Questions:
Q 1. I heard about toxic molds that grow in homes and other buildings. Should
I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?
Q 2. How common is
mold, including Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by
its synonym Stachybotrys atra) in buildings?
Q 3. How do molds get
in the indoor environment and how do they grow?
Q 4. What is Stachybotrys
chartarum (Stachybotrys atra)?
Q 5. Are there any
circumstances where people should vacate a home or other building
because of mold?
Q 6. Who are the people
who are most at risk for health problems associated with exposure
to mold?
Q 7. How do you know
if you have a mold problem?
Q 8. Does Stachybotrys
chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) cause acute idiopathic
pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?
Q 9. What are the
potential health effects of mold in buildings and homes?
Q 10. What should people
to do if they determine they have Stachybotrys chartarum
(Stachybotrys atra) in their buildings or homes?
Q 11. I found mold
growing in my home; how do I test the mold?
Summary
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Answers:
Q 1.
I heard about toxic molds that grow in homes and other buildings. Should
I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?
A. The hazards presented by molds that may contain Mycotoxins
should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in
your house. There is always a little mold everywhere - in the air and on
many surfaces. There are very few case reports that toxic molds (those
containing certain Mycotoxins) 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
toxic mold and these conditions has not been proven. A common-sense
approach should be used for any mold contamination existing inside
buildings and homes. The common health concerns from molds include hay
fever-like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic
respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may
experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression may
be 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. For the most part, one should
take routine measures to prevent mold growth in the home.
Q 2. How common is mold, including
Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym
Stachybotrys atra) in buildings?
A. Molds
are very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere indoors
where there is moisture. The most common indoor molds are
Cladosporium, Penicillium,
Aspergillus, and Alternaria. We do not have
accurate information about how often Stachybotrys chartarum is
found in buildings and homes. While it is less common than other mold
species, it is not rare.
Q 3. How do
molds get in the indoor environment and how do they grow?
A. Molds naturally grow in the indoor environment. Mold spores may
also enter your house through open doorways, windows, heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Spores in the air outside
also attach themselves to people and animals, making clothing, shoes,
bags, and pets convenient vehicles for carrying mold 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.
Q 4. What is Stachybotrys
chartarum
(Stachybotrys atra)?
A.
Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys
atra) is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on material with a high
cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board,
paper, dust, and lint. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water
damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water
infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth.
It is not necessary, however, to determine what type of mold you may
have. All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential
health risks and removal.
Q 5. Are
there any circumstances where people should vacate a home or other
building because of mold?
A. 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.
Q 6.
Who are the people who are most at risk for health problems associated
with exposure to mold?
A. People with allergies
may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or
underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.
Q 7. How do you know if you have a mold problem?
A. Large mold infestations can usually be seen or smelled.
Q 8. Does Stachybotrys chartarum
(Stachybotrys atra) cause acute idiopathic pulmonary
hemorrhage among infants?
A. To date, a possible
association between acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants
and Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) has not
been proved. Further studies are needed to determine what causes acute
idiopathic hemorrhage.
Q 9. What
are the potential health effects of mold in buildings and homes?
A. Mold exposure does not always present a health problem indoors.
However some people are sensitive to molds. These people may experience
symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, or wheezing when
exposed to molds. Some people may have more severe reactions to molds.
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. People
with chronic illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop
mold infections in their lungs.
Q 10. What should people to do if
they determine they have Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra) in their buildings or homes?
A.
Mold
growing in homes and buildings, whether it is Stachybotrys chartarum
(Stachybotrys atra) or other molds, indicates that there is a
problem with water or moisture. This is the first problem that needs to
be addressed. Mold can be cleaned off surfaces with a weak bleach
solution. Mold under carpets typically requires that the carpets be
removed. Once mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard the only
way to deal with the problem is by removal and replacement. We do not
believe that one needs to take any different precautions with
Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra), than with other
molds. In areas where flooding has occurred, prompt cleaning of walls
and other flood-damaged items with water mixed with chlorine bleach,
diluted 10 parts water to 1 part bleach, is necessary to prevent mold
growth. Never mix bleach with ammonia. Moldy items should be discarded.
Q 11. I found mold growing in my home; how do I test the mold?
A. Contact Suncoast Inspections.com for Testing & Sample Services.
Samples should be taken by a professional.
Summary:
In summary,
Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) and other molds
may cause health symptoms that are nonspecific.
At present there is no test that proves an association
between Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) and particular
health symptoms. Individuals with persistent symptoms should see their
physician. However, if Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra)
or other molds are found in a building, prudent practice recommends that
they be removed.
Use the simplest and most expedient method that
properly and safely removes mold.
The above information was provided by The Center for Disease Control & ESA
(Environmental Solutions Association).
Questions everyone should ask before hiring a mold consultant:
Q 1.
Is indoor mold a real problem or just hype?
Q 2.
What conditions promote mold growth indoors?
Q 3.
