Mold Alive and Thriving in U.S. Homes
University survey of 160 homes finds mold in
all, and in places most people wouldn't think to look.
By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDayNews Reporter
MONDAY, March 10 (HealthDayNews) -- Even if your home looks clean,
chances are good you've got mold, often at levels high enough to trigger
allergy and asthma attacks.
That bit of dour news comes courtesy of a new study that also found
the mold is frequently in areas most people don't associate with it --
windowsills, for instance.
After surveying 160 homes in seven U.S. cities, Kelly A. Reynolds of
the University of Arizona, Tucson, found that 100 percent of the homes
tested positive for mold on some inside surface.
"On average, four sites per house were positive for mold," says
Reynolds, who presents her findings March 10 at the annual meeting of
the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Denver.
Although 96 percent of the homeowners in the study knew mold could be
a problem, she adds, only 17 percent felt their home would have a mold
problem.
Then came the survey results: 88 percent of the homes had mold on
window sills; 83 percent had mold on refrigerator seals (that
accordion-like part), 83 percent had it under the kitchen sink and 82
had it percent in air vents.
Predictably, the bathroom was also a good breeding ground, though not
as good as other areas. Almost half of the shower grouting areas and the
walls above the showers showed evidence of mold.
Reynolds did not measure exact levels of the molds, but rather did a
"presence-absence" test, basically getting a positive or negative result
for mold but not how much was there.
Mold releases microscopic fungal spores that, if inhaled, can trigger
allergy and asthma symptoms in sensitive people, Reynolds say. Mold can
also worsen or cause sinus infections. High mold levels can also cause
symptoms such as coughing and sniffling, which people often mistake for
colds or flu, she adds.
The levels of mold needed to trigger an allergy, asthma or sinus
problem vary greatly by type of mold and an individual's sensitivity,
Reynolds says.
"The molds we found were all highly allergenic molds," says Reynolds,
whose research was funded by an educational grant from the Clorox Co.,
which makes bleach.
"No standards have been set by any agency" to say at what level molds
can cause health ill effects, she adds, noting "some experts say any
mold you can smell or see should be eliminated."
Even though the surveyed homes were in various climates, including
Dallas, New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Tampa, Tucson and Chicago, no
substantial geographic differences were found in the levels of mold,
Reynolds adds.
Mold releases microscopic fungal spores that, if inhaled, can trigger
allergy and asthma symptoms in sensitive people, Reynolds explains. It
can also lead to sinus infections.
One piece of relatively good news from the study: Only .2 percent, or
two samples, of the 1,330 taken were found to be Stachybotrys, the
so-called "toxic" or "black" mold that can cause bleeding in the lungs
of infants.
Another expert, Dr. Jordan S. Josephson, a New York City sinus
infection expert, is not surprised by the findings.
"I know mold is pretty much ubiquitous," he says. "You can smell it
in movies, locker rooms," and other dark, damp places where molds
thrive.
Mold can not only aggravate asthma and allergy, but can also lead to
or worsen sinus problems, adds Josephson, director of the New York Nasal
and Sinus Center and an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in
New York City.
"Once you end up with fungal sinusitis, it lingers," he says. "Most
people aren't aware that mold causes such problems."
Keeping mold at bay requires vigilance and the proper cleaning
solution. Reynolds recommends cleaning areas with bleach before mold has
a chance to build up.
"Follow the directions about how to dilute it," she says.
More information
To learn about mold allergy, visit the National Institute on Allergy
and Immunology (www.niaid.nih.gov). For tips on eliminating mold in
homes and businesses, see American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (www.aaaai.org).
Copyright © 2003 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: March 10, 2003 |
