by Tina Wellman, Ph.D.
Home is where the heart is—or so you think,
until unforeseen microorganisms invade the
recesses and crevices of your abode, burrowing
deep into areas invisible to the naked eye.
The devastating health consequences of mold
infestation can translate into a multiplicity of
diverse health symptomatology including asthma,
allergies, headaches, fatigue, latent infections,
sinusitis, memory loss, chronic colds and flu and
even black lung. By the time one realizes the etiologic
culprit wreaking havoc with their health is
mold related, chronic debilitation may have already
ensued. It leaves it’s prey at the mercy of unrelenting
spores too virulent to contain without vacating the
premises until remediation is implemented—or in
the case of extensive pervasive invasion—the
property is “condemned.”
It is a national reality that mold intoxication is all
too commonly swept under the carpet until its insidious
health ramifications are deciphered by both
medical specialist (for human assessment) and mold
inspector (for home/building inspection). By that
time it has incapacitated it’s victim, sentencing him
or her to a lengthy exposure of medical mayhem—
seeking one specialist after another to delineate and
treat the onslaught of symptoms related to mold.
According to Healthy Home author Linda
Mason Hunter, “once the bloom of mold and
mildew appears, it quickly matures and sends spores
floating throughout the house to be breathed by
every member of the family.” For those with heightened
fungal sensitivities, a minor exposure can elicit a
major allergic response. “The more stuff you breathe
the more allergic you become,” notes Hunter.
If you are confident enough to believe you are
immune to mold toxicity, the following discourse
should alert the most casual reader to the potential
danger of excessive mold inhalation and its indiscriminate
destruction of both human and building
skeletal structures. We’ll also highlight specific
health issues related to mold and suggest simple
non-toxic economical abatement/remediation
treatments and preventative practices to limit mold
exposure. Preventing a problem (whether physiological
or environmental) is prudent. It is easier to
avoid a problem than to “treat” it, suggesting an
ounce of preventative maintenance is worth a
pound of cure.
Mold Formation:
In searching for the source of mold pathogenesis,
consider its primary breeding ground. Wet wood
and cellulose in the absence of sunlight nourish
mold. In your home, the breeding grounds for
mold are as diverse and widespread as the spores
themselves. Plumbing leaks in bathrooms and
kitchens are a primary culprit, followed by roofing
leaks. Walls and floors can cover up or disguise a
leak for years before it is noticed.
As mold gains a foothold in the house, the damage
may be so extensive that the property may have
to be condemned.
Consider the bathroom. Shower stalls, bathtubs
and commodes can leak underneath the floor. In
basements, moisture behind walls and accumulations
on the floor are common. In the kitchen, the
sink and dishwasher are usually built into cabinets
that hinder the detection of leaks. If your flooring is
carpeted (as is all too common in bathrooms), you
may not realize you have an existing problem.
Simply stated, mold does not grow on dry
ground. It thrives in dark, damp places. Therefore,
decreasing humidity levels by increasing air circulation
and light minimizes moisture production. In
cold climates mold dies with the onset of frost.
Basements however can readily become a mold
laden cesspool of contamination.
HVAC Systems: Site of Biological Contamination
Considering that most of us occupy an average of
20 hours per day inside a building (home or commercial
structure), it is worth considering the effects
of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems on mold intoxication. Chin S. Yan, Ph.D.,
suggests a similarity exists between HVAC systems
and the human respiratory system. HVAC SYSTEMS
provide conditioned air, essential to maintaining
both occupant comfort and building operation:
“The respiratory system delivers oxygenated air to
the bloodstream in a human body and is essential to
the survival of humans. The importance of these
two systems is clearly significant to humans.”
In an HVAC system internal insulation materials
are designed to trap particles (organic matter–skin
flakes, insect parts, paper fibers, fungal spores).
These same hygroscopic materials (moisture
absorbing) can readily become a seedbed for fungal
spores to germinate and multiply, fueled by enough
moisture buildup in accumulated dust.
Opportunity avails itself during the cooling season
when a combination of water in the drain pans and
condensation from cooling coils encourage bacteria
and fungi to multiply. Translated into human health
terms and consequences, bacterial and fungal contaminants
produce allergens whose adverse health
effects can be seen in a variety of forms including
opportunistic infections as pseudomonas aerugonosis
bacteria.
Bacterial and fungal contaminants include
organic chemicals—volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), for example. Subtle odors may be a primary
indicator of more serious HVAC contaminants.
Seemingly innocuous odors may be the first
sign of “microbial amplification in the system.”
Consider the following table of moisture-loving
fungi and bacteria commonly inhabiting HVAC
systems (drain pans, cooling coils, insulated
ductwork, and humidifiers):
Moisture-loving fungi (inhabit cooling coils
and drain pans):
Acremonium spp.
