For whatever reason, so far the government doesn’t take mold quite seriously. Or maybe they take it seriously, but the legal and medical lines aren’t well drawn.

For whatever reason, even though mycotoxins are toxins, if you look up government and medical information on mold-related environmental disease, mostly what you find are connections to children, the immunocompromised, the allergic. If that is the case in reality, why are ALL mold workers submitted hazmat suits, not just children, the immunocompromised, and the allergic?

This, in spite of humans being adversely affected by mold since the dawn of time.

And the damage goes on.

The Amesbury’s public library is the site of “a bloom of toxic mold” that hospitalized employee, and started a round of building air quality testing.

The problems have the common denominators: rainy summer, humidity, mold in a basement, airborne circulation. Water issues in the building, soaked foundation.

The emptied buildings will be retested; and after everything that is salvageable will be salvaged. How much remediation will be necessary has not yet been determined.

http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_291215017.html

Dogs can pretty much eat anything, and will. So if a trusted company puts it in a bag, then it must be okay, right?

Wrong.

Last year there was a big buzz about Melamine in dog food.

Now Wysong Pet Food is pulling five batches of their Canine Diets Maintenance and Senior dry dog food — manufactured in June and July 2009 their pet food due to Penicillium and fusarium mold contamination.

Toxic food will kill pets. They can’t eat everything, and certainly not toxic food.

Just like the unwanted moisture in your houses, mold will grow on unwanted moisture in your pet’s food. So make sure to keep your eyes out for moldy pet food, and heed any recalls. Because Mold, respects nothing. If it can eat it, you will find mold in it.

If you’re renting, and your rental unit suffers from mold, cracked paint and water dripping where it isn’t supposed to, then you may have cause for legal action, at the very least, legal action to compel your landlord to repair your environment. This is because roof leaks, the problems caused by roof leaks, in other words, mold, cracked paint, and water dripping inside are breaches of the landlord’s responsibility to provide a “habitable” living space.

So you may want to get your apartment tested, and see if you’re living in a toxic hot zone.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Paul Ellringer, PE, CIH, for providing the photo of mold on the back of wallpaper in the Hidden Mold section.  Should you like to use some of the photos used in this guide,
higher quality print versions are available in the
Mold Gallery. 
These photos may be used for presentations and educational purposes
without contacting EPA.

Please note that this document presents recommendations.  EPA does not
regulate mold or mold spores in indoor air.

Petrie dish showing mold growth

src: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html

Additional Resources

For more information on mold related issues including mold cleanup and moisture control/condensation/humidity issues, you can consult
the following resources:

Mold Resources page

Una Breve Guía para el Moho, la Humedad y su Hogar

• está disponible en el formato PDF
  (PDF, 20 pp, 796KB)
• Documento de la agencia EPA número 402-K-03-008.

Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

• HTML Version
• PDF Version (PDF, 54 pp, 4.8MB).
• EPA 402-K-01-001, March 2001

Other Indoor Air Quality Publications -
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs

Hidden Mold

Suspicion of hidden mold

You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting
health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets
and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind
furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).

Investigating hidden mold problems

Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example,
removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold
problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.

Cleanup and Biocides

Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is
not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when
immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain –
these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the
air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.

Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.

Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips
 

• When water leaks or spills occur indoors – ACT QUICKLY.  If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most
  cases mold will not grow.
   
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
   
• Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
   
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
   
• Keep indoor humidity low.  If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. 
  Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
   
• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. 
  Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.

Actions that will help to reduce humidity

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible.  (Combustion appliances such as
  stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)
   
• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.
   
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering.  Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.

Actions that will help prevent condensation

• Reduce the humidity.
   
• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical.  Use fans as needed.
   
• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
   
• Increase air temperature.

Testing or Sampling for Mold

Is sampling for mold needed?  In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary.  Since no EPA or other federal limits have
been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards.  Surface sampling may be useful to
determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated.  Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in
designing  mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results.  Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.

Renters:  Report all plumbing leaks and moisture problems immediately to your building owner, manager, or superintendent. In cases where persistent water problems are not addressed, you may want to contact local, state, or federal health or housing authorities. 
[Note: Find your state health department contacts at

www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html (just click on your state).]

What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas
 

• Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores.  In order to limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.)  Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask with a nozzle on the front, others are made primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from entering.  In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator.  Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that respirators fit properly (fit testing) when used in an occupational setting; consult OSHA for more information (800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov).
   
• Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended.  When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary
  household rubber gloves may be used.  If you are using a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select
  gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC (see Cleanup
  and Biocides).  Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.

 

• Wear goggles.  Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended.  Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

How Do I Know When the Remediation or Cleanup is Finished?

You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem before the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished.

• You should have completed mold removal.  Visible mold and moldy odors should not be present.  Please note that mold may cause staining and
  cosmetic damage.
   
• You should have revisited the site(s) shortly after cleanup and it should show no signs of water damage or mold growth.
   
• People should have been able to occupy or re-occupy the area without health complaints or physical symptoms.
   
• Ultimately, this is a judgment call; there is no easy
  answer.  If you have concerns or questions consult our
  Frequently
  Asked Questions database and ask a question if you don’t
  find what you need.

Mold Cleanup Guidelines

Tips and techniques

The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem.  Professional cleaners or remediators may use
methods not covered in this publication.  Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage.  It may not be possible to clean
an item so that its original appearance is restored.

Mold growing on the underside of a plastic lawn chair in an are where rainwater drips through and deposits organic material. Click on the image for a larger version. Mold growing on the underside of a plastic lawn chair in an area where rainwater drips through and deposits organic material. Click on the image for a larger version.

Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible.  Dry all items completely. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.  Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold (see discussions: What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas and Hidden Mold). Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces.  Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting.  Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist.  Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in phone books.  Be sure to ask for and check references.  Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

BATHROOM TIP picture of running water Places that are often or always damp can be hard to maintain completely free of mold.  If there’s some mold in the shower or elsewhere in the bathroom that seems to reappear, increasing ventilation (running a fan or opening a window) and cleaning more frequently will usually prevent mold from recurring, or at least keep the mold to a minimum

Mold Cleanup

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors.  One consideration is the size of the mold problem.  If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below.  However:

• If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA’s Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.  Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.
   
• If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.  Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA’s Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
   
• If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for
  instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA’s guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold – it could spread mold throughout the building.
   
• If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
   
• If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.