Watch out! moldy house walls endanger your health & bull; hello healthy

There's always mold everywhere you turn - in the air you breathe and on the many surfaces you touch. Whether it's black slimy stains on your bathroom walls, or fluffy white patches on your kitchen floor, moldy homes are more than just a matter of beauty.

Why is the house moldy?

Fungi are unwanted, small, black, white, orange, green, to purple growths of organisms that can be found almost everywhere. Outdoors, mushrooms play an important role in nature, cultivating dry foliage, plants and trees. Fungi survive in humid environments and reproduce by releasing small, light armies of spores that travel through the air.

Inside the house, mold is found as a result of surface condensation due to excessive humidity, lack of ventilation, or low temperatures; insufficient steam or air circulation in the bathroom; or water leaks, such as from leaking roofs or pipes, rotten wooden floors, or floods. Common places for mold to grow indoors are piles of cardboard, window sills, fabrics, carpets, and walls in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas.

If you can see or smell a strong odor from mold in your home, there are health risks that could be present.

What are the health effects of living in a moldy house?

In small numbers, mold spores are usually harmless, but when they land in wet places in your home, fungal colonies can start to develop. When mold grows on the surface, the spores can be released into the air - where they can be easily inhaled. Some types of indoor mushrooms are capable of producing very potent toxins (microtoxins) which are fat soluble and easily absorbed by the lining of the intestines, airways, and skin. These agents, usually contained in fungal spores, have toxic effects ranging from short-term irritation - allergic reactions, ringworm, scabies - to weakening of the immune system and pulmonary bleeding.

Long-term exposure in a moldy home is unhealthy for every occupant, but some groups will develop more severe symptoms sooner than others, including infants and children, the elderly, individuals with respiratory conditions, and those with weak immune systems, for example due to cancer, liver disease, HIV, or in / after chemotherapy.

For people who are sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause an allergic reaction, including sneezing, runny nose, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, and skin rash. People with a serious mold allergy may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath. In people with asthma who are allergic to mold, inhaling the spores can trigger an asthma attack. Asthma attacks due to inhalation of these mold spores may also occur even in children who have "aptitude" for developing asthma or in healthy adults without a history of asthma though. Households who are immunocompromised and who have chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive pulmonary disease, may develop serious infections in their lungs when exposed to the fungus.

It is important to understand that the clinical association of mycotoxins for more adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary bleeding in infants, memory loss, or lethargy below realistic levels of air exposure has not been fully established. In any case, mold growth in the home should be treated as inappropriate from the perspective of potential adverse health effects and building performance.

What can be done to prevent moldy houses?

It's not possible to get rid of all the mold and mold spores in your home, but because mold spores can't grow without water, reducing humidity in your home is the best way to prevent or eradicate mold growth.

Here are some suggestions for reducing humidity and mold growth throughout your home:

• Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach per gallon of water.
• Use a humidifier and air conditioner, especially in hot and humid climates, to reduce humidity in the air; keep the house warm in cold weather by heating - temperatures drop, the air is less able to hold moisture and condenses on cold surfaces that promote mold growth.
• Dry all wet areas within 24-48 hours.
• Check for leaks around kitchen sinks, refrigerators, around sinks and bathtubs, and other water sources. Repair leaks and seepage.
• Open the door between the rooms to increase circulation, which brings hot temperatures to cold surfaces.
• Increase air circulation by using a fan and by moving furniture away from the corner of the wall.
• Keep indoor humidity below 60% if possible. You can measure relative humidity with a hygrometer, a tool available at most home supply stores.
• Use a fan / exhaust to move moisture outside the house whenever you are cooking, washing dishes, or washing clothes.
• Maintain the water-retaining rack of the air conditioner or refrigerator to keep it dry and clean. Make sure drains are free of obstructions and that drains can drain properly.
• Consider painting the concrete floor and using a per area rug instead of a carpet that is all over the floor. If you plan to lay the carpet over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover it with a sub-floor (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent moisture problems.
• Make sure gutters and drains are working properly and make sure water flows out of the house, not toward. If water enters the house from outside, your options range from renovating the yard to excavation and waterproofing
• Avoid leaving wet clothes in the wash basket or dryer. Avoid leaving wet towels on the floor or on hangers. Wash and dry immediately.

If the house is moldy, it is important to scrape off the mold patches and fix the root problems that are causing moisture. If you clean the mold but don't fix the cause of the problem, it's very likely that the mold will come back to haunt your house.