Mold is a specific sub-group, or phylum, of the fungus kingdom. Mold breaks down dead matter, mostly cellulose like trees, leaves and such. Mold spreads by producing spores. The spores float on air currents and settle onto surfaces throughout a home. If conditions are right, mold can begin to grow and produce more spores. The right conditions include a food source, which for mold can be almost anything, and moisture. Mold must have a source of moisture to grow and reproduce, but it doesn’t take much moisture to get them growing. Even an elevated humidity level, such as in a basement or closet, can be enough. Controlling moisture is the key to controlling mold growth.

There are an estimated 300,000 mold species, most of which have not been studied or even named. Of those studied, a relatively small percentage are known to be allergenic, some are pathogenic and even fewer are known to be toxigenic. Mold spores are ubiquitous – they’re everywhere. How a person will react to any specific mold depends on how that person’s immune system reacts to the mold spores in the air. It also depends a lot on the type of mold and the level of exposure. Different people react differently to different molds, so a “safe” level of exposure to mold can never be set.  Allergenic molds can elicit allergic reactions, a lot like pollen. For sensitive people, the reactions can be more serious. Toxigenic molds can do lasting damage to our bodies, including causing internal organ damage and even cancer. People with compromised immune systems are at particular risk for complications caused by mold.

How do I know if I have a mold problem?

If your home has water leaks that have gone on awhile, or has a wet or damp basement, you may have an issue with mold. If that dank, musty odor characteristic of basements is persistent, you probably have mold growing somewhere near the odor. Many molds give off volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), essentially gasses, that are responsible for that odor. As with mold spores, some of these gasses can cause adverse health effects if the exposure level is high enough. If you develop symptoms like headaches, sore throat, itchy eyes, runny nose, and so on when you’re home but not when you’re away, this can be a strong indicator that mold spore or VOC levels in your home are high.

Of course, having a professional mold specialist perform a Mold Assessment and take air samples throughout your home is the best way to determine if you have a mold concern. Through an assessment, sampling of the air and sampling any visible mold growth, the severity of the concern can be determined. The specific genus of molds found in the samples is usually identified, which can help determine if any indoor mold is of a type considered toxigenic. But again, it’s a matter of how your immune system is reacting to the mold spores and any VOCs present.

How do I get rid of mold?

Mold spores are everywhere; they’re microscopic and travel very well on air currents. There’s simply no way to make a home completely free of mold spores. The best we can do is make sure the indoor mold spore levels are less than those outdoors. If you have a mold problem, it can be taken care of by getting rid of the mold and correcting the conditions that allowed that mold to become a problem; that is, eliminating the source of moisture that’s supporting the mold growth. There are several companies that specialize in getting rid of mold and the better ones will also address the moisture concerns. These are called mold remediation companies.

The EPA has developed some guidelines for getting rid of mold. The guidelines are available on their website: www.epa.gov/mold. The Connecticut Department of Public Health also has some valuable information on mold in homes. Their website is: www.ct.gov/dph/mold.  In general, if you have less than ten square feet of mold-contaminated area, clean-up would be considered a homeowner job. But don’t just use bleach and wipe the area down. Bleach is largely ineffective against mold and can actually make things worse. If the mold is on a hard, non-porous surface such as plastic or ceramic tile, using a fungicide or mildewcide should be effective. If it’s growing on a porous surface such as sheetrock, the affected surface should be replaced. Mold on wood can usually be scrubbed or sanded off, but extreme care should be taken to prevent spreading spores to unaffected areas. Closing off the affected area and setting up a fan to blow from the affected area directly outdoors is essential. Wearing proper protective gear is also important – gloves, a respirator or effective mask, sealed goggles, coveralls, etc. When disturbed, mold can release literally millions of spores into the air; this is why getting rid of mold is best left to professional mold remediation companies, except in the simplest cases. If you have an affected area larger than ten square feet or multiple areas, it’s best to call in a professional mold remediator. A good remediator will get rid of the mold without causing and additional problems and can usually address the moisture concerns that allowed the mold to grow in the first place.