• Over 69,000 mold species have been identified
• More are discovered every day- evolution
• Molds generally need three components in order to thrive:

ü      Water

ü      Food Source               

ü      Lack of natural light (UV rays)

• Mold flourish best in:

ü      Temperature range of  40° - 100°F

ü      Relative humidity greater than 60%

      (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

Mold Guidelines & Recommendations

• There are no Federal or OSHA standards for mold exposure.  Several states, such as California, have promulgated standards.
• 15 CFU/M³ is the accepted limit for health care facilities
• The EPA has recommended that homeowners who have more than 100 ft² of mold growth should have it professionally re-mediated.
• Spraying the affected building materials and/or mold colonies with a 10% to 20% hypochlorite solution (Clorox in water) is generally at least as effective as using more expensive commercial biocides.
• Ozone generators are not particularly effective for mold remediation.
• If suspect affect building materials have been damp for over 48 hours, they should be discarded - unless active drying or remediation has been ongoing during that time.
• These are the generally accepted criteria where mold remediation is necessary for health reasons- according to most IAQ experts and Industrial Hygienists:

ü      Significant amounts of toxic mold are present

ü      There is a 3:1 mold aspect ratio (interior to exterior)