Mold Growing Indoors and Resources to Protect Building Occupants in Puerto Rico

Mold is a natural part of the environment and there are many different types. In fact, the National Toxicology Program estimates there are some 1.5 million species of mold. While mold can be found both in the indoor and outdoor environments, exposure to elevated levels of it in the air people breathe can cause issues.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that mold is usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp area, allowing them to begin to grow. Common sources of indoor moisture include roof leaks, condensation due to high humidity or cold spots in a building, leaks from plumbing fixtures, humidification systems, sprinkler systems, and floods.

“If mold does grow indoors, it can cause unpleasant odors and cosmetic concerns, such as staining,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Left unchecked, mold can also cause serious damage to a home or building. It can destroy belongings and furniture, and it can rot wood – even resulting in structural damage. The potential human health effects of exposure to elevated levels of mold are also a major concern. Allergic reactions to mold are common and can be immediate or delayed. They include hay fever-like symptoms such as headache, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Mold can even cause asthma attacks in some asthmatics. Mold can also be an irritant, affecting the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. Some types of mold are known to cause infections in people with weakened immune systems. Mycotoxins are yet another health concern as some types of mold can produce these toxic byproducts.”

To help protect building occupants, the infection control, industrial hygiene, and indoor environmental quality professionals at Zimmetry offer testing, consulting, and training services in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean to identify and mitigate exposure risks to mold and other microbial contaminants. Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about mold growing indoors that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/QkPh0bDd6oY

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their building science, industrial hygiene, compliance, and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005, or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail