Mold Is All Around Us
"Molds, a subset of the fungi, are
ubiquitous on our planet. Fungi are found in every ecological niche,
and are necessary for the recycling of organic building blocks that
allow plants and animals to live. Included in the group 'fungi' are
yeasts, molds and mildews, as well as large mushrooms, puffballs and
bracket fungi that grow on dead trees. Fungi need external organic
food sources and water to be able to grow. "Harriet
M. Ammann, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.
"Most homeowners believe that as long as they do not see visible
signs of mold, that is, patches of green, blue, or black
discoloration on surfaces, their environment is free of
contamination. What they don't realize, however, is that large
accumulations of [hidden or concealed] mold may be growing in areas
that they cannot see, like air ducts, remote attic or basement
spaces, or wall cavities. Left to multiply, these infestations
may produce enough organic compounds to cause allergic reactions,
sickness and, in extreme cases, death (a possibility with infants),"
Edward R. Lipinski, "HOME CLINIC: The Battle Against Mold and
Mildew," N.Y. TIMES,
September 1, 1999.
"Exposure to certain types of fungi, known as toxic mold, can cause a
serious [allergic] reaction. If you're unlucky, this is the kind of
mold you have. If you're really unlucky, your toxic mold will gird
for battle and go to war, secreting chemicals called mycotoxins,
which can find their way into your body, entering through your nose,
mouth, and skin, lodging perhaps in your digestive tract, your lungs,
or your brain. Among these toxins are trichothecenes, which were
rumored to have been used as a biological weapon during the wars in
Afghanistan and Vietnam," warned Lisa Belkin, "Haunted by Mold,"
N.Y. TIMES, August 13, 2001.
"Even if mold in your house doesn't cause you any medical problems,
if it becomes established in the wood in your home, 'dry rot' may
form. Dry rot can result in a homeowner's nightmare. When the mold
dies, the wood dries and then shrinks, breaking up into irregular
chunks. Cracks in the wood fiber then act like straws, siphoning up
moisture and carrying it to undamaged portions of the wood. Left
unchecked, this process keeps recurring, continually rotting more
wood, and can cause severe structural damage to your home," warned
Vicki Lankarge, on the website
insure.com.
The U.S. Government Environmental
Protection Agency (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 occasion 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."
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