Mold and Moisture:

Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Other molds are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants. Many types of mold exist.All molds have the potential to cause health symptoms. Typically there is little value in testing to find out what species of mold are present. Testing is expensive and diverts resources from solving the mold problem. There will always be mold spores floating in the air, even in homes that do not have a mold problem. What is important, is to determine where mold has grown and to determine the health significance of the mold growth. Some mold is hidden and requires a highly experienced professional to detect its presence.

Sometimes it is necessary to remediate or clean up mold to protect the health of the occupants. In most cases, chemically killing mold in place is not possible or desirable. Dead mold is still allergenic and these toxic chemicals present their own health hazards. Effective remediation requires the removal of moldy building components or the cleansing of mold from surfaces. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the contamination of the rest of the building during mold removal. Workers must be trained and equipped with personal protective equipment by a mold professional. Mold cannot grow in a home or building without a moisture source. The key to controlling mold is to identify and then to control the moisture sources that caused the mold. Mold will come back after being cleaned up if the moisture causes are not brought under control. For over 30 years, Steven E. Rice Environmental Inspections has provided mold and moisture evaluations as a Registered Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist under Kentucky License #000434 following "the best practice guidance" established by the EPA. The typical mold and moisture evaluation includes:

• Identification of where mold has grown
• Characterization of the potential health hazard and structural damage from the mold
• Design of a mold remediation plan when needed
• Identification of the moisture sources that are causing the mold
• Design of cost-effective corrective measures to control the moisture sources
• Guidance for the prevention of future mold problems