Mold

Indoor Air Quality

Mold Facts

While mold has become a major source of worry related to health in the indoor environment, molds are actually an important part of the natural community and have been around for a long time. They are classified as part of the kingdom fungi, (being neither plant nor animal but a little of both) and their role is that of decomposer, breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen trees and dead leaves. There are thousands and thousands of types (species) of molds, and they are present everywhere. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores, which will grow anywhere there is moisture, food (organic materials such as paper, wood, cellulose, etc.) and oxygen.

Health Effects

In the indoor environment, molds are an unwelcome visitor. They can cause structural damage by decomposing wood, drywall, carpeting and other organic building materials, and can also cause health problems. Molds generally cause health symptoms by producing allergens, toxic substances (mycotoxins), or by causing infections. Allergic responses to mold include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, respiratory irritation, eye irritation, and skin rash. Mold can also cause asthma attacks. Molds can cause infections by actively growing in the body. Molds of the genus Aspergillus , for instance, can cause a condition knows as aspergillosis, by growing in the lungs. This infection is almost always seen in individuals with a compromised immune system. Finally, certain molds can produce toxins. These toxins have been reported to cause such symptoms as nose bleeding, lung bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and neurological disorders, such as memory loss. However, these symptoms remain unproven in respect to inhalation.

Remediation Guidelines

While much has been written about mold cleanup, the simplest advice is still the best; Control the Moisture, Control the Mold. Without moisture, mold will not grow. With moisture, mold will eventually grow, no matter how many times it is killed.

Mold Remediation Guidelines. The key to mold control is moisture control. Take the following steps when mold is spotted or suspected.

• Stop the moisture (fix the leak, hole, humidity)
• Dry all porous items (carpeting, sheetrock, etc.) within 24 hrs or discard-if the water was from a sewage backup or flood, the items should be discarded.
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry.

Consult "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" for more information. Or, for more detailed information, consult "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings."

Mold Cleanup Guidelines

The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.

• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
• If the water damage occurred due to sewage backup or floodwater, disinfect by spraying or wiping the area with a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Taking precautions to avoid breathing the fumes, getting on skin or in eyes. Note: Do Not mix bleach with other cleaners!
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
• Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
• Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.
•  Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces.; Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas

It is important to take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores.

• Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores In order to limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.) Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask with a nozzle on the front; others are made primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from entering. In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator. Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that respirators fit properly (fit testing) when used in an occupational setting; consult OSHA for more information (800-321-OSHA or osha.gov)
• Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used. If you are using a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.
• Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

Toxic Black Mold

Much media attention, including some high profile television stories and magazine and newspaper articles, has been given to the so-called "toxic black mold."  The Department of Health and Senior Services receives many calls regarding this "toxic mold."  Most of this attention has been placed on a mold called Stachybotrys chartarum (atra).  While it is true that some species and strains of the genus Stachybotrys can produce poisons, or mycotoxins, there are also many other genera of molds, including some very common genera, such as those of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium that produce mycotoxins. There are also many common molds that are black in color. Not all molds that can produce toxins; however, produce them all the time.  Normally it takes specific substrates being fed on by the mold, as well as certain acidity, oxygen, nitrogen levels and so on before toxins are produced.

The majority of research concerning mycotoxins has been done in agriculture.  For years, scientists have studied horses, pigs, cattle, and other livestock killed or diseased by eating feed or hay with mold contamination. Mold has been a long-time contaminant of human foodstuffs as well with noted neurological attacks in historical reference from eating bread contaminated with ergot, a mycotoxin.

Since this is the background of toxic molds, most of the research has been on the health effects of ingested mold, and little on the effects of breathing mold toxins.

Much of the recent worry about Stachybotrys came from a study into infant deaths in the Cleveland area in 1993 by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The theory was that mold in the homes of these infants caused pulmonary hemioridosis, or lung bleeding, causing death.  However, after careful analysis, this theory remains unproven and the mold was not proven as the causative agent in the deaths.

The main point to remember is not to panic if you see a black mold growing in your home, or even if testing reveals Stachybotrys. At this time, there are no Federal or Missouri laws specifying the limits of mold exposure. All molds in the home should be treated as possible health threats and eliminated following the remediation guidelines.

See your doctor for specific health symptoms you think may be related to mold.

Mold Testing

Testing for mold is not usually recommended as the first step in dealing with a mold problem . The general rule of thumb is, if mold can be seen or smelled, then there is a mold problem, and the recommendations for remediation apply. The Department of Health and Senior Services does not test for mold at this time, and also does not maintain a list of mold testers. If testing for mold is desired, the following should be considered:

• There are no Missouri or Federal laws that set limits or standards as to what types or levels of mold exposure or of mold presence is healthy or unhealthy, or as to what levels or types of mold are allowed or not allowed indoors.
• Neither Missouri nor the Federal Government "certifies" any individual or firm claiming such designation of mold tester. Also in Missouri, though mold testers may receive a business license, it is not a regulated industry and thus there are no standards or levels of training necessary to become "licensed." Private third parties doing any "licensing" or "certifying" do it with no oversight by any governmental body.
• Even after testing, the solution remains the same, "control the moisture, control the mold."
• Mold will always be found in testing. It is everywhere and there will always be some level of mold.
• The most common health effects from mold exposure are allergic reactions. Knowing what molds are present won't help unless you also know what species of mold cause allergic reactions in you or your family members.

