Mold in our homes is always bad news — but how bad exactly is it for your health?
Mold reproduces by dispersing spores (reproductive cells) into the air, which are not visible to the naked eye. It can grow and spread anywhere there is oxygen and moisture, but it prefers to grow on surfaces like sheetrock, insulation, fabrics, tile, and wood.
Mold accumulates in poorly ventilated and damp areas. Inhaling its spores or fragments may cause nasal congestion, inflame the airways, chest tightness, wheezing, throat irritation, and coughing.
Who’s at Risk?
Long-term exposure to high levels of indoor dampness can impair lung function and lead to chronic health issues like asthma. Those who already have asthma or allergies are more likely to experience serious symptoms if they are exposed.
People living in moldy homes are also at a higher risk of depression, increasing the risk of respiratory problems and asthma.
The most well-known mold is “Black Mold” (Stachybotrys Chartarum), which releases toxic spores and grows on water-damaged building materials. It was related to severe respiratory disease in 1994 after ten children developed idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, or lung bleeding, and one died as a result.
Despite widespread public concern and media coverage, a causal connection was never identified.
What can you do?
Mold is widely thought to be the source of the health issues mentioned above, but there’s no strong evidence to support it. This may be because scientists are still trying to calculate indoor mold exposures.
Since dampness is more common in overcrowded houses with inadequate ventilation, heating, and insulation, the incidence of damp indoor issues in low-income housing and neighborhoods can be significantly higher.
Climate change and its weather-related impacts, such as heavy rains, hurricanes, and floods, are expected to increase the proportion of damp-problem buildings even more.
Other symptoms of damp problems may include water stains, mold odor, cracking or peeling paint or wallpaper, excessive condensation, stagnant water around or under the building, and a damp basement.
There are no safe levels of mold indoor dampness specified. As a result, no health-based recommendations or criteria exist.
Nevertheless, there are a number of doable steps you may take to reduce or eliminate indoor mold. This involves properly heating your home and, in colder climates, properly insulating your home to minimize condensation and air humidity levels.
Install and use proper ventilation, particularly in damp areas or areas where water vapor can be released, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Maintaining and monitoring rain and surface water runoff is also crucial for avoiding water leakage. Make sure that any holes drilled into the walls or roof to accommodate skylights, doors, windows, pipes, or other structures are watertight.
If you notice clear mold in your house, remove it and determine the source of the excess moisture. Water and soap can be used to clean rough surfaces. A bleach solution could be used if mold growth persists. Depending on the extent of contamination, you will need to discard absorbent materials such as carpets.
In the event of significant mold damage, you need to call a commercial mold removal company in your local area. If you happen to reside somewhere in Toms River, mold removal Toms River services can help you out.
To avoid dampness and mold, certain areas may have tighter rules and building codes.
While those with asthma and pre-existing allergies are more vulnerable, mold can also harm otherwise healthy people. As a result, efforts to minimize or avoid mold exposure are critical for all.