1. Mold Hazards And Prevention
Molds are forms of microscopic fungi that are found on plant and animal matter. Mildew is the discoloration of materials caused by fungi. They can be found both indoors and outdoors all year around. We’re exposed to them daily in the air we breathe.
Outdoors, mold can be found in the shady damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation are decomposing. Indoors, mold growth can be found where humidity levels are high.
Although most people are not affected by mold, some have short-term symptoms like those of hay fever and the common cold when exposed to mold. For others, symptoms may be more severe and last for longer periods. Most health problems are temporary, however, and can be controlled by limiting exposure to mold.
In this session, you’ll learn about the hazards of mold both in the workplace and at home. You’ll also learn how to detect mold, where to look for it, how to clean it up, and how to prevent it from growing.

2. Session Objectives
Understand the potential health hazards of exposure to mold
Detect mold and know where to look for it
Prevent mold from growing
Clean up small amounts of mold contamination safely
The main objective of this session is to explain mold hazards and suggest ways to prevent harmful exposures. By the time the session is over, you should be able to:
Understand the potential health hazards of exposure to mold;
Detect mold and know where to look for it;
Prevent mold from growing; and
Clean up small amounts of mold contamination safely.

3. Increased Risk of Indoor Mold Exposure
Tight building structures
Poorly designed or maintained HVAC systems
Human factors
Humidity
New harmful mold organisms
The potential for indoor exposure to mold has increased in recent years because of the way we live.
Buildings are being built tighter to conserve energy, and the tighter the building structure, the greater the risk of exposure to indoor mold. That’s because the use of synthetic building materials literally seals buildings and reduces air movement. The result is higher available moisture content, which is a condition favorable for mold growth.
Poorly designed or maintained heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems contribute to indoor mold exposure as well. Air filters and air filtration devices appear to provide a comfortable habitat for mold, especially in high humidity conditions. HVAC systems may recirculate air that contains mold spores and toxins if there are no effective filter systems to trap them. If systems aren’t properly maintained and cleaned, mold growth can go unchecked, and mold will continue to be circulated in the indoor air.
Humidity is also one of the causes of mold growth.
Human factors also contribute to mold exposure, including the fact that we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors, and many of us have compromised immune systems from diseases and medications.
Finally, the emergence of new and harmful mold organisms is also a factor.

4. Causes of Indoor Moisture
Flooding
Roof or plumbing leaks
Bathroom showers
Overhumidification
Poor maintenance of humidification units
Damp basements
Steam from cooking
Condensation
All molds need moisture to grow. Mold seems likely to grow and become a problem only where there is water damage, high humidity, or dampness. Common sources of indoor moisture that promote the growth of mold include:
Flooding;
Roof and plumbing leaks;
Bathroom showers;
Over humidification, especially during winter months;
Poor maintenance of humidification units;
Damp basements;
Steam from cooking; and
Condensation of moist air on any indoor surfaces.
Think about the areas of your home and workplace that may provide a moist environment conducive to mold growth. Have you checked these areas for mold?

5. Indoor Mold Food Sources
Drywall
Wood
Carpets
Ceiling tiles
CEILING TILES
DRYWALL
CARPETS
WOOD
In addition to moisture, mold also needs a food source. Mold lives on organic materials that are typically found outdoors like leaves and decomposing vegetation. However, mold will also live on indoor organic food sources that include common building materials such as:
Drywall;
Wood;
Carpets, especially with the spilling of food and drink or when carpets are shampooed; and
Ceiling tiles.
Materials that provide food sources for mold are also good places to look for mold contamination in your home and in the workplace. Have you checked these materials for mold?

6. How Molds Affect Us SPORES MYCOTOXINS
The life cycle of mold is fairly complicated and not exactly understood. Food, moisture, temperature, oxygen, pH, and light can affect the state of mold. Mold can enter a vegetative state where it primarily obtains and digests food. Or it can enter a reproductive state where it produces spores. Many fungal species, including those known to be extremely harmful to health, seem to coexist peacefully with us at times. However, if conditions are right, those same molds can kill us.
Molds produce microscopic seed-like cells called “spores” that spread easily through the air. Molds produce and release millions of spores that are small enough to be transported by the wind, by water, or even by insects. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths, called “colonies,” when they find the right conditions.
Molds can also produce toxic agents known as “mycotoxins,” which are attached to the spores and other parts of the mold. Mycotoxins are produced only under certain environmental conditions in order to ward off predators and competing molds. Mycotoxins can exist inside the cell or cellular components, or they can be released as volatile gas or as a solid or liquid. Some mycotoxins are the most poisonous substances known.
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1408

