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What All Contractors Need to Know About Mold & Mold Contamination

Public anxiety over health problems and property destruction caused by mold is at an all time high. Increased media coverage, coupled with large court damages and new government regulations, have made mold the highest profile Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issue–and mold remediation the fastest growing IAQ service!

What Causes Indoor Mold Growth?

Mold can grow on virtually any organic substance or building material comprised of wood, wallpaper, drywall, carpet, paint, adhesives, fabrics, ducting and insulation. Mold is in the air everywhere and when it lands on a damp indoor spot with little or no UV light, it begins digesting and growing. This produces thousands of microscopic spores that are released into the air while the destructive organism eventually damages the materials on which they feed and grow.

Mold infestation and rampant growth usually occurs whenever water damage or other moisture problems in indoor environments go unaddressed or are treated improperly.

Typical problem situations encountered are:

• Natural weather disasters
• Equipment malfunctions in a building
• Poor facility design or maintenance
• Improper cleanup after a problem
• Delayed remediation after an event

Visible mold is typically only the tip of the iceberg, and usually a sign that the problem may already be extensive. It is not uncommon to find 10 times or more mold growth out of sight inside the crevices of a wall or within an HVAC system.

Mold Exposure and Immune System Response

As molds feed on their food source and the colony grows, they produce byproducts of digestion. Mycotoxins, antibiotics and glucans are agents that can be toxic to humans depending upon exposure. Based on a 1999 study, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota concluded that an immune response to fungus was the cause of chronic sinusitis in 96% of the patients studied (sinusitis that lasts 3 months or more). An estimated 40 to 50 million Americans suffer from this problem, which is the most common chronic disease in the United States. Prior to this study, it was estimated that only 10% of these problems were fungus-related. The study results clearly portray a disease process in which the body's immune response system irritates the membranes of the nose and produces cold or flu-like symptoms. As long as the fungi remain, so will the irritation. Mold-Related Allergic Reactions In addition to immunologic response, the presence of some mold and fungal species in buildings has been shown to or is suspected of causing or contributing to other persistent health-related symptoms in sensitive individuals such as:

• Painful headaches
• Disorientation & dizziness
• Nausea
• Diminished reflex response
• Diarrhea
• Depression
• Loss of concentration
• Chronic asthma
• Chronic fatigue
• Rashes and open sores

Toxic Mold-Related Illnesses

Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium are mold species commonly found indoors. All are capable of producing mycotoxins, which can affect virtually anyone exposed to them. Potential reactions consist of immune disorders, pathogenic disease and cancer. Mycotoxins, produced by Stachybotrys or black mold, have been linked to a number of health problems including pulmonary hemorrhaging.

As molds grow they produce metabolic gasses called MVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds). MVOC gases 3-octanone and 3- methyl-1-butanol produce the characteristic musty smell associated with mold. The health effects of MVOCs are largely unknown at this time.

Aspergillus species A.parasitis and A.fumigatus also produce aflotoxins. Aflotoxins have been identified as acutely toxic to the liver, brains, kidney and heart, and possibly carcinogenic (cancer causing) to the liver. All species are fairly prevalent in buildings. Some Stachybotrys and Fusarium species can also produce marcocyclic trichothecenes. The most serious health effects of mold toxicity are often found in young children, the elderly and those afflicted with respiratory illnesses. For people with immune systemrelated diseases, such as leukemia or HIV, Aspergillosis is often fatal (a disease related to Aspergillus infections).

Sick Building Syndrome

The EPA uses the term 'Sick Building Syndrome' or SBS to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. Since the 1980's, homes and buildings have been built with energy efficiency in mind. Airtight structures with ample insulation reduce airflow and heat loss, but also prevent a building from drying out when it gets wet. Allergy medications can treat the symptoms, but physicians and allergists also recommend "allergen avoidance"—taking measures to reduce or eliminate exposure to the source of the problem. However, if the person's livelihood takes place within a building that has SBS, avoiding the source may be difficult.