Rain can bring on health problems caused by mold

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Rain can bring on health problems caused by mold

04:54 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2006

http://www.wvec.com/news/health/stories/wvec_medical_041106_mold_alle

rgies.266dc070.html

WVEC.com (subscription) - Norfolk,VA,USA

Rainy, damp weather can create health problems for you and your

family cause by mold.

Tara Partiss is dealing that problem found because of a leaky roof.

At first, there was white mold in the attic. It was chemically

treated and it came back as black mold. The scientific name is

Stachybotris.

All molds produce allergens and the symptoms can be serious.

" The most common one is asthma or breathing problems; people can be

short of breath, wheeze, sinus problems are very common people have

nasal congestion, headaches all the time they feel their head is

stuffed up all the time, " says Dr. Rosenstreich, Director of

the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical

Center.

Mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs.

But Stachybotris is no ordinary mold; it also produces compounds

called mycotoxins. They can cause autoimmune and nervous system

diseases.

Now, there's one key fact about mold: none of them will grow without

water or moisture.

Removing the source of the moisture is key and using building

materials that prevent the moisture from returning is recommended.

You can use bleach solution to clean the area and then use a special

mold resistant paint after the area is dried and then cleaned, but

if the moisture is still there, you won't be able to get rid of the

mold.

Also Online

EPA on mold elimination

CDC Q & A on mold

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, who should do the

cleanup depends on a number of factors.

One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy

area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by

3 ft. Patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself,

following certain guidelines. However, if there has been a lot of

water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet,

you should consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

guide: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, which

applies to homes as well.

You can access that by calling the EPA indoor air quality

information clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318 or get it online at the

link above.

And of course, if you have health concerns, consult a health

professional before starting cleanup.

By the way, insurance paid for Tara's mold removal and home repair

by professionals, but it took a month.