7. How Molds Affect Us (cont.)
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
THE AIR WE BREATHE
Molds also produce a large number of volatile organic compounds. These chemicals are responsible for the musty odor produced by growing molds. There is little evidence that these compounds cause specific human health problems, but the most common mold-related volatile organic compound—ethanol—is known to increase the effectiveness of mold toxins. So these compounds can at least contribute to health problems.
All of us are exposed daily to mold spores in the air we breathe, both outside and inside. The airborne transmission of mold spores and mycotoxins is accomplished through the formation of bioaerosols, which are simply airborne compounds, solutions, mixtures, or solids—for example, airborne water droplets or dusts that contain mold. Spores or mycotoxins can become aerosolized in a number of ways, including by air movement.
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1408

8. Higher Sensitivity to Mold
Individuals with other allergies
Individuals with existing respiratory conditions
People with weakened immune systems
Elderly people
Pregnant women
Infants and children
As we said earlier, most people aren’t affected by normal mold exposure. But for those who are sensitive, there can be a wide variation of reactions. Those who may be affected more severely and quickly than others include:
Individuals with other allergies;
Individuals with existing respiratory conditions, including asthma or other lung disease;
People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV infection, chemotherapy patients, organ or bone marrow transplant recipients, and those with autoimmune diseases;
Elderly people;
Pregnant women; and
Infants and children.
Are you or a family member one of those who may be more susceptible to health effects from mold exposure? If so, you need to take extra precautions to prevent mold exposure.

9. Allergic Reactions Red, itchy skin or rash Asthma Mold allergy
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Allergic reactions, similar to those from pollen or animals, are the most common health effects of mold. In most cases, symptoms are temporary and not serious. However, a small percentage of people may experience longer recovery times.
Physical contact with mold, mold spores, or mycotoxins can cause red, itchy skin or a rash.
Asthma may be caused by or aggravated by exposure to mold. Reactions usually occur within minutes of exposure and may repeat 6 to 10 hours later. Many asthmatics are sensitive to mold.
Mold allergy symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other allergies or the common cold—for example, sneezing, runny nose, irritated or red eyes, irritated or scratchy throat, cough, and congestion. Symptoms that worsen in a damp or moldy room, such as a basement, may suggest mold allergy.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a rare syndrome caused by inhalation of large concentrations of dust containing organic material including mold spores. It is generally an occupational hazard for agricultural workers, but has also been reported in individuals exposed to mold at home. Symptoms include tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, cough, fever, and muscle aches.

10. Fungal Infections Toxic pneumonitis Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Aspergilloma
Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis
Fungal infections of internal organs are very rare. However, they are serious and require immediate medical treatment.
When small spores are inhaled, they may reach the air sacs of the lungs and cause an inflammation known as toxic pneumonitis. Severe toxic pneumonitis can cause fever, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue.
A rare condition called invasive pulmonary aspergillosis only occurs in people with severely compromised immune systems. Symptoms include pneumonia plus fever, bone pain, chills, headache, and weight loss.
Aspergilloma is a rare condition that is formed in a preexisting healed lung abscess. Symptoms include cough, coughing up blood, and weight loss.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is another rare condition that results in the worsening of an underlying condition such as asthma or cystic fibrosis. Symptoms include coughing up blood and weight loss.

11. Diagnosing Mold Allergy
Where symptoms occur
Physical exam
Medical history
Skin tests
Doctors uses a combination of a patient’s medical history, skin test results, and physical examination to diagnose mold allergy.
When diagnosing a mold-related allergy, the doctor will usually begin by trying to determine where symptoms occur. If symptoms increase in damp areas conducive to mold growth, they could be related to mold. If symptoms increase at work and lessen or disappear outside of work, they could be work-related. Alternatively, if they increase at home or when a person is outdoors, that’s probably where the exposure is occurring.
A complete physical exam is also part of the diagnosis process.
The doctor will take a complete medical history as well.
If mold is suspected, the doctor will often perform skin tests. Extracts of different types of mold will be used to scratch or prick the skin. If there is no reaction, it’s not an allergy. But if the skin reacts to the mold, it’s probably a mold allergy that is causing the symptoms.
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1408

