The following is from www.allergyetc.com:
People who suffer from mold and mildew allergy experience symptoms similar to dust mite reaction.
In offices with poor air quality, employees often complain of fatigue, sore throat and itchy eyes.
Mold spores are the main reason for these symptoms and invariably 75% of indoor pollution problems
have been traced to mold growth in central heating and A/C ducts.
The common molds we see at home are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, and Alternaria.
The primary source of food for molds is building materials such as paper and paper products, cardboard,
ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products. They colonize near stagnant water and become visible as streaks
or spots. The amount of indoor mold in any building will depend on several factors, including the age of
the structure, insulation materials, heating system, and the use of humidifiers and air conditioners.
Mold removers, mold inhibitors and HEPA air cleaners are excellent means of reducing, and at times even
completely preventing, exposure to molds. Invariably in all cases moldy items should be discarded and the
source of moisture should be identified and eliminated. A mold remover kills mold on contact and can be
used everywhere that mold grows: on hard surfaces, in plant dirt, even as an additive to humidifier water
or paint. Follow up with a mold inhibitor (such as NoMore Mildew) that makes surfaces hostile to mold
growth, assuring you that it won't grow back. In spite of rigorous housekeeping, many mold spores grow in
areas you can't reach, such as your crawl space, central ductwork or air conditioner.
To avoid inhaling these allergens, run a HEPA air cleaner in your bedroom and install a furnace filter
on your central air supply. You can also use a filter on your window screen and air conditioner. A
dehumidifier is also very helpful in controlling mold growth in your home and at work.
The car air conditioner is also a source of mold spores in the car. If you tend to feel sick while
you're driving, this might be a reaction to mold spores circulating through your car air conditioner. To avoid
this potentially dangerous situation, treat
your car's air conditioning system with a mold remover.
Also, be careful of adding too much moisture to your home through the use of humidifiers, either portable units
or systems added to your heating system. If humidity is not monitored carefully (using a humidity gauge)
high humidity levels will create mold, which can be easily spread throughout the house.
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