If after considering these facts, mold testing is still desired, then use the following guidelines in selecting a "mold tester":

Consider why you are going to sample, and what you are sampling for. Is the sampling being done to confirm mold clean-up, is it being done because of litigation, is it being done because of health concerns, as part of a real estate transaction, or are the sources of the mold contamination unclear? For each of these reasons, the sampling strategy will be different. Sampling should only be done after developing a sampling plan that includes a confirmable theory regarding the mold and your concerns.

Professionals should conduct sampling with specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpretation of results. Sample analysis (samples could include air, surface, bulk, or water) should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional guidelines. Improper sampling protocols will give misleading results, may lead to contaminated samples, or the failure to take appropriate control samples.

As with any service, verifiable references should be produced, the company should have proper insurances, and a written contract or estimate should be provided outlining the scope of services and the cost.

Mold Fact Sheet - Mold in the Indoor Environment

Why do molds grow indoors?
Molds are part of the natural environment and are found nearly everywhere outdoors, breaking down organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees. As they grow, they reproduce by producing tiny spores that float through the air. Since molds are very common, spores are widespread in the environment and will drift indoors. If these spores land on wet or moist organic material (e.g., sheetrock, wood, ceiling tiles, cardboard, etc.), they will grow, producing fungal colonies that decompose the organic matter to stay alive. This can cause some property damage and present health problems.

What health problems do molds cause?
Allergic reactions: Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This is the most common health problem caused by mold. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).

Asthma: Molds can trigger asthma attacks in persons who are sensitized to molds, and may worsen asthma even in non-sensitized people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Relatively uncommon, and linked mainly to agricultural workers with high exposures to mold, this disease may develop after either short-term or long-term exposure to molds, and resembles bacterial pneumonia.

Irritant Effects: Mold exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and sometimes can cause a burning sensation in these areas.

Opportunistic Infections: People with weakened immune systems may contract mold infections. Often species of the Aspergillus molds are the source of the infection, and can grow in the lungs or sinus passages of immune-compromised individuals.

But what about "black mold" or "toxic mold" (Stachybotrys)
Increased media and public attention on mold has generated terms like "black mold" and "toxic mold." Both terms are more descriptive than scientifically valid and they tend to increase fear and anxiety. Mold is a very common problem and not typically life threatening. Molds can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, as well as microbial volatile organic compounds. Claims have been made that exposure to these substances can cause severe health effects such as lung bleeding, memory loss, and lethargy. These claims have not been scientifically substantiated.

If mold is suspected, is testing for the mold needed?
In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary and the money spent on testing could be better spent on clean-up.

Remember, there are no federal or state regulations regarding indoor mold growth or individual exposure limits for homes or offices.

Clean-up methods will be the same no matter what mold species are identified. Most health problems related to mold exposure are from allergic reactions. Knowing the types of mold present won't help unless one knows what species of mold causes the allergic reaction.

Most health problems related to mold exposure are from allergic reactions. Knowing the types of mold present won't help unless one knows what species of mold causes the allergic reaction. Or, contact us.

Poor indoor air quality in a rental, be it a home, apartment, mobile home, condo, etc., can be a difficult issue to address. When the complaint is related to lead, asbestos, pesticides, an emergency chemical spill, or issues related to methamphetamine production, the contacts listed within each of those sections need to be reached. In cases where the source of the indoor pollutants is not clear, or when it is not one of the named and regulated substances above, or if the pollutant is biological in origin, such as cockroaches, mold, dust mites, etc., then there are no Missouri State or Federal laws to address these complaints. Missouri Health laws do not address these issues in residential settings, nor does the Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law, (.pdf) unless such items are specific to the rental contract.

Complaint Guidelines in Rental Situations

1. See a doctor about any health problems you feel are a result of the exposure to the indoor pollutants. Be sure to tell the doctor about your suspected unhealthy environment.
2. Fix the problem if possible. See the Healthy Homes or Mold sections for advice.
3. If the problem is something that has to be fixed by the landlord, send a letter in writing to your landlord describing the nature of your complaint and keep a copy of the letter. If the rental is managed by an agency such as Housing and Urban Development or the Rural Housing Administration, be sure to contact that agency. Sometimes they have requirements for sanitation in homes. If your doctor made specific recommendations regarding your living environment, be sure to include those statements.
4. If the landlord refuses to address the issue, you may find some assistance through local building codes, nuisance ordinances, or tenant codes. The codes will vary across Missouri from city to city and county to county. Some effort and detective work may be needed to track down the right code and individual. Remember as well that many of these codes were written years ago and addressed issues from those times; therefore, you may have to do some education to city and county officials and take some effort to speak in terms they will understand to approach the issue (for example when discussing mold, the codes are probably not specific to mold or the health effects from mold. It may be more helpful to discuss the violations existing to allow mold growth, such as faulty plumbing, shoddy construction and ventilation, leaky roofs, groundwater infiltration due to improper site placement, improper lumber selection, etc.). Contact your local city hall or local housing authority as a starting point, or you may also contact your local public health agency.
5. If no assistance is available locally you may consider contacting an attorney.
6. In some situations, moving may be the final option to protect the health of you and your family.
7. Consult with an attorney to consider placing language in your next rental contract guaranteeing the quality of your indoor environment.