In the "good old days," when most of us thought of mold in our homes we thought of the gunk growing in that jar in the back of the refrigerator. Today we worry about mold growing in the walls, or attic, or under the floor.

Recent news about household mold raises questions for homeowners and Realtors alike. Is mold dangerous to us or others? How do I know if I have mold? What happens if I do have mold? How will mold affect me or others? How will mold affect my home’s value and for how long? How do I keep from getting mold? What are molds?

Molds are living fungi. These organisms produce spores that can be released into the air. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 different species of fungi world wide.

There are five (5) major types of molds found in homes, they are:

• Cladosporium
• Penicillium (source of penicillin vaccine)
• Aspergillus
• Alternaria
• Stachybotrys chartarum (commonly referred to as ‘Black Mold’)

Of these, the scariest is Stachybotrys chartarum. It is commonly referred to as “Black Mold’ because it is commonly identified as black, or dark. Stachybotrys does not have to be black. It could appear lighter in color, because it gets its color from its food source. Other molds, by the same token, can appear very dark in color depending on their food source, and can be mistaken by appearance for Stachybotrys.

Health concerns

While it is true that some molds are toxic, not all molds are. Toxicity varies among the molds and the affects on individuals also varies. For example, those allergic to penicillin vaccine are likely to experience allergic reactions to Penicillium mold. If you are not allergic to penicillin vaccine, then Penicillium mold may not significantly affect your health, particularly in small amounts. If you are allergic to any of the molds, or the toxins they produce, then more dense quantities of spores (indicating more mold) should affect you more significantly than environments with less dense quantities of spores (less mold).

The degree of allergic reaction to a specific mold varies among individuals. Stachybotrys chartarum spores produce poisonous mycotoxins. When these spores are inhaled and ingested by a human, they can cause unpleasant, and even very serious, symptoms and conditions.

The Website for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is currently no test that proves a link between Stachybotrys chartarum and particular health symptoms. While mold is not proven to cause specific health problems the spores released by mold may contribute to illnesses or problems experienced by those with chronic respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, immune suppression, and/or other illnesses as these people will likely be more susceptible to the mycotoxins in the spores released by the mold.

One website, Toxic-mold-tort-news-online.com, says Stachybotrys is thought to be responsible for a potentially fatal condition called acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage. This has only occurred in infants and individuals with impaired immune systems. Other symptoms may include headaches, fevers, respiratory infections, diarrhea, burning or watery eyes, fatigue, and skin irritations.

Mold Prevention

Since mold is a living organism, it requires three basics to remain alive and to grow. They are:

1. Light - mold must have light to grow. Not much, but some light is required, and enough light can exist to nurture mold behind walls.
2. Food Source - mold must feed on something, i.e.: proteins found in building materials, such as the glue used to hold the paper onto the gypsum in drywall, wallpaper glue, carpet, etc. Food sources for Stachybotrys chartarum are primarily materials which are high in cellulose and low in nitrogen content. Examples include wallpaper, cardboard, ceiling tile, cellulose insulation and wood.
3. Moisture - mold must have moisture to grow. Moisture is considered the most controllable of the three conditions to grow mold. Omit the moisture, and you omit the mold. Mold can not begin to grow without a source of moisture and existing mold can not survive if the source for moisture is removed.

Some common sources of moisture are:

• Leaking plumbing - supply or drain lines, slow drip behind a sink, toilet, or in a wall
• Appliances and Fixtures- damaged water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washing machines, faucets, sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, etc..
• Moisture by condensation or steam. Both central and window A/C units, boilers, etc.
• Structural problems - Leaking roof, leaks around windows, improper drainage under pier and beam homes, pooling in basements or under or around homes.
• Natural causes - Flooding. Poor drainage.

Prevention of moisture methods (i.e. prevention of mold) are:

• Maintenance - plumbing system, appliances and fixtures, and structural
• Drainage - insure proper drainage and prevent pooling under or near home
• Ventilation - insure proper ventilation - In the home with windows and heating and air conditioning - Under the home (for pier and beam construction) with ventilated crawl spaces - Above the home (the attic) with vented soffits or other attic vents.

Published: August 27, 2002

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