characteristics. Toxic mold is not always black in color and some molds that cause little or no adverse health effects can be black. Stachybotrys needs organic material, like wood, and just a little bit of moisture in order to grow.
This species of mold is particularly dangerous due to the mycotoxins present in the mold spores. Once inhaled, these mold spores release the mycotoxins inside them, causing eye irritation, coughing, headache, nasal congestion, and flu-like symptoms. Some of the more severe responses to exposure include damage to the lungs, immune system, nervous system, brain, and in some cases even death. For those with existing respiratory illness, Stachybotrys and non-toxigenic molds may exacerbate their conditions. For example an individual with asthma can have an attack triggered by exposure to mold. Here are some of the other indoor molds that produce mycotoxins: Alternaria, Aspergillus (flavus, Fumigates, niger, ochraceus, cf. ustus, versicolor), Chaetomium globosum, Memnoniella echinata, Penicillium (brevicompactum, chrysogenum, expansum, polonicum), and Trichoderma.
Do I Have a Mold Problem?
The only way to determine if mold is present in your home, office, or school is to have the proper mold inspection and testing performed by a certified mold inspector. There are other molds which look similar to black toxic mold and so the only way to confirm whether a mold colony is definitely black toxic mold is to have an expert analyze it under a microscope. There are, however, tell-tale signs that mold may be present in your home. For example a musty/moldy odor may be present in areas of your home. This may indicate that mold growth is occurring and is just not visible. Some other signs that may indicate the presence of mold include old water stains. Water stains indicate that at one point the area suffered some sort of water damage.
As mentioned above, the only things that mold needs to fester are organic material, a little bit of water, and some time. Toxic mold, for example, thrives on cellulose-rich items, such as wood. In any given structure there are limitless amounts of items that such molds can feast upon. Mold growth can also be a problem when leaks go unchecked for long periods of time. Again, mold growth will occur if moisture is present. Another indication that mold is present in your home is the onset of health-related issues. As previously mentioned, mold exposure can cause a plethora of illness and if you feel that your symptoms get worse when inside a particular structure, it is plausible that mold is growing there. Some of the more common areas for mold growth to occur include crawl spaces, basements, walls, ceilings, and even under flooring.
Why Get a Mold Inspection?
Identifying potential mold infestations in a structure via a mold inspection can be done for several reasons. One of the most obvious reasons is the suspicion of mold growth in your home. It can also be done as a precautionary measure to insure that mold growth is not present. Mold inspection and testing should only be performed by a certified mold inspector; this will ensure the job is done right the first time. Make sure that the inspector you employ is affiliated with organizations like that of the Indoor Environmental Association (IEA). Having the proper affiliations and certifications helps to ensure that the company will follow the correct protocol. During a professional inspection a minimum of four samples should be taken from the property in question. At least two of these samples must be air samples from both inside and outside the home. The outside sample is then used as a base for comparison. If the indoor air sample has levels of mold above that of the outside sample, this indicates that extensive mold growth is occurring inside your home.
Scope of the Problem
Besides determining whether mold is present in your home, a proper mold inspection will also detail the scope of the existing problem. This will be very helpful in the future if remediation or removal of the mold is necessary. The inspection will help to determine what areas need to be contained and what objects in the home need to be removed. Yet another important part of the inspection process is determining if the existing mold growth is the result of a possible leak, ventilation issue, or structural abnormality. The use of the most up-to-date equipment, like that of the infrared thermal imaging camera, can indicate if gaps in insulation or leaks exist behind walls and ceilings. The use of a digital moisture meter can also detect if even a small amount of moisture is present in a wall cavity.
Understanding what is causing the mold to grow in your home is necessary so that the potential leak or ventilation issue can be properly remedied. Depending on the circumstance, a skilled inspector may collect additional information about the property, including interviews with occupants of the affected home and engineering plans to determine where problem areas might be. Providing the inspector detailed information about the origin or your suspicions will aide him/her in determining the scope of the damage.
Air Purification & Mold
Another way to help combat mold-related issues is to invest in an air purification device. These should be used as a preventative measure to help maintain an already mold-free indoor environment. Now although such technology can be quite helpful in preventing potentially moldy situations, if an existing mold problem has already infiltrated your home it is rendered useless. In several instances when mold is already growing in a home, an underlying leak or moisture intrusion is to blame. If this is the case, an air purification system will only temporarily clean the air in the room in which it is placed. In some instances an air purifier can disturb existing mold spores, causing them to spread throughout your home. Not only that, but most air purification systems only target the air immediately surrounding the device. This means that your overall air quality can still be very poor, especially if mold growth is occurring. The only way to completely rid a home of a mold infestation is to remove all the contaminated items in the home whilst avoiding cross-contamination throughout the rest of the structure. The affected areas need to be targeted, isolated, and removed or decontaminated. This will ensure that the mold growth will not come back. Preventative measures, such as an air filtration, improved ventilation, and dehumidifying processes can then be put in place.
Preventative Measures
The following tips can be helpful in preventing potential mold growth from occurring in your home or business:
- Control indoor humidity—this can be done in several ways:
- Make sure to properly ventilate your home by using fans, opening windows, and allowing for outside air to push stale air out of your residence.
- Use an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning unit) or a dehumidifier to regulate the moisture content of your home. Make sure the ducts of your HVAC system are clean, as they can become infested with mold as well.
- Use of a humidity detector or hygrometer can help determine the humidity levels of your home and allow you to improve ventilation.
- Fix existing leaks—if a leak has occurred in your home it is imperative that it be fixed immediately. Prolonged water damage is a guaranteed way to have extensive mold growth in a structure.
- Fix existing construction abnormalities such as gaps in insulation, unventilated crawl spaces or basements and various other defects that would allow for moisture intrusions or improper ventilation. Newer homes for example have been constructed to save energy and have in the process reduced natural ventilation. This has increased the likelihood of mold infestations and poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
The only way to properly remove an existing mold issue is to hire a certified mold inspector that can determine the scope and origins of the problem. This information will help you prevent such a contaminant from overrunning your home or business.
