While occupational exposure to airborne pollutants such as coal dust and asbestos have long been known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pneumoconiosis (black lung), the affects of being exposed to airborne contaminants, especially bio-aerosols like mold, in homes and non-industrial work sites such as office buildings, are just being realized. In the last 10 years, micro-organisms and mold have been concluded to be the primary source of indoor air contamination in as many as 50% of homes and offices studied since 1994. This realization can in part be attributed to a new interdisciplinary approach used in the evaluation of physical, chemical and microbiological constituents of indoor air environments.

What is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungi that grows in the natural environment all year round and is the single biggest cause of poor indoor air quality. There are thousands of species of mold which grow in a wide variety of colors. Mold is found everywhere both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, molds live in the soil, on trees, plants, and on dead or decaying matter. In nature, mold helps break down organic material which helps recycle nutrients throughout the ecosystem. Mold growing indoors however, presents a major health issue. Some species of mold like Aspergillus and Stachybotrys Chartarum can not only grow, but can also reproduce into colonies indoors. Many times, mold is easily detected by a musty odor in places with high moisture like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and bathrooms. Molds produces microscopic cells called "spores" that easily spread through the air. These spores act like seeds, forming new mold growth colonies when they land in areas where the conditions are right for mold growth.

Mold is composed of linear chains of cells (hyphae) that branch and intertwine to form the fungus body (mycelium). All fungal cell walls contain (1-3)-beta-D-glucan, which is a medically significant glucose polymer that has immunosuppressive, mitogenic (causing mitosis or cell transformation) and inflammatory properties (characterized by eye, nose and throat irritation). This mold cell wall component also acts synergistically with bacterial endotoxins to produce airway inflammation following inhalation exposure.

What makes mold grow?
Mold only needs a few things to grow and multiply:
» Nutrients (food)
» A suitable growing environment
» Moisture

Many building materials such as wood, drywall, and sheetrock provide ample food to support mold growth and reproduction. Even the dust that settles on these materials or furniture can be a food source for molds. Molds are able to grow anywhere there is adequate moisture. Some common causes of mold growing conditions are:
» Flooding from external sources-(storm water, overflowing rivers, lakes and streams)
» Flooding from internal sources-(overflow from sinks, bathtubs, showers, air conditioners)
» Condensations-(from indoor humidity in basements, crawlspaces and attics)
» Water leaks from the outside-(structural leaks from roof, walls, and floors)
» Water leaks from the inside-(indoor plumbing leads or a broken pipe)
» Poor ventilation-(steam from cooking and bathroom moisture from showers)
» Use of Humidifiers
» House plants

What is Black Mold?
Black mold is usually associated with Stachybotrys chartarum, a type of greenish-black mold commonly associated with water damage. The known health effects from exposure to Stachybotrys are similar to other common molds and have been proven to cause upper respiratory tract irritation, flu like symptoms, and/or skin irritation.

Health Effects Associated with Molds
Common molds like Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys chartarum, Fusarium, and Aspergillus versicolor are able to produce toxic and harmful substances called mycotoxins, which are lipid-soluble and are absorbed into the body through the airways, skin, and intestinal lining. When small diameter spores are inhaled into the body, they can reach the lung alveoli and induce an inflammatory reaction creating toxic pneumonitis. Mycotoxins have long presented health risks to human and animal populations, and depending on quantities produced and consumed, mycotoxins can cause immune-logical effects, organ-specific toxicity, cancer, and in some cases death. Other symptoms of mold exposure are respiratory problems such as wheezing, difficulty in breathing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning and watery eyes, hacking cough, chronic fatigue, and skin dermatitis. Molds also produce a large number of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). These chemicals are responsible for the musty odors prevalent in areas with mold growth.

The negative effects of mycotoxins produced by mold have been recorded throughout the ages and from different sources like 5000 year old Chinese texts, numerous scientific journals and even the Bible. During the middle ages there are recorded examples where consumption of moldy food has lead to fiery pain, swelling and gangrene in the limbs. More recently, molds that produce potent toxins have been associated with acute pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, and it is document mold can cause infections in immuno-compromised individuals. Some molds have also been classified by the National Toxicology Program as human carcinogens, and we also know that respiratory illnesses like aspergillosis among workers can be attributed to mold exposure. Based on an American Journal of Medicine report we have learned that outbreaks of Hypersensitivity pneumonitis has been linked to individuals with high exposure to mold-contaminated humidifiers and ventilations systems in office buildings. The Institute of Medicine concluded in its report, "Indoor Allergens", that airborne fungal allergens were most often associated with allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Who Does Mold Effect?
There is a wide variability in how individuals are affected by mold exposure, depending on the type of mold, the amount of mold present and the length of exposure to the mold. People who are affected more quickly and severely are:
» Infants and children
» Elderly people
» Pregnant women
» Individuals with respiratory conditions, asthma, and/or allergies
» Persons with weakened immune systems
» All individuals with extended exposure

What Should I do if I See or Smell Mold in My Home?
If you see or smell mold in your home, the first step is to call Great Environmental because our technology will completely eradicate all mold present. You may not need to replace any moldy materials such as ceiling tiles, carpeting and drywall. If you do not see any visible mold, but notice a musty odor, mold is most likely growing in and behind the walls, wallpaper, carpet, flooring and/or ceiling tiles. Attempting to remove mold without taking the proper precautions will make the situation worse because more spores and mycotoxins will be released into the air. If you see visible mold, or smell mold behind walls it needs to be remediated immediately. Great Environmental will be able to provide an encompassing solution to your problem.

