Common
Molds may be responsible for a surprising number of ailments
By
Tom Philbin
Millions Allergic Ferreting
Out Fungus Wiping Out Mold
Shortly after Debbie and Ray Bowman moved into their new home in Seminole, Florida,
Debbie started to experience itchy, watery eyes and a chronically stuffy nose.
Thinking she might be allergic to the plants around her house, she contacted al
allergist, who prescribed a series of medications, including decongestants, antihistamines
and antibiotics. But Debbie's symptoms got much worse: heavy congestion, headaches
and pain in her ears. "At a luncheon I almost fell over from dizziness,"
she says. Meanwhile, her husband had no health problems.
During a
vacation in New England, Debbie's symptoms cleared up, and she remained healthy
on her return to Florida while staying overnight at her mother-in-law's. But when
the Bowmans went back to their own house, Debbie was miserable again. Finally,
an allergist suggested she contact and air-cleaning firm. When the representative
came, he opened the central air-conditioning system and discovered the source
of all the problems" a colony of thick gray mold.
Millions
Allergic
Scientists are documenting what many had long suspected: household mold can make
you sick. Harvard professor John D. Spengler and colleagues, notably microbiologist
Harriet Burge, have conducted air quality research over many years. Spengler says
that in homes across North America, "the presence of molds and mildew has
been associated wit increases in upper and lower-respiratory symptoms." According
to the government affiliated Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse,
as many as 30 percent of US homes have a mold problem. And experts estimate that
between 13 million and 26 million Americans may be allergic to molds, both indoor
and outdoor.
Mold is
a fungus, and under the microscope a typical specimen may look like a plant, featuring
a tangle of threads called a mycelium. When a mold sends its spores into the air,
or its mycelium breaks up and becomes airborne, people can inhale the particles.
Most people
aren't allergic to mold. But the immune system of those who are often releases
histamines, resulting in a range of adverse reactions, including breathing difficulty,
stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing and irritation of the eyes or skin. More severe
allergic reactions can include headaches, nausea, fatigue, asthma and an inability
to concentrate.
There are
hundreds of thousands of species, and common household molds are Penicillium,
Aspergillum and Cladosporium. These white, green or blue-green, and dark brown
fungi can grow in just a few days. Cladosporium, for instance, forms on bathroom
windows where water condenses. These molds often cause relatively mild allergic
responses, though they can lead to more serious problems.
Some other
molds may be much more hazardous. In the mid-1990s, doctors at Cleveland's Rainbow
Babies and Children's Hospital noticed that a larger than usual number of infants
were being admitted with bleeding lungs-pulmonary hemorrhage-and some were dying
from the ailment. Investigators found that water damage from flooding and various
leaks was much more common in the homes of infants with pulmonary hemorrhage;
some homes had slimy black molds growing, including Stachbotyrs atra, which may
contain poisons that cause internal bleeding. Fortunately, such molds are considered
to be rare indoors.
Of course,
not all allergic reactions are caused by mold; dust and pollen could also be the
cause. There are now simple tests that check for allergies to dozens of molds.
In one of these tests, the "prick test," a doctor applies a mold allergen
to the skin then pricks the skin without drawing blood. If the area develops a
welt, you have a mold antibody.
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Ferreting
Out Fungus
If you have a mold allergy, the best cure is to remove the mold from your home.
"Medicine can alleviate some symptoms," says Dr. Linda Ford, president
of the American Lung Association, "but the best thing is to clean or remove
the mold if possible."
Finding
mold can be tricky: it might look like a smudge, discoloration or stain. When
in doubt, dab it with bleach. If the spot changes color or disappears, it's probably
mold. (If it does neither, it's dirt.) Sometimes you can only smell the mold.
Many smell musty or faintly like alcohol.
Mold's most
important requirement is moisture, which is why it is frequently found in basements.
Pay particular attention to damp places behind boxes that haven't been moved in
a while.
Fungus is
also commonly found in bathrooms and in kitchens, where condensation is caused
by cooking: that gunk in the pan under the refrigerator could well be mold. In
living rooms, look behind an upholstered chair or sofa pressing against a cold
exterior wall. In the South, mold is often found behind vinyl wall covering. Moisture
gets trapped behind this impermeable material, and mold starts to grow. Carpeting
is another trouble spot. "On ground-level concrete floors, the carpet insulates
the floor, allowing it to get very cold," explains Paul Ellinger, a mold
expert with Tamarack Environmental, Inc. in St. Paul. "Warm, moist air penetrates
the carpet, contacts the cold floor and condenses. This moisture, plus the dirt
from the traffic, is just what mold needs."
Sometimes
mold is nearly impossible to find. McGregor Pearce, a St. Paul environmental health
consultant, was called to an apartment where the occupant maintained that mold
was making him sick. Pearce investigated for hours and found nothing. Finally
he went to an electric receptacle plate for a wall outlet and sniffed. He threw
his head back in disgust. "It smelled like moldy bread," he says. It
turned out that water had penetrated the sheathing on the outside of the wall
cavity; the mold was growing all over it. Surprisingly, newer homes have higher
risks of mold problems than older ones. According to air-quality specialists,
household mold has become more prevalent since the energy crunch of the 1970s
because newer homes have a tighter "envelope." Better windows, insulation
and weather stripping make homes more energy efficient, but they also trap more
moisture.
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Wiping
Out Mold
"If you find mold," says Pat Huelman, associate professor of wood and
paper science at the University of Minnesota, "in 95 percent of cases you
can easily get rid of it yourself." Wearing rubber gloves, wet down the area
with a non-ammoniated cleaner to take off the dirt, the scrub and rinse with clean
water. Disinfect using a solution containing one part household bleach to four
parts water. Open windows to disperse the vapors, and wear a high-quality mask
or even a respirator with an adequate filter.
For mold
that's more widespread, for example around ten square feet (though what you see
may just be a small sample of extensive mold hidden from your view), cleanup is
more complicated. You'll first need to seal off doorways and air vents in the
work area from the rest of the house with plastic sheering and tape, and place
a large exhaust fan in an open window or door. When cleaning the infected area,
use rubber gloves, a disposable protective suit and a mask with a HEPA filter,
available at hardware stores. If dirty rags, sponges or debris cannot be transported
directly outside, seal them in plastic bags. Sandy McNeel of the California Department
of Health Services cautions that asthmatics and people with allergies to molds
shouldn't clean any mold on patches over three square feet on bathroom tile or
grout.
If your
upholstered furniture or wall-to-wall carpet has mold, you may have to discard
it. Standard cleaning techniques won't remove all the mold. Throw rugs, however,
can be dry-cleaned or disinfected in the washing machine. Air-conditioning filters
should be cleaned. If you suspect mold is in your central air-conditioning system,
have it inspected.
When the
contamination is too extensive or inaccessible, you'll need to hire a special
cleaning service called a remediation firm. In Debbie Bowman's case, the professional
cleaning cost $1500 but it was well worth it. By the next day, all of Debbie's
symptoms had disappeared.
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