Types Of Mold – There are many molds that have the potential to cause health problems which include: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. These types of molds, while only a few of over 100,000 different types of molds, are not all black molds. Also, the color of the mold does not specify the toxicity of the mold nor does it specify the type of mold.

Causes Of Mold, With enough moisture mold can grow in as little as twenty four hours. Long term leaks, especially leaky pipes in wall cavities, often cause mold problems as the water issues have not been corrected in a timely manner. Flooding, such as during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans where the water damage could not be restored within 24 hours, caused irreparable damage to the walls and building materials. In these instances, the damaged materials must be removed before the water damaged materials can cause mold growth.Condensation noticed on windows is a good way to notice that the relative humidity levels are too high inside the dwelling. Build up of humidity can cause mold problems. The humidity level in a household should be kept below 50% to reduce possible mold problems.

Attic Mold- has become an increasingly more common. Homes built in the last 30 years have been constructed more energy efficient and more “air tight”, creating ventilation problems. Instead of the old “plank board” construction for roof decking, houses are built with particle board. Soffits are usually blocked with insulation and not ventilated. Roofing peaks are often not ventilated with Cobra Vent or Omnivent. Humidifiers, are often connected with furnaces and adjusted too high, causing elevated humidity problems which rise to the attic. Roof leaks go frequently unnoticed due to poor maintenance. These problems, often a number of them happening at once, can cause multiple problems that lead to to attic mold.

Basement Mold – 1 of the leading areas that generate mold in a home and one that comes to mind when thinking of where mold would grow first is the basement. The basement or any below ground space have multiple ways to cause mold growth. Moisture issues in the basement are the leading cause for mold growth at that level in a home or other type of building. Basement walls in houses were originally waterproofed with a tar based method. This method, just like the blacktop for your driveway, begins to crack and disintegrate after 18 months. Over time, the moisture from the outside water table seeps through the porous concrete block causing mold growth on the paint surfaces and finished areas of the basement. basement mold can be stopped with practical methods and modern age water proofing methods. These basement waterproofing methods don’t work for a number of reasons: 1. The drain pipe that may have been placed on the outside wall for drainage is usually made of clay tile, which cracks over time and gets clogged with debris. 2. A tar based method is actually considered a water-dampening method as this method only slows down the water to the basement and does not actually fully seal the water such as a thick poly membrane. 3. The sill plate that rests upon the top core of foundation block usually was not placed the entire width of the block, meaning it is not a full 6″ width but rather a standard 2″x4″ width. This causes undue pressure on the outside area of the cinder block wall which eventually leads to bowing.

Health Effects of Mold – Mold can cause various degrees of adverse health effects. The health effects that occur depend on the type of mold encountered, the toxicity of the mold, the quantity of the mold, the amount of time the occupant encountered the mold, and the health status of the individual. The health effects that are most commonly associated with mold are: 1. sinusitis and asthma 2. irritation associated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 3. invasive disease, 4. mycotoxicosis. 5. runny noses, 6. itchy or watery eyes, 7. coughing, 8. sneezing, and throat irritation 9. allergic reactions 10. headaches, 11. decreased attention span, 12. difficulty in concentration, and dizziness.

Isaiah Brewer is operations manager for A & I Health Solutions. His website has information on asbestos removal Cleveland Isaiah also wrote an article on Attic Mold