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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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