You may be surprised to learn that the air inside your home may be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air. This coupled with the fact that you spend a large amount of your time inside your home, makes indoor air quality a serious health issue. In this day and age of technology, we now know that the air inside your home can make you feel dizzy, make your eyes itch, make your throat scratchy, bring on asthma attacks, spread infectious diseases, or over longer periods of time contribute to our risk of cancer and poisoning. Many sources of these symptoms are household products and materials which emit chemicals. We now know that mold spores are allergens, can cause infections, and some produce toxic mycotoxins, that poison living things. When water leaks or flooding occurs, the moistened wallboards, carpets, furniture and wood will harbor mold growth. Mold spores are present in the air we breath at concentrations below any noticeable effects. People with allergies, who have greater sensitivity, are indicators that mold spores and other allergens are present in the outdoor air. When these molds begin to grow indoors, the spore counts in your home greatly increase. Even after removal of the water source, humidity levels will continue to proliferate mold growth. This is why it is paramount to measure and test the amount of spores outside and compare them to the amount of mold spores found inside. Also, it is important to know which molds are present. If any toxic molds are present, you are living in a home that is poisoning you with every breath.

Molds, when present in the indoor air environment, live by degrading organic matter. Common household areas where molds can proliferate require a moisture source (condensation, water leaks) and a food substrate (wood cabinets, wallboard, paneling, furniture, carpets, air ducts, attics, basements and behind walls). Molds generally require moisture to proliferate. Once molds have settled and the moisture source removed, they can continue to proliferate using humidity for their water source. Humidity levels over 60% (relative) optimizes mold growing conditions. Molds produce millions of spores daily that are released to the environment. Many molds are hazardous to human and animal health through three vectors:

1) All molds produce microscopic spores, which are common allergens. Spores can irritate mucous membranes and create allergic reactions and symptoms, asthma and respiratory attacks. Elderly and children have been known to be more sensitive. Also, people who are ill and have suppressed immune systems are susceptible to respiratory complications.

2) Certain molds are known for their diseases by invading and infecting humans and animal tissues and mucous membranes. Eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, heart, brain and skin systems have documented infections and inflammation due to molds. Mold exposure can cause irritation and sometimes a burning sensation in these areas.

3) Certain molds excrete toxic poisons (mycotoxins) that can cause severe damage and death to humans and animals. Mycotoxins are very toxic in small amounts and cause fatal and/or long term and/or short term health effects. Mycotoxins can enter our bodies through eating, and/or breathing of air and/or spores. Symptoms of mycotoxin exposure in humans include headaches, dizziness, respiratory attacks, heart reactions and acute neurological, pulmonary and immunological effects.

1) Remove and remediate any toxic, infectious or allergic mold and spores from the indoor environment including inside walls and attics.

2) Eliminate mold growth in the indoor environment and limit the conditions that help proliferate mold growth.

Penicillium spp.

Curvularia spp.

Stachybotrys spp. produces toxins including saratoxins H and F, roridin E, verrucarin J, and Trichoverols A and B.

Molds and their spores are abundant in most ambient air. Molds can accumulate indoors where humans spend a significantly high proportion of their time. Moisture, leaks, inadequate ventilation all foster mold growth. Once large colonies form, the humidity can continue to support mold growth if the water source is repaired. Mold spores are common allergens. Inhalation of mold spores, fragments, metabolites (volatile organic compounds, mycotoxins) lead to exacerbate immunologic (allergic) reactions, cause toxic effects or cause infections. Illnesses can result from high level short-term and low level long-term exposures. The most common symptoms reported from indoor air environments are runny nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, aggravation of asthma, headache and fatigue. In infested homes, nose bleeds and vomiting can occur. The immunological response of the individuals to mold can range from no effects to severe, violent effects. Mycotoxin exposure will effect cells in your body. Humans should minimize exposure to mycotoxins.

To determine if your home or work area is infested with mold growth, an inspection by a qualified mold inspector is needed. They will inspect your home and collect mold samples, indoor air samples, outdoor air samples and inside the wall samples. If the mold counts and genus are greater than outdoors, your area is concentrating mold and mold spores. Remedial measures include eliminating any water sources, cleaning up mold growth, replacing infested drywall and using a HEPA vacuum to remove mold spores from your area, and applying mold inhibitors that are not toxic to humans or pets. Verification sampling is then conducted to insure that the remedial measures were successful. Maintenance programs must be initiated that are designed to limit mold growth. Molds are outdoors in the ambient air and range from zero to several 100,000 CFU/m³. Therefore outdoor samples may not be representative of consistent levels that the building is exposed to. Samples collected in triplicate can show great variations in results. Air sampling methods and experience are critical in understanding the air quality of the indoor environment.