Toxic molds have alarmed many homeowners lately. Under the right conditions, these molds can multiply and release enough spores in the air to cause health problems, according to LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel.
"Molds can be especially harmful to those with asthma, allergies, illnesses and other susceptibilities," the LSU AgCenter housing specialist says, adding, "Some people are much more sensitive to mold than others."
There are many types of molds. Reichel says all molds are considered a health hazard, but some types also produce various mycotoxins that are carried in the spores. Health effects vary widely and are difficult to isolate in a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Some of the possible effects indicated by scientists include asthma, allergic reactions, suppression of the immune system, various lung problems and possible neurological effects.
The housing expert says the mold in the news a lot is stachybotrys chartarum. It is not your common mildew. It is a greenish black, slimy mold that grows on cellulose material, such as wood and paper that has been saturated a long time - generally from flooding or leaks. It is not the only indoor mold that produces mycotoxins, but has gotten a lot of attention because of suspected relationships with pulmonary hemmorage in infants and neurological damage.
J.P. Jones, a professor of plant pathology in the LSU AgCenter, says stachybotrys is difficult to kill. "Even if a colony is killed, the spores can remain," he says, noting that even dead spores can cause allergic reactions.
"Once it’s there, it stays, even if the wood dries," Jones explains. At that point, the only sure remedy is to remove all infested material, because it remains a health hazard and will grow when it’s wet again.
A mold problem means a moisture problem. Reichel says if you prevent materials from staying wet for longer than a day or two, you prevent mold. So, the key objective should be moisture control.
"An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure – big time," Jones says, emphasizing, "Prevention really is the name of the game."
Moisture and mold problems often come from common and obvious sources. Water leaks - of the roof, walls or plumbing - are a good example. Reichel says walls should be constructed with a "drainage plane" behind the siding, because all walls leak sooner or later. Also, wall systems dry to the air-conditioned interior in our climate, so inside wall surfaces should not have a vapor barrier. That means avoid covering your walls with vinyl wallpaper.
Reichel says moisture comes from less obvious sources, too.
Moisture migration through the slab or subfloor. The ground should slope away from the house. It’s helpful to cover the ground in a crawl space with plastic sheeting.
Oversized air conditioners. Their cycles run short, so they don’t dehumidify sufficiently. Bigger is not better. Get a load calculation when buying an A/C.
Exhaust fans that dump into the attic or under the house. You need generous ducts to the outdoors and tight dampers.
Air infiltration. This is worsened by leaky ducts in the attic, causing the home to draw in make-up air from gaps in the building. Make sure that duct leaks are sealed with mastic, not duct, tape.
The housing expert says that preventing mold from both obvious and obscure sources is not only a wise move for health concerns, it is important for economic reasons. What has become a surprise to many homeowners is that their insurance does not cover the expenses of correcting mold problems.
Reichel explains that in recent years, toxic mold cases have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance claims in Texas alone, and many states, including Louisiana, have issued new or clarified mold exclusions for homeowners’ policies.
Although there have been long-standing exclusions in Louisiana homeowners’ policies for mold, rust and dry rot, the state Department of Insurance has provided clarifications.
Policies can exclude coverage for mold damage associated with gradual moisture intrusion (considered a home maintenance issue). In addition, insurers do not have to pay for mold testing and/or remediation ("containment or fumigation of the insured premises") regardless of the cause.
On the other hand, when a covered sudden or accidental event results in water damage to a home, policies are required to cover and pay claims for expenses of repairing or replacing damaged property, including costs to disinfect mold that was caused by the covered water damage. Coverage for repair and restoration costs cannot be denied because mold is present.
What’s at issue is whether the mold was a pre-existing condition. Reichel says mold coverage is a difficult issue because of its complexity as a "risk." Requiring insurers to cover any mold problem would make insurance unaffordable or unavailable to all. As a result, homeowners who face mold problems have no safety net to help pay for remedies, and delay often worsens the problem.
The housing expert re-emphasizes that prevention, through moisture control and regular home inspection, is the best protection from the risk of mold.
Free information about mold cleanup is available from the EPA Indoor Air Information Clearinghouse online at www.epa.gov/iaq or by phone at 1-800-438-4318. Insurance questions can be directed to the state insurance commission at http://www.ldi.state.la.us/.
Healthy home information is also available by contacting your parish LSU AgCenter office.