INFORMATION SHEET

MOLD IN YOUR HOME

INTRODUCTION

This information sheet is for people who have mold problems in their homes. It presents the health concerns associated with mold exposure and advice on finding and removing mold contamination.

What Is Mold?

Molds are fungi. Molds grow throughout the natural and built environment. Tiny particles of mold naturally occur in indoor and outdoor air. In nature, molds help break down dead materials and can be found growing on soil, foods, plant matter and other items. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" which are very tiny and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) when they find the right conditions.

What Does Mold Need To Grow?

Mold only needs a few simple things to grow and multiply: moisture, nutrients, spores and a suitable place to grow. Of these, controlling excess moisture is the key to preventing and stopping indoor mold growth.

Should I Be Concerned About Mold In My Home?

Mold should not be permitted to grow and multiply indoors. When this happens, health problems can occur and building materials, goods and furnishings may be damaged.

HEALTH EFFECTS

Can Mold Make Me And My Family Sick?

Mold can affect the health of people who are exposed to it. People are mainly exposed to mold by breathing spores or other tiny fragments. People can also be exposed through skin contact with mold contaminants (for example, by touching moldy surfaces) and by swallowing it.

The type and severity of health effects that mold may produce are usually difficult to predict. The risks can vary greatly from one location to another, over time and from person to person.

What Symptoms Might I See?

The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly report problems such as: nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing/breathing difficulties, sore throat, skin and eye irritation and upper respiratory infections (including sinus inflammation).

Are The Risks Greater For Some People?

There is wide variability in how different people are affected by indoor mold, however, the long term presence of indoor mold growth may eventually become unhealthy for anyone. The following types of people may be affected more severely and sooner than others: infants and children, elderly people, individuals with respiratory conditions or sensitivities such as allergies and asthma, persons having weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV infection, chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients).

Those with special health concerns should consult a medical professional if they feel their health is affected by indoor mold.

Are Some Molds More Hazardous Than Others?

Some types of mold can produce chemical compounds (called mycotoxins) although they do not always do so. Molds that are able to produce toxins are common. In some circumstances, the toxins produced by indoor mold may cause health problems. All indoor mold growth is potentially harmful and should be removed promptly, no matter what types of mold are present or whether it can produce some level of toxins.

HOME INVESTIGATION

How Do I Tell If Have A Mold Problem?

First and foremost, investigate, don't test. The most practical way to find a mold problem is by using your eyes to look for mold growth and by using your nose to locate the source of a suspicious odor. If you see mold or if there is an earthy or musty smell, you should assume a mold problem exists. Other clues are signs of excess moisture or the worsening of allergy-like symptoms.

Look for visible mold growth (may appear cottony, velvety, granular or leathery and have varied colors of white, gray, brown, black, yellow, green). Mold often appears as discoloration, staining or fuzzy growth on the surface of building materials or furnishings. When mold is visible, testing is usually not recommended or even necessary.

Should I Test For Mold?

The Delaware Division of Public Health does not routinely recommend testing for mold. Instead, you should simply assume there is a problem whenever you see mold or smell mold odors. Testing should never take the place of visual inspection and it should never use up resources that are needed to correct moisture problems and remove all visible growth.

When Is Testing Recommended?

Sometimes, mold growth is hidden and difficult to locate. In such cases, a combination of air (outdoor and indoor air samples) and bulk (material) samples may help determine the extent of contamination and where cleaning is needed. However, mold testing is rarely useful for trying to answer questions about health concerns. Some insurance companies and legal services may suggest sampling as a form of documentation of microbial contamination. These situations should be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

HOW DO I ADDRESS THE PROBLEM?

Mold Clean-Up And Removal:

To clean up and remove indoor mold growth in small quantities, follow these steps as they apply to your home. (In all cases, refer to the EPA handbooks: A Brief Guide To Mold, Moisture, and Your Home or Mold Remediation In Schools and Commercial Buildings prior to beginning any of the work described below.)

Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem
Begin Drying All Wet Materials
Remove and Dispose of Mold Contaminated Materials
Clean Surfaces
Disinfect Surfaces - optional
Remain on Mold Alert
Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem - the most important step in solving a mold problem is to identify and correct the moisture sources that allowed the growth in the first place.

Common Indoor Moisture Sources Include:

Flooding, inadequate maintenance and failure of building materials and systems
Roof leaks
Plumbing leaks
Overflow from tubs, sinks or toilets
Firewood stored indoors
Humidifier use
Inadequate venting of kitchen and bath humidity
Improper venting of combustion appliances
Failure to vent clothes dryer exhaust outdoors (including electric dryers)
Line drying laundry indoors
House plants - watering them can generate large amounts of moisture
Condensation (caused by indoor humidity that is too high or surfaces that are too cold)
Water movement through basement walls and slabs

Drying The Indoor Environment:

To keep indoor surfaces as dry as possible, try to maintain the home's relative humidity between 20-40 percent in the winter and below 60 percent the rest of the year. You can purchase devices to measure relative humidity at some home supply stores. Ventilation, air circulation near cold surfaces, dehumidification and efforts to minimize the production of moisture in the home are all very important in controlling high humidity that frequently causes mold growth in our cold climate.

