Celebrate the 9th Mold Awareness Month

Celebrate the 9th annual Mold Awareness Month!

In September 2008, the National Indoor Mold Society established the National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month. During this month, the Society works to inform, educate, and bring awareness to how exposure indoor molds and mycotoxins can affect your health. So to help celebrate nine years of mold awareness month, let’s take a look at five fantastic facts about mold.

1. Mold Needs Less Than 2 Days to Grow

For mold to grow, it needs a food source, an ideal temperature of 41 to 100 degrees, and moisture. With moisture, the ideal temperature, and ample food, mold will begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours.

2. Mold Causes Asthma

According to Medical News Today, 300 million people in the world suffer from asthma. Although this disease affects people of all ages, it mostly starts during childhood. This disease kills about 255,000 people worldwide every year. This respiratory condition is marked by spasms in the lungs and can be triggered by environmental factors like allergies and tobacco smoke. There is also mounting evidence that mold causes asthma, according to Wonder Makers Environmental.

3. Mold Causes Chronic Sinusitis Too!

According to the Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, mold is also attributed to chronic sinusitis, an immune reaction caused by a fungus. According to their research, the doctors took mucus samples from 210 patients with chronic sinusitis. This collection found that 96 percent of the patients had fungus in their samples. In addition, they identified 40 different kinds of fungi, averaging 2.7 types of fungi per patient.

4. Most Mold Goes Undetected

Many people do not realize they have a mold problem because it is so good at hiding. Mold can be detected through smell, visual clues, and knowledge of building history like past leaks or flooding. One of the first indicators of mold is a smell. This “musty” smell can often lead you to where them old has started to develop.

5. Modern Day Building Practices Can Promote Mold

In a rush to make money, real estate developers can create disaster by making their new homes susceptible to mold. In a quest to reduce energy bills, many new homes are air tight and lack the proper ventilation to avoid mold. Another thing you should think about when buying a new home is the conditions outside when the home is built. If the home was built when there was lots of rain and the foundation was not allowed to completely dry before the installation of insulation and vapor barrier, it could mean moisture is trapped in the walls. Before buying a new home, make sure to have it inspected by a mold inspector.

Mold is extremely hazardous and should be taken seriously every month of the year, especially during National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month. For more information on mold in your home, call Environmental Consulting and Contracting Group today!