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The
severity of the problem
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The EPA not
only recognizes the mold problem, but thinks it is a big one.
They have many brochures on mold. One of them,
"Biological Pollutants in Your Home" (EPA Document
reference No. 402-F-90-102), prepared by the American Lung
Association and the U.S. Consumer Products Commission, warns
that "one-third to one-half of all structures have damp
conditions that may encourage development of pollutants such
as molds and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions --
including asthma and spread infectious diseases."
This
means that their research indicates that conditions in the
structures are ideal for mold growth. When you cut through the
wording, the key phrase is "one-third to one-half of all
structures." In other words, if your house doesn't have a
mold problem, the neighbor's house to the right of you or the
left of you probably does.
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The
fungus among us
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Mold
is just another name for fungi. It is essential to life
because it breaks down organic matter and permits it to be
recycled. Yeasts that make it possible for us to bake bread or
make beer and cheese are in the fungi family.
Molds are
highly adaptable organisms. They can be single cells, like
yeast, or strings of cells called hyphae. Hyphae weave
themselves into clusters, called mycelium that are visible to
the naked eye.
Mold spores
germinate to form hyphae, which grow into a colony and create
more spores. If the climate is good, the cycle goes on forever
and the mold colony spreads and prospers. Over time, it sends
out millions, maybe billions, of mold spores that have the
ability to establish new colonies.
If the climate
turns bad, the fungi form thick-walled chlamydospores, which
can survive for years in hot dry climates then start the life
cycle all over again when proper conditions exist.
According to
"Mold: Cause, Effect and Response" by the Foundation
of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, 69,000 different species of
fungi have been identified and there may be as many as 1.5
million different species. All told, fungi (remember that is
just another name for mold) represents approximately 25
percent of the earth's biomass.
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The
problem
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OK,
molds are all over, but most are benign and we don't have to
worry about them. There are just a few bad apples, like Stchybotrys,
that we have to worry about. Right?
Wrong.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "All
molds have the potential to cause long-term health effects.
Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, toxins
that may cause reaction in humans." (Quoted from
"Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial
Buildings," EPA No. 402-K-01-001.)
Potential mold
dangers can be created by living mold, by the mycotoxins
(toxic substances) they produce, and even from dead mold
cells.
Despite the
potential danger, little practical research has been done on
mold in houses because it didn't seem to be a major problem
until the past 20 or 30 years. Up until then, the perceived
danger was considered to be mold in food that we might
accidentally eat.
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Should I test
for mold?
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If you feel uncomfortable
with the thought of mold in your home, or if you already have
an existing health problem that may get worse due to the
exposure to mold, we recommend that a swab or air sampling be
taken to help identify the various species of mold that may
exist in your home.
Because
home inspectors are not mold specialists nor doctors, we
cannot alert you to the possible dangers to your health that
may develop as a result of mold exposure. Home Inspectors have
the equipment and knowledge to retrieve mold samples for
laboratory analysis ONLY. Once mold spores are identified, it
is recommended that you take the results to your doctor for
review and consultation.
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