How common is mold in buildings?Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. We do not have precise information about how often different molds are found in buildings and homes. How do molds get in the indoor environment and how do they grow?Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth. How do you know if you have a mold problem?Large mold infestations can usually be seen or smelled. How do molds affect people?Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould pdf icon[PDF – 2.65 MB]external icon. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies. A link between other adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, memory loss, or lethargy, and molds, including the mold Stachybotrys chartarum has not been proven. Further studies are needed to find out what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage and other adverse health effects. There is no blood test for mold. Some physicians can do allergy testing for possible allergies to mold, but no clinically proven tests can pinpoint when or where a particular mold exposure took place. Who is most at risk for health problems associated with exposure to mold?People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections. Individuals with chronic respiratory disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression are at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. How do you keep mold out of buildings and homes?Inspect buildings for evidence of water damage and visible mold as part of routine building maintenance, Correct conditions causing mold growth (e.g., water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) to prevent mold growth. Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
Remove moldy items from living areas. Once mold starts to grow in carpet, insulation, ceiling tiles, drywall, or wallboard, the only way to deal with the problem is by removal and replacement. It is important to properly clean and dry the area as you can still have an allergic reaction to parts of the dead mold and mold contamination may recur if there is still a source of moisture. Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24-48 hours) after any flooding. Dig out mud and dirt . Use a wet vacuum to remove remaining dirt. Scrub cleanable surfaces (such as wood, tile, stone) with soapy water and a bristle brush. Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, and sinks) with water and dish detergent. Dry surfaces quickly and thoroughly after cleaning. If you have a fan, air conditioner or dehumidifier that wasn’t affected by flooding use it to help the surfaces dry after you finish cleaning Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup (8 ounces) of bleach in 1 gallon of water to kill mold on surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
Are there any circumstances where people should vacate a home or other building because of mold?These decisions have to be made individually. If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold in a building, you should consult your physician to determine the appropriate action to take. I found mold growing in my home; how do I test the mold?If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. A qualified environmental lab took samples of the mold in my home and gave me the results. Can CDC interpret these results?Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the building’s characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition. I heard about “toxic molds” and “black molds” that grow in homes and other buildings. Should I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?There is always a little mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. Certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically “mycotoxins”). Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. Not all fungi produce mycotoxins and even those that do will not do so under all surface or environmental conditions. Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. Color is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be. Any mold should be removed and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven. From CDC.gov - https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm
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I bet we could all share a story or two regarding misinformation we've receieved from the internet, TV, social media, or friends and family!
Remember Y2K? The uncertainty & the panic for some people? Prepping homes, stockpiling groceries and supplies. All of the worry and none of the disaster, as the problems we were told were imminent come January 1st, 2000 amounted to nothing. From the 1980's - killer bees! They're coming to get us! (We're still waiting...) One common myth I hear from time to time relates to all of the possible problems a new homeowner could face buying their first home. The concerns vary; could be asbestos, mold, aluminum wiring, lead paint. This list goes on and on. Many of these concerns are perpetuated by the home improvement shows on TV that in my opinion, make a mountain out of a mole hill in order to drum up drama to improve ratings, etc. The fact is that the odds of actually running into any of these four issues in a West Texas home are very slim. Any mold can be hazardous to your breathing and allergies, but having a home overrun with mold would be unheard of in our dry climate. Asbestos, lead paint, and aluminum wiring are prone to homes from very specific time frames of construction only, and are a rare occurrence. What about energy efficiency? This has become a hot topic in recent years, sold as a "need" by contractors selling windows and doors, among other materials and services. You can research for yourself, but spending the money needed to install new windows will almost never "pay for itself" with energy savings. The insulation value of the very best windows will never save you enough over the cost of getting the windows installed. If you're getting new windows, it might be worth it based on appearance, emergency egress, etc. Improving insulation in your attic can benefit you for a relatively lower cost, but do your research. Return on investment may not add up to what you think it will! What issues should a home owner be concerned about? Take a close look at your inspection report! There you should find valuable information provided by an experienced professional. Use it to your benefit and enjoy your home! Your home inspection is complete. Now what?REVIEW:
Your first step as a home buyer should include completely reviewing the home inspection report. This may sound obvious, but you may be surprised to know that many home buyers don't ever access or review their inspection reports! Per the real estate licensing authority in Texas, the Texas Real Estate Commission, in regards to the inspection report - "It is important that you carefully read ALL of this information." "You" being the client, usually the home buyer. Time is usually short during option periods, etc. Make the most of it! ADDRESS: What item(s) in the inspection report seem important to you to be corrected? What item(s) in the inspection report does your Agent recommend be addressed? Get on the same page early on, and if there is some issue listed on the inspection report or other aspects of the real estate process that you don't understand, check with your inspector for inspection issues, and your Agent for pretty much everything else! KEEP IT: Hang on to your inspection report, and eventually make sure to make repairs to EVERY ITEM listed as a defect on the report . Many defects listed on the average inspection report are what I would consider "Minor", meaning they are just part of life as a homeowner. Plan to fix these over the weeks, months, or years ahead as a homeowner. Some are certainly more time sensitive than others, so prioritize accordingly. Assuming you hired a licensed, experienced pro to inspect the home, their advice and recommendations are invaluable to you as a homeowner. Don't waste all that professional experience and knowledge! We hope this helps you take those crucial next steps towards home ownership! Check back here soon for more helpful tips and other great info! |
AuthorCale Cameron Archives
December 2024
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