Mold (Fungi)

Mold (Fungi)

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Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

  1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
  2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
  3. If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
  4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
  5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
  6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
  7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
  8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
  9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
  10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods.
  • A close up of a window with mold growing on it.

Mold & Fungal Infections

Mold Allergy and Respiratory Problems

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing" advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.


All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants. Potential health concerns are an important reason. The U.S. EPA, March, 2001. The EPA warns people that Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Ninety four percent (94%) of all respiratory ailments are caused by polluted air according to the American Medical Association, which also reported that one-third of the USA’s national health bill is for causes directly attributable to indoor air pollution.


A recent Finnish health study results provide new evidence of the relation between workplace exposure to indoor molds and development of asthma in adulthood. The findings suggest that indoor mold problems constitute an important occupational health hazard. [Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, in Environmental Health Perspectives, May, 2002.] The Finnish workplace mold study estimated that the percentage of adult-onset asthma attributable to workplace mold exposure to be 35.1%." We were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released from building materials.


A rare ailment known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure in susceptible people, as reported in the almost 300 page report by the Institute of Medicine [Division of the U.S. Government's National Academy of Sciences]. Just a few hours of unprotected exposure to elevated levels of airborne mold spores can start mold growing inside one's body, and then possibly require medical intervention to cleanse the body of internal mold growth. Learn the various unhealthy mold species." An association between working and/or residing in damp buildings and respiratory health has been reported in a number of studies. Longtime exposure to building dampness may increase the risk for hyperreactivity of the upper air-ways. This acquired hyperreactivity may last for years and decrease only slowly, even after the indoor climate has been properly improved.---from the study conclusion of Stig Rudblad of the famous Karolinska Medical Institute of Stockholm Sweden, in the medical research study Nasal mucosal reactivity after long-time exposure to building dampness, published on October 15, 2004, by the Institute. [The human subjects in the study were teachers and students in school buildings with known dampness problems, as compared to a control group of teachers and students in buildings with no known moisture problems.]


Lifetime Asthma from Mold Exposure while in the Uterus or as an Infant. Recent studies have confirmed what scientists have suspected for years: that asthma is an immune system reaction to dust, pollution and other allergens [e.g., airborne mold spores] in the environment, which trigger spasms and tightening of the airways of some people who also have a genetic predisposition. Now they're zeroing in on the genetic vulnerability. The new thinking is that asthma isn't simply a matter of having the wrong genes. Instead, at some point in early childhood, or possibly in the womb, an event takes place that turns a person into a lifetime asthmatic. Scientists think the fetus or infant is somehow exposed to a critical dose of pollutants that cause the immune system to overreact, permanently narrowing the airways and making them more sensitive to irritants. It might be possible to inoculate children against the condition before this even occurs, preventing asthma entirely.---from "Waiting to Inhale," NEWSWEEK, March 14, 2005.


A fungal disease caused by the Mucor mold species, which is a very common mold species that readily grows in water-damaged buildings worldwide, and which is commonly found in the soil and in decaying vegetation. Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, brain, lungs, skin and kidneys. People with immune disorders are more susceptible to the infection.

Mold Skin Diseases

Coccidioides immitis mold [the cause of widespread "Valley Fever" in the southwestern USA desert cities] is on the U.S. Dept. of Human Service list of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and that can potentially be utilized by terrorists to infect and kill Americans.

Moldy Food

Mold fungus spores are very small in size and can easily enter the human body by breathing [nose and mouth], eating mold spores [often contained in food and from landing on food], drinking mold infested water, entry through one's eyes, entry through open skin cuts and sores, and sometimes skin absorption through skin pores. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], "Most moldy foods should be thrown out. But you might be able to save molding hard cheeses, salami, and firm fruits and vegetables if you cut out not only the mold but a large area around it. Cutting the larger area around the mold is important because much of the mold growth is below the surface of the food.

Sick Building Syndrome

Molds and fungi growing inside buildings may be the source of indoor air-quality problems known as the "sick building syndrome." While the syndrome has been blamed on a variety of causes, from the emissions of particleboard partitions and paints to carpets and cleaning supplies, Georgia Tech research has found that metabolic gases emitted from molds and fungi may be a significant source of airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause indoor air-quality problems. The new research suggests that control measures prescribed for sick buildings may need to be altered to address microbial problems as well as building materials.

Individual Characteristics of Common Mold

  • Cladosporium

    Cladosporium is an extremely common mold found in temperate climates. The Spores readily become airborne and are transported over long distances. The high season for Cladosporium is typically late summer and autumn while the low season is typically winter and early spring. Cladosporium has been isolated from many different types of soil and plant litter; enzymes produced by the mold breakdown cellulose, pectin and lignin that are major components of leaf litter.


