Pediatric Environmental Health Center

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Pediatric Environmental Health Center

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Questions about Mold

Questions about Mold

Ten things you should know about Mold

1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold

exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory

complaints. 2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and

mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor

mold growth is to control moisture. 3. If mold is a problem in your

home or school you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of

moisture. 4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent

mold growth. 5 Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decreas mold

growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers,and other moisture-generating

sources to the outside. 6. Clean and dry any dampmaterials and

furnishings. 7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and

detergent, and dry completely. 8. Prevent condensation: reduce the

potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation. 9.

In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install

carpeting. 10. Molds can be found almost anywhere, they can grow on

virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.

What is mold exactly, and where is it coming from?

Mold is a natural part of the environment and can be found almost

anywhere. Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft

through the indoor air and outdoor air continually. When excessive

moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur,

particularly if the moisture problem remains. there is no practical

way to eliminate all mold and mold spores from the environment; the

way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

How can I clean up mold?

It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48

hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home,

clean up the mold and get rid of excess water or moisture. Wash mold

off hard surfaces with detergent and water. Absorbent materials such

as ceiling tiles should be replaced.

How can I control moisture?

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your

home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. The colder

the temperature the less moisture the air can hold. If water is

entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple

landscaping to excavation and waterproofing. Showers or even cooking

can add moisture to the air in your home. Household maintenance such

as exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, vents, can help simple moisture

problems. Even keeping the bathroom door open while showering.

Ten things to know about mold testing.

1.If you believe that you have a problem with mold you can call your

local Board of health for names of industrial technicians that will

test for mold in our area. 2. Inspect for fungal growth, water

damage, and earthy odors. 3. Sample surface, air and bulk 4.

Remember that testing only identifies viable mold. 5. It can be

biased toward fungi with larger spores, and there is a media select

for different kinds of mold, which leaves room for errror in

testing. 6.Also testing can be expensive. 7.Results need to be

interpreted very carefully! test only for viable colonies (CFU)-

colony forming unit 8.Test CFU's outdoor and indoor for comparison

9.Only certain molds in high quantities trigger concern- not all

molds! cladosporidium and alternaria are of little concern. 10. Mold

growth with more than 500 CFU's can be dangerous. Stachybotrus

chartarum, and pathogenic and toxigenic fungi such as cryptococcus,

aspergillus and penicillium (certain species) are of concern.

What are the possible health effects?

1. Hypersensitiity reactions -asthma -allergic rhinitis -

hypersensitivity pneumonitis 2. Airway and conjunctival irritations

3. Acute toxicity syndromes 4. Infections -wound infections -thrush -

systemic infections -skin infections Nonspecific symptoms 1. eye

irritation 2. cough (productive and non productive) 3. sore throat

4. headache 5. difficulty concentrating

If I have been exposed, what kind of medical tests should I get?

Medical testing can be done by your practioner. 1. RAST testing for

mold allergens should be done 2. Skin testing for common allergens

3. Serum antibody testing for IgG levels and response to antigen. 4.

Pulmonary function tests for respiratory status.

Children's Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric teaching

hospital of Harvard Medical School