What is mold and where is it found?

Mold is a fungus and it's found in any area, indoors and outdoors in climates or locations where sufficient moisture and a food source exists, generally cellulose.

How can mold affect your health?
Not in every case, but in some sensitive people, inhaling the spores can aggravate asthma, hay fever or other allergies.
Depending on the amount and length of exposure, the affects can be serious enough to endanger health.

How can you be exposed to mold?
Breathing air containing the spores, contact with mold growths, drinking water with mold spores.

How does mold grow?
Mold needs moisture to grow. It also needs a food source, although not much. Remove the moisture, the mold will dry up.

What is Stachybotrys
A type of mold that has been associated with health effects in people. It is a greenish-black mold that can grow on materials with a high cellulose content - such as drywall sheet rock, dropped ceiling tiles, and wood - that become chronically moist or water-damaged, due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding.

How can you tell if Stachybotrys chartarum is present in your home?
Having the spores tested.

How should mold be cleaned?
Quickly, as soon as it appears. Homes should be visibly inspected for growths regularly. Areas with moisture should be repaired to eliminate the moisture. Cleaning can be effective with small growths. Commercial mold disposal companies are available for large growths.

IF YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO MOLD OR MOLD SPORES AND EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS OF DISTRESS, HAVE THEM EXAMINED BY A PHYSICIAN.