What is mold?
Molds are fungi that live both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species
of mold exist, but estimates range up to 300,000 or more. Molds grow best in warm,
damp, humid conditions. They spread by making spores. Mold spores can survive in
dry areas that do not support normal mold growth.
How do molds affect people?
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause
symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some
people may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among people
exposed to large amounts of mold in occupational settings, such as farmers working
around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some
people with chronic lung illnesses may develop mold infections in their lungs.
Where are molds found?
Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year
round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in
shady, damp areas and in places where plants or leaves are decomposing. Indoors they can be found
where humidity levels are high, such as basements, showers, and poorly vented attics.
How can people decrease mold exposure?
The first step toward removing a mold problem is to find the moisture source, and then eliminate it. In
homes, mold growth can be slowed by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 50%, and ventilating
showers and kitchens. One purpose of a home inspection is to identify areas of high moisture levels or
water penetration.
Other recommendations:
I found mold growing in my home. How do I test the mold?
Generally, it's not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a home. Current evidence
indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the
susceptibility of people can vary greatly, 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 have it abated (removed). Reliable
sampling for mold can be expensive, and good standards have not yet been established for deciding
what is a tolerable amount of mold.
An environmental lab took samples of the mold in my home and gave me the results.
How do I interpret the results?
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. Test results taken in your home cannot be interpreted without physical inspection
of the contaminated area.
The information on this page is adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
website.
For more information visit the U.S. EPA website on mold.
Or, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Molds are fungi that live both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species
of mold exist, but estimates range up to 300,000 or more. Molds grow best in warm,
damp, humid conditions. They spread by making spores. Mold spores can survive in
dry areas that do not support normal mold growth.
How do molds affect people?
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause
symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some
people may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among people
exposed to large amounts of mold in occupational settings, such as farmers working
around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some
people with chronic lung illnesses may develop mold infections in their lungs.
Where are molds found?
Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year
round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in
shady, damp areas and in places where plants or leaves are decomposing. Indoors they can be found
where humidity levels are high, such as basements, showers, and poorly vented attics.
How can people decrease mold exposure?
The first step toward removing a mold problem is to find the moisture source, and then eliminate it. In
homes, mold growth can be slowed by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 50%, and ventilating
showers and kitchens. One purpose of a home inspection is to identify areas of high moisture levels or
water penetration.
Other recommendations:
- Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
- Be sure the home has good ventilation, including exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.
- Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.
- Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
- Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.
- Remember, the first step toward removing a mold problem is to eliminate the moisture problem.
I found mold growing in my home. How do I test the mold?
Generally, it's not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a home. Current evidence
indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the
susceptibility of people can vary greatly, 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 have it abated (removed). Reliable
sampling for mold can be expensive, and good standards have not yet been established for deciding
what is a tolerable amount of mold.
An environmental lab took samples of the mold in my home and gave me the results.
How do I interpret the results?
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. Test results taken in your home cannot be interpreted without physical inspection
of the contaminated area.
The information on this page is adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
website.
For more information visit the U.S. EPA website on mold.
Or, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
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Mold
| Mold on attic roof boards. This is usually caused by poor ventilation and air leaks into the attic from below. |
