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Basic Mold Information
What is mold?
How does mold grow?
Why is mold an issue now?
Molds are a type of fungus that can be found almost everywhere. While there will always be mold spores (similar to seeds) present in indoor air, mold growth in homes is undesirable. In the presence of enough moisture and food, molds can grow quickly to produce unfavorable conditions including allergies, respiratory distress and damage to property.
It is important to prevent indoor mold growth and to quickly clean up any growth that does occur.
Molds may resemble plants, but they are actually fungi. They are a natural and important part of our environment. Many live in the soil and help decompose dead and decaying matter. They can also grow indoors. For example, you may have seen mold growing on old bread, cheese or other foods. It also grows on grout in between tiles, in showers, on wallpaper, drywall, leather, clothing, books, wood, etc. As mold grows, it produces spores (similar to seeds) that are released into the air. When these spores find good conditions to grow, they form new mold colonies and the process repeats itself.
Since mold grows on so many items in so many places, we are constantly breathing its spores. Usually, our bodies can handle the spores just fine. However, frequent exposure to high enough concentrations can make a persons body sensitive to the mold, causing the person to become allergic. Spores can also carry toxins that in small doses over time, or in a single high dose, may harm a persons health.
Mold requires both food and moisture to grow. Food for molds can consist of almost anything that is organic (made of plant or animal matter). This includes clothing, paper, wood, plants, drywall and some insulations and ceiling tiles. If these materials are wet for more than 24 hours, or if there is repeated water exposure, mold spores that are in them or on them can begin to grow. The mold growth may continue until the water is removed. Mold colonies without enough water to grow can remain dormant, and then begin growing again if water returns. Both dormant and growing colonies may release spores into the air that can affect peoples health.
Stachybotrys in combination with small
amounts of Alternaria, Aspergillus and
Ulocladium on drywall in wall cavity
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Mold really is not a new issue: it has been growing in homes since ancient times. We seem to be more aware of it now than in the recent past for at least three main reasons: scientific advances, building construction methods and materials, and media attention.
Scientific Advances
Ergotism, a disease caused by cereal grains contaminated with the mold Claviceps purpurea has been documented for over two thousand years. However, it wasnt until 1960 when more than 10,000 turkeys in the UK died after eating food contaminated with Aspergillus flavus that research into mycotoxins really took off. Since then, there have been an increasing number of studies identifying individual mycotoxins. More has also been learned about molds role in allergies, asthma, and hospital-acquired diseases.
Construction
Some construction materials have also increased molds ability to grow indoors. The paper on wallboard is an ideal food for many types of mold. Typical stucco homes have structurally weak walls that can be easily punctured. The holes and cracks that develop make water entrance (and thus mold growth) more likely.
Media Attention
Media attention and a few high profile legal cases have increased peoples awareness of indoor mold problems within the last few years. A key case that brought mold to the forefront of peoples attention occurred in the 1990s when a cluster of infants in Cleveland, OH suffered from pulmonary hemosiderosis. Elevated levels of Stachybotrys atra (also known as Stachybotrys chartarum) were found in each of these infants water-damaged homes. Although the CDCs 1997 update of this case stated the need for further clarification, the news media and other entities continued to spread the idea that Stachybotrys may have caused the infants disease. A further update by the CDC in 2000 clearly stated that an association between the disease and S. chartarum should be considered not proven.
Other high-profile cases have increased media exposure of mold in homes. Entertainer Ed McMahon filed a $20 million lawsuit in 2002 for improper cleanup of mold resulting from a broken pipe. The mold spread, and according to McMahon, killed his dog and caused him and his wife to become ill. Erin Brockovich, made famous by the movie bearing her name, again made headlines after suffering from mold that contaminated her home. Melinda Ballard won a $32.1 million award in 2001 against her insurance company after her family evacuated their home due to significant mold contamination. When the insurance company appealed, the court drastically reduced the award.
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