Mold, Asbestos & Radon FAQs
What is mold?
Mold is an organism that is part of the fungi family. It grows indoors as well as outdoors. Mold starts out as a little spot but grows quickly. You will usually notice it early on, and are most likely to find it growing in the darkest, dampest spaces. If you see or smell mold in your house, do not ignore it. It needs to be removed to avoid damage to your home, and before it causes or contributes to health issues.
If you notice a spot but aren’t sure if it is mold or just a stain or a splotch of dirt, here’s how to tell:
- Unchecked mold will continue to grow. Dirt and old stains won’t.
- It has a musty, earthy smell.
- There’s a nearby source of moisture, but not much light.
- You see warping, cracking, or peeling of whatever material it’s growing on.
- A drop of bleach lightens its color in a minute or two.
The most common types of indoor molds are:
- Cladosporium is brown, green or black. It grows in both warm and cool locations. It’s most often found on wood, carpet, or fabrics, and in heating and cooling ducts.
- Penicillium is fuzzy mold that is blue, green or yellow. It’s often found under carpets, in basements and in insulation, especially when there’s been water damage.
- Aspergillus is green, white or gray, with dark spots and a powdery look. This type of mold doesn’t need much ventilation. It thrives in fabrics, walls, attics and basements, as well as on dry food
Having mold in your home won’t necessarily make you sick, but it does have the potential to cause certain health issues. Touching or inhaling mold spores can cause allergy-like symptoms such as runny nose and congestion, eye irritation, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, skin rash, headache, lung irritation and wheezing. Mold exposure is not an emergency for most people but, if you believe you’re experiencing symptoms of a mold-related infection, you should let your doctor know, especially if you have a health condition that puts you at greater risk of complications.
Mold spores are everywhere, so it’s impossible to get rid of mold entirely, but there are ways to make your home unsuitable to mold. This includes taking the following steps:
- Fix water leaks immediately. Clean up excess water and use fans to dry the area.
- Repair or replace windows that leak or sweat, as moisture may collect on the frame and sill.
- Maintain 50 percent humidity or lower in your home with air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Change filters and service air conditioners and furnaces as recommended.
- Don’t carpet rooms such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements.
- Keep your home well ventilated. When possible, exhaust fans should vent outside. Use exhaust fans or open windows when showering or bathing.
- Use cleaning products that kill mold. Wipe down tiles and allow shower curtains to dry.
- Don’t leave wet towels or clothes in a pile or sitting in a laundry hamper or washing machine.
- Make sure water drains away from your house.
- Use mold inhibitors in wall paints. Be sure surfaces are dry before applying paint.
In many cases, you can get rid of household mold yourself, using the following commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. Before you begin:
- Open any windows.
- Wear protective eyewear, nonporous gloves, and a face mask or N95 respirator.
- Never mix other cleaners or ammonia with bleach, as it can create toxic fumes.
Use a brush to scrub mold off surfaces, making sure you get it all. Porous materials, such as carpeting, furniture, and ceiling tiles may have to be thrown out. Don’t paint or caulk until you’re sure all the mold is gone. Seek a professional contractor with experience in safe removal of mold if:
- there’s a large amount of mold or it’s hard to reach
- you’ve had severe water damage
- you’re at high risk of symptoms from mold spores
For more information, visit https://www.mass.gov/mold-moisture-and-mildew
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is dangerous because it’s a known carcinogen, and inhaling or ingesting it is linked to mesothelioma, asbestosis and other health problems. Although asbestos isn’t banned in the U.S., its use is limited. However, asbestos-containing materials (ACM) still pose a danger to the public because they were common building products in homes, schools and other structures built before the 1980s.
Before renovating or tearing down a building or home, the structure should be tested for asbestos because exposure to asbestos fibers may lead to health problems. Although asbestos-containing products are generally safe when left undisturbed, they become brittle over time and can crumble.
Asbestos abatement involves the identification, removal, repair and encapsulation of materials or products in a structure to eliminate the threat of exposure to toxic asbestos fibers. It must be handled by a professional asbestos abatement company.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes naturally from soil and rocks. It can move from the ground into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation, and can also enter a home through private well water. It can build up inside your house and cause lung cancer if you breathe it in over many years. Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among people who don’t smoke.
You can’t see, taste, or smell radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if radon is a problem. Any home can have high levels of radon—new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Even two homes right next to each other can have very different radon levels. To test your home for radon, you can buy a radon test kit from a home improvement store, hire a certified radon measurement specialist, or call the Massachusetts Radon Hotline at (800) 723-6695 for assistance.
Radon test results are reported in picocuries per liter of air or pCi/L. No radon level is risk-free; however, the EPA set an “action level” for radon at 4 pCi/L. You should fix (“mitigate”) your home if radon is above the action level. The EPA recommends that you consider action if your home’s radon level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L.