Cheryle Jones Syracuse, Ashtabula and Lake County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
A specific mold, called Strachy-botrysatra, has been known to cause bleeding lungs and possibly death in infants. It is a rare, black mold. It may appear slimy when wet and may have white around the edges. An important thing to remember is that this mold only grows on water-soaked cellulose-wood, paper, cotton, cardboard and even on the paper that covers wallboard. It won't grow on vinyl, plastic, concrete or ceramic tiles.
Not all black mold is Strachy-botrysatra. It is extremely difficult to identify a specific type of mold without expensive laboratory analysis. But no matter what type of mold you have, you need to determine the cause and get rid of it. Even if it isn't Strachy-botrysatra, mold can cause allergic reactions and other respiratory problems in people of all ages.
Mold is caused by dampness or wet conditions. It is common in basements, especially if you've had a roof leak, flooding or sewer backup. It can also be caused by leaking pipes or poorly caulked showers and tubs. You can clean existing molds, but if you don't get rid of the moisture the problem will come back.
To eliminate the mold, you need to reduce or eliminate the amount of moisture present by fixing leaks or adding or increasing ventilation. During the winter, watch how much moisture collects in your house.
Windows and doors are opened less frequently in the winter, and this may cause moisture to collect. Avoid setting your humidifier too high, so moisture won't collect behind curtains and on walls.
Clean up molds and mildew by sponging or brushing on a solution made of 1.5 cups of bleach mixed with 1 gallon of cold water, and let this stand for 15 minutes. Then rinse it with clean water and thoroughly dry.
If you have an infant who is ill and you think it might be caused by a wet condition or mold growth in your home, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.
If you have specific medical questions, contact your doctor or other health-care professional. For general information, Ohio State University Extension has three fact sheets. They are:
To receive these fact sheets, contact your local office of Ohio State University Extension.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868