How long does it take for mold to grow on wet materials?
Q 4.
We all have had mold in showers and tubs. We just wipe it off with some diluted bleach.
Isn't that enough?
Q 5. Why sample wall cavities? - By Joe Spurgeon, Ph.D., CIH
Answers:
Q 1. Is indoor mold a real problem or just hype?
A. Mold spores are always present in typical indoor environments, and we are exposed to
them continuously. But, because of how buildings are being built today, there is a much greater chance of encountering an
excessive amount of mold in our indoor environment. The excessive growth of mold indoors is called "amplification." So, the
amplification of indoor mold is the problem; and many experts think that has increased significantly in the past 25 years.
Q 2. What conditions promote mold growth indoors?
A. Mold follows moisture. It is that simple. Four of five requirements for mold growth
(mold spores, oxygen, nutrients, and a suitable temperature) are present in most indoor environments. Therefore, when
water is added to the indoor environment, mold can begin to grow. Since mold follows moisture, any potential mold growth
would likely be confined to the affected area.
Excessive amounts of water, either liquid water or high humidity, can promote mold growth. Relative humidity refers to the amount of
moisture in the air. When the relative humidity indoors remains above 65% for
extended periods, mold growth can occur.
So what about carpet lying on a moist concrete floor slab? The amount of moisture in the indoor air (relative humidity) might be normal,
while the moisture content of the carpet could be well above the amount required for mold growth. Therefore, the moisture content of the
effected material (measured with a moisture meter, for example) is often critical in promoting mold growth. Make sure your consultant
understands the difference between relative humidity and moisture content; and that they use a moisture meter or measuring device in
their inspections.
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Q 3. How long does it take for mold to grow on wet materials?
A. Immediately after water intrusion incident, the affected materials are just wet, not moldy.
It takes a while for mold to start growing. Different molds grow at different rates and under different conditions of moisture
and temperature. However, as a rule of thumb, it takes about two to three days for mold to start growing on wet material, like
drywall. One can then expect mold to become visible in three to five days. If the wet materials are removed and discarded,
and/or adequately dried in place within that initial time period, there will probably not be a mold problem. The important
thing to remember is to dry out the material immediately.
This is an important point. Mold unlike asbestos, is a living organism, how quickly one responds can significantly affect overall cost of the
response. An example of what can happen: An owner of a commercial building negotiated with the insurance company for 3 months before an
effective response occurred. What was an initial $500,000.00 remediation became a $5,000,000.00 remediation due to the delay in responding.
Q 4. We all have had mold in showers and tubs. We just wipe it off with some diluted
bleach. Isn't that enough?
A. When it's the shower that's probably all you need to do. You know why there is visible mold
in the shower. But that's not what mold consultants speak of when they talk of a mold problem. Indoor mold growth occurs
because there is an underlying structural, plumbing or mechanical problem that's allowing water to intrude into a building.
Mold growth can be a result or an indicator of a much larger problem. Those problems will continue to degrade the structure
and the indoor environment until they are identified and fixed. This is the number one reason to hire a mold consultant with a
strong construction background.
It is important to remember there are no national standards that say a certain number of spores are hazardous. Removal with bleach has come
under scrutiny recently. It is said this just knocks off the spores and leaves the hyphae to grow again or on the reverse side of the material.
Wiping it off with a bleach and water solution is no longer acceptable in porous materials.
If you are unsure if mold exists Suncoast Inspections.com, Inc. can inspect, perform tests, find the source of the moisture and recommend a course
of action. With
Suncoast Inspections.com, Inc. you get a building and mold inspector in one.
Q 5. Why sample wall cavities? - By Joe Spurgeon, Ph.D., CIH
A. There seems to be a significance divergence in views among mold investigators concerning the
utility of sampling wall cavities for mold. Some think it is an indispensable tool when performing mold investigations, while
other investigators will argue that this technique has little merit. So, is it even worthwhile to collect wall cavity samples?
I'm one of those investigators that say "yes", and allow me to explain why by addressing the following questions:
-
Why sample wall cavities?
-
Which wall cavities should be sampled?
-
What about the sample volume?
-
What are we looking for in wall cavities?
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How should wall cavities be sampled?
Why sample wall cavities?
There are five basic reasons to collect wall cavity samples. The five reasons are:
-
Eighty percent of the houses we investigate do not have any visible mold;
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To find old leaks, using mold as a surrogate for moisture;
-
To identify sites for destructive testing, and confirm the results of the destructive testing;
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To define a scope of remediation, or assess the effectiveness of a mold restoration; and
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To assess whether or not hidden fungal reservoirs are affecting the indoor environment.
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The primary reason to do wall cavity sampling is that it is more likely
to encounter hidden fungal reservoirs than visible mold growth during an
investigation. Probably more than four out of five houses that we investigate do not have any visible mold, whereas probably
two out of three houses have
hidden water intrusion mold. Yet, even though the mold is hidden, the client was still concerned enough to ask for an investigation. Many
water intrusions that result in mold growth initially involve wall cavities and other inaccessible areas of the structure. The mold remains
hidden from view, and it only becomes visible if the mold happens to grow through the drywall or other material.
