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Facts About Indoor Mold

Indoor Mold

Mold can be found indoors and outdoors and thrive in all climates during the year. Indoor mold grows from excess moisture. Mold reproduces by releasing tiny spores and float in the air until they land, and if they settle on moist surfaces, it will create new mold colonies.(1) No place is safe from mold; growth can occur in homes, schools, businesses, and anywhere based on how much moisture is in that space. 

Ways to Control Mold Growth

Indoor mold is the mold that causes problems. Mold growth can cause damage to buildings and furnishings. To reduce mold growth in an indoor space, controlling the humidity levels is very important. Keeping humidity levels between 30-60% can reduce the amount of moisture in the air to keep mold growth low.(2) Ventilating the space is another way to reduce mold growth in indoor spaces. Inspecting your indoor space is vital to ensure that the indoor environment stays healthy. Responding quickly to leaks and spills and cleaning them is essential to prevent growth in those areas. 

Byproducts of Mold

Mold indoors can affect indoor air quality. As mold grows indoors, it could increase the air’s carbon dioxide (CO2). Seeing a spike in CO2 levels could show severe mold growth. Standard carbon dioxide runs about 400 parts per million (ppm), and if the sensor reads more than 10,000 ppm, that could mean severe mold activity, and then 2,000 to 3,000 ppm could mean some mold activity.(3) Creating better ventilation in the building can help reduce the significant CO2 levels. Another condition to be on the watch for is microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). They are produced by mold, have strong unpleasant smells, and are quickly released into the air.(4) Along with CO2, mVOCs, mold spores are detected as particulate matter 10 (PM10).(5)Lastly, not all molds, but some can produce potentially toxic byproducts called mycotoxins. 

Health Effects from Mold 

As mold affects indoor air quality levels, some of the health effects include inhaling mVOCs have been linked to symptoms of headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.(4) Mold spores are detected as PM10, as mentioned above, and these particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose, enter the lungs, and cause health effects to the heart and lungs.(5) Mold also has its own health effects on people, including allergens that can cause allergic reactions, potentially toxic substances or chemicals depending on mold, and asthma attacks.(6)

RadGreen is Here to Help 

Currently, there are no EPA regulations, standards, or threshold limit values for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores.(7) Still, Radgreen can help keep mold growth levels low. Using the Pro, it can track the indoor air quality to optimize indoor space and create the perfect environment for your space. 

Resources

1https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/whatismold.html 
2https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-08/documents/iaq.pdf 
3https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/mhk/cgahr/spieru/news/modeling-erosion-of-particulate-matter/monitoring-mold-by-measuring-co2/
4https://www.epa.gov/mold/what-does-mold-smell 
5https://digienv.com/lib/frontend/pdf/homeins/mold_vs_pm.pdf 
6https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-and-health 
7https://www.epa.gov/mold/are-there-federal-regulations-or-standards-regarding-mold