What is Mold?
 |
| Molds can gradually destroy the things they grow on. They
can damage your home and furnishings and cause health
problems. |
Mold and mildew are types
of fungi. Molds are found
both outdoors and indoors. Outdoors, moldis
important to the growth of all plant life. Mold breaks down dead organic
matter such as fallen leaves or decaying trees and turns it into compost.
It’s nature’s way of providing a natural food source for our forests.
Indoors, however, mold can
literally destroy your home. Mold thrives on natural fabrics and
materials found throughout every home and office. Mold attacks furniture fabrics, clothing, rugs and carpet.
It grows on walls and ceilings – under flooring and on many others
surfaces in your home or office.
How does Mold
grow?
 |
| Mold can be many different colors. It may look furry, slimy, or
powdery. Some mold has a musty, stale, or earthy
odor. |
Mold needs water and food. It can grow almost
anywhere there is water, high humidity, or
damp conditions. Mold grows
faster in warm temperatures and high humidity.
Molds
reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked
eye and float through outdoor and indoor air.
There
are approximately 10,000 mold spores on the head of a pin.. Mold may begin
growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. Mold will not grow without
water or moisture.
Am I Easily Exposed to
Mold?
There are many ways you can
be exposed to mold. You can breathe in mold particles if mold is
disturbed or damaged. You can also breathe in tiny spores (similar to
seeds) that mold may release into the air. You can touch mold and
get
it on your skin. You can swallow mold if you
eat moldy or spoiled food.
Can Mold Cause Health
Problems?
 |
|
Mold
loves moisture, so if you get rid of the dampness you're going to
get rid of the majority of the mold.
|
Molds have the potential to
cause health problems. Studies by Harvard University have shown that
between 40 and 50% of homes in North America have moisture and mold
problems serious enough to significantly increase respiratory symptoms
among occupants. Particularly susceptible are pregnant women, infants, the
elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
For many
people, mold exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and
throat. Molds can trigger
asthmatic attacks. Molds
produce allergens which are substances that cause allergic reactions. In
addition, a 1999 Mayo Clinic study implicated fungi, the plant group to
which molds belong, as the cause of almost all chronic sinusitis affecting
37 million Americans. Finally, some molds produce
toxic
substances called mycotoxin that can damage your health. In high concentrations mold fragments, spores and mycotoxins can trigger
symptoms even in individuals with no
allergies.
How can I tell if there
is mold in my house?
In most cases you should be able to see the mold
growth and smell a musty odor that is caused by mold. When checking for mold, look
for signs of water damage. Wet spots, staining, dampness or other evidence of
water leaks or damage may be a precursor to mold growth.
If there is mold growth in your home, you must act
quickly before the mold damages
what it is growing on. Clean up the
mold and fix the water problem.
If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water
problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.
In some cases you may not be
able to see the mold in your house. Mold may grow behind walls,
above ceilings, under carpets and other places not visible to your eye.
You may, however, be able to smell it because many molds emit a “musty”
smell. If you have a musty
smell, look for mold and clean the area if you find mold growing in your
home. Again, fix the water
problem so the mold does not grow back.
The Key to Mold Control
is Moisture Control.
DampRid
offers a
line of Moisture Absorbers and Mold & Mildew Prevention and Stain Cleaning products that control moisture to
eliminate the dampness that
causes mold to grow. The Moisture Absorber products remove excess moisture from the air and maintain the humidity at
just the right level so mold
will not
grow. The Cleaning and Control products clean away mold stains and places a blocker on the surface to prevent mold
spores from attaching so mold will not grow
back.
