Summer is nearly upon us - and so is mold
season. Read our new FAQ
on Molds sent to us by the experts at Aerotech. Aerotech are
Indoor Air Quality experts that give you the lowdown on what you
can and cannot do. No product hype, just the facts!
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Q. What are mold allergies?
A. Just like pollens, mold spores can cause allergies in sensitive
individuals.
Q. Are there different types of mold allergens
to which we are allergic?
A. Yes. There are a large number of different molds that occur,
both indoors (water damaged areas) and outdoors that can cause allergies.
Virtually any mold can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
Q. Where do mold allergens grow indoors?
A. Molds grow on living (pathogens of plants or animals) and especially
on dead plants and animals where they are involved in the natural
decay process.
Q. What are outdoor mold allergens?
A. These are the ones that are mostly involved in the decay process
or sometimes in plant diseases.
Q. If I want to avoid outdoor mold allergens,
what are likely to be the places I should avoid most?
A. Fields and moist habitats with many plants.
Q. How can I reduce mold allergens in my
home?
A. The best methods are to eliminate or limit carpeting as much
as possible as they can be reservoirs for spores. HEPA filters and
vacuums are your best line of defense in eliminating mold spores.
Non-HEPA filtered air cleaners and vacuums are the culprits- they
keep the spores around by aerosolizing them and not removing them.
Also, prevent mold growth in homes by eliminating sources of water
- water incursions, adequate ventilation in bathrooms and general
good hygiene. It is advisable to turn off the water to a home when
leaving for more than 24 to 48 hours to prevent water incursions
(water heaters or broken pipes).
Q. What are the most difficult indoor mold
allergens to remove?
A. They are all the same in difficulty except that some species
such as Penicillium and Aspergillus are more easily aerosolized
and therefore more difficult to reduce to normal levels in the air.
Q. How would I go about testing if I had
toxic molds in my home? Are there home tests I can run?
A. There are no home tests available. Potentially Toxic molds MUST
be identified by a qualified laboratory, preferably an EMPAT (Environmental
Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing) administered by AIHA
which is currently revising this to an accreditation. Air testing
should be done by a well qualified knowledgeable consultant, preferably
with a good microbial background who uses an EMPAT laboratory for
analysis.
Q. What are the best ways to get rid of mold
in my home?
A. Bathrooms, window ledges, basements, kitchen all seem to be problematical.
Water sources should be eliminated if possible - repair or improve
ventilation and use dehumidifiers (eg. bathrooms and basements).
Biocides are usually not necessary if moisture levels are adequately
controlled. A Clorox type cleaner can effectively kill the mold
on surfaces and can be used in bathrooms and other surfaces with
the proper precautions (ventilation, gloves, etc.) and with an understanding
that the mold will grow back if there is moisture in the future.
Q. Is an ozone machine an effective method
of mold allergen removal?
A. No. Ozone levels cannot be obtained in indoor environments at
sufficient levels to kill the spores. For one thing, those ozone
levels would be very irritating to any inhabitants and secondly,
the areas are too large and there is too much air exchange for the
levels to reach fungitoxic levels. Also, the mold spores do not
have to be alive to cause allergies or for mycotoxins to remain
active. Thus ozone is not an effective method of control.
Q. I have heard about UV lights for air handlers
or added to hepa filters, are they effective?
A. Not really. UV lights can kill the mold in the air handlers but
as indicated before the spores don't have to be alive to cause health
effects. Also studies have indicated that indoor spore levels don't
change even though the levels of live spores in the air handler
are reduced. Where UV lights do appear to have a use is in infectious
situations (eg. hospital rooms) where the best method is referred
to as an "upper room". This basically involves placing
UV lights in a shielded situation to prevent exposure to people
but passively exposing air to the germicidal activity. The lights
must be placed appropriately based on ventilation and air currents
to ensure efficacious germicidal activity.
Contact
Aerotechlabs.com
for further information and archives of IAQ tips.
If you want to keep mold at bay this summer,
a dehumidifier or air conditioning is a must. Molds flourish in
the damp. We have a particularly high grade dehumidifier by Ebac,
the people who design "dry rooms" for businesses. See all the Ebac dehumidifiers
in our Store.
First Published: April 2000
Updated: April 2007
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