There is always some mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. They are part of the natural environment.  Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. There are many types of mold, and they come in many colors, however none of them will grow without water or moisture. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet.

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 outside air can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets and be carried indoors. 

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.

Inside your home you can control mold growth by:

• Controlling humidity levels
• Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes
• Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding; It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 – 48 hr’s to prevent mold  growth
• Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas
  
  

If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem immediately. Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present.  No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. 

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are hypersensitive to molds.  

Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold.

These people should stay away from areas that are likely to have mold.

Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and its health effects is ongoing.

Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results (that’s us!!!).