Mold

Molds are a kind of fungus, the most common found on earth. There are 1.5 million species of mold, making up 25 percent of the earth’s biomass. However, only 80 species are known to trigger allergic reactions.

Mold grows easily in most humid, warm conditions, but it also can occur in conditions that are cool and, rarely, even dry. A common name for mold found indoors is mildew. Mold spreads by way of spores, which are like tiny airborne seeds. Most mold in the home originates outdoors. Mold spores can waft in, or be carried in on clothes. Mold finds hospitable ground and colonizes in wet basements, humid crawl spaces, and anywhere leaks, high humidity or condensation are present.

The microscopic spores that mold uses to spread and reproduce are the primary culprits in mold allergies. When inhaled, they can cause respiratory allergic symptoms and, potentially, other health problems. Although mold growth isn’t a reason to panic, large areas of mold growth may require a special cleanup in order for a residence to be habitable.

Factors that Influence Amount of Mold

The amount of mold growing inside your home depends on these factors:

• How much moisture is or was in the area
• How long the area stayed wet
• How much air circulates in the area to dry the moisture
• How many times the area has been wet
• How much sunlight comes into the area

It may is not be possible to eliminate all mold spores from your home environment. But reducing moisture can make the environment unsuitable for mold to thrive.

Health Risks of Mold

There have been a lot of recent news reports concerned with mold toxicity, linking mold to memory loss, lethargy, and even hemorrhage in infants. “Toxic mold syndrome” remains controversial and unproven, but experts agree that it’s best to limit exposure to molds.

Though rare, mold-induced infections are well known to occur, and are especially dangerous to people with weakened immune systems.

The most likely adverse reaction to mold is a respiratory allergic reaction in mold-sensitive people. These reactions are similar to other respiratory allergies, causing sneezing, watery eyes, nasal discharge and congestion.

People in certain professions may suffer disproportionately from mold allergies because of increased mold exposure. These include farmers, dairy workers, loggers, bakers, greenhouse employees and others.

Just like other allergies, mold allergies can be responsible for asthma and its potentially serious health consequences. In fact, 21 percent of current U.S. asthma cases are attributable to mold allergies. Households with a very high mold burden, as measured by the same technology used in the Family Air Care® Indoor Allergens & Mold Test Kit, are much more likely to have a child with asthma.

Aside from the health risks, mold can directly damage anything from a small corner of a room to an entire house. Regularly testing for mold is not only a way to protect your family’s health but also a way to protect your real estate investment.