Per the CDC, mold can cause many adverse health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. There is always mold around and molds have been on earth for millions of years. Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus.
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors and can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold growth. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery also promote mold growth.
Sounds gross, doesn’t it? But look at the materials listed above that support mold growth and think about your center! What about that pesky roof leak and damaged ceiling tiles? Yes, you! How about your medical supplies, delivered in boxes that are damp from the rain? Do you empty the products and dispose of the box immediately or does it sit on a wooden pallet in the supply closet? How about carpeting? When you perform deep cleaning on carpets, does your equipment really remove most of the moisture or are the carpets damp for days? Think about it, these are risks that can be eliminated! Fix that leaky roof, replace those ceiling tiles, don’t store products in cardboard boxes on pallets even if the box appears dry, hire professional carpet cleaners with equipment that removes most of the moisture. Maybe, just maybe, when you do your morning rounds you will hear less coughing and wheezing! Stay well and stay informed!
For more information:
Cleanup and Remediation | Mold | CDC
Reduce your Exposure to Mold in your Home | Mold | CDC
EH Nexus Webinar on Protecting Yourself from Mold: Myths and Facts (cdc.gov)