Mold: Health Issues Associated with Mold & Mold Remediation

When the Nashville flood of 2010 hit Middle Tennessee, many residents quickly learned that one of the hazards of a flood event is the mold that grows in floors, carpets, walls and furniture afterward. In Nashville, teams of volunteers went through the affected areas ripping out floors, walls, doors, dry wall, furniture and possessions to remove not only the contaminated areas, but the wet wood and fabrics which are natural breeding grounds for mold, mildew and other fungi.

Common Molds: Acremonium, Aspergillus & Stachybotrys Chartarum

There are thousands of known mold species, and mold is present everywhere in natures. Many kinds of mold are loosely classified as "surface mold" and grow on most damp or moist surfaces. According to TheMoldInspector.com, three varieties of mold commonly found in wet wood are Acremonium, Aspergillus and Stachybotrys Chartarum. Acremonium grows on wet buildings, drywall and ceiling tiles; Aspergillus is often found in water-damaged structures; and Stachybotrys Chartarum, commonly called black mold, is found in building materials containing cellulose that have been wet for more than a week.

Mold Typically Not a Serious Health Issue

According to Jarrod Mangrum, supervisor at J & D Services in Nashville, common surface molds like Acremonium and Aspergillus typically don't cause many health problems beyond allergies. It is the black mold Stachybotrys Chartarum which is most toxic.

Jeff Bennett owner of J & D Services says mold is usually not a serious health issue, and no cases have been reported where anyone has died from exposure to mold. Bennett states that mold itself isn't the problem, but that mold spores can cause or contribute to allergies when they are released into an enclosed area indoors where people will be exposed to the spores in large quantities. According to Bennett, even the so-called "deadly" black mold has only been proven fatal when it has contributed to existing health problems in the elderly or people with existing respiratory conditions. (Examiner)

Health Issues Related to Stachybotrys Chartarum - Black Mold

However, according to Wikipedia, Stachybotrys Chartarum can cause a variety of health problems based upon the length of exposure to the mold spores and the volume of spores a person is exposed to. Health issues associated with black mold include: chronic fatigue, headaches, chronic coughing, sneezing, fever, eye irritations and irritation to the mucous membranes, rashes and possibly even neurological problems. TheMoldInspector.com states that Stachybotrys Chartarum "produces mycotoxins that can irritate skin and mucous membranes" and that Satratoxin, a mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys, is toxic when inhaled. In my case, both my little dog and I experienced the same moderate allergy symptoms for several weeks irritated eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

Mold Remediation Process

Although the staff at J & D Services tended to downplay the health risks attributed to mold, in treating my house for common surface mold and black mold, the mold remediation team went through an intricate series of steps. After the wood was dried, Bennett and his team installed zippered plastic doors and walls around the affected areas. Then a wire brush was used to scour the mold off and out of the effected wood where it was removed with a Hepa vac. In the crawl space where the mold was thicker, a bleach solution was next applied, followed by the first mold treatment, Shock Wave. Next a negative air machine or "air scrubber" was hooked up to suck the spores through an antimicrobial filter overnight where those nasty spores were routed through a Lay Flat plastic tube to be dispersed outside.

The next day the mold remediation team applied Microban to the contaminated area. After letting the Microban dry for a couple of hours, the affected areas were covered with Foster® 40-20 Fungicidal Protective Coating, a thick "paint" that seals the areas previously contaminated with mold.

Treat Mold Aggressively

Bennett says if you do have mold, to prevent it from spreading and getting out of hand, "I would highly recommend you have a specialist treat it." Although nothing is yet proven to eliminate mold 100%, Bennett indicates killing the mold with bleach, removing it, treating it with the right chemicals, and covering it with the fungicidal paint is an effective way to treat mold and control it unless another water event occurs.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Interview with Jeff Bennett and Jarrod Mangrum of J & D Services (Mold Remediation)

TheMoldInspector.com

"Mold" - Wikipedia

"Stachybotrys" - Wikipedia

"Health issues associated with mold & black mold" - Examiner

'The Flood of the Century' - the Nashville Flood of 2010 Devastates Bellevue, Tennessee