Does Mold
Have a Hold on Your Health?
Are mold levels high in your house or office, creating havoc on your health?
Chances are good they are, and you don’t even know it.
by Victoria smith
M
olds are simple, microscopic organisms that are
• Avoid carpeting bathrooms or utility rooms.
present virtually everywhere, both indoors and
• Use mold inhibitors that can be added to paints.
outdoors. They release innumerable lightweight
• Keep the air pressure in the lowest rooms equal to, or
spores, which in most instances eventually become airborne
slightly greater than, the pressure of water vapor in the soil.
and travel to other destinations. These destinations may
become mold infested and even toxic if the molds produce
compounds that have toxic properties known as mycotoxins.
Victoria Smith is a board-certified holistic practitioner in Flor-
Mycotoxins can appear in both living and dead mold spores
ence, Kentucky. She can be reached at (859)282-0022 or
and are produced depending on the surface on which the
significanthealing.com
mold is growing as well as conditions such as temperature,
pH and humidity.
Molds produce negative health effects through inflam- Recognizing Signs of Toxic Mold Exposure
mation, allergy or infection. For some people, even a small
amount of mold spores can create health problems, particu-
Allergic reactions, including fever, are common after mold
larly asthma and respiratory ailments. Other people, howev-
exposure. Symptoms of exposure to mycotoxins are:
er, can tolerate an extremely high amount of spores without
Immune system suppression
feeling ill effects.
Respiratory problems, including asthma and infections
Nasal and sinus congestion
Mitigating Mold
A dry and hacking cough
Once mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard, the only
Nose and/or throat irritation
way to deal with the problem is to remove or replace the af-
Eye irritation with burning, watery or reddened eyes
fected materials. In areas where flooding has occurred, walls Skin rashes or irritation
and other flood-damaged surfaces need to be cleaned and Irritable bowel syndrome
treated professionally in order to prevent mold growth.
Body aches and pain (Chronic Fatigue)
If you see or smell mold inside your home, office or
Food intolerances and allergies
school, take immediate action, because it could very well be-
Headaches
come airborne if you wait too long to treat it. In order to test
Mood swings
the levels of mold spores in the air and determine the level
Memory impairment
of risk, a mold specialist must conduct reliable air sampling
Individuals who are most susceptible to mold health
using professional equipment.
problems are those who have existing or underlying respiratory
Professional quality cleaners and disinfectants are uti-
conditions, weakened and suppressed immune systems,
lized to treat the affected areas and completely remove mold the elderly, infants and young children and people on
spores from the surfaces and the air. To remove mold and
medications such as chemotherapy.
mold food from non-porous surfaces, use soap.
To prevent and mitigate mold, however, you can take
the following actions:
• Stop any sources of leaks or flooding.
• Weatherize the affected building so that excessive amounts
of humid air will not enter.
• Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid
months to keep the indoor humidity level below 50%.
• Do not let water stand in air conditioning or refrigerator
drip pans.
• Use exhaust fans in kitchens, utility rooms and bathrooms
to remove excess heat and humidity.
• Remove carpets and other porous materials that have be-
come infested with mold.
May 2009
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