Indoor Mold 101
How to Prevent and Control Mold Growth in your Home
By Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres
Mold is a type of fungi that can be found almost everywhere. Their role in the environment is to decompose organic material such as animal and plant matter. Molds reproduce through microscopic units known as spores. Spores travel through the air and are resistant to dry environments. Molds can be found outdoor in the soil, water, plants, and animals but can also be found in the interior of people’s homes.
Molds gain entry to your home through the air (open doors or windows, ventilation systems) or by attaching to your clothing, shoes, or pets. Mold will grow indoors only if the spores have the necessary conditions to do so. Favorable conditions for indoor mold growth include high humidity levels, lack of air ventilation, and the presence of organic food source materials. Bathrooms, basements, walls, ceilings, carpets, books, clothes, and fruits are places and surfaces where mold is often found. This is because of the high humidity levels present in these places or where these objects are stored. Also, the material of the walls, ceilings, books, clothes, and fruits provide food for the mold. Additionally, studies show that homes that sustained water damage or flooding have higher quantities of indoor molds. Some of the common indoor molds are Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Alternaria.
Exposure to mold doesn’t cause problems in most people. However, some persons are sensitive to molds, meaning their immune system overreacts to them developing an allergy response. Sensitive people to mold can have nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing symptoms after exposure to molds. Also, asthmatic persons may be susceptible to these organisms and have asthma symptoms exacerbations. Moreover, persons with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing mold infections.
It’s important to know that mold can never be truly eliminated from the indoor environment. What we can do is reduce the levels of indoor mold growth by controlling moisture. Indoor humidity must be within 30-60% in order to decrease and prevent indoor mold growth. The use of air conditioners or de-humidifiers is helpful for the control of humidity levels. Increasing the ventilation in moisture-prone areas, such as the bathroom and kitchen, will also prevent indoor mold. It’s very important to fix sources of water problems (leaks) and to clean and replace moldy materials after an episode of flooding. Also, if you are sensitive to molds, the use of an air purifier will decrease your exposure to mold spores which will eventually prevent allergy symptoms. I hope you learned key points about indoor mold and tips on how to prevent them. Stay updated with our blog for more interesting topics!
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Author: Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres
About the author -- Lorraine Vélez-Torres is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. She earned her master’s degree in Public Health with concentration in Epidemiology in 2015, identifying the risk factors affecting the quality of life of residents in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. In 2014 she received a double major in Industrial Microbiology and Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. She’s currently working on her research thesis at the Mycology Laboratory of Dr. Bolaños, studying the effect of Hurricane María on the indoor concentration of fungi and the health outcomes of the habitants. Because Dr. Rivera-Mariani is a member of the thesis committee of Lorraine, she was invited for and completed a one-week training with the RIPLRT to learn the different human-based immunological approaches we implement in environmental health studies.
Click here to learn more about Lorraine, and here to view Lorraine’s credentials.