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Trends in Education - "When Mold Attacks"

Only three of the more than 100,000 species of mold have been linked to health problems. Even then, research shows no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between mold and poor health. So why has mold suddenly become such a concern?

For one, changes in construction standards and approaches have made mold a more likely household inhabitant. In addition, media reports of homeowner distress, large insurance payouts and legislative hearings make consumers more aware that there could be problems and more skittish about how their builder or remodeler handles the situation.

Scott Sevon, CGR, President of Sevvonco, Inc. in Palatine, IL, adds, "The media has blown up mold exposure, but there are things that can be done if it occurs. Mold in one cavity of the house doesn't mean the entire house has to come down."

"In older homes, the window seals and siding aren't efficient, but they were 'washing' the home's air by being drafty, so mold didn't get a chance to build up and become intolerable," says Sevon, whose company last year built Illinois' First Health House per American Lung Association criteria. "Now a remodeler puts an envelope on the home that takes it from Swiss cheese to a submarine. It can be an issue to be airtight." In some cases, he recommends an air exchanger to ensure that air in a tight home doesn't become stale.