12. Treatment of Mold Allergy
Get rid of mold
Avoid contact with spores
Take medications for allergy symptoms
Consider allergy shots
Mold allergies can’t be cured, but they can be treated.
One approach is to simply try to get rid of the mold. When this is impossible, avoiding contact with spores can help. For example, if you’re allergic to mold, you should wear a dusk mask when cutting grass, digging around plants, picking up leaves, or disturbing other plant materials.
You can also avoid contact with spores by reducing humidity indoors to prevent mold from growing.
Another approach is to take medication for allergy symptoms. Antihistamines and decongestants are available over the counter. The doctor might prescribe corticosteriod nasal sprays for moderate to severe allergy symptoms.
If these medications don’t help, for moderate to severe allergy symptoms, the doctor may decide to use allergy shots. This works for some people, but not all.
If you or a family member has a mold allergy, which of these treatment methods have you tried? How effective have those methods been in preventing symptoms?
© BLR®—Business & Legal Resources 1408

13. Avoiding Contact With Mold Spores
Stay indoors
Use HEPA filters
Clean air conditioners and dehumidifiers
As we said in the previous slide, mold allergy symptoms can be reduced by avoiding contact with spores. Besides wearing a dust mask outside when working in the yard or using a dehumidifier inside, several other measures can help.
For example, stay indoors as much as possible when the outdoor mold count is high. This will lessen the amount of spores inhaled.
Use central air conditioning with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter attachment. This will help trap spores. Air conditioning with a HEPA filter attachment works better than electrostatic air-cleaning devices and much better than freestanding air cleaners.
Another way to help prevent contact with spores is to keep air conditioners and dehumidifiers clean. Dirty equipment surfaces can be a source of mold growth.

14. Mold and Your Health True or False?
All mold toxins only cause mild allergies.
Indoor mold exposure has increased because of the way buildings are designed.
Everyone is allergic to mold.
Getting rid of mold and avoiding contact with spores are effective treatments for mold allergy.
Here’s a little true/false quiz to test your knowledge of mold health hazards. Think about each statement on the screen and decide if it’s true or false. OK, let’s begin.
All mold toxins only cause mild allergies. True or false? The correct answer is false. Some mold toxins are deadly.
Indoor mold exposure has increased because of the way buildings are designed. True or false? The correct answer is true. Tighter buildings mean greater risk of mold growth. HVAC systems can also contribute to the growth and spread of mold.
Everyone is allergic to mold. True or false? The correct answer is false. Only some people are sensitive, a few highly sensitive.
Getting rid of mold and avoiding contact with spores are effective treatments for mold allergy. True or false? The correct answer is true. Some people, however, might also need medication or shots.
How did you do? Did you get all the answers right?

15. Mold and Your Health Do you understand: Mold exposure?
How molds affect us and sensitivity to mold?
Allergic reactions and fungal infections?
Diagnosing and treating mold allergies?
Avoiding contact with mold spores?
Now it’s time to ask yourself if you understand the information about mold presented in the previous slides. For example, do you understand what we’ve said about:
Mold exposure?
How molds affect us and sensitivity to mold?
Allergic reactions and fungal infections?
Diagnosing and treating mold allergies?
Avoiding contact with mold spores?
If you’re allergic to mold or have a family member who is, this information can help you deal with the problem more effectively.
Let’s continue to the next slide and begin talking about ways to prevent mold growth indoors.

16. Prevent Mold: Control Moisture
Use exhaust fans and vents
Dehumidify damp areas
Raise temperatures in damp areas
Minimize or control use of winter humidification
Increase indoor air circulation
There’s no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. But controlling excess moisture is the key to stopping indoor mold growth and reducing the presence of mold in your home. There are a number of steps you can take to do this.
First of all, use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to vent moisture to the outside. Also, make sure the clothes dryer vents to the outside.
Use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from damp areas such as the basement. Be sure to drain the dehumidifier regularly and clean condensation coils and the collection bucket.
Also, raise the temperature in damp areas to help lower humidity levels.
If you must use a humidifier in the winter months, be sure not to over use it—and remember to properly clean the unit regularly.
Increasing indoor air circulation can also help reduce indoor mold. To increase indoor air circulation, open doors between rooms, especially doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces, which decreases condensation and mold growth. You can also increase air circulation with fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation.

