Mold is a living organism that produces spores that are released into the air. There are more than 100,000 different species of fungi worldwide. There are five major types of molds found in houses. These are:

• Cladosporium
• Penicillium (source of penicillin vaccine)
• Aspergillus
• Alternaria
• Stachybotrys chartarum (“Black Mold”)
  

Stachybotrys chartarum are the “bad guys.” It is commonly black, but depending on the surface it is growing on, it can be a variety of colors. This fungus may produce a trichothecene mycotoxin - satratoxin H – which is poisonous by inhalation. Exposure to the toxin produced by this fungus reported cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local hair loss, generalized malaise, and it can suppress the immune system. It is not the mold that is the problem; it is the spores the mold releases.

Cladosporium is the common cause of extrinsic asthma, edema and bronchiospasms, and even emphysema.

Penicillium/aspergillus has a musty odor and has been reported to cause pulmonary disease, skin infections, and depending on which it grows, can produce carcinogens harmful to humans.

Alternaria has been associated with baker’s asthma, edema, emphysema, and other totally unpronounceable maladies.

How much mold is too much? How sensitive are you to the toxins? With highly allergic people, mold can be a problem. There is no set amount that is too much. The ideal is to have less of the mold inside than outside and not to have molds in the house that are not in an outside air sample.

Mold spores are everywhere and all it takes is the right combination of moisture and temperature to raise a good crop of mold. A prime example is people turning off the AC in summer in a vacant house to save on the electric bill—very bad choice. What happens is the owner sets up conditions to trash the house with mold. A similar thing happened in New Orleans after the recent hurricane. One church was spared the flooding, but because there was no power, there was no AC, and the walls got covered with mold. Eliminate the moisture and you eliminate the mold which is most easy to control. Air conditioning helps reduce the humidity and keeps the temperature down.

Outdoor mold is considered harmless. It is only considered harmful in enclosed areas where spore concentration is generally higher. It is considered by some experts that 50% of all homes have some level of stachybotrys infestation. My home has a small amount of the bad stuff on a corner in our garage that is constantly damp. I spray it with hospital disinfectant on a regular basis since I seem helpless to stop the moisture.

If you are allergic to penicillin, the chances are you will be allergic to Penicillium mold. Most molds are in small amounts and do not affect the health of the average human. Attorneys love mold. It used to be asbestos now it is mold for them. In my opinion, most mold hype is overboard and designed to frighten people to purchase mold inspections which we love. However, there are extenuating circumstances where there is too much mold and too much of the bad stuff. If it doesn’t hurt your health, it smells bad and is unsightly--you will have a tough time getting your neighbors to visit.

What does mold eat? Wallpaper, cardboard, sheet rock, ceiling tile, cellulose insulation, and wood—high in cellulose and low in nitrogen are the mold favorites. Mold needs moisture—leaking plumbing, water leaks in roofing, flooding, and poor drainage. Good ventilation in attic spaces and crawl spaces helps reduce mold.

How do you test for mold? Professional testing includes air sampling inside and outside, carpet samples, inside walls (must drill a ¼ inch hole), swab samples, and tape lifts. The purpose is to determine the type of mold and how much is present