The second reason is to locate areas of both current, as well as past, water intrusion. Although I am sampling for mold, mold
follows moisture. Therefore, mold can be used as a surrogate for moisture. For example, suppose a homeowner states that during the last rain,
a significant leak occurred in the living room window. However, if the last rain was six months ago, the wall will be dry, and a moisture meter
is not going to be very useful in verifying that the leak occurred. However, if significant amounts of water did enter the wall cavity during
the last rain, there is a good chance that detectable amounts of mold spores will still be present in the wall cavity under the window.
The third reason why I collect wall cavity samples is to identify the most productive sites for destructive testing; and, to confirm
the results of the destructive testing. Destructive testing is relatively expensive, it disrupts the occupants living
environment, and it may be subject to false negatives. Therefore, in many mold investigations, it is used sparingly.
I recently performed a mold investigation on a house that had 118 windows, some of which leaked. Using wall cavity sampling, it was possible
to identify a group of windows for destructive testing. This was accomplished at a relatively small cost, and minimized both the disruption
and cost of the
destructive testing by "pre-qualifying" the test sites.
The fourth reason for sampling wall cavities is to assist the occupants in fulfilling their objectives. I may be asked to define a
scope of remediation, help them obtain legal assistance, or assess the effectiveness of a recently completed mold restoration (as opposed
to a mold remediation).
It's my experience that wall cavity samples are generally required to adequately accomplish each of these tasks. For example, it is not
unusual to sample directly in the drying holes cut in walls and toe kicks while drying the materials in place, and to then detect significant
amounts of mold spores inside those cavities. Unfortunately, those drying holes provide an open pathway between the fungal reservoirs and the
breathing zones of the occupants.
Question: During a restoration, why not use simple multi-port plastic manifolds to blow dry air into the bottom of a wet wall cavity and a
similar manifold to exhaust the moist, contaminated air outdoors?
The fifth reason to collect wall cavity samples is to assess whether or not hidden fungal reservoirs are affecting the indoor
environment. One study has concluded that fungi contained in intact wall cavities sometimes enter the indoor air
[Morey,P,Andrew,M,Ligman,B,Jarvis,J. Hidden Mold Sometimes Enters the Indoor Air. In Indoor Air 2002: Proceedings of the 9th International
Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Vol. 2, H Levin, ed., Indoor Air 2002, Santa Cruz, California, 2002, pp.455-460].
Which wall cavities should be sampled?
Although wall cavity sampling is an essential part of
my consultant's "tool-box," the indiscriminate sampling of wall cavities
may not be very productive. I generally confine wall cavity sampling to
the following situations:
-
Plumbing walls: Behind showers, toilets, sinks,
laundries, wet bars.
-
Base cabinets: The toe kick area under base
cabinets that have been wet.
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Penetrations in perimeter walls: Windows, sky
lights, sliding glass doors, cantilevered beams
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Planter boxes: Adjoining perimeter walls.
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Exterior wall: Large cracks, areas lacking
drainage (covered weep screed, etc.), nonporous wall covering,
sub-grade walls.
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Irrigation problems: Visible problems, high soil,
poor drainage, etc.
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Restoration: Areas of inadequate remediation.
This is not an exhaustive list of potential sampling
locations, but they do indicate the types of locations in which wall
cavity sampling may prove useful.
How should wall cavities be sampled?
In my opinion, a wall cavity sampling device should have the following characteristics:
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Collects both total fungal spores and culturable fungi;
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Has a high collection efficiency for fungal spores, and collection efficiency does not vary with either fungal or debris concentration;
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A clean sample probe is used for each sample;
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Has a solid sample probe that will not "crimp" inside a wall cavity;
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Has a low airflow rate to avoid the collection of heavy debris loadings, combined with a low sample volume to minimize sampling bias.
The Bi-Air cassette, which is the sampling device that we use, has all of these characteristics, because I designed it to have these characteristics.
Summary: Wall cavity sampling is often viewed as "looking for mold." But the real objective is to identify areas that either are,
or were, affected by water intrusion. The mold may simply be the "marker" for the moisture damage. I consider it to be an essential part
of my consultant's "toolbox."
Other than bulk samples, it is probably the most common type of sample that our staff collects. It can be used to identify areas that
are currently wet, and those that were previously wet. It can be used to pre-select areas for destructive testing, prepare a scope of
remediation, and assess the effectiveness of "restored" areas. These tasks can be accomplished at a reasonable cost and without disrupting
the indoor environment.
-
This article originally appeared in the November 2003 issue of HarrisMartin's COLUMNS-Mold,
Vol. 3, No.1 www.harrismartin.com Reprinted with permission.
For more information contact
JoeSpurgeon cih@bi-air.com
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