    Inside, Cladosporium can be found in dirty refrigerators, in condensation reservoirs, on moist window frames, and pretty much on any moist, porous surface. Cladosporium often discolors interior paint paper, or textiles stored in humid environments.


    The ability for Cladosporium to rapidly and heavily sporulate makes this mod a common airway allergen associated with asthma and hay fever. Cladosporium may cause more serious illnesses in individuals with suppressed immune function.

  • Penicillium Sp.

    The spores of Penicillium contain mycotoxins responsible for causing a variety of allergy symptoms and illnesses. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by fungi that are most concentrated in the spores but are also resent in actively growing mold filaments. Under normal circumstances, the indoor concentration of spores is generally low enough to not provoke an immune response except in those people who are sensitive to the specific mycotoxins or have compromised immune systems. Mycotoxins can cause a variety of short term, as well as long term illnesses. Symptoms due to mycotoxin exposure include or altered immune function, which may lead to opportunistic infections.

  • Stachybotrys Atra

    Stachybotrys is described as an indicator mold and when identified in either air or bulk sampling "may signal moisture presence or a potential for health problems" (Macher et al, 1999). Stachybotrys is generally found on materials with high cellulose content (such as wallboard and ceiling tiles) that become chronically moist or water damaged from excessive relative humidity, pipe or roof leaks, condensation, or flooding. several toxins are produced by Stachybotrys and are known to be toxic to humans exposed to significant quantities. If Stachybotrys spores are released into the air, there is a potential for allergic, respiratory, or immunological symptoms to develop or become exacerbated. These conditions include asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, sinusitis and conjunctivitis (New York City Department of Health, 1993).

  • Alternaria Sp.

    Alternaria is a very common fungal saprophyte found on decaying wood, in composts, on plants and food and in different types of soil. Its distribution is worldwide and is frequently found in outside air, where in temperate climates, the conidia (spore) levels reach their peak in late summer. Indoors it can be found in dust and carpets, on damp spots around showers and window frames and virtually any area where condensation exists.


    The ubiquitous and common Alternaria is an important fungal allergen. Allergies to Alternaria will most often cause an immediate mediated allergic response, however, there have been documented cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis to airborne exposure of Alternaria spores. Serious infection associated with Alternaria is rare. Alternaria mycotoxins have not been the subject of much investigation although they are produced.

  • Aspergillus Sp.

    There are more than 160 species of Aspergilus, 16 of which have been documented as etiologic agents of human disease. They are among the most common groups of environmental fungi. Many species are isolated from a variety of substrates, including grains, nuts, cotton, organic debris and water damaged, organic building materials. The most frequently encountered opportunistic Aspergillus pathogen is A fumigatus and is seen most abundantly in decomposing organic materials. Aspergillus fumigatus and A niger have been identified as the more harmful species of the Aspergillus group.


    Aspergillus is considered a common environmental mold that can pose health risks when it is present in elevated levels. Health problems due to Aspergillus exposure may include headaches, eye, and skin irritation, asthma aggravation of existing respiratory conditions , other typical allergic symptoms, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity and allergic responses can be triggered by minimal exposure and especially in people who have an existing sensitivity to mold allergens and toxins or who have compromised or suppresses immune function. Aspergillus can proliferate successfully indoors when conditions become favorable resulting in an increase in the number of spores, and therefore, mycotoxin concentrations that can be harmful.

  • Aureobasidium Pullulans

    Aureobasidium is one of several "black yeasts" so called because of its slimy black appearance in cultures. It is a common saprophyte with worldwide distribution and is frequently isolated from soils. During autumn, Aureobasidium colonizes the surface of the leaves of many types of trees, producing pectins that breakdown the cell walls. The initial decomposition of leaves is generally caused by Aureobasidium paving the way for other molds to further breakdown the leaves. Aureobasidium is a known allergen, however, not much information is available on this mold to date.

  • Fusarium Sp.

    Fusarium species are soil fungi and have a worldwide distribution. Many are plant pathogens, however, several are pathogenic to humans and other animals causing mycotic infections especially in burn victims and transplant patients.

  • Paecilomyces Sp.

    Paecilomyces has been isolated from jute fibers, paper, PVC time (oak wood) optical lenses leather, photographic paper, cigar tobacco, grapes, bottled fruit juice undergoing pasteurization. Type I allergies (hay fever, asthma) and Type III hypersensitivity pneumonitis have been associated with Paecilomyces exposure. Species of the mold genus Paecilomyces are seldom associated with serious human infection.

  • Rhizopus Sp.

    Rhizopus is a common mold found on decaying fruits, in soil, house dust and frequently in the air. Rhizopus grows rapidly and produces countless, easily aerosolized spores. Human infections or diseases are rare.

  • Trichoderma Sp.

