Mold Triggers Health Problems During The Spring Allergy Season

For asthmatics and allergy sufferers, spring is often a difficult season. While most people blame allergies on pollen and vegetation growth, it may be be the only trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The warmer weather and increased precipitation leads to growth or regrowth of mold.

More people have outdoor mold allergies than indoor mold allergies. However, the seasonal combination of weather factors leads to cool and damp conditions inside the home. These create the perfect environment for mold growth, such as penicillium and aspergillus. Mold spores give off microbial volatile organic compounds. That’s what gives a musty smell to a room.

Symptoms of spring mold allergies are usually similar to regular seasonal allergies. Symptoms can include sneezing, a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and even flu-like symptoms.

Here are tips for reducing potential springtime mold:

• Check your attic and basement for leaks or water accumulation. Standing water can lead to mold growth.
• Open your windows and check for any mold or mildew that may have appeared over the winter.
• Wash your bed linens, blankets and pillow cases in hot water to kill allergens and dust mites. Mattresses and pillows should be vacuumed to eliminate any hidden dust mites.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergen particles.
• Check your kitchen and bathrooms for mold, which often appears in humid areas of the home. On non-porous, hard surfaces use a cleaning solution with a low level of bleach to kill mold or mildew.

If a mold problem is not addressed, the problem can spread throughout the home. Removing mold with traditional cleaners is often just temporary solution. This also exposes the person removing the mold to contaminants, which may cause an allergic response.

The problem is not just limited to homes. About twenty percent of the 80,000 US public schools actually have a failure rating for indoor air quality.

You can control the cost of having mold remediation performed by taking care of the problem during its earliest stages. Don’t delay – and don’t suffer!

H&H Environmental Construction and Consulting provides professional  mold testing and removal services for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Call us at 845-200-3788 if you suspect a mold or mildew problem.