Aureobasidium pullulans
Exophiala spp.
Phoma spp.
Sporobolomyces spp.
Rhodotorla spp.
Fungi that inhabit insulated ductwork
downstream:
Cladosporium spp.
Penicillium spp.
Aspergillus spp.
HVAC microbes can also include:
Legionella pneumophila (a waterborne bacteria
inhabiting cooling water tower)—known to
cause Legionnaire’s disease
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a waterborne bacterium)
—may precipitate opportunistic infection.
Cladosporium cladosporioides (a common mold
found outdoors and a common colonizer of dirty
HVAC systems)—associated with hypersensitivity
pneumonitis
Penicillium corylyphilum (a frequent colonizer of
dirty HVAC systems)—spores are potentially
allergenic
Endotoxin (a cell wall component of gramnegative
bacteria which proliferates in water)—
known to precipitate symptoms related to the
respiratory system.
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Sick Building Syndrome (SBS):
SBS is a modern phrase to describe microbial contamination
and its impact on indoor air quality
(IAQ). One third of IAQ problems may relate to
microbial infestation. Numerous articles document
mold and mildew related illnesses for people who
work indoors. Equally concerning is the increasing
numbers of cases resulting from mold growing in
the home environment. In her article “Haunted by
Mold,” Lisa Belkin interviews a Texas woman and
her family who became very ill while living in their
22-room, 11,000 square foot mansion.
As a result of mold toxicity they had to vacate
the premises as their home became an emblem of
the mold invasion. Belkin nicknamed their abode
“the house that mold ate.” Instead of a welcoming
wreath, the front door is decorated with a sign alerting any passersby to wear full Tyvek biohazard moon
suits.
One prominent California “mold” attorney,
Alexander Robertson IV, learned the scientific paucity
of available information on mold. Yet increasing complaints
are pouring in daily to his overloaded client list
from diverse socioeconomic strata ranging from housing
projects to courthouses. A paralegal degreed in
microbiology is heading up the firm’s microbiological
investigations, a “hybrid” law practice (part personal
injury, part construction defects) few attorneys integrate
and practice.
Mold Prevention, Repair and Preventative
Maintenance:
As mold toxicity concerns steadily rise, simple ongoing
preventative and spot treatment practices should
be implemented and practiced regularly.
Simple, regular home inspections should include
checking for leaky roofs and burst pipes. If you are in
a renovated or modern home, examine wallboards,
which primarily consist of cellulose-based materials—
dampness and nourishment (wood) feed mold. Since
mold thrives in these dark damp sites, keep rooms well
lighted and dry.
Environmental consultant Debra Lynn Dadd
advises keeping the heat on during wet winters, especially
those dwelling in wet areas (shaded areas or near
creeks). Inspect grout and tile for mold. Don’t cover it
up or gloss over it by reapplying grout over a moldy
spot—the problem won’t go away. Treat it promptly
and naturally with a combination of borax (20 Mule
Team borax from your grocery store) and water or
white vinegar and water. A quick spritz or two and
you can usually wipe the mold right off. Borax is an
excellent mold inhibitor and disinfectant, making it
an ideal all-around bathroom cleaner in commodes,
shower stalls, tubs and for washing walls.
Attack mold with heat, using portable electric
heaters. Turn it up to the highest setting, leave the
room and close the door while the room “bakes” for a
day, advises Dadd. Take heed to periodically check the
heater and never leave a heat source on continually
while away from home. Once you bake the room, be
sure to air it out by opening windows, using exhaust
and ceiling fans.
Minimize buildup of mold spores by airing your
house regularly—open windows for ventilation and
install extractor fans. If pesticide spraying or pollens
prevent such a practice, use hepa filters to “clean” your
indoor environment and reduce pollutants. If you
have central A/C or heat, set the fan to “ON” rather
than “AUTO.” Do this year round.
Vacuum regularly to remove dust mites and fecal
pellets. Check your walls for signs of moisture.
Remove plastic from garments. If you dry clean clothing,
air it out before hanging it in closets. Be sure to
adequately seal cracks and walls.
Remove carpeting from rest rooms and replace it
with tile--this is a fertile breeding ground for microorganisms.
Turn on bathroom fans when bathing—this
room is a major moisture site so avoid “steaming up”
your bathroom. Dry towels before tossing them into a
clothes hamper. Use a squeegee in your shower after
bathing to wipe off excess water followed by a quick
spray solution of white vinegar and water or GSE
(grapefruit seed extract) diluted in a spray bottle. If
odor sensitivities are not a problem, include a few
drops of tea tree oil and/or lavender essential oil for
added antiseptic/germicidal benefits.
