This information is for people who have mold problems in their homes.
It presents the health concerns associated with mold exposure and
advice on finding and removing mold contamination.
What is Mold?
Molds are fungi. Molds grow throughout the natural and built
environment. Tiny particles of mold are present in indoor and outdoor
air. In nature, molds help break down dead materials and can be found
growing on soil, foods, plant matter, and other items. Molds produce
microscopic cells called "spores" which are very tiny and spread easily
through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths
(colonies) when they find the right conditions.
What does mold need to grow?
Mold only needs a few simple things to grow and multiply:
Moisture
Nutrients
Suitable place to grow
Of these, controlling excess moisture is the key to preventing and stopping indoor mold growth.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home?
Mold should not be permitted to grow and multiply indoors. When this
happens, health problems can occur and building materials, goods and
furnishings may be damaged.
Mold can affect the health of people who are exposed to it. People are
mainly exposed to mold by breathing spores or other tiny fragments.
People can also be exposed through skin contact with mold contaminants
(for example, by touching moldy surfaces) and by swallowing it.
The type and severity of health effects that mold may produce are
usually difficult to predict. The risks can vary greatly from one
location to another, over time, and from person to person.
What symptoms might I see?
The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy
symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people
exposed to mold commonly report problems such as:
nasal and sinus congestion
cough
wheeze/breathing difficulties
sore throat
skin and eye irritation
upper respiratory infections (including sinus)
Are the risks greater for some people?
There is wide variability in how different people are affected by
indoor mold. However, the long term presence of indoor mold growth may
eventually become unhealthy for anyone. The following types of people
may be affected more severely and sooner than others:
infants and children
elderly people
individuals with respiratory conditions or sensitivities such as allergies and asthma
persons having weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV
infection, chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients)
Those with special health concerns should consult a medical professional if they feel their health is affected by indoor mold.
Are some molds more hazardous than others?
Some types of mold can produce chemical compounds (called mycotoxins)
although they do not always do so. Molds that are able to produce
toxins are common. In some circumstances, the toxins produced by indoor
mold may cause health problems. However, all indoor mold growth is
potentially harmful and should be removed promptly, no matter what
types of mold is present or whether it can produce toxins.
Investigate don't test. The most practical way to find a mold problem
is by using your eyes to look for mold growth and by using your nose to
locate the source of a suspicious odor. If you see mold or if there is
an earthy or musty smell, you should assume a mold problem exists.
Other clues are signs of excess moisture or the worsening of
allergy-like symptoms.
Look for
visible mold growth (may appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery
and have varied colors of white, gray, brown, black, yellow, green).
Mold often appears as discoloration, staining, or fuzzy growth on the
surface of building materials or furnishings. When mold is visible,
testing is not recommended.
Search areas with noticeable mold odors.
Look for signs of excess moisture or water damage. Look for water
leaks, standing water, water stains, condensation problems. For
example, do you see any watermarks or discoloration on walls, ceilings,
carpet, woodwork or other building materials?
Search behind and underneath materials (carpet and pad, wallpaper,
vinyl flooring, sink cabinets), furniture, or stored items (especially
things placed near outside walls or on cold floors). Sometimes
destructive techniques may be needed to inspect and clean enclosed
spaces where mold and moisture are hidden; for example, opening up a
wall cavity.
Should I test for mold?
The Minnesota Department of Health does not recommend testing for mold.
Instead, you should simply assume there is a problem whenever you see
mold or smell mold odors. Testing should never take the place of visual
inspection and it should never use up resources that are needed to
correct moisture problems and remove all visible growth.
Sometimes, mold growth is hidden and difficult to locate. In such
cases, a combination of air (outdoor and indoor air samples) and bulk
(material) samples may help determine the extent of contamination and
where cleaning is needed. However, mold testing is rarely useful for
trying to answer questions about health concerns.
To clean up and remove indoor mold growth, follow steps 1-6 as they apply to your home.
Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem
Begin Drying All Wet Materials
Remove and Dispose of Mold Contaminated Materials
Clean Surfaces
Disinfect Surfaces - optional
Remain on Mold Alert
Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem
- the most important step in solving a mold problem is to identify and
correct the moisture sources that allowed the growth in the first
place. Common indoor moisture sources include:
Flooding
Condensation (caused by indoor humidity that is too high or surfaces that are too cold)
Movement through basement walls and slab
Roof leaks
Plumbing leaks
Overflow from tubs, sinks, or toilets
Firewood stored indoors
Humidifier use
Inadequate venting of kitchen and bath humidity
Improper venting of combustion appliances
Failure to vent clothes dryer exhaust outdoors (including electric dryers)
Line drying laundry indoors
House plants - watering them can generate large amounts of moisture
To keep indoor surfaces as dry as possible, try to maintain the home's
relative humidity between 20-40 percent in the winter and less than 60
percent the rest of the year. You can purchase devices to measure
relative humidity at some home supply stores. Ventilation, air
circulation near cold surfaces, dehumidification, and efforts to
minimize the production of moisture in the home are all very important
in controlling high humidity that frequently causes mold growth in our
cold climate.
