Mold
Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture such as around leaks in roofs, windows, pipes or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric and upholstery.
There are upwards of 100,000 different varieties of molds. They can be black, white, yellow, greenish, brown, purple, orange, pink, red or even a combination of colors. Some are relatively harmless, while others are more apt to cause or exacerbate serious health problems. Most of us have heard of "black mold", or "toxic black mold" as being the most dangerous and problematic. What is usually not mentioned is that there are thousands of varieties of molds that are black at some point during their life cycle. Of these, the variety Stachybotrys is one type found in homes that is of particular concern and is the type most responsible for the "toxic black mold" moniker. The mold itself is not toxic, however it can produce toxic compounds called mycotoxins which can cause adverse health effects.
Other types of mold that may commonly be found in homes and buildings in Michigan include, but are definitely not limited to:
Alternaria, which is often found outdoors, but also grows in damp places indoors like in showers or under sinks with leaky pipes. It can also be found in buildings that have been flooded or suffered other water damage. It spreads easily from one area of the home to another. Exposure to alternaria can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
Aspergillus is a type of mold frequently found indoors. It can causes allergic reactions, respiratory infections, and a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which causes inflammation of the lungs.
Cladosporium is a type of mold often found growing inside homes. While most types of mold prefer warm climates, cladosporium can grow in cool areas too. It often grows on fabrics like carpets and on wood surfaces like cabinets and floorboards. It can cause a variety of respiratory problems.
Penicillium is often found growing on materials that have been damaged by water including carpeting, wallpaper, insulation and furnishings like mattresses. It’s one of the mold types that spread quickly and easily from one part of the home to another. Exposure to penicillium can cause allergic reactions, chronic sinus infections and inflammation of the lungs. It usually appears as a blue mold and/or a green mold.
Trichoderma is often found growing on damp carpet, wallpaper and other wet surfaces. It produces mycotoxins similar to those produced by stachybotrys chatarum, and it can cause similar health problems. Many people are also allergic to trichoderma.
It would not be possible or practical to list all of the different types of mold and their potential health effects here. If it's suspected that mold may be an issue in your home or building, mold testing will determine not only the presence of mold and it's spore concentration, but also what specific varieties of mold are present.
When performing an inspection to determine the presence and extent of mold impacted building materials in a home or building there are some important factors that must be considered. The first is that moisture is necessary to promote mold growth. This moisture could be the result of condensation, leaky pipes, roof leaks, damp foundations, frequent spills or cleaning and more. A common error in mold inspection and remediation is not addressing sources of moisture. Mold is also prone to growing in hidden areas, often completely out of sight. These areas might be on the back of drywall and wall systems, behind shower enclosures, under floor coverings and more. By utilizing such high tech tools as moisture meters and digital thermography, Sasquatch Property Services LLC can often locate such areas and develop a plan for addressing these often overlooked problem areas.
If you have reason to suspect that your home, building, or health may be impacted by mold. Call Sasquatch Property Services LLC today to discuss options!!! 248-245-3003