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		Mold: What’s all the fuss about this fuzzy stuff By George Weise, Zone Manager Housing, University of South Carolina Mold has become a very “hot” topic. Schools closed, universities being sued, facilities managers loosing their jobs. Where is the mold coming from? What can be done about it? The main thing is not to ignore it; it will not go away. If building occupants complain about mold or they complain about fatigue, headaches, watery eyes, runny nose, and strange odors, there is a good chance there is a mold problem. The debate is still on about how severe mold can affect health. While the debate on that issue continues, mold that continues to grow is a problem that makes some people ill, and could lead to litigation. What is mold? Mold is a saprophytic fungus. Fungi are neither plant nor animal, they are their own kingdom. Fungi, which do not produce chlorophyll, need a food source. Indoor food sources for mold can include paper, wood, drywall, paint and even carpeting and adhesive. Mold prefers items that are acidic, and the fungus secretes enzymes that break down the surface that it is living on. Mold prefers temperatures from 68-86 degrees Fahrenheit, and moisture. Some common indoor fungi include Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. These fungi produce microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) with potent mycotoxins and spores. They can be toxic and may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, organic dust toxic syndrome and the lung disease aspergillosis. Mold will aggravate asthma, can cause congestion and fatigue, and may be linked to pulmonary hemorrhaging. A fungus called stachybotrys has been associated with severe illness and death. It is primarily found on wooden substrates that have become wet due to water damage. The causes of mold: moisture All the ingredients needed for mold to grow commonly exist. The catalyst for mold growth is water. Molds reproduce by making spores and releasing them into the environment. When a spore finds a moist area with oxygen it will grow, colonize and digest whatever surface it is on. Mold spores may remain dormant for months until they find enough moisture, as moisture serves as both a food source and oxygen. Mold growth is in proportion to the amount of time materials remain wet. What is the major cause of the moisture? Moisture comes from water leaks, from either natural flooding, pipes breaking, small roof leaks or air conditioning systems that leak and create condensation. Another cause of mold growth, which is moisture related, is high humidity. Humidity above 60% can cause mold germination. When cold indoor air meets warm outside air, the air reaches dew point, which causes condensation. This is because hot air holds more moisture than cold air. Moisture reduction is the key principal in stopping mold growth. This includes properly drying out the structure from water damage and removing high humidity levels in the building. A first step in managing mold: remove the moisture source A first step in managing mold is to remove the moisture source. Stop the leaks, remove the water and dry the air. Water needs to be removed thoroughly and quickly to avoid water damage to structures, which includes mold growth. If the moisture is removed in 48 hours or less the possibility of mold growth is greatly reduced. Proper water restoration needs to be followed: Stop the water source Loss mitigation, contain the water and stop further damage Pre-treat area with antimicrobials Remove the water, usually by extraction Clean and disinfect affected areas Dry area, which includes ceiling, walls and floor in addition to carpet. This may take several days, using several air movers and dehumidifiers. After moisture removal: other options for controlling mold Once moisture is removed, the elimination of other conditions that support mold growth should be pursued: Since most molds hates high air velocity, fans and air movers can be used to discourage mold growth. However, this is not recommended if mold is preexisting due to the fact the fans will spread spores through out the building. Removing food sources is also key to controlling mold. The utilization of hot water extraction systems on carpeting using a high pH cleaner of 10 will help. A through cleaning and disinfecting of the affected area will help. The removal of mold spores can be accomplished through filtering intake and return air and using Hepa filter in vacuuming air duct systems. Cleaning HVAC vents, ductwork and units is also necessary in removing/controlling mold. Discard ceiling tiles as soon as they become wet. Additionally, in dealing with mold it is important to note that mold is not completely destroyed by bleach or other disinfectants. Just spraying mold with bleach or other disinfectants will not remove all the mold. Mold has long slender body hyphae that root deep in to the substrate. When bleach is applied, it will remove the mold surface, causing the hyphae to retreat deep into the substrates, where it stays dormant until the cleaner has dissipated. Then it will reappear. This is why proper abatement involves both a good cleaning with a disinfectant along with hepa vacuuming of non-pours surfaces. Final Thoughts Exposure to mold may cause serious health issues, and as a result, the proper response to mold is critical. The quicker one responds and removes the moisture the less of a chance mold will become a problem. A proper response to mold involves the quick removal of moisture from an area, along with eliminating food sources by cleaning and disinfecting, and adding dry air movement to the area. These few simple steps can help stop mold growth and avoid any remediation efforts. About the Author George Weise is Zone Manager Housing, at the University of South Carolina, with over 17 years experience. Prior to his position at U.S.C., he worked at Penn State University and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. George has written and published over a dozen articles. He is a winner of the ACUHO-I Robert Cooke Article of the Year Award. He is a certified II CRC Master Cleaner and Master Restorer.