17. Prevent Mold: Clean Scour sinks and tubs Clean garbage pails
Clean refrigerators
Dry damp building materials
Discard old books, newspapers, clothing, and bedding
Wash mold off all hard surfaces
Cleaning also helps reduce mold in the home.
For example, scour sinks and tubs at least monthly. Fungi thrive on soap and films that coat tile and grout or other bathroom surfaces. Your normal bathroom cleaner will usually work on small patches of mold. For problem areas, use one or two ounces of ordinary laundry bleach diluted in a quart of water. Fungicides can also be used. These chemical products can effectively kill mold and prevent future growth. But the really important thing is to give a good scrubbing.
Also clean garbage pails frequently. They’re a prime breeding ground for mold.
And clean the refrigerator door gaskets and drip pans, too, on a regular basis.
Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Throw away or recycle old books, newspapers, clothing, or bedding.
Finally, clean mold off hard surfaces all around the house. Be sure to dry surfaces completely after cleaning.
Remember, when cleaning mold, always wear the proper PPE, which includes gloves, eye protection, and a mask if airborne spores are present.

18. Prevent Mold: Fix Leaks
Repair leaks promptly
Put plastic over dirt in crawl spaces
Direct groundwater drainage away from your house
Leaks are a major source of mold because the moisture provides an ideal environment for mold growth.
Quickly repair any plumbing leaks, blocked drains, poorly vented clothes dryers, and water seepage through walls.
Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawl spaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Also make sure crawl spaces are well ventilated.
And, promote groundwater drainage away from your house. Remove leaves and dead vegetation near the foundation and in rain gutters. Completely shaded homes dry out slowly, and dense shrubs and other plants around the foundation often promote dampness.

19. Prevent Mold: Building Supplies
Add insulation
Cover foam with plastic
Avoid carpet installed on concrete floors
Use storm windows
You can also prevent mold growth by using common building supplies.
For example, you can reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation around windows and piping and to walls, the roof, and floors.
Polyurethane and rubber foams seem especially prone to mold invasion. If bedding is made with these foams, it should be covered with plastic.
Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. One approach is to use area rugs that can be taken up and washed often. Another approach for especially damp climates is to use a vapor barrier of plastic sheeting over the concrete, then cover that with a subflooring of insulation covered with plywood before installing wall-to-wall carpet.
Finally, storm windows also help prevent condensation on windows when temperatures fall, and this helps prevent mold growth around windows.

20. Testing for Mold Usually unnecessary Not economically practical
No practical information
Cannot determine health risk
Testing for mold is usually unnecessary, unless you are seeking specific information, such as if a particular fungi is present. The first step should be to inspect the home or workplace for any evidence of water damage and any visible mold growth. It is generally more important to spend time and resources to get rid of mold and solve the moisture problem than it is to conduct mold testing.
Testing for mold is expensive. In most cases, it’s not economically practical or useful to test for mold growth on surfaces or for airborne mold spores.
Testing tells little about where mold is located or how to clean it up.
And, testing also doesn’t help determine the health risk. There are no standards of “acceptable” levels of mold in buildings. Furthermore, susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly because of the amount or type of mold. Sampling and culturing are therefore not reliable in determining health risk.

21. When to Test Large indoor contamination
Compare indoor/outdoor mold concentration
Higher indoor counts indicate a health problem
Different mold species indicate a health problem
Having said all that, there are some occasions when testing is recommended. For example:
Testing is usually done when there is large indoor contamination. Testing in this situation helps determine the types of mold present and the concentrations before cleanup, and after cleanup, testing confirms that indoor mold growth has been properly removed and the area decontaminated.
When testing is done, it is usually to compare the concentration levels and types of mold spores found inside the building with those found outside the building.
If counts are higher inside than outside, there is probably a health problem inside the building.
And, if the mold species in the air inside the building are different from those outside the building, that is another indication that there might be a health problem.

22. Small Mold Problems Wear PPE Use bleach and water
Replace porous or absorbent materials
Dry-clean surface
Seal the surface
If you have a small localized mold problem, you can clean it up yourself fairly easily and safely.
Just make sure you wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and a dusk mask to protect against breathing airborne spores. Those with mold allergies or other health concerns should consult their doctor before attempting any mold cleanup.
Use a solution of 10 percent chlorine bleach—that’s about 1 ½ cups of bleach to a gallon of water. For smaller areas you can use an ounce or two of bleach to a quart of water
Porous or absorbent materials that become moldy can’t be effectively cleaned. Moldy materials like ceiling tiles, wallboard, and carpeting should be replaced.
As we said earlier, be sure to dry-clean surfaces completely. If you leave them wet, mold could grow back.
Finally, another way to deal with small recurring mold problems is to seal surfaces with a substance such as paint to which fungicide has been added.
Think about the steps you need to take to clean up small amounts of mold in your home or in the workplace.
Image credit: EPA

23. Large Mold Contamination
Hire a professional
Choose a mold remediation method
You should not attempt to clean up large mold contamination. Hire a professional with mold cleanup experience instead. Be sure to ask for references and check them, and be sure the contract guarantees that the mold will not return.
A variety of recommended procedures are currently available for large-scale mold contamination remediation, including use of oxidizers, fungicides and bactericides, and shielding compounds, which seal the antimicrobial agents within the treated surface.
Image Credit: Inspectapedia.com

24. PPE Gloves Eye protection Disposable coveralls Head and shoe covers
Respiratory protection
Workers involved in a large-scale cleanup project must protect themselves from the mold as well as from the chemicals used to remove the mold. PPE should include:
Chemical-resistant gloves made of nitrile, latex, or neoprene;
Eye protection such as goggles—especially if cleaning chemicals are sprayed;
Disposable coveralls made of chemical-resistant material;
Head and shoe covers also made of chemical-resistant materials; and
An N95 particulate respirator or other respiratory protection.

25. During and After Mold Cleanup
Highest mold exposure occurs during cleanup
Avoid the cleanup area
Monitor symptoms after cleanup
Persistent symptoms may not be mold related
The highest exposure to mold often occurs during cleanup. The mold is being disturbed and may give off a high number of spores and mycotoxins before it dies completely.
In the workplace, employees may need to temporarily leave work areas where cleanups are taking place, especially those individuals who are sensitive to mold or have underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of mold-related health problems.
Any mold-related symptoms after cleanup is completed should be monitored and checked by a doctor if they don’t go away soon.
Remember, symptoms that persist after the mold is cleaned up might not be related to mold. Either that or the cleanup effort was unsuccessful.

26. Preventing Mold: Which Procedures Are Effective?
Controlling moisture
Getting a skin test
Wearing a dust mask to clean
Repairing leaks
Cleaning with bleach and water
Increasing indoor air circulation and decreasing humidity
Now let’s see how much you’ve learned about preventing indoor mold growth. On the screen you see a list of procedures. Which of these do you think would be effective in preventing mold?
Controlling moisture—yes, this is an effective way to prevent mold.
Getting a skin test—no, this is not a way to prevent mold.
Wearing a dust mask to clean—while this is a good idea, it will not PREVENT mold.
Repairing leaks—yes, this is an effective way to prevent mold.
Cleaning with bleach and water—yes, this is also an effective way to prevent mold.
And finally, increasing indoor air circulation and decreasing humidity—yes, these are effective ways to prevent mold.
How did you do? Did you pick all the right procedures for preventing indoor mold growth?

27. Preventing Mold Do you understand: Mold prevention strategies?
Mold testing?
How to clean up small quanitities of mold?
Procedures for large contamination cleanups?
We’ve covered a lot of information in the previous slides. Do you understand all of it? For example, do you understand what we’ve discussed about:
Mold prevention strategies?
Mold testing?
How to clean up small quantities of mold?
Procedures for large contamination cleanups?
All of this information can help you control mold problems in your home or in the workplace.
Now let’s conclude the session with some key points to remember.

28. Key Points to Remember
We are all exposed to mold every day outdoors and indoors
Most people are not affected by mold exposure, but some might experience health problems
The best way to reduce mold growth indoors is to control moisture
Clean up small amounts of mold, but let professionals handle large contamination
Here are the main points to remember from this session on mold hazards and prevention:
We are all exposed to mold every day outdoors and indoors.
Most people are not affected by mold, but some might experience health problems, such as allergies.
The best way to reduce mold growth indoors is to control moisture.
Clean up small amounts of mold, but let the professionals handle large-scale contamination.
This concludes the mold hazards and prevention training session.