Important Information About Mold 

Mold has certainly made its way into people's homes as well as the headlines.  Many common household molds are always present. Molds can be found wherever there is moisture, oxygen, warmth and something to feed on. In the fall, it grows on rotting logs and fallen leaves, especially in moist, shady areas. In gardens, it can be found in compost piles and on certain grasses and weeds. Molds grow in our homes in moist warm areas like damp basements, closets, and bathrooms, even after the moisture has dried up. Also molds can grow in places where fresh food is stored, refrigerator drip trays, house plants, humidifiers, garbage pails, mattresses, upholstered furniture, or foam rubber pillows. Molds can grow inside the walls and flooring of our homes, wherever there are wet cellulose materials to feed on. This is very common if there has been a plumbing leak or a defective or worn roof.

Mold needs an organic source of food.  It can grow on glass, tile, stainless steel, cookware, etc., but it is generally feeding off of some organic source deposited on this material. The fiberglass insulation Industry states that mold does not grow on their product. This is a fairly true statement, however, it does grow on the organic debris that becomes trapped in and on their products.  Mold also grows on wood, fabric, leather, gypsum, fiberboard, drywall, stucco, and many insulation fibrous materials. All molds require some form of moisture to grow. The moisture source does not have to be a leak.  Humidity or moisture content of the substrate can often be sufficient (a relative humidity of 50% can become problematic in many indoor cases.) It can spread very easily through any HVAC system

Molds come in at least a thousand different varieties, but only a few are the offenders that invade our homes. Alternaria and Cladosporium are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Some types of airborne household mold spores produce mycotoxins which can destroy the health of humans and animals alike as these properties have been determined to consist of neurotoxins. 

Mycotoxins are examples of chemical substances that molds create generally as secondary metabolites.  These are thought to possibly play a role in either helping to prepare the substrate on which they exist for digestion or as defense mechanisms.  However, they may be produced when the organisms are under stress, which could be related to competition/defense, or simply due to inhospitable environmental conditions. The mycotoxins, which are also neurotoxins (a toxin that is determined to cause neurological damage), most commonly reach people from the air, via spores from molds. They are also found in small particulates at times which may often represent mold dust, small particles of mold that has dried and turned to dust. Spores, when inhaled, can begin to colonize in the sinuses and throughout the body after a period of time.

In many cases, most people are unaware that they are breathing these highly dangerous mold spores and mycotoxins until they become ill. Many people suffer from allergic symptoms to moldy buildings, meaning their immune systems overeact, causing asthma, sneezing, etc. Once they leave the affected area they will recover, for the most part. Those who have been exposed to highly toxigenic fungi, such as stachybotrys or chaetomium could suffer from a multiplicity of more serious health problems.  

Many people are confused about the damage mold can cause. Many molds can cause allergens that can affect some of the population, but some molds can also cause toxins, which can affect anyone.  Approximately 25 million Americans suffer from allergic reactions to molds. Most people don´t even realize that when they´re sneezing and sniffing the cause could be from fungi. The molds that produce airborne toxins can cause serious symptoms, such as breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and bleeding in the lungs. Common ailments from toxigenic mold including allergies, acid reflux, brain fog, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, head sweats, asthma and bruising usually can be treated and reduced after people leave their contaminated environment. Sometimes medication, diet, and other treatment protocols are necessary. 

However, other health problems may remain permanently, such as brain damage and weakened immune systems.  Eyesight, memory, coordination/balance, and hearing are generally the most common residual effects that do not improve after treatment. Currently, the United States Government has failed to establish exposure limits on toxigenic molds which makes it very difficult for the public to fully comprehend the danger of elevated mold counts with indoor fungal exposure.

Fungus reproduces into spores that appear in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The spores will reproduce and germinate into new mold growth which can produce millions of more spores. Molds are most prevalent from spring through late fall, but, in warm climates, molds thrive all year and can cause year-round problems. After limited exposure, spores can colonize in the human body as this is a perfect breeding ground to live and reproduce.

Airborne molds are problematic in that you may not realize how your health has been affected for quite a while after you have been exposed. It is important to not live, work or stay for long periods of time in a place that smells moldy or like mildew. If you suspect that the air quality in your home is being compromised by mold spores you can have the air tested, but it can be quite expensive. It's worth it if it helps save your health.

For some people, symptoms of mold allergy can be worsened by eating foods, such as cheeses, that are processed with fungi. Other foods like mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar can also produce allergic symptoms.

Sick buildings are one of the major causes of fungal illness in industrialized nations today.  The United States is the least developed in fungal illness research and most American physicians have little or no education in treating this health crisis.  Mycotoxicosis, often mistakenly called Toxic Mold Syndrome, has reached epidemic proportions at a national level in the United States due to defective construction, lack of education, shoddy and inappropriate building materials, ignorance, lack of government concern and involvement; all or in part due to the high costs of standard and evasive remediation.  This illness has been so misunderstood, some even claim that there is no evidence to back up the fact that mold can cause permanent neurological, psychological, immunological and pathological damage.

What can be done to help prevent mold in your home?  Fix leaking faucets or pipes that could be dampening walls. Install air conditioning in your home because this dries the air out, making it more difficult for mold to survive. Check houseplant soil, make sure it is not always very damp. Keep firewood outside. Keep your basement as dry as possible. You may want to keep an air purifier in your basement. Clean the bottom of your refrigerator, and underneath it. Clean up all water damage quickly. If your carpet, walls or flooring is flooded, get an experienced flood specialist to dry it for you. Any dampness left can cause mold to grow in your walls or under your carpet. When water is left to sit, for even 24 hours, common molds can begin to grow.

If you suspect that you may have a mold problem consult an expert.