Notes About Mold

“Red Flags” that suggest mold testing is needed

Moisture: Mold grows where there is a moist environment.  The first indication that you may need to test for mold is the discovery of any water related structural or design problem such as.

• Evidence of water penetrating the home (stains, moist areas).
• Evidence of a condition that may allow water into the home (poor grading, bad flashing or gutters).
• Actual construction defect or deterioration that might allow water in (roof, decks, windows, concrete slab, vapor barriers).
• Plumbing defects (leaky drains, pipes or toilet seals, missing caulking on sinks or tubs)
• HVAC problems (dirty, moist filters, poor condensation drainage)
• Dryer vented indoors; inadequate ventilation for a bath or spa.

Sensitivity: Human senses are a valuable tool for mold detection

• If you or an occupant thinks that there is a musty odor, there is potentially a mold problem
• If you or an occupant feel a room has a damp atmosphere, there may be conditions for mold to grow.
• If anyone in the home complains of allergy-like symptoms, which seem to increase while in the home, it is possibly caused by mold.

Visible Mold: (Various color are possible)

• Tiny spots
• “Hairy” covering on the surface.  Such as white or green molds seen on fruit or bread.
• Slimy surface.

Mold DNA Test (Environmental Protection Agency)

A new test for toxic mold has been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The DNA test results are considered highly accurate in as many as 100 different molds.  Previous tests have yielded significant variances including false positives and false negatives.  For more information, contact Lighthouse Laboratories at 866-558-3787 or email to jheil@cin.net.

Mold related Websites for further knowledge:

Health effects:

• www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/mold.html
• www.mycotoxicosis.com
• http://www.rismedia.com/index.php/article/articleview/2785/1/1/

Litigation sites:

• www.themoldsource.com/starter.html,
• www.edcross.com/indoor_environmental_law.htm
• www.mealeys.com/index.html
• www.toxlaw.com

Insurance sites:

• www.claimsmag.com/Issues/Aug00/mold.asp
• www.thefederation.org/public/Quarterly/Spring99/lucey.htm

Construction industry:

• www.sacbee.com/ib/news/old/ib_news02_20010222.html

Fungi:

• www.mrmildew.com/glossary.htm www.dehs.umn.edu/iaq/fungus/glossary.html

Remediation:

• www.dehs.umn.edu/iaq/fungus/hidden.html

Victims:

• www.mold-help.com www.hadd.com/sickhomes.html

Governmental Guidelines:

• www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html
• www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/p-ts/IndoorAir/default.htm
  www.tdh.state.tx.us/beh/iaq/

Others:

• http://www.onlinetips.org/instances-mold
• www.MoldTraining.Com
• www.realtormag.com/RMODaily.nsf/All/B3A51D7FD
• www.realtytimes.com/rtnews/rtcpages/20020108_mold.htm
• http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html
• http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com
• http://www.themoldsource.com/starter.html
• http://www.mold-help.org http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/mold.html
• http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html
• http://www.jmhi.com/noframes.html

Mold Remediation Specialist:
Hutzel & Associates, (602) 323-0222

EPA ONLINE MOLD GUIDE IN PRINT THIS SUMMER - 2002

"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home," one of the Environmental Protection Agency's online sources for information about this in-the-news topic, will be available in print this summer.  In the meantime, this site is a good review for all Buyer Representatives, and a good place to refer clients concerned about mold in their home search.  Everything is covered, from "Mold Basics" to "Testing and Sampling for Mold" and "Mold Cleanup”.  www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html