Household Mold - A Reason for Concern

Mold in the household, particularly in older homes, has been something occupants have generally accepted, and only when it becomes visible or unsightly do homeowners take action. Following from recent press reports, concern as to the dangers of mold has re-entered the public mind and guidelines have become more available for their removal processes. After an initial false scare of their being a ^killer mold\u27 circulating, there has been a waning interest in the topic. Nevertheless, the consistent presence of mold within the living environment has dangers that should not be ignored and should be addressed for the health of the occupants. The Minnesota Department of Health has a testing procedure that is generally not a viable option for the average household. This is mainly because of cost, and also because there are many varieties of mold that have yet to be identified and classified. What is most important about mold is to be able to identify what it is, and thus be able to address its source. In most cases, mold thrives in moist conditions, and getting rid of sources or pools of moisture is the key to ridding the household of mold. This paper will address the causes and the prevention of mold in household situations and show mechanisms of identifying and combating its existence