Begin Drying All Wet Materials
- as soon as possible, begin drying any materials that are wet. For
severe moisture problems, use fans and dehumidifiers and move wet items
away from walls and off floors. Check with equipment rental companies
or restoration firms to see if you can rent fans and dehumidifiers.
Remove and Dispose
of Mold Contaminated Materials - items which have absorbed moisture
(porous materials) and which have mold growing on them need to be
removed, bagged and thrown out. Such materials may include sheet rock,
insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet pad, ceiling tiles, wood products
(other than solid wood), and paper products. Likewise, any such porous
materials that have contacted sewage should also be bagged and thrown
away. Non-porous materials with surface mold growth may be saved if
they are cleaned well and kept dry (see step 4).
Take Steps to Protect Yourself - the amount of mold particles in air
can increase greatly when mold is disturbed. Consider using protective
equipment when handling or working around mold contaminated materials.
The following equipment can help minimize exposure to mold:
Rubber gloves
Eye goggles
Outer clothing (long sleeves and long pants) that can be easily removed in the work area and laundered or discarded
Medium-efficiency or high-efficiency filter dust mask (these can be
found at safety equipment suppliers, hardware stores, or some other
large stores that sell home repair supplies) -- at a minimum, use an
N-95 or equivalent dust mask
Take Steps to Protect Others - plan and perform all work to minimize
the amount of dust generated. The following actions can help minimize
the spread of mold spores:
Enclose all moldy materials in plastic (bags or sheets) before carrying through the home
Hang plastic sheeting to separate the work area from the rest of the home
Remove outer layer of work clothing in the work area and wash separately or bag
Damp clean the entire work area to pick up settled contaminants in dust
Clean Surfaces
- surface mold growing on non-porous materials such as hard plastic,
concrete, glass, metal, and solid wood can usually be cleaned. Cleaning
must remove and capture the mold contamination, because dead spores and
mold particles still cause health problems if they are left in place
Thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces using a stiff brush, hot
water and a non-ammonia soap/detergent or commercial cleaner
Collect excess cleaning liquid with a wet/dry vacuum, mop or sponge
Rinse area with clean water and collect excess rinse water
Disinfect Surfaces (if desired)
- after cleaning has removed all visible mold and other soiling from
contaminated surfaces, a disinfectant may be used to kill mold missed
by the cleaning. In the case of sewage contamination, disinfection must
be performed. Contact the Minnesota Department of Health for
appropriate advice.
Mix 1/4 to 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water and apply to surfaces
where mold growth was visible before cleaning. The solution can be
applied with a spray bottle, garden sprayer, it can be sponged on, or
applied by other methods.
Collect any
run-off of bleach solution with a wet/ dry vacuum, sponge or mop.
However, do not rinse or wipe the bleach solution off the areas being
treated -- allow it to dry on the surface.
Always handle bleach with caution.Never mix bleach with ammonia — toxic
chlorine gas may result. Bleach can irritate the eyes, nose, throat,
and skin. Provide fresh air (for example, open a window or door).
Protect skin and eyes from contact with bleach. Test solution on a
small area before treatment, since bleach is very corrosive and may
damage some materials.
Remain on MOLD ALERT -
Continue looking for signs of moisture problems or return of mold
growth. Be particularly alert to moisture in areas of past growth. If
mold returns, repeat cleaning steps and consider using a stronger
solution to disinfect the area again. Regrowth may signal that the
material should be removed or that moisture is not yet controlled.
When can we rebuild?
Rebuilding and refurnishing must wait until all affected materials have
dried completely. Be patient it takes time to dry out wet building
materials. A moisture meter may help measure drying progress. Contact
your county Minnesota Extension Service office to see if they loan
moisture meters.
Can ozone air cleaners remove indoor mold?
Some air cleaners are designed to produce ozone which is a strong
oxidizing agent and a known irritant of the lungs and respiratory
system. Studies have shown that ozone, even at high concentrations, is
not effective at killing airborne mold or surface mold contamination.
Even if mold was killed by ozone, the health threats would not be
reduced until mold contaminants are removed through cleaning. Health
experts, including the Minnesota Department of Health, do not recommend
the use of ozone to address mold or any other indoor air problems.
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