    Trichoderma is a common genus of molds, especially in soils and on decaying wood. A species of Trichoderma has bee linked with pulmonary fungus ball disease however disease is quite rare and only reported in those immuno-compromised.

Mold in Attics or Rooflines

Mold in the attic or roofline can occur due to a multitude of problems in the building: faulty roof ventilation, leaks, excessive humidity, renovations past and present, building wall construction, mechanical system failures, negative ventilation occurring in the home, amount of people living/working in the building, mechanical systems in the attic, etc....


Many calls about attic and roofline mold center upon immediately removing the offending odor or unsightly mold (fungus) which is accumulating on the roofline areas and in the attic space. The conventional thought is: I see mold, I must get rid of it as soon as possible. It is important to understand, that the immediate removal of mold in the attic space without performing an environmental (mold) test to determine the problem is akin to throwing money out your windows. Sure, your attic will look good for about 6 months to a year, but once the mold fighting ability of the anti-fungal chemicals have aged to the point where they no longer work, the mold will come back more virulent than ever and more likely than not, will have transferred to another part of your home. 


Envirotest started it's mold testing 24 years ago by diagnosing the effects of the building environment on the roofline and determining the cause of the problem to prevent future mold issues from occurring.  We have more experience in roofline/attic mold and have performed more mold tests in attics and on rooflines than any firm in New England if not the country and we can and will solve your roofline / attic mold issues.


Once the causative problems have been solved, the mold can then be successfully removed and will not occur again or cause further damage to your attic, roofline, building or your health. Envirotest is familiar in all methods of repairing and remediating mold in attics. Envirotest will recommend the quickest, most cost effective and cutting edge methods of remediating the mold in your attic. We can also assist you and be your liaison during the entire remediation process to ensure that all recomendations are followed correctly. 


Please call us to schedule an appointment to diagnose your building mold problems as soon possible, the tests we perform are non-invasive, quick, precise and cost effective. 


We get many calls that start out with "I don't want to do any testing, just get it out of my attic". If you fall into this category, Envirotest has partnered up with a company that can assist you in this procedure. Please go to WWW.MOLDINATTIC.NET to find out how you can remove the mold in your attic quickly, safely, effectively and permanently.


Feel free to use the form on contact page so that we can get back to you and answer any questions or concerns about this important issue occurring now and growing exponetially above your head. 


We look forward to hearing from you.

Mold & Indoor Air Quality

Mold is a fungus that is an often fuzzy-looking growth which appears on the surface of organic materials in damp conditions, both outdoors and indoors. Molds feed off the moist organic material similar in ways that plants feed from the ground. Molds have a variety of colors: gray, green, yellow, orange, black, etc.. and may have a velvety or wooly texture.


Molds reproduce by producing tiny spores that become airborne thus allowing them to propagate in other areas. Mold spores continually waft through the air, both indoors and out-of-doors, these spores are so small that when inside a room with no air movement they will tend to stay airborne for as much as two weeks before settling. Once they settle they will wait for a moisture episode (flood, leak, etc..) to occur. When a moisture episode occurs, or if the mold spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they have landed on in order to survive. Indoors, molds can grow on wood, paper, fabrics, carpet, foods and other organic materials.


Molds are a natural part of the environment, but human health problems may result when people are exposed to large amounts of mold, particularly indoors. To most people it is harmless and at worst a nuisance. However, inhaling excessive quantities of airborne mold particles or spores may lead to allergic illness, trigger asthma, cause respiratory infections, or bring about toxic effects from certain chemicals in the mold cells.


Certain molds have even been found to have a positive (antibiotic) effect (e.g. Penicillin). However, some people can become sensitive (allergic) to specific molds and/or classes of fungi. Clearly the most common type of exposure concern is for and among people who are asthmatic, allergic or prone to hypersensitivity pneumonitis since these individuals may react regardless of the amount of mold present. 


When excessive moisture, vapor or humidity accumulates indoors, mold growth will often follow, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not remediated promptly. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores indoors. However, indoor mold growth can be (for the most part) prevented by controlling moisture.


Most Homes Have a Mold Problem. Even if your home looks clean, chances are good you've got mold, often at levels high enough to trigger allergy and asthma attacks. That bit of dour news comes courtesy of a new university research study that also found the mold is frequently in areas most people don't associate with it -- windowsills, for instance. After surveying 160 homes in seven U.S. cities, Kelly A. Reynolds of the University of Arizona, Tucson, found that 100 percent of the homes tested positive for mold on some inside surface. The discovered molds were all highly allergenic molds. Read the entire home moldresearch. "Up to one-third of [non-residential] buildings in industrialized countries are sick," according to the World Health Organization, 1995.  The Ottawa, Canada-based Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) warns in a pamphlet published at its web sitethat "if you live in a damp house, or have ever experienced flooding, your house may be breeding an often invisible and always unwelcome intruder - mold." Ken Ruest, Senior Researcher with the CMHC points out that, "a lot of people are unaware there's a toxic mold problem until their house is so badly affected they can't live in it anymore."


