Mold (for Families & Communities)

Mold likes moist and wet environments. Water leaks and too much humidity (over 60 percent) in homes can be the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold can grow on all types of surfaces including walls, rugs, fabric items, wood, and other surfaces.  

Testing your home for mold is not typically necessary. If you see or smell mold, this is enough information to know that remediation is needed. Remediation means that the mold needs to be cleaned up and the home environment needs to be thoroughly checked for signs of too much moisture (ie leaks, humidity). If leaks or too much humidity is identified, these items need to be fixed, or mold will re-growth.  

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have good, detailed information on mold exposures in the home (see Additional Resources section). 

Mold exposure may cause symptoms in some individuals or no symptoms in other individuals. If you are concerned about symptoms related to mold in your child, you can speak to your child’s pediatrician. Mold may cause allergy or asthma symptoms in otherwise healthy children. If your child’s pediatrician suspects a mold allergy, they may order allergy testing or refer your child to an allergist (a doctor that specializes in allergies). We do not recommend other types of testing, such as mycotoxin testing. These are not clinically validated. This means these tests have not been studied for use in the clinic. It is challenging to understand what they mean related to a child’s health or symptoms.  

Here is more information on the health effects of mold: 

• Allergy Symptoms: Children may experience allergy symptoms after exposure to mold. These symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, throat dryness, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or dry cough.  
• Asthma:  Mold may be an asthma trigger for some children. This means that mold can make pre-existing asthma worse. There is some research that living in moldy environments can make it more likely for a child to get asthma.  
• Other Rare Symptoms: Rarely, mold exposure can be associated with other serious conditions. These include hypersensitivity pneumonitis or local/systemic infections. These are not common in individuals who are otherwise healthy. They can happen when people are immune compromised or have underlying lung problems, such as cystic fibrosis.  

Get Rid of Mold: The key here is if mold is seen or smelled, it should be cleaned up. Mold can cause a lot of damage when it is growing on surfaces. How mold is cleaned up can depend on the size. Smaller areas (less than about 3 feet by 3 feet according to the EPA) can be cleaned up by yourself. There are great resources available from credible sources on how to safely clean up mold (see Additional Resources section). If the area is larger or there is concern that the mold/water damage is due to sewage or contaminated water, the cleanup should be done by a professional. The EPA has information on choosing a professional (see Additional Resources section). Another consideration is if there is concern for mold in your air ducts. You should avoid turning on the system as it can spread mold throughout the building. The EPA also has information on this topic (se Additional Resources section). It can also be almost impossible to get rid of mold in bathrooms because it is a constantly wet and humid environment. It is important to have proper ventilation and clean more frequently if you notice recurring mold in your bathroom.

Prevent mold from forming: The best way to prevent mold from growing or regrowing in your home is to keep moisture and wetness away! This means taking steps to fix leaks, dry damp area, lower indoor air humidity (ideally between 30-50%), use a dehumidifier in the basement, open windows while showering, and keep drip pans (from heaters, ventilation, and air conditioners) clean and unblocked. There are also great resources available from credible sources on how to prevent mold exposure in your home (see Additional Resources section).