Types

• There are several types of mold commonly found inside homes and other buildings. Aspergillus is the most common type of mold found indoors, usually on damp wood, such as studs. Cladosporium mold, soft and dark in color, is commonly found inside air ducts. Fusarium molds thrive in buildings that have endured extensive water damage and is most commonly found underneath damp carpets and damp insulation. Penicillium molds can be found in certain types of insulation and on wallpaper. Stachybotrys molds are also found in water-damaged homes, specifically on tiling, wallpapers, insulation, and sheet rock.
  
  

Identification

• Black mold is commonly found in homes with high humidity levels or water damage. Homeowners may smell a strong musty odor in rooms when a heating unit or air conditioning unit is running. Black mold may also cause discoloration and staining on walls and wallpaper when it contaminates studs and other areas behind walls. The color can vary from a brownish yellow to a dark green or black color. Black mold may also cause the paint on walls to peel away due to high levels of moisture.
  
  

Warning

• As mold feeds on damp surfaces in the home, it releases gases called mycotoxins. These gases can cause severe allergic reactions, headaches, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. Individuals, such as asthmatics, who are more susceptible to airborne contaminants than most people, experience severe respiratory symptoms from exposure to black mold, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Other dangers from exposure to black mold include hay fever, skin irritation and several types of lung diseases.
  
  

Considerations

• There are several mold tests available to consumers to help determine whether a home is contaminated with mold. Homeowners should also consider purchasing humidity testers to help prevent and detect mold, as humidity levels over 60 percent indicate an increased likelihood of black mold growth.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Almost all homes have some degree of mold contamination. Repairing leaking roofs and damaged pipes and correcting poor ventilation will help prevent black mold from growing to in the home. Reducing the number of household plants will also help decrease moisture in the air. Once black mold is detected, though, extensive work is required to remove it, including sealing the area to prevent spores from spreading and removing and replacing drywall, insulation, and other contaminated structures.