Mold Ecology
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People are more aware of mold today, but it has always been a
problem. There are references to mold problems in early literature. There are a
number of factors that may be causing mold to be more of a problem today than it
was in the past. There has been an increase in the frequency of intense rain
events which leads to more flooding and water problems. Also, some regions are
receiving more precipitation than is historically normal.
Some of the building materials used today are more processed than they were in
the past. The more materials are processed, the more prone they are to mold
growth. However, these materials will not mold if proper building procedures are
followed that keep the building materials dry.
Some people claim that the problem is that homes are built too tight today. It
is desirable to build homes that permit controlling moisture and air movement,
rather than leaving it to chance. Energy efficient construction methods reduce
the amount of uncontrolled air exchange, which may lead to increased humidity
levels in the living space, but this can be controlled with proper ventilation.
Homes would be extremely expensive to heat and cool without controlled air
exchange.
More information is known about the health effects of exposure to damp
environments and mold. People may have experienced health problems in the past
from living in a moldy environment, but we were not aware of the link between
those symptoms and mold.
There is more awareness of mold today, due to a variety of things including
coverage by the media. Sometimes this coverage creates more alarm than is
justified. The media focus has been primarily on the “Black Mold,” stachybotrys.
Scientific evidence indicates that people should not live in a moldy
environment, and that it does not vary depending on the type of mold.