As part of your home “check-up” routine empty
and clean water reservoirs regularly including
vaporizers, refrigerator, air conditioner, humidifier
and de-humidifier pans. Avoid using commercial
chemical cleaners. Repair leaky water faucets and have
your HVAC inspected regularly. Replace filters, clean
coils and do visible inspections of your unit. For
cleaning water vessels don’t add insult to injury by
chemically contaminating them with chlorine
compounds—use a GSE solution.
Increase ventilation and ventilate at the source of
moisture including range hoods (vent to the outside),
bathroom exhaust fans, ceiling fans and whole house
ventilation systems. Hunter suggests regulating
humidity during winter between 30–50 percent and in
summer between 40–60 percent humidity—an overall
average is 55 percent. If your indoor humidity level
exceeds optimal levels, use a de-humidifier but empty
and clean the water collector regularly since it, too,
harbors microbes. Since bacteria, viruses, fungi and
dust mites thrive in high humidity areas, purchase a
hygrometer and simply measure (and monitor) the
humidity levels in your indoor environment—no
need to pay an expert to perform this simple ritual. A
simple hygrometer reading can detect a major imbalance
within a few minutes.
More GSE virtues and applications:
In addition to purifying the air with hepa air filters,
consider an additional non-toxic and economical
measure—GSE “dispensers” that mount on a wall,
using no electricity. Noted in a previous article, GSE
has multiple and diverse applications as an antiseptic.
For mold abatement GSE can be applied in diluted
form as a spray to wood slats in the attic prior to
installing insulation. It can be run through your automobile
HVAC system monthly to inhibit mold
growth, and sprayed into vents and filters.
A unique product is the GSE “dispenser” that can
be suspended on a wall--in any room. It uses a D cell
battery and houses a replaceable cartridge (lasts an
average of 6–8 weeks before needing replacement) to
emit a steady stream of GSE and non-essential oils into
the air. It is fragrance and VOC free, non-toxic, safe
around people, house plants, furniture and pets and
operates on a 24/7 schedule. GSE dispensers do not
camouflage odors as do air fresheners, which only further
pollute the environment (and individual) with
more chemicals. Airborne microorganisms can be
assaulted through the use of a GSE air dispenser. The
dispenser exchanges a benign GSE formula with
indoor air moisture to create airborne GSE. Spores,
bacteria and pathogens are all adversely affected by
this assault. These portable, easily mountable dispensers
can be used in home and office settings
including bathrooms, basements, closets, laundry,
bath and bedrooms.
The results of this non-toxic approach to cleaning
the environment is reducing indoor pollutants in concert
with reducing incidences of allergic responses—
eyes, nose, throat irritations that can trigger asthma,
coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, dizziness and
headaches.
Simple solutions can go a long way to minimize
chronic complicated problems. Economical, portable,
non-toxic and environmentally sound (uses no electricity)
—that’s a recipe for success and good health.
The Future of Mold Mania:
Insurance agencies are hoping “mold mania” will have
a short half-life and this public display of the “terrible
two’s” will soon conclude its final performance. Lisa
Belkin notes “what looks like Genesis to lawyers looks
like Armageddon to insurers.” But just in case this
trend gains enduring momentum, agencies (Farmer’s
Insurance) claim they will stop selling new home
insurance policies that cover water damage and have
formally requested that the Texas Department of
Insurance allow them to exclude mold damage from
their policies.
In true predatory fashion, contractors are jumping
on the bandwagon, taking advantage of consumer
vulnerability and “converting” their services from
lead/asbestos abatement to mold remediation. Since it
is readily apparent the problem is not subsiding, standard
guidelines need to be implemented to discourage
opportunistic “mold diggers,” notes Belkin. State governments
(i.e. California Senate) recently implemented
the Toxic Mold Protection Act to protect
homeowners by establishing licensing standards for
professionals who evaluate and remediate mold.
As mold attorney Robertson points out, “right
now anyone can advertise in the Yellow Pages and call
themselves a mold expert.” Buyer beware!
And Hollywood prepare! One of Robertson’s
premiere clients is none other than environmental
crusader Erin Brockovich, whose beautiful California
home suffered mold contamination. This could be the
start of something big. Belkin notes that part of
Robertson’s office decor includes a Brockovich autographed
poster of Julia Roberts starring as Erin
Brockovich encaptioned: “To Alex, What a ‘bulldog’
you are. Gee, could a ‘mold’ movie be next?” Stay
tuned, this could yield another academy performance
for a cause well worth publicizing.
For more information: Tina Wellman, Ph.D. at ECS Distributors,
e-mail:
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, phone 817-652-3792
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