What is mold?

Molds are forms of fungi found indoors and outdoors all year round. All of us are exposed to fungal spores daily in the air we breathe, both outside and inside. Outdoors, molds live in the soil, on plants and on dead or decaying matter. Another common term for mold is mildew. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions, although it can grow during cold weather. There are many thousands of species of mold. They can be in any color, including white, orange, green, brown, or black. Most fungi, including molds, produce microscopic cells called “spores” that are spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) with the right conditions.

What causes mold to develop?

Mold requires nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. Nutrients for mold are present in dead organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives. Mold requires moisture, although some mold species can obtain that moisture from moist air when the relative humidity is above 70 per cent. Many molds thrive at normal indoor temperatures; few if any molds are able to grow below 40 F or above 100 F. Outside this range molds may remain dormant or inactive; they may begin to grow again when the temperature is more favorable. Temperatures well above 100 F will kill mold and mold spores, but the exact temperature required to kill specific species is not well established.

What are the signs of a mold problem?

Look for signs of the following conditions:

• Mold and/or mildew – Fungus which grows in damp, dark areas and causes discoloration, musty smells and odors.
• Musty odors – This is a result of the decay process from mold, mildew, and dry rot.
• Damp spots on walls – Dark grey splotches are one of the signs that water has absorbed into the wall.
• White chalky substance on walls – Known as efflorescence, this is a chemical breakdown of the bonding agent which holds walls together and a sign of possible structural deterioration.
• Cracked walls – This is a sign that foundation has moved or shifted and should be inspected to determine the exact cause.
• Peeling paint – A sign that the wall has absorbed moisture, as paint will not stick to a wet surface.
• Rust on appliances or furniture – Look for rust on the bottoms of furnaces, water heaters, and other metal appliances. This is a sign of dampness and water evaporation.
• Dry rot – This dark brown/black fungus which grows on walls and other surfaces such as wooden surfaces causes decay.
• Warped paneling – Moisture will cause paneling to bow and discolor, often at the bottom portion of the paneling.

How does mold grow?

Mold requires nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. These nutrients are present in dead organic materials such as wood, paper or fabrics; from wet construction materials including wood, concrete, drywall, carpet or wallpaper; and from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives. 

How does mold affect my health?

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds (those individuals have a genetic makeup that puts them at risk for developing allergies to mold).

Symptoms vary depending on the person’s age, allergies, current health conditions, and body type. The common symptoms are:

• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Eye irritation, such as itchy, red, watery eyes
• Respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Cough
• Throat irritation
• Skin irritation, such as a rash
• Headache

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.

Who is affected by exposure to mold?

For those who are affected by mold exposure, there can be a wide variation in how they react. People who may be affected more severely and quickly than others include:

• Infants and children

• Elderly people

• Pregnant women

• Individuals with respiratory conditions or allergies and asthma

• persons with weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV infection,    chemotherapy patients, or organ or bone marrow transplant recipients, autoimmune diseases.)

 Those with special health concerns should consult their doctor if they are concerned about mold exposure. The symptoms that may seem to occur from mold exposure can also be due to other causes such as bacterial or viral infections, or other allergies.

 

What is “Toxic Mold”? 

Many types of molds produce chemicals during their normal growth that are considered to be toxins or poisons. These molds, especially certain kinds that appear to strongly affect human health, have been given the name “toxic mold”. However, doctors and scientists generally do not accept this term because it has not been clearly defined.

Can ozone air cleaners help remove indoor mold or reduce odors?

Some common air cleaners use ozone to “freshen” the air and remove odors. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent and a known lung irritant. In certain cases, ozone cleaners have been shown to produce indoor ozone levels in excess of the safe limit.

Ozone has not been proven effective in controlling molds and other microbial components at safe health levels. Furthermore, ozone may damage certain materials, i.e.  cause rubber to become brittle. For these reasons, California Health Services strongly recommends that you not use an ozone air cleaner in a tight space.

 

Should I report mold to my insurer? 

Most homeowners and commercial property insurance only covers mold if it is the result of a sudden or accidental discharge of water. Most insurers have also included specific exclusions for mold and fungus, which severely limit or eliminate any coverage for mold removal, regardless of cause.

If you decide to file a claim, document the damage with photographs and keep a record of each conversation you have with the insurance company, including the date, time, and the name of the person that you spoke with.

Will mold or water damage claims affect my ability to buy insurance? 

Some insurers may consider properties with a history of water damage or mold claims to be “high risk”. Consult with your insurance agent about the procedures of your insurance company for evaluating underwriting risk.

What is an Environmental Consultant?

An Environmental Consultant is a professional who can identify the causes of poor indoor air quality – even when problems seem vague or unrelated to visible causes.  The Environmental Consultant is trained to see a building the way a general practitioner sees the body of his patient – as an organic whole with dozens of inter-related systems contributing to overall health.  In order to diagnose the patient properly, the Consultant must be able to gather and interpret data from various systems operating in a building.  His experience and training must therefore come from a wide range of disciplines:

	Industrial Hygiene – The Environmental Consultant understands the sources and potential effects of chemicals and other substances in the indoor environment, from asbestos to formaldehyde to VOCs.  Building Sciences – The Environmental Consultant understands the building envelope and has experience in the disciplines related to the design, construction and operation of buildings.  These disciplines include architecture, building codes, HVAC, plumbing, insulation, concrete and building materials, weather proofing, facilities maintenance, acoustics, ergonomics, air and moisture flows, pressure relationships, temperature and humidity monitoring, infrared thermography and diagnostic air sampling.  Environmental Risk Assessment – The Environmental Consultant understands the consequences (intended and unintended) of building design, operation and maintenance decisions and their potential to impact overall environmental quality.

What Not to Do

If you suspect that your building has fungal growth and that it is significant enough to require outside help, you want to make the best decisions at this point. As stated above, that begins with hiring the services of a qualified indoor environmental professional. A common mistake building owner’s make is skipping this critical step and going directly to remediation contractors. A remediation contractor has a financial interest in the remediation of any problems and therefore has a built in bias when evaluating such a problem. It is a wise choice to have an independent (third party) consultant evaluate the problem, develop a remediation scope of work, perform oversight of the remediation and perform clearance to assure that the scope of work has been fulfilled. Remember, an improperly performed remediation may make conditions worse and could cost you thousands of dollars. A qualified indoor environmental consultant will be your ally when it is time to make critical decisions concerning what procedures are warranted and assuring that procedures are properly followed to complete the project successfully.

Important: If you consult with a remediation contractor that says you do not need a scope of work developed or offers to perform their own testing or clearance….find a new remediation contractor. It may be a significant conflict of interest when a remediation contractor performs their own clearance on a project. Not only is it a conflict of interest, it may also be unethical.

It is important when there is a mold issue that you have an experienced, unbiased investigator on your side to prevent unneeded remediation that could cost you thousands of dollars, or worse, create a more significant hazard. It is our opinion that the first issues which must be addressed are the conditions which permitted and/or exacerbated the fungal amplification in the first place. It has become almost common for Envision to be consulted for recurring mold problems after remediation has been performed. This problem is the result of unqualified technicians performing the remediation and not addressing the underlying cause(s) and conditions. Determining the exact nature of a moisture problem and hence a mold problem requires a highly qualified building investigator capable of evaluating the building system in it’s entirety.