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Got Mold? Important Facts About Mold
We are all exposed to some type of mold every day. Fuzzy growth produced on organic matter by several types of fungi is mold. Mold grows outdoors and indoors. Buildings are perfect habitats for mold growth. They have the perfect temperature range and lots of dark crevices, nooks and crannies. Mold loves HVAC systems and ductwork. Mold has been referred to as "the most prolific building pest of the 1990s". In a study of 695 commercial buildings by the Business Council on Indoor Air, mold was present in 245 of the buildings surveyed. This was high when compared to other indoor air pollutants as illustrated below:
Commercial Building Air Pollutants
When molds grow, it's usually in damp places, behind walls and under floors. That is, wherever there are wet cellulose materials they can feed on, such as wood, ceiling tiles, plasterboard, or accumulations of organic material inside air conditioning and heating systems. Water is the key. When water is left to sit for 24 hours, common molds can take hold. If water continues to sit andareas become completely saturated, a more lethal mold, such as Stachybotrys, can move in.
Stachybotrys atra (pronounced Stack-ee-bot-ris) is a lethal mold. It's part of a family of molds that produce airborne toxins, called mycotoxins. These toxins can cause breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flulike symptoms, and bleeding in the lungs. Stachybotrys atra has made headlines recently in the:
- Death of nine infants in Cleveland
- Closing of an Elementary School in Seattle
- Possible Closing of Santa Clara County Courthouse
- $37 million Reconstruction of Polk County Building
Fortunately, Stachybotrys isn't found as often as milder molds such as Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria. However, these can cause health problems such as chronic sinus, respiratory infections, asthma, and allergy symptoms.
Whenever mold problems are suspected, owners typically hire Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) professionals. IAQ professionals conduct inspections, interview occupants and perform sampling. Once investigations are complete your IAQ professional can help you deal with cleanup and prevention. Please feel free to contact OMNI regarding your IAQ problems.
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