Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include Mold, Bacteria, Viruses, CO, Radioactive Radon gas, Formaldehyde, Toxic building materials, Lead, Asbestos, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) to name a few. Effects may show up after a single exposure, or long term exposures. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and/or preexisting medical conditions are several that influence susceptibility.
Mold has been receiving a lot of attention due to vast amounts of sickness and lawsuits. Often water intrusion issues or homes built improperly can cause the potential for Mold and/or Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues.
Mold is simply a fungus, there are good molds and bad molds. Some molds are used in making antibiotics, beer, and cheese, while other types can be toxic and cause negative health effects. Molds growth can start as soon as 24 hours after a water event has occurred. Molds can often be seen in the form of a discoloration or a stain. When molds are present in large quantities, called colonies, they become a concern. Molds are divided into three basic groups based upon health effects: Allergenic, Pathogenic and Toxic. Allergenic molds can cause allergic symptoms such as wheezing or runny nose. Pathogenic molds can cause suppressed immune systems, or serious health effects in a person who already has a decreased immune system. Toxic molds cam cause serious effects in almost everyone. These effects may be short-term irritations to even cancer.
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