Toxic Mold

One Family's Story Part Two

By Donna Smith

Mold is a type of fungi, and can be found all over the world. Mold requires one thing to grow: moisture. When given moisture, it can grow on all sorts of surfaces including carpet, insulation, wood, drywall and wallpaper. The mold will grow and produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous. When these mycotoxins release into the air and a human inhales them, this is where the problems start. Susan Chick believes that her family's problems increased after the heat pump was replaced because the water supply was cut off to the mold. "When you cut off the water source to mold, its spores start looking for water," she says. "So during that time we had high concentrations of sporing toxic mold in the air."

A few of the molds that can be hazardous to humans are penicillium, stachybotrys, paecilomyces, aspergillus and fusarium.

The key to keeping your home mold-free is to prevent water contamination and water damage, according to Dr. Farber. "Identify and fix plumbing and roof leaks. Make sure that there are not sources of moisture or mold in the heating or air conditioning system," he says. Dr. Farber also says bathrooms and kitchens should be well ventilated, and not to use a humidifier, which can increase mold growth.

Homes need to maintain proper humidity levels, according to Gorman. "They (homes) need to have vapor barriers in basements or properly installed when building," she says. "There needs to be fresh air intake, and Hepa quality air filters so pollen and mold spores are removed from indoor air." Gorman says to look out for sweating windows and water condensation, which is a sign of poor ventilation and improper humidity levels. Air condition drip pans and coils should be maintained and inspected to keep mold-free, and it's a good idea to have climate control inspections every six months to ensure your home is healthy.

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