• TYPES
• CAUSES
• HAZARDS

CAUSES OF MOLD

High moisture is the major contributor to indoor mold growth. This is due to nutrients for spore germination and growth being readily available in most household constituents. These household constituents can be dirt, dust, wood, paper, adhesives, acoustical fiber, paint textiles, stored material, carpets, floors, and much more.

How Do You Come in Contact with Mold?

Mold spores are found in all homes and offices, and grow rapidly from excess humidity. The following are some sources of indoor moisture that may cause mold problems in a home or office:

• Flooding
• Leaky roofs
• Humidifiers
• Damp basements or crawl spaces
• Constant plumbing leaks
• House plants
• Steam from cooking
• Shower/bath steam and leaks
• Wet clothes
• Bathroom towels
• Pets
• Sweaty sneakers indoors
• Dirty HVAC systems
• Spilled liquids on carpeted surfaces
• Clothes dryers vented indoors

CAUSES OF ALLERGENS

The most important route of exposure results from breathing in airborne allergen. This allows deposition of large quantities of the allergen in both the upper and lower airways and consequently spread easily throughout a house. Carpeting, bedding, and upholstered furniture are often reservoirs for deposited allergens.

Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. Humans on average shed about 1/5 ounce of dead skin each week, and both human and animal skin flakes are a favorite food for the dust mites.

Bedroom carpeting and household upholstery are other major areas that support high mite populations. Dust mite allergens are proteins, which come from the digestive tract of mites and are found in high levels in mite feces. These allergens (protein) when inhaled, attach to sensitized cells in the air passages causes hay fever and asthma and aggravate Atopic Dermatitis in people who are susceptible to this problem.