| Q. |
What
are mold allergies? |
| A. |
Just
like pollens, mold spores can cause allergies in sensitive individuals.
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| Q. |
Are
there different types of mold allergens to which we are allergic? |
| A. |
Yes.
There are a large number of different molds that occur, both indoors
(water damaged areas) and outdoors that can cause allergies. Virtually
any mold can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
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| Q. |
Where
do mold allergens grow indoors? |
| A. |
Molds
grow on living (pathogens of plants or animals) and especially on
dead plants and animals where they are involved in the natural decay
process. |
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| Q. |
What
are outdoor mold allergens? |
| A. |
These
are the ones that are mostly involved in the decay process or sometimes
in plant diseases. |
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| Q. |
If
I want to avoid outdoor mold allergens, what are likely to be the
places I should avoid most? |
| A. |
Fields
and moist habitats with many plants. |
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| Q. |
How
can I reduce mold allergens in my home? |
| A. |
The
best methods are to eliminate or limit carpeting as much as possible
as they can be reservoirs for spores. HEPA filters and vacuums are
your best line of defense in eliminating mold spores. Non-HEPA filtered
air cleaners and vacuums are the culprits- they keep the spores around
by aerosolizing them and not removing them. Also, prevent mold growth
in homes by eliminating sources of water - water incursions, adequate
ventilation in bathrooms and general good hygiene. It is advisable
to turn off the water to a home when leaving for more than 24 to 48
hours to prevent water incursions (water heaters or broken pipes).
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| Q. |
What
are the most difficult indoor mold allergens to remove? |
| A. |
They
are all the same in difficulty except that some species such as Penicillium
and Aspergillus are more easily aerosolized and therefore more difficult
to reduce to normal levels in the air. |
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| Q. |
How
would I go about testing if I had toxic molds in my home? Are there
home tests I can run? |
| A. |
There
are no home tests available. Potentially Toxic molds MUST be identified
by a qualified laboratory, preferably an EMPAT (Environmental Microbiology
Proficiency Analytical Testing) administered by AIHA which is currently
revising this to an accreditation. Air testing should be done by a
well qualified knowledgeable consultant, preferably with a good microbial
background who uses an EMPAT laboratory for analysis. |
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| Q. |
What
are the best ways to get rid of mold in my home? |
| A. |
Bathrooms,
window ledges, basements, kitchen all seem to be problematical. Water
sources should be eliminated if possible - repair or improve ventilation
and use dehumidifiers (eg. bathrooms and basements). Biocides are
usually not necessary if moisture levels are adequately controlled.
A Clorox type cleaner can effectively kill the mold on surfaces and
can be used in bathrooms and other surfaces with the proper precautions
(ventilation, gloves, etc.) and with an understanding that the mold
will grow back if there is moisture in the future. |
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| Q. |
Is
an ozone machine an effective method of mold allergen removal? |
| A. |
No.
Ozone levels cannot be obtained in indoor environments at sufficient
levels to kill the spores. For one thing, those ozone levels would
be very irritating to any inhabitants and secondly, the areas are
too large and there is too much air exchange for the levels to reach
fungitoxic levels. Also, the mold spores do not have to be alive to
cause allergies or for mycotoxins to remain active. Thus ozone is
not an effective method of control. |
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| Q. |
I
have heard about UV lights for air handlers or added to hepa filters,
are they effective? |
| A. |
Not
really. UV lights can kill the mold in the air handlers but as indicated
before the spores don't have to be alive to cause health effects.
Also studies have indicated that indoor spore levels don't change
even though the levels of live spores in the air handler are reduced.
Where UV lights do appear to have a use is in infectious situations
(eg. hospital rooms) where the best method is referred to as an "upper
room". This basically involves placing UV lights in a shielded situation
to prevent exposure to people but passively exposing air to the germicidal
activity. The lights must be placed appropriately based on ventilation
and air currents to ensure efficacious germicidal activity. |
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Contact
Aerotechlabs.com
for further information and archives of IAQ tips.
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