MOLD - Is It In Your Home?

The most frequent real estate lawsuit in America today involves MOLD in homes. In past years top legal action was against home owners for such things as asbestos, formaldehyde foam insulation and radon. With mold becoming such an issue, it is probably a good idea if you had your home check for mold. You also really should consider having a qualified inspector check and possibly test for mold prior to purchasing a new residence. I would be happy to pass along the names of some home inspectors if you contact me.

An article I wrote many years ago titled MOLD MOLD MOLD. . . ANY YOU goes into much more detail on the various types of mold, how to obtain mold testing kits that you can use yourself as well as useful links to helpful EPA web sites.

Here are some interesting facts about mold:

Over 69,000 mold species have been identified
More are discovered every day- evolution
Molds generally need three components in order to thrive:
- Water
- Food Source
- Lack of natural light (UV rays)

Mold flourish best in:
- Temperature range of 40° - 100°F
- Relative humidity greater than 60% but mold can start growing with 50% relative humidity.

TOXIC vs. NONTOXIC (allergenic)

The entire area of mold toxicity is the subject of highly charged debate among Industrial Hygienists and other IAQ experts.

There are several basic types of mold (various species and sub-species) have exhibited toxic reactions in humans- some examples include:

Stachybotrys - a mycotoxin - producing mold species
Aspergillus/Penicillium - may cause infections
Fusarium - may cause infections
Claudosporium - most common outdoor fungus

Mold Exposure

Any type of mold can be allergenic, particularly in susceptible individuals. They may cause a variety of allergic histamine reactions such as:

Coughing
Sneezing
Runny Nose
Itching eyes
Headaches
Asthma episodes may be triggered
Chronis exposure can suppress the immune system

The stereotypic "toxic mold" is Stachybotrys (a very unique mold)
Mycotoxins may cause acute/immediate reactions such as:

Nasal/Sinus "Pressure"
Headaches
Fatigue
Mild Fever
Chills
Nausea
Paralysis ( in particularly sensitive individuals)

Chronic/Long-Term Reactions may include:

Severe headaches- including migraines
Short-term memory loss
Immunosuppressive infections- including bone or tooth infections
Liver damage
Often gender-specific

As you can see, mold can be quite an issue for you or other family members. If you would like to discuss mold issues or be referred to mold testing or mold mitigation experts, please feel free to contact me. You might also want to review the EPA's Mold Guide.

I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you. Feel free to call or email me. - Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES -303-796-0957.