When it comes to the environment we live in, most people believe a healthy space is a top priority. Since the average American spends approximately 90% of his or her time indoors, the quality of the air in homes, offices and schools has a strong correlation to an individual’s overall health. Several contaminants exist in indoor environments that can result in adverse health effects for those present. One of those biological contaminants is mold, which can cause issues ranging from minor allergic reactions to severe health problems for those exposed. If the presence of mold is suspected in a home due to visible evidence or from the health problems of those residing in the home, it is imperative that a mold inspection be done by a certified professional.
An example of how dangerous such mold can be is the story of Dan Pauluk, who became incredibly ill and died as a result of toxic mold exposure at his job at the Health Department in Las Vegas, NV. When Dan Pauluk was relocated to the Las Vegas Branch of the Nevada Health Department, he and his family viewed it as a positive step forward. Tragically, this was not the case. Rather, it became the sad story of a man’s life cut short. Soon after beginning work at this new job, Mr. Pauluk began feeling not quite himself. He had consistent memory lapses and could not seem to focus for even a moment. His wife Wendy remembers seeing a distinct change in him and noted that he had severe problems with his cognitive thinking processes. As time went on, his condition worsened. He began to be confused and suffered from chronic exhaustion. He had to take time off work and saw several doctors during this time in an attempt to figure out what was plaguing him.
Finally, Mr. Pauluk read a story in a local paper about a school that had been shut down due to the presence of toxic mold. He then wondered if his office had been infested with this toxic substance. Mr. Pauluk and several of his co-workers noticed water leaks in the ceiling of the office and some of them even complained of difficulty breathing and eye irritation while in the building. As time passed, Mr. Pauluk’s condition worsened. He now suffered from loss of bodily control, cysts on his internal organs and skin, a painful rash, and the inability to breathe. Then in 2005, one of the many doctors the Pauluks had seen, Dr. Naresh Singh, believed Mr. Pauluk’s body to be the infested with the mold types Stachybotrys and Aspergillus. Several blood tests performed by multiple physicians while Mr. Pauluk was alive and after his death confirm this to be true. An autopsy performed after his death ruled his official cause of death to be: “mixed mold mycotoxicosis, or poisoning from a blend of toxic mold.” The tragic story of Dan Pauluk is a testament to the importance of getting the proper mold inspection and testing done to avoid such tragic circumstances.
As mentioned above, mold can cause a plethora of health issues for those who come in contact with it. For some, merely inhaling mold spores can cause an allergic reaction, or exacerbate existing respiratory illness, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, and other such ailments. Some of the common symptoms of mold exposure include irritated or watery eyes, skin rash, skin sensitivity, nose bleeds, throat irritation, cough and flu-like symptoms. Some of the more severe reactions include, but are not limited to, kidney damage, damage to the immune system, nervous system, memory lapse, respiratory failure, brain damage and even death. Those with existing immune disorders, the elderly, and children are more susceptible to the severe reactions of mold exposure. For those with asthma, mold can trigger a severe attack, so it is important to limit exposure as much as possible.
Although nearly half a million types of mold exist, only around a quarter of them have actually been identified. Of those nearly 100,000 identified types, 1,000 are generally found indoors. Of these indoor molds, only a small percent are actually known to be toxic. Even though the number of toxic indoor molds is quite small, without proper inspection and testing there is no way to know what types are actually in your home. Physical identification is not possible; laboratory analysis is necessary to know for sure. Molds that are considered toxic produce a substance called “mycotoxin” which can be detrimental to a person’s health. Molds have been organized into three sub groups according to human immune response and they are; allergenic, pathogenic and toxigenic. Allergenic molds, of course, cause the least severe responses and if a person has allergies normally, they may attribute their reaction to their previously existing allergies rather than mold exposure. Pathogenic molds have a tendency to cause infection by affecting the immune system and can result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Finally there are toxigenic molds, which generally affect all people who are exposed to them. It has been theorized that this type of mold exposure can also result in cancer. Exposure can occur via inhalation, ingestion, or direct skin contact with toxic mold spores.
One way to determine the level of mold present in a home is to have a comprehensive mold inspection and indoor air quality analysis performed. This can help to either eliminate mold as a culprit or indicate whether removal is necessary. A mold inspection should be viewed as a step to prevent any further damage, contamination, or health problems from continuing. It is also possible that an existing leak or moisture intrusion could result in mold growth. Finding such issues and resolving them quickly and efficiently will help to eliminate the conditions necessary for mold growth. When mold begins to colonize and grow, it can exist on just about any surface. Mold can grow on clothes, furniture, interior surfaces, carpets, drywall, ceilings, under wallpaper, crawl spaces, basements and several other hidden places. Mold can exist in a home for days, months, and even years without detection. Many may be suffering the health effects and yet be totally unaware of the mold lurking in their home. Not only can mold destroy a person’s health, it can also destroy structures. It can cause deterioration of insulation, peeling paint, stains on interior surfaces, and can also cause rot to occur.
An inspection and testing of a given property would include a visual inspection of the entire property, leak detection, moisture testing using a digital moisture meter, and a collection of samples that will be analyzed by a lab to determine the extent and type of problem. Sampling includes Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing, also known as air testing and surface testing, which would be a swab or tape sample of possible visible mold and other contaminants. This collection of particulates and fungal propagules during the test will help to determine the levels of airborne molds, mycotoxins, and allergens in a building. Ailments such as allergies, bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems can be exacerbated by airborne fungal spores. Thus, an air sample of particulate and fungal propagule concentrations will be representative of the level of exposure. Source sampling is direct contact with a surface that has suspected visible mold on it. This type of sample is done concurrently with air sampling to ensure a proper identification of the indoor mold or fungi.
If you decide to have mold testing and inspection done in your home, office, or school it is important that you hire a certified professional to do so. Only inspectors who have had the proper training in the classroom and experience in the field should do such testing. Having a professional that has experience in inspection, construction, and the mold and indoor air quality industries will help to ensure the job is done right the first time. Mold testing and inspection can be one of the best ways to ensure the quality of the air you are breathing in your indoor environment. It is seen as a preventative measure that can help limit the cost and damage done by possible mold infestation.