Mold fungi grows well in homes, condominiums, apartments, offices, and other work places and buildings because most property owners and managers do NOT properly maintain building roofs; exterior siding; windows; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning [HVAC] equipment and ducts; and plumbing fixtures, water lines, and sewer lines to prevent water intrusion, and/ or they fail to quickly find, detect, search for, and repair mold water plumbing problems such as water leaks, water and sewer breaks, broken water and sewer lines, dripping water, running water, flooding, flood damage, and other water, moisture, humidity, sewer, mold damage problems, black mold infestation, and toxic mold contamination.

  • Assessment

    All that is needed for microbial growth to occur is a substrate, nutrients, warmth, and moisture.  Wood, paper, some carpets and carpet backings, wallboard and other building materials and furnishings act as both substrate and nutrient.  Substrates are surfaces that will trap nutrients such as dead skin cells, food crumbs, dust, dust mites, animal dander, dead insect parts and soil. This "dirt" can also contain the spores and "seeds" for such common microbiological contaminants as molds, fungi, mildews and bacteria. Sufficient moisture and adequate time for growth are often the final ingredients. Light is not always necessary and only moderate warmth (temperatures slightly above freezing) is required.  Fungi have been around for a long time and have become adapted to all types of environments and conditions.


    After performing thousands of mold inspections, Envirotest has come to the conclusion that sampling indoor airborne mold using Anderson plate methods is the best techniques for sampling airborne mold. 


    1. Envirotest’s microbiological air monitoring reports results appear as a number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs). CFUs are the number of live or growing colonies. Some sensitive individuals will react to the protein containing residue of mold and other biologicals that lie in the dust.


    2. There are no standards against which sample results can be interpreted. However,  a list of the most commonly found molds and their exposure symptoms are included in the mold testing section of this website.


    3. While there are a wide variety of sampling protocols and methods available to test for microbiologicals, Envirotest depends on the Anderson sampling method, on-site visual assessments, bulk samples and wipe sample for testing. Environmental molds do not lend themselves to the more familiar "medical type" testing, since it depends upon culturing with standard methods and conditions. It must be known that the environment and the food that is available can change both the color and shape of the colonies. These are key to the identification of the mold. The same factors can also produce sterile or non-reproducing colonies. These also may be missed in testing that focuses upon "live spores" or "colony forming units".


    4. As with all plants, the life cycle of molds varies with the season. It is not uncommon to have high levels of CFUs reported both indoors and outside during the growing season. The reproductivity of molds also varies from day to night.

  • Recommendations

    Envirotest strongly recommends that mold removal be performed by a trained professional to decrease the chance of individual exposure and building contamination. It is with all of the above in mind that, the following recommendations can be offered


    1. Carpets, when present, should be subject to regular (daily) cleaning using one of the relatively new high efficiency (HEPA) vacuum cleaners. During this daily cleaning, look for water damage. Carpet should also be cleaned professionally on a periodic schedule (only between the months of November to February), or, whenever excessively soiled. Carpets must be thoroughly dried whenever professional cleaning is done. Basement sub-floors are not recommended as a base for carpeting due to the inherent buildup of moisture that can be caused and subsequent mold that can develop. Envirotest recommends a preference for solid surface materials or vinyl tile when carpet is to be replaced.


    2. Attempt to identify areas of concern by visual inspection. Additional information can be gathered by professionally sampling the area(s) for the characteristic odors associated with mold. The ventilation system should also be examined in a similar way.


    3. Eliminate all sources of water. All leaks should be fixed. Excessive humidity can often be removed and/or controlled with dehumidifiers.


    4. Where mold contamination is suspected, many experts in the field feel it is simple and thorough enough to say "if you can see mold or smell mold: clean and/or decontaminate it." Cleaning and/or decontamination of surfaces can include any and all of the following:


    a) Wash solid surfaces and launder all fabric based materials, which may have been exposed, with bleach (if possible), hot water and detergent.

    b) Dry immediately and completely (exposure to strong sunlight is helpful during this process).

    c) Decontamination of white clothes is best done by using a bleach solution.

    d) Materials that can not successfully survive the above cleaning and/or decontamination should be replaced. However, the areas left behind should be decontaminated before replacement materials are installed. Areas of replacement, that then need painting, can best be painted with paints which have mold inhibitors included. This information is usually included on the label.


    5. Any water damaged porous materials (e.g. ceiling tiles, carpet and wallboard) that cannot be dried out and cleaned within 48 to 72 hours should be removed and replaced. Bacteria and mold can begin to grow within this period of time. 


    6. Should there be further problems consult Envirotest to perform sampling to determine exact mold types and air quality problems.
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