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Toxic Mold
What is Toxic Mold?
Spores and microscopic fragments of mold growth are a natural component
of both outdoor and indoor air. However, when molds germinate
and grow, they can produce large amounts of spores. Recently,
concern has arisen that elevated levels of mold spores in indoor
living or working environments may increase the risk of adverse
health effects, particularly respiratory problems.
Toxic Mold Frequently Asked Questions
How does mold growth get out of control?
Molds produce
tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor
and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on
a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever
they are growing on in order to survive. There are molds that
can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture
or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur,
particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed.
How can mold be eliminated from indoors?
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. However, there are a few steps that can
be followed to reduce the amount of mold or prevent it from growing:
- It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within
24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- If mold is a problem in your
home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or
moisture.
- Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.
- Wash mold off hard
surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
- Absorbent
materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become
moldy may have to be replaced.
- In areas where there is a perpetual
moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking
fountains, by classroom sinks, or
on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
- 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; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking,
dishwashing,
and cleaning.
What health problems can mold contribute to?
Potential
health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include
allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
What areas have high mold exposures?
- Antique shops
- Greenhouses
- Saunas
- Farms
- Mills
- Construction areas
- Flower shops
- Summer cottages
Are there any standards that have been set concerning
mold concentrations?
Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been
set. Currently, there are
no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.
What are some of the common indoor molds?
- Cladosporium
- Penicillium
- Alternaria
- Aspergillus
- Mucor
What is Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys
atra)?
This is one of many types of black mold that may grow on
water-damaged building materials. This mold requires a lot of water
or moisture
to grow, so finding it indoors indicates some significant moisture
accumulation problems. It only grows on materials with high fiber
and low nitrogen content, such as paper (including wallpaper and
the paper covering of gypsum wallboard), wood or jute (frequently
used for the backing of older carpets). This mold does not grow
on shower tile or plastic. In the outdoor environment it is found
in soil, rotting hay and leaf debris. This mold, among others,
may produce mycotoxins - chemicals that discourage growth of other
microorganisms and that may also cause health problems in people.
What are mycotoxins?
While they are growing, some
molds produce metabolic products that discourage or prevent bacteria
or other
fungi from growing
in the same area. When those metabolic products also cause health
problems in animals or humans, they are called mycotoxins (myco
= fungal origin). Thus, mycotoxins are natural products from molds
that may cause a toxic response in vertebrates when small amounts
are eaten, inhaled or touched. Molds that are capable of generating
toxins (called "toxigenic mold") do not always produce
them in every situation. Scientists believe that certain very specific
conditions must be present for a toxigenic mold to actually produce
toxins, such as the right combination of temperature, moisture,
type of material the mold is growing on and, perhaps, competition
from other microorganisms.
Can my home (or workplace) be tested for mycotoxins?
There
are currently no tests available through commercial laboratories
to determine if mold toxins are present in the air or on surfaces
in a home or workplace. Test methods that are currently available
are used for research purposes and are not applicable to home or
workplace situations. Decisions to clean up mold and precautions
to take during the clean-up process do not require knowledge about
the presence of mycotoxins. If there is visible mold or a moldy
odor in a room, then there is a mold problem that needs to be addressed.
Are there any tests that can tell if I have been
exposed to mycotoxins?
No, there are no laboratory tests of blood,
urine or other body components that can determine if a person has
been exposed to mycotoxins.
Blood can be tested for antibodies to some specific types of fungi.
However these tests only determine if a person who has become allergic
to fungi has been exposed recently to that specific type of fungus.
Allergy tests cannot determine if a person has been exposed to
fungal toxins.
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