Protecting Building Occupants from Mold and Other Respiratory Exposure Risks

Elevated concentrations of mold in the places where people live, work, go to school, or spend time can cause potential health issues for many individuals. This is because mold is known to be an allergen, irritant, asthma trigger, and in some cases, the cause of opportunistic infections or the source of toxic substances known as mycotoxins.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that allergic reactions to mold are quite common. These reactions can be immediate or delayed and may include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Mold can even cause an asthma attack in some people with asthma who are allergic to mold. The agency also warns that mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of mold-allergic and non-allergic people.

Breathing elevated levels of mold may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), a condition that resembles bacterial pneumonia. In addition, exposure to some types of mold found in water-damaged properties may result in opportunistic infections in people who have a weakened or suppressed immune system.

“Like many indoor environmental quality topics, mold is misunderstood and misrepresented. For mold to amplify, or grow indoors, mold requires four things at the same time,” said Derrick A. Denis, Disaster Ready Emergency Preparedness and Infection Control (DR EPIC) Program Industrial Hygienist and Senior Vice President for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “First viable mold spores must be present. Rest assured viable mold spores are a universal component of airborne and settled dust all over the planet, so this criterion is always met. Second mold needs a favorable atmosphere, which is the same temperature ranges and presence of oxygen that people require. So, unless you live in a freezer this criterion is always present. Third, mold needs an organic nutrient source, such as paper, leather, wood, skin cells, pollen, etc. Organic building materials and contents are common, but, even if you made a room out of materials mold cannot digest, such as a shower made of metal, glass, and ceramic, mold can still eat the nutrients in the biofilm of soap and dust. Fourth, mold requires water, such as flowing liquid water or condensed water vapor. Water is the one factor that can and should be controlled in the built environment.”

Mr. Denis suggests, “Align yourself with experienced, certified, insured professionals for assistance in assessing your built environment, prescribing corrective measures, conducting measures to remediate any issues, and providing proof of completion. Let professionals guide your response to any visible mold growth or imbalanced airborne mold concentrations with tempered and pragmatic solutions. CSC’s experts meet these criteria and are dedicated to providing comprehensive building assessments, testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services. CSC is a resource to help to identify and mitigate indoor exposure risks to mold and other microbial pathogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, and airborne pollutants.”

CSC recently sponsored an educational video about mold exposure and potential health effects that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/AutQ1XA37qk

To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, infection control, industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com, or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, and environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers, and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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