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Q 1. I heard about "toxic molds" that grow in homes
and other buildings. Should I be concerned about a serious health
risk to me and my family? |
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A 1.
The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are
toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins),
the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented
by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same
as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always
a little mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. There
are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can
cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage
or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link
between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has
not been proven. A common-sense approach should be used for any mold
contamination existing inside buildings and homes. The common health
concerns from molds include hay fever-like allergic symptoms.
Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease (chronic
obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may experience difficulty
breathing. Individuals with immune suppression may be at increased
risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have
these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted
for diagnosis and treatment. For the most part, one should take
routine measures to prevent mold growth in the home.
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Q 2. How common is mold, including Stachybotrys
chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra)
in buildings? |
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A 2.
Molds are very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere
indoors where there is moisture. The most common indoor molds are
Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and
Alternaria. We do not have precise information about how often
Stachybotrys chartarum is found in buildings and homes. While it is
less common than other mold species, it is not rare.
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Q 3. How do molds get in the indoor environment and
how do they grow? |
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A 3.
Mold spores occur in the indoor and outdoor environments. Mold
spores may enter your house from the outside through open doorways,
windows, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems with
outdoor air intakes. Spores in the air outside also attach
themselves to people and animals, making clothing, shoes, bags, and
pets convenient vehicles for carrying mold indoors.
When mold spores
drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where
leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or
where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building
materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow.
Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products,
cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly
conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as
dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet,
fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.
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Q 4. What is Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra)? |
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A 4.
Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym
Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on
material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as
fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Growth occurs when
there is moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water
leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant
moisture is required for its growth. It is not necessary, however,
to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be
treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.
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Q 5. Are there any circumstances where people
should vacate a home or other building because of mold? |
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A.
These decisions have to be made individually. If you believe you are
ill because of exposure to mold in a building, you should consult
your physician to determine the appropriate action to take.
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Q 6. Who are the people who are most at risk for
health problems associated with exposure to mold? |
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A 6.
People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with
immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible
to fungal infections.
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Q 7. How do you know if you have a mold problem? |
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A 7.
Large mold infestations can usually be seen or smelled.
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Q 8. Does Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra) cause acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants? |
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A 8.
To date, a possible association between acute idiopathic pulmonary
hemorrhage among infants and Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra) has not been proved. Further studies are needed to
determine what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage.
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Q 9. What if my child has acute idiopathic
pulmonary hemorrhage? |
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A 9.
Parents should ensure that their children get proper medical
treatment.
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Q 10. What are the potential health effects of
mold in buildings and homes? |
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A
10. Mold exposure does not always present a health problem indoors.
However some people are sensitive to molds. These people may
experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation,
wheezing, or skin irritation when exposed to molds. Some people may
have more severe reactions to molds. Severe reactions may occur
among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational
settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions
may include fever and shortness of breath. Immunocompromised persons
and persons with chronic lung diseases like COPD are at increased
risk for opportunistic infections and may develop mold infections in
their lungs.
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Q 11. How do you get the molds out of buildings,
including homes, schools, and places of employment? |
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A
11. In most cases mold can be removed from hard surfaces by a
thorough cleaning with commercial products, soap and water, or a
weak bleach solution (1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water).
Absorbent or porous materials like ceiling tiles, drywall, and
carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. If you have
an extensive amount of mold and you do not think you can manage the
cleanup on your own, you may want to contact a professional who has
experience in cleaning mold in buildings and homes. It is important
to properly clean and dry the area as you can still have an allergic
reaction to parts of the dead mold and mold contamination may recur
if there is still a source of moisture.
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Q 12. What should people to do if they determine
they have Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra)
in their buildings or homes? |
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A
12. Mold growing in homes and buildings, whether it is
Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) or other
molds, indicates that there is a problem with water or moisture.
This is the first problem that needs to be addressed. Mold can be
cleaned off hard surfaces with a weak bleach solution. Mold in or
under carpets typically requires that the carpets be removed. Once
mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard, the only way to deal
with the problem is by removal and replacement. We do not believe
that one needs to take any different precautions with
Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra), than with
other molds. In areas where flooding has occurred, prompt drying out
of materials and cleaning of walls and other flood-damaged items
with commercial products, soap and water, or a weak bleach solution
(1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water) is necessary to prevent mold
growth. Never mix bleach with ammonia. If a home has been flooded,
it also may be contaminated with sewage. (See:
After a Hurricane or Flood: Cleanup of Flood Water.) Moldy items
should be removed from living areas.
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Q 13. How do you keep mold out of buildings and
homes? |
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A
13. As part of routine building maintenance, buildings should be
inspected for evidence of water damage and visible mold. The
conditions causing mold (such as water leaks, condensation,
infiltration, or flooding) should be corrected to prevent mold from
growing.
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Specific
Recommendations:
- Keep humidity
level in house between 40% and 60%.
- Use air
conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
- Be sure the
home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in kitchen
and bathrooms.
- Use mold
inhibitors which can be added to paints.
- Clean bathroom
with mold-killing products.
- Do not carpet
bathrooms.
- Remove and
replace flooded carpets.
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Q 14. I found mold growing in my home; how do I
test the mold? |
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A
14. Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold
growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling
for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of
diseases most often associated with molds. Since the reaction of
individuals can vary greatly either because of the person’s
susceptibility or type and amount of mold present, sampling and
culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you
are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a
potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is
present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable
sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what
is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have
not been established.
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Q 15. A qualified environmental lab took samples
of the mold in my home and gave me the results. Can CDC interpret
these results?
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A
15. Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal
quantity of mold have not been established. If you do decide to pay
for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you
should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish
criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in
advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make
based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your
unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection
of the contaminated area or without considering the building’s
characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
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Summary:
In summary, Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra) and other molds may cause health symptoms that are
nonspecific. At present there is no test that proves an association
between Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) and
particular health symptoms. Individuals with persistent symptoms
should see their physician. However, if Stachybotrys chartarum
(Stachybotrys atra) or other molds are found in a building,
prudent practice recommends that they be removed. |