Should I Test My House for Mold?
Yes. Testing for mold is very inexpensive and can uncover potentially hazardous conditions within your home stemming from mold growth that is hidden behind walls, underneath carpeting and in attics, basements and crawlspaces. A simple mold test can be purchased through Great Environmental or any home improvement retail store for around $15. When testing is done it is necessary to compare the levels and types of mold spores found inside the structure, with those found outside the structure. It is unacceptable to have a higher count indoors that the count of spores outdoors. If visible mold is present, the first step is to take action to remove it. Then take corrective action on the problem causing the moldy conditions.

Who do I Call to Deal with Mold Growth in my Home?
Great Environmental is a certified, licensed, and insured organization experienced in mold inspection, evaluation and remediation. It is imperative extensive mold growth within a building is corrected immediately, due to the numerous negative health effects. If there is a concise reason for moldy conditions, like a leaky pipe, mold may grow back, so it may be necessary to correct the problem.

What do I do About Mold in the Workplace?
If you see or smell mold, or if you or anyone else is experiencing any mold related symptoms, report it immediately. Tell your employer, supervisor, building manager, health and safety officer and/or your union representative so it can be investigated. If a particular office, floor, or area is affected, see if others are having any symptoms of the adverse side effects associated with mold exposure. Your employer is most likely responsible for removing unhealthy working conditions and must control indoor accumulation of water and humidity levels to prevent mold proliferation.

Mold Glossary

Allergen
A substance that elicits an antibody response and is responsible for producing allergic reactions by inducing formation of IgE. IgE is one of a group of immune system mediators. When bound to basophiles in circulations or mast cells in tissue, IgE can cause those cells to release chemicals when they come into contact with an allergen. These chemicals cause injury to surrounding tissue within the body, which are the visible signs of allergy. Fungal allergens are proteins found in either the mycelium or spores. All fungi are thought to be allergenic.

Airborne Contaminants
see Bioaerosols

Airborne Pollutants
Ultra-fine particles (organic metals, dioxins, aromatic compounds) floating around in the air, which may cause adverse health effects to humans and other animal populations.

Bioaerosols
Airborne particles floating around the air that originate from living organisms such as culturable, non-culturable and dead microorganisms, fragments, toxins and particulate waste products from a wide variety of living organisms.

Black Mold
This is a term used in association with Stachybotrys chartarum. Many molds appear black, while only a limited number of molds are truly black.

Fungi
Fungi are classified in their own kingdom because they are neither animals nor plants. This Fungi kingdom consists of a very large group of organisms including molds, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs. Current estimates range up to 10 million different species of mold and mycologists (people who study mold) have grouped fungi into four large groups according to the method in which they reproduce.

Hidden Mold
Mold growth on structures that is not easily seen or visible. For example: Mold above drop ceilings, within a wall cavity, behind wall paper, underneath carpeting, or inside the ventilation system and/or air ducts.

Immuno
compromised-Individuals with underlying health issues like diabetes, AIDS, leukemia, organ transplant recipients or those receiving chemotherapy.

Immunosuppressive
A substance like a drug, hormone, bacteria or virus that reduces the function and efficacy of a human's immune system. That substance essentially lowers the body's ability to fight infections, making them more susceptible to illness.

Indoor Air Quality
The quality of air available to breath within any permanent or non-permanent structure. Bioaerosols from molds, mildew, dust mite excrement, and dander from pets are some causes of poor indoor air quality. Poor Indoor Air Quality is becoming a more wide widespread epidemic because structures are being built with better design and materials to create a more sealed, "leak-proof" environment than in the past, and because people are spending more time indoors (the average person spends 90% of their time indoors).

Lipid
A term that describes a fat or fat-like substance found in the blood, such as cholesterol. The human body stores fat as energy to be used in the future, much like an automobile that has a reserve fuel tank. When the body needs energy, it is able to break down the lipids and burn them like glucose (sugar).

Lipid-soluble
the ability of a material to dissolve and be stored within a lipid.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs)
Harmful chemicals produced and released into the air by fungi as a result of their metabolism. These chemicals are typically responsible for the moldy, musty or earthy smell associated with mold growth.

Mitigenic- An agent that affects the ability of a cell to divide and reproduce.

Mold- A group of organisms that belong to the fungi kingdom. All molds are fungi, but not all fungi are molds.

Mycotoxin
Compounds produced and released into the air by molds that are toxic to animals and humans. These mycotoxins have a negative effect on one's health and in some cases associated with cancer and even death.

Remediate
To fix a problem. When related to a mold problem or mold contamination, removing mold from an infested structure.

Soluble
The ability of a material or substance to be dissolved in a liquid. For example, sugar is soluble in water.

Spores
Spores are essentially the reproductive units of mold. They function the same way that seeds do for higher species of plants. They are specialized cells that provide the primary means for dispersal, reproduction and survival.

Toxigenic Fungi
Fungi that is able to produce mycotoxins, which have been associated with Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, dermatitis and other symptoms like fever, headache and aggravated asthmatic conditions.

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