Mold

There are no federal, state or local regulatory limits for mold in the home or work environment.  Because of this, air sampling may or may not prove useful.  Sample results can vary widely based on several variables.  Be sure to discuss with your consultant what you expect to determine from any sampling activity.  There are many businesses that inspected and test for mold in the home and you can find them by conducting an internet search for "mold testing Colorado."

The Delta County Health Department has no authority in cases of property or renter/landlord disputes.  In these cases, we often refer residents to Housing Resources of Western Colorado.  They are able to help navigate the resources for renters and buyers.  In some cases it may be necessary for tenants to utilize the services of a private attorney to resolve housing issues.

Mold Health Effects

Mold (or mildew) is the common name for fungi in the indoor environment, although molds are found everywhere in both the indoor and outdoor environment. The vast majority of the time, they are found in association with decaying organic materials, such as leaves and foods. Molds help break down organic materials so they can be recycled and reused by other living things.

Mold and bacteria can be found practically anywhere on earth.  Because mold is everywhere, most building materials already have mold spores on them. This is why when building materials like drywall, wood products, paper, etc. become wet and are not dried within 48 hours, they grow mold. The best line of defense against mold is to limit the amount of time mold has to grow by drying your building materials in the case of a flood as soon as possible. The rule of thumb is if you can't quickly dry materials like drywall, rugs, and wooden sub-floors, you should remove or dispose of them to eliminate mold growth.

For Healthy People

For the majority of healthy people, mold exposure will only cause a mild allergic response, such as cough, runny nose, and eye irritation (hay fever or allergic rhinitis).

For People with Asthma (Heightened Allergic Response) or Other Chronic Lung Disease

Mold exposure can be a significant problem causing an increase in the severity of lung symptoms for people with chronic lung disease.

For People with Impaired Immune Systems

For children younger than two years old, the elderly, those taking long-term steroid drugs, those suffering from HIV, and those who have a compromised immune system, mold exposure can cause life-threatening infections.  Special attention should be taken to prevent and remove mold growth around these groups of people.

The Black Mold Myth

Black mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum) is a greenish-black mold that typically grows on high cellulose and low nitrogen materials like fiberboard, paper, dust, and lint.  Black mold needs constant moisture for growth.  While black mold was originally reported to cause lung and neurological problems, the CDC now states there is no link between mold and other adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, and memory loss, or lethargy.  Black mold should be cleaned and the area repaired as it would for other types of molds.

Links

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Occupational Health and Safety Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment