Mold can grow on almost any surface, needing only oxygen and water to survive and replicate. Its spores are omnipresent in the environment, floating through the air until they find a hospitable place to flourish. Once it gets a foothold, it’s very difficult to eradicate. And it can cause severe health problems for people.

Molds grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation, particularly in situations where moisture accumulates and is left unaddressed. Moisture problems have resulted from changes in building construction practices in the 1970s, 80's, and 90's, when buildings were tightly sealed, but lacked adequate ventilation. However, most moisture problems in schools are related to roof and gutter leaks which may not be easily detected. Mold gradually destroys the material it grows on; but by the time damage is visible, the mold growth is often out of control.

Sometimes it is the health effects of mold which first present themselves, before any visible indications are apparent. Symptoms can include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness and nausea. For people with asthma, compromised immune systems or heightened sensitivities (particularly children), mold exposures can be life-threatening.

Because of possible health hazards, remediation is best left to professionals. (See resources below for some suggestions.) Determining and repairing the source of moisture - usualluy a leak of some kind - must be done before the mold itself can be addressed.

Resources:

The Indoor Environments Division of the EPA has a great web site with detailed information on mold, including sections on prevention, investigation and remediation. They also have a two-page fact sheet on mold.

For detailed medical information about health problems related to mold, the Centers for Disease Control have devoted a section of their web site to Environmental Hazards and Health Effects.

The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a non-profit organization of professionals engaged in the indoor air quality field. It promotes uniform standards, procedures and protocols for mold remediation and other IAQ problems.

Photograph courtesy of Laura M. Haight