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Mold and the Enterprise
Understanding the causes, health implications, and the importance of mold remediation.
There are more than 1,000 species of mold in the United States alone.
They serve a valuable purpose in the natural world, in food production, and in the creation of medicines. However, mold growing indoors can pose serious health risks for building occupants. These risks include respiratory issues, allergies, and infections. Mold can also contribute to the breakdown of building materials as it feeds on drywall, wood, and paper.
What is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that exists naturally in our environment. It reproduces by releasing tiny, airborne spores that can land on surfaces and grow under the right conditions. The main factors contributing to mold growth are:
- Moisture is essential for mold development. It can come from various sources, including leaks, floods, high humidity, and poor ventilation. When water infiltrates a structure, it can seep into walls, ceilings, and floors, creating an ideal environment for mold spores to thrive.
- Mold thrives in temperatures between 77°F and 86°F (25°C and 30°C). While most building management systems maintain a temperature well below 77°F, mold can grow outside of temperature-controlled areas and can find its way into occupied spaces.
- Mold feeds on organic materials like wood, paper, drywall, and even dust. These materials are abundant in most building structures, providing ample sustenance for mold colonies.
According to OSHA’s A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace, there are no federal standards
or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores.
The Health Implications of Mold
Mold exposure can have various health effects, and individuals with allergies, asthma, or compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable. Some common health implications of mold exposure include:
- Respiratory Issues: Mold spores can be inhaled, leading to symptoms like coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and nasal congestion. For those with asthma, mold exposure can trigger or worsen asthma attacks.
-
Allergic Reactions: Mold allergens can cause skin rashes, itchy eyes, and throat irritation in sensitive
individuals.
-
Serious Infections: In rare cases, people with weakened immune systems may develop severe lung infections
after inhaling mold spores.
Identifying and Remediating Mold
Early detection of mold in your indoor environment is crucial for finding the source of the problem and keeping it from growing, causing health problems in occupants and in the structural integrity of your buildings.
Identifying and remediating mold will achieve the following benefits:
- Health Protection: Prompt mold removal helps protect the health of occupants, especially those with allergies, asthma, or compromised immune systems.
- Property Preservation: Mold can cause structural damage to buildings, leading to costly repairs. Addressing mold early can prevent extensive damage.
- Improved Indoor Air Quality: Mold remediation improves indoor air quality, making homes and buildings safer and more comfortable to inhabit.
- Improved Indoor Air Quality: Mold remediation improves indoor air quality, making homes and buildings safer and more comfortable to inhabit.
Using an air monitor, like the Flair Indoor Air Quality Monitor, can help pinpoint exact locations in your building to look for mold problems and address it becomes a serious problem.
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