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ARE YOU MOLDY?

Leech Lake Air Program Indoor

Air QualityBrandy Toft

Leech Lake Air Program

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Why Do We Care?10 years ago we spent 17 hours indoors

TODAY, average is 22 hours or 90% of day

IAQ is important to overall health• Rise of asthma rates, asthma triggers• Health Care costs $$$• PM concerns: heart, lung, diabetes

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Who Does Mold Affect… EVERYONE!

• Children (implications for growth?)

• Elders

• Pregnant women

• Immune compromised

• Respiratory aliments

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Comfort Zone• Air temperature

– 65 F (active) to 80 F (bathing)• Air relative humidity: 30-60%

(cold climates)• Air motion: 20 – 40 feet per min• Surrounding surface temperatures

– Within 10-15 F of room temperature• Air Changes per Hour (ACH)

– Dropped from ~ 1.5 to .5

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What is mold?

• Fungus, produce spores

• Grow in humid, warm areas, likes the dark

• Doesn’t affect everyone, different sensitivities

• Can be ANY color, size, shape

• Can be dormant until moisture source returns

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Health Effects• Respiratory

– Infections– Irritation– Exacerbate existing aliments

• Dermal– Skin irritations, rash, bumps

• Ingestion

Most common is allergy symptoms

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Possible Symptoms• Runny noses • Itchy-watery eyes• Coughing• Sneezing• Throat irritation • Headache• Fatigue• Cold/Flu symptoms• Chronic conditions sinusitis and asthma

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Nearly all chronic sinus infections (afflicting 37 million Americans) are a

result of molds.1999 Mayo Clinic Study

300% increase in asthma over the past 20 years has been linked to molds.

1999 USA Today Cover Story

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To test or not to test?• What will it tell you?

– Everyone responds differently to differ amounts

• Can that $$$ be spent on mitigation?

• Trained to take samples?– Tape lifts, aero cells, swabs, Petri dish vacs

• Funds for equipment? Maintenance?

• Laboratory to analyze? Funds for analysis?

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Mold Identification

• Better to ID mold/fungus to specific name?OR

• Better to ID it is mold/fungus?

Depends on your talents and tribe’s need

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Black Mold Scare–Stachybotrys

• Media scare/hype• Black mold is not the only toxic mold• Mycotoxins

– Immunosuppression, nervous system, gastrointestinal, reproductive systems, SBS

ALL MOLD IS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL• Dose and human response

– highly individualistic

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Key to mold control ismoisture control

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IAQ Concerns

Blocked air flow

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Ventilation

Necessary to remove humidity, dilute and remove contaminants

• Bathroom– moisture condenses on cold ceiling

• Whole house ventilation– Fans, HRV/ERVs

• Kitchens

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IAQ Concerns

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IAQ Concerns

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IAQ Concerns

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IAQ Concerns

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IAQ Concerns

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Problems that could be fixed....

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IAQ Concerns

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Wet Basements

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Roofs

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IAQ Before and After

• Window leaking, improper install, insulation• Hole in wall allowed for condensation• Elder and three children used bedroom

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Fix Now or Pay Later

• Fix minor leaks• Clean minor mold spots (under 2x5)• Fix major leaks asap!• Fix ongoing occurrences • Run a dehumidifier if needed

and empty/clean regularly

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Tips for Residents• Furniture 6” away from exterior walls• Do not hang blankets on exterior walls• Use proper window treatments and

open during day – no blankets• Run bath fan for 30 minutes after each

bathing event!• Diligence – keep an eye out for problem

areas

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How to Clean Mold• Fix moisture problem!!!• Dry wet area completely within 24-48

hours• Remove people sensitive to mold• Remove moldy material• Clean remaining area• Dispose of all moldy materials, including

cleaning materials, in plastic bags• Repair if needed

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Mold Remediation Less than 10 sq ft

Repair water damage ASAP

• PPE (minimum)• N-95 respirator, gloves, goggles

• Containment: None required

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Between 10 sq ft and 100 sq ft

• PPE limited or full (“professional judgment”)• Respirator (N-95, half-face, full-face)• Gloves, goggles, foot covering• Disposable overalls/disposable full body clothing

• Containment: Limited• Polyethylene sheeting ceiling to floor around affected

area, slit entry, covering flap • Maintain area under negative pressure with HEPA

filtered fan unit • Block supply and return air vents

within containment area

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More than 100 sq ft

• Call in professionals and/or• Get training• Possibly full containment• Possibly full PPE

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Ways to Prevent and Clean Mold–Handout

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Mold Clean-up

• Hard, non-porous materials can be cleaned– Use sponge or cloth to wipe area clean– Never mix bleach with other cleaning products– Clean thoroughly… If you leave some mold

behind, spores will be easily released back into air when material dries out

• Remove porous materials – Ceiling tiles, carpeting or sheetrock (drywall) and

dispose

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Mold Clean-up (cont.)• If mold is result of flooding

– Remove all sheetrock to at least 12 inches above high water mark

– Inspect interior of walls to ensure all contaminated sheetrock removed

• Allow area to dry for 2-3 days after cleaning and sanitizing– Use fans and dehumidifiers

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Mold Clean-up (cont.)

• Use a stiff brush to remove mold from block walls or uneven surfaces

• Dispose of all cleaning materials if they can’t be washed and sanitized

• Wear old clothes that potentially can be thrown away

• Remove family members or bystanders while cleaning or remediation is underway

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Brandy ToftAir Quality Specialist

218-335-7429air@lldrm.org

Check out our website: www.lldrm.org