| Understanding Mold Molds exist everywhere in our environment and are a vital part of the ecological system. Due to increased knowledge on mold a new emphasis is given to the proper handling of mold contamination. Mold is a fungus, a multi-cellular plant-like organism. Fungi are everywhere and we breathe spores everyday. Some fungi are not a threat to human health and may even have positive effects as in ripening cheeses, edible mushrooms, and edible yeasts. Other types of fungi are known to contribute to illness and disease when they multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Mold begins as a spore. The spore functions like a seed but is much smaller and simpler. The round circle you might see by looking at the end of a hair under a microscope is about 75 microns in diameter - 15 times the size of average mold. Molds have a spore mass much smaller than the head of a pin. The spore mass contains thousands of spores. When something causes the spore mass to break thousands of spores become airborne until gravity finally causes them to settle. The spores lay dormant, waiting for the right conditions to colonize; all that is needed is moisture and a food source. Mold colonization can take place anywhere between 1 to 12 days depending on the type. Not all molds are as harmful as others and not all molds affect humans the same way. Humans can be exposed to molds and not be aware of it. Molds can cause allergies, headaches, sore throats, cold and flu-like symptoms, fatigue and malaise. Exposure to molds can affect several areas of the body. Infections can occur in the lungs, nasal sinuses, mucous membranes, skin, finger and toe nails, eyes, ears, kidneys, liver and brain. Various illnesses and a few diseases can result from molds. A mold exposure can produce sickness such as an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious illnesses are dermatitis and internal bleeding. Health conditions caused by molds include asthma, athlete's foot and pneumonia. Some people have developed ringworm, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, edema, bronchiospasms and pulmonary emphysema from molds. It is important to remember that many molds exist and not all of them cause these problems. We must be alert for the possible harmful effects of mold contamination without panicking at every sight of mold. The New York City Guidelines point out that the degree of health risk is greater for some people than for others. • Young Children have immune systems that are not sufficiently developed. • Immune suppressed or compromised persons such as elderly people, persons recovering from illnesses or surgeries, persons taking certain medications. • Asthma patients exposed to spores can experience asthmatic reactions. Some molds produce poisonous substances called micotoxins. Even if molds are dead, or in a state of dormancy, micotoxins are still present in the cell walls and can cause health problems. *For more information please visit www.servpro.com for the Servpro Mold Report. |
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