09:50 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 12, 2006

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Rainy, damp weather can create health problems for you and your family cause by mold.

Tara Partiss is dealing that problem found because of a leaky roof. At first, there was white mold in the attic. It was chemically treated and it came back as black mold.  The scientific name is Stachybotris.

All molds produce allergens and the symptoms can be serious.

“The most common one is asthma or breathing problems; people can be short of breath, wheeze, sinus problems are very common people have nasal congestion, headaches all the time they feel their head is stuffed up all the time,” says Dr. David Rosenstreich, Director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical Center. 

Mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs. But Stachybotris is no ordinary mold; it also produces compounds called mycotoxins.  They can cause autoimmune and nervous system diseases.

Now, there’s one key fact about mold: none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Removing the source of the moisture is key and using building materials that prevent the moisture from returning is recommended.

You can use bleach solution to clean the area and then use a special mold resistant paint after the area is dried and then cleaned, but if the moisture is still there, you won’t be able to get rid of the mold.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. 

One consideration is the size of the mold problem.  If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. Patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following certain guidelines. However, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, you should consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, which applies to homes as well.  

You can access that by calling the EPA indoor air quality information clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318 or get it online at the link above.

And of course, if you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

By the way, insurance paid for Tara's mold removal and home repair by professionals, but it took a month.