Q: What are the adverse health effects from breathing elevated mold levels indoors?
A: Mold can cause asthma, respiratory problems, throat and lung irritation, infections, skin rashes, burnings eyes, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. Inhalation of toxic molds can result in liver or central nervous system damage and cancer. In certain cases mold can begin growing in the lungs.
Q: If the mold is not toxic, does it still need to be removed?
A: Yes. All molds are allergens and have the potential to cause adverse health effects. While certain mold species are toxigenic (poisonous through inhalation), pathogenic (agents of disease), or carcinogenic (cancer causing), all molds can trigger allergic reactions.
Q: Can't I just spray the affected area with bleach and kill the mold?
A: No. It is necessary to remove the mold, not just to kill it. Whether dead or alive, mold spores remain allergenic and certain molds may be toxic. The use of bleach is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation.
Q: Can't I just paint over the mold?
A: No. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. Hidden mold may be present behind the drywall. The full extent of growth needs to be identified and the mold removed.
Q: If I increase the ventilation in my attic, won't the mold clear up on its own?
A: No. Once mold growth occurs, it remains until removed. Mold eats into the wood. Spores remain able to grow for years after they are produced. Dead or alive, mold spores easily become airborne and remain allergenic or toxigenic.
Q: What is hidden mold?
A: Mold growing behind drywall, paneling, wallpaper, under carpeting, or on the top-side of ceilings. Mold spores easily become airborne and can affect the air you breathe. Air testing is a useful tool in detecting the presence of hidden mold not clearly visible to the naked eye.
What is Mold?
Molds are organisms that may be found indoors and outdoors. They are part of the natural environment and play an important role in the environment by breaking down and digesting organic material. Molds are neither plants nor animals. They are Fungi.
Fungi belong to a kingdom of their own. The main role of fungi in the ecosystem is to break down dead materials, such as dead leaves, trees, insects, and animals. The same enzymes that assist fungi in breaking down dead materials are the same that can damage wooden components in a building. Molds can damage food, stored goods, and building materials of houses. Yeast, mold, mildew, and mushroom are terms that are commonly used to refer to fungi. Mold is essentially a description of fungi growing on surfaces (like the black substance on a moldy shower wall). Mold and mildew often refer to the same fungi. All mold is fungi; not all fungi is mold.
Molds come in many colors including white. "Black mold" is not a species or specific kind of mold, and neither is "toxic mold." Sometimes the news media use the terms "toxic mold" and "black mold" to refer to molds that may produce mycotoxins or for a specific mold, Stachybotryschartarum. Molds that produce mycotoxins are often referred to as toxigenic fungi. Molds can multiply by producing microscopic spores (2 - 100 microns [μm] in diameter), similar to the seeds produced by plants. Many spores are so small they easily float through the air and can be carried for great distances by even the gentlest breeze. The number of mold spores suspended in indoor and outdoor air fluctuates from season to season, day to day, and even hour to hour. No one knows how many species of fungi exist, but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Some of the common indoor molds are Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria.
Mold spores are ubiquitous; they are found both indoors and outdoors. Mold spores cannot be eliminated from indoor environments. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and on settled dust; however, they will not grow if moisture is not present.
Mold Inspections
While all the information above is important, the really important question is "Does my home have mold?"
The only way to know is to perform a mold inspection yourself, or allowing a professional to handle this task for you. First of all, you must know what to look for and what conditions are needed for mold to grow.
Secondly, you have to explore the entire house and possibly collect samples from the attic, or even the crawlspace. Sometimes these are places you might not feel comfortable going. Next, the samples must be analyzed by a certified lab to determine what type of mold you have found. This can be expensive.
My answer to all of this is: "Let me handle all of this for you. I have been trained to know what to look for, and I have the equipment to collect both surface and air samples. I also have a working relationship with a certified lab that can analyze your samples and have the results in your hand in just a few days.
Limited Mold Inspection
A limited mold inspection is performed by an IAC2 certified mold inspector.
The difference between a Complete Mold Inspection and a Limited Mold Inspection is a limitation of the non-invasive visual examination of the building. The limited mold inspection does not include a visual examination of the entire building, but is limited to a specific area of the building identified and defined by the inspector and agreed to by the client.
The inspector and client prior to the inspection shall agree to the limitation of the visual examination. As a result, potential sources of mold growth in other areas of the building may not be inspected.
The inspector will perform:
• A non-invasive visual examination of the readily accessible, visible, and installed systems and components of the only the specific room or area defined by the inspector:
• At least two air samples
• Surface sampling at an area of concern (up to two)
(Additional samples are $40 if warranted.)
The inspector will report
• moisture intrusion,
• water damage,
• musty odors,
• apparent mold growth, or
• conditions conducive to mold growth.
• results of a laboratory analysis of all mold samplings taken at the building.
The limited mold inspection is a fast and affordable way to confirm the existence of mold and, if possible, determine the type of mold present in a specific, defined area of the building.
An example of a Limited Mold Inspection: The client requests a limited mold inspection to be performed. The scope is specifically limited to the under-floor crawlspace of the building. Only the crawlspace will be inspected including a non-invasive examination of the crawlspace. At least one mold sample will be taken, typically a tape sample if apparent mold is visible.
A Limited Mold Inspection includes:
• Visual examination limited to a specific, defined area of the building.
• Mold samples.
The price of a Limited Mold Inspection is $275.00.
Limited Mold Inspection (During a Home Inspection)
$50 per sample
Inspection includes sampling, lab analysis, and report.
The report will include:
• Identification of moisture intrusion, water damage, musty odors, apparent mold growth, or conditions conducive to mold growth.
• Results of a laboratory analysis of all mold samplings taken at the building.
Complete Mold Inspection
A complete mold inspection is performed by an IAC2 certified mold inspector.
A complete mold inspection performed in accordance with the Mold Inspection Standards of Practice of the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants, which can be viewed here (IAC2 Standards of Practice).
The inspection includes:
• a non-invasive visual examination of the readily accessible, visible, and installed systems and components of the building listed in the IAC2 Mold Inspection Standards of Practice.
• Moisture, temperature, and humidity measurements.
Up to 5 samples total, if warranted. Additional samples, if warranted, are $50.
The report will include:
• Identification of moisture intrusion, water damage, musty odors, apparent mold growth, or conditions conducive to mold growth
• Results of a laboratory analysis of all mold samplings taken at the building.
• Any system or component listed in the Standards of Practice that were not visually examined and the reason(s) they were not inspected.
Unless the inspector and client agree to a limitation of the inspection, the inspection will be performed on the primary building and attached parking structure only.
The report will include:
• Identification of moisture intrusion, water damage, musty odors, apparent mold growth, or conditions conducive to mold growth
• Results of a laboratory analysis of all mold samplings taken at the building.
The price of a Complete Mold Inspection is $500 (additional samples are $50, if warranted.)