Dec 18, 2001 (The Topeka Capital-Journal) - Removing mold
- Clean and dry the area
- Wet materials that can't be dried quickly should be discarded
- Disinfect area with mixture of solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1
gallon of water
- On porous surfaces, such as wood, keep wet with the bleach
solution for 10 to 15 minutes
- Don't spray bleach or chemicals on colonized mold spores, which
could cause spores to become airborne
- If the home has a large amount of mold, don't allow those
unfamiliar with mold remediation to disturb contaminated areas, which
could spread the problem
- If you have a large mold contamination or suspect you have a
mold problem, several companies under the "fire and water damage
restoration" section of the yellow pages may be of assistance
Source: K-State Research and Extension, and Dan Chavez, owner of
Chavez Environmental Services
People come into contact with mold every day. It can be found in
homes, on food and even in medicine without any noticeable effect on
individuals.
But particular types of mold can be life-threatening. These molds,
called toxic molds, can cause asthma, burning and itchy eyes,
headaches, memory loss, mood changes, bleeding lungs and even death.
There are several types of toxic molds, said Greg Crable, of the
Environmental Protection Agency's indoor air program.
"Stachybotrys is probably the one (toxic mold) that is found that
is the most common," Crable said.
Stachybotrys can be dangerous, said Cindy Evans, Kansas State
University Research and Extension agent for Shawnee County.
"Stachybotrys can cause lung bleeding that can cause death," she
said.
The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, penicillium,
aspergillus and Alternaria, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Web site. While stachybotrys is less common
than other mold species, it isn't rare, the site said.
So what does stachybotrys look like?
It is a greenish-black mold, the CDC's Web site said. Stachybotrys
can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content,
such as paper, dust, lint, fiberboard and gypsum board. 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.
However, according to the CDC, it isn't necessary to determine
what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated the same
with respect to potential health risks and removal.
Mold can become a problem in any home --- especially if the home
has experienced flooding, backed-up sewers, leaky roofs, damp
basements or crawl spaces, or mud or ice dams. Homeowners who use
humidifiers can be at risk for having mold in the home.
Mold is found everywhere --- indoors and outdoors. Much of the
mold found indoors comes from outdoor sources, according to the
Arizona Department of Health Services' Indoor Air Quality information
sheet. Therefore, everyone is exposed to mold on a daily basis.
However, mold spores primarily cause health problems when they enter
the air and are inhaled in large numbers.
Should everyone be concerned about mold in their home?
Yes, if the contamination is extensive.
If a homeowner can see mold or smell an earthy or musty odor, the
homeowner can assume there is a mold problem, said Dan Chavez, owner
of Chavez Environmental Services, of Topeka. Chavez Environmental
Services has been doing mold remediation for four years.
Sometimes, even if a homeowner can't see or smell mold, it can be
there, Chavez said. If members of the family experience respiratory
problems, burning, itching or watery eyes, fatigue or memory loss,
mold could be the culprit.
If the homeowner can't detect the mold but suspects there may be a
problem, an expert should be called in, Chavez said.
However, reliable testing can be very expensive.
To check for mold in the home, it is best to look for it in places
where conditions promote mold growth. Those places can include
basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchen walls
where cooking involves large amounts of boiling water. New
construction materials --- such as wooden wall studs and floor
joists, drywall compound and masonry materials --- also emit moisture
into the home while the construction components dry.
Spills or leaks, such as a sink or toilet overflow onto carpet and
other flooring materials, can cause those materials to become moldy.
Flooded and fire-damaged houses that have had water soaked into
carpeting and other materials often have mold growth starting, too.
