2. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth.
3. Here are some common indoor molds: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. (They sound like a venereal disease, a cure, an alternative universe, and a vegetable, don't they?)
4. People who are sensitive to molds (which is probably everybody, they just don't react as strongly as others), experience symptoms like nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.
5. Severe reactions frequently occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay.
6. Severe reactions include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
7. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) linked indoor mold exposure to upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people. It is also linked to asthma.
8. Molds are found year round and growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers. (Don't kid yourself. Mold can be ANYWHERE. Last night I found mold underneath my chair mat (on a hardwood floor) in my office. No clue how it got there. My supposition: dead spiders and high humidity. It was the last place I would have thought to find mold.)
9. Sensitive people should avoid areas that have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.
10. To control mold in homes, control humidity levels and ventilate showers and cooking areas. (Clean the house occasionally. You may be surprised at what you find behind or under something.) Humdity levels should be no higher than 50% all day long. Air conditioning and/or a dehumidifier may be required.
11. Mold growth 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 in 1 gallon of water. Be careful with bleach, and use gloves and protective eye wear. You may also need to wear a breathing mask.
12. Other hints: make sure your home is adquately ventialted, including exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen. Add mold inhibitors to paints before application. Clean with mold-killing products. Don't put carpet in bathrooms or basements.
13. Other areas known to have high mold issues include antique shops, greenhouses, saunas, farms, mills, construction areas, flower shops, and summer cottages
Information from https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm#affect.
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for mold issues in your home, workplace, school, or other areas. See a specialist if you have concerns.
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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 513th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
I feel a sudden strong urge to clean.
ReplyDeleteOr open a window! I once got a case of vertigo triggered by sleeping in a damp loft.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting T13!
ReplyDeleteYou and I both have dust and mold allergies, probably of like severity. Since California is getting more humid every year now, it's becoming harder to rely on the environment to deal fatal blows to molds.