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Facts About Mold
What is mold?
- • Mold (mildew), mushrooms, and yeast are all types of fungi. Fungi are found both indoors and outdoors.
- • Hundreds of different kinds of mold are commonly found in the United States and New York City.
How do I know it's mold?
- • Mold can be many different colors. It may look furry, slimy, or powdery.
- • Some mold has a musty, stale, or earthy odor.
- • Mold usually grows in damp places, such as bathrooms and basements.
How does mold grow?
- • Mold needs water and food. It can grow almost anywhere there is water, high humidity, or damp conditions.
- • Mold grows faster in warm temperatures and high humidity.
- • Mold can feed on paper, fabric, wallpaper glue, sheetrock, wood, soap scum, leather, and many other surfaces.
How are people exposed to mold?
- • You can breathe in mold particles if mold is disturbed or damaged.
- • You can also breathe in tiny spores (similar to seeds) that mold may release into the air.
- • You can touch mold and get it on your skin.
- • You can swallow mold if you eat moldy or spoiled food.
What are the health effects of mold?
- • Some people are allergic to molds.
- • Mold exposure may cause or worsen asthma symptoms, hay fever, or other allergies.
- • The most common symptoms of mold exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose, and trouble breathing. Symptoms usually disappear after the mold contamination is removed.
- • More severe reactions to mold may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of mold on the job, such as farmers working with moldy hay.
Should I see a doctor if I have been exposed to mold?
- • If you think that you or your children have symptoms related to mold exposure, you should see a doctor. Keep in mind that many symptoms associated with mold exposure are also caused by many other illnesses.
How can mold be prevented?
- • The best way is to remove water and moisture sources. Fixing leaks, drying damp areas, and removing humidity from the air (e.g., using a dehumidifier in basements; cracking a window while taking a shower in bathrooms with no exhaust ventilation) will help stop mold growth and keep it from coming back.
How can I safely clean mold in my home?
- • Use soap and water to clean small areas of mold (less than 10 square feet) on walls or other hard surfaces as soon as you see it.
- • Wear waterproof gloves.
- • Dry the cleaned area completely.
- • If the mold returns quickly or spreads, there may be an underlying problem such as a water leak. To stop mold, water problems must be fixed.
- • If large areas of mold are present, you may need a professional mold abatement company. Check the phone book for mold abatement contractors.
What does my landlord have to do?
- • Your landlord and building manager must keep your building in good condition so mold will not grow. This means repairing water leaks and correcting persistently high humidity levels.
- • If you have a lot of mold (more than 10 square feet) or it keeps coming back after you have cleaned it, ask your landlord to fix the problem.
- • If the problem isn't fixed, call 311.
More Information
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