Begin Drying Of Wet Materials:

Begin to dry any materials that are wet as soon as possible. For severe moisture problems, use fans and dehumidifiers and move wet items away from walls and off floors. Check with equipment rental companies or restoration firms to see if you can rent fans and dehumidifiers.

Remove And Dispose Of Mold-Contaminated Materials:

Items which have absorbed moisture (porous materials) and which have mold growing on them need to be removed, bagged and thrown out. Such materials may include gypsum wallboard, insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet pad, ceiling tiles, wood products (other than solid wood) and paper products. Likewise, any such porous materials that have contacted sewage should also be bagged and thrown away. Non-porous materials with surface mold growth may be saved if they are cleaned well and kept dry.

TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The amount of mold particles in air can increase greatly when mold is disturbed. Consider using protective equipment when handling or working around mold contaminated materials. The following equipment can help minimize exposure to mold:

Rubber gloves
Eye goggles
Outer clothing (long sleeves and long pants) that can be easily removed in the work area and laundered or discarded
Medium-efficiency or high-efficiency filter dust mask (these can be found at safety equipment suppliers, hardware stores, or some other large stores that sell home repair supplies) -- at a minimum, use an N-95 or equivalent dust mask

TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT OTHERS

Plan and perform all work to minimize the amount of dust generated. Plan to keep all susceptible people (children, seniors, and those sensitive to indoor contaminants, including people with compromised immune systems) out of the area to help minimize their potential for exposure. The following actions can help minimize the spread of mold spores:

Enclose all moldy materials in plastic (bags or sheets) before carrying through the home
Hang plastic sheeting to separate the work area from the rest of the home
Remove outer layer of work clothing in the work area and wash separately or bag
Damp clean the entire work area to pick up settled contaminants in dust
Clean Surfaces - surface mold growing on non-porous materials such as hard plastic, concrete, glass, metal and solid wood can usually be cleaned. Cleaning must remove and capture the mold contamination, because dead spores and mold particles still cause health problems if they are left in place
Thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces using a stiff brush, hot water and a non-ammonia soap/detergent or commercial cleaner
Collect excess cleaning liquid with a wet/dry vacuum, mop or sponge
Rinse area with clean water and collect excess rinse water
Disinfect Surfaces
After cleaning has removed all visible mold and other soiling from contaminated surfaces, a disinfectant may be used to kill mold missed by the cleaning. In the case of sewage contamination, disinfection must be performed. Contact the Delaware Division of Public Health for appropriate advice.
Mix 1/4 to 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water and apply to surfaces where mold growth was visible before cleaning. The solution can be applied with a spray bottle, garden sprayer, it can be sponged on, or applied by other methods.
Collect any run-off of bleach solution with a wet/ dry vacuum, sponge or mop. However, do not rinse or wipe the bleach solution off the areas being treated -- allow it to dry on the surface.
Always handle bleach with caution. Never mix bleach with ammonia -- toxic chlorine gas may result. Bleach can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Provide fresh air (for example, open a window or door). Protect skin and eyes from contact with bleach. Test solution on a small area before treatment, since bleach is very corrosive and may damage some materials.

REMAIN ON MOLD ALERT

Continue looking for signs of moisture problems or return of mold growth. Be particularly alert to moisture in areas of past growth. If mold returns, repeat cleaning steps and consider using a stronger solution to disinfect the area again. Regrowth may signal that the material should be removed or that moisture is not yet controlled.

When Can We Rebuild?

Rebuilding and refurnishing must wait until all affected materials have dried completely. Be patient it takes time to dry out wet building materials. Be sure to continue dehumidification and watching out for telltale signs that the moisture problem might be recurring.

Can Ozone Air Cleaners Remove Indoor Mold?

Some air cleaners are designed to produce ozone, which is a strong oxidizing agent and a known irritant of the lungs and respiratory system. Studies have shown that ozone, even at high concentrations, is not effective at killing airborne mold or surface mold contamination. Even if mold were killed by ozone, the health threats would not be reduced until mold contaminants are removed through cleaning. Health experts, including the Delaware Division of Public Health, do not recommend the use of ozone to address mold or any other indoor air problems.

WHO CAN YOU CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT MOLD?

In Delaware, you can contact The Delaware Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Evaluation Branch or visit our Inside Healthy Homes page .

REFERENCES:

Last Reviewed: July 12, 2004