Denver, CO, Mar. 10--A new study by the University of Arizona has found that mold is pervasive in homes nationwide, thriving in household sites that are not routinely cleaned and disinfected. The study, which also measured the home resident's understanding of the problem, found that most people underestimated the presence of mold in their homes. Mold was found in 100% of homes tested.
Results of the study were presented at the 60th annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).
In the seven state study, mold was most prevalent on windowsills, where it was found in 88% of the homes studied. Other common household sites with mold were refrigerator seals (83% of households), the area beneath the kitchen sink (83%) and air vents (82%).
Mold was also found at high levels at sites where people tend to concentrate cleaning efforts such as the bathroom. Mold was found growing in 49% of shower grouts and 50% of the walls above the showers, even though most study participants (73%) realized that mold was most likely to be a problem in the moist environment of a bathroom.
Although 96% of study respondents realized that mold could cause or aggravate health problems, the study also showed that they tended to think household mold was somebody else's problem. Only 17% of participants felt they had a mold problem in their own home, even though mold was found in 100% of the homes tested.
The study did not seek to determine the incidence of Stachybotrys, commonly referred to as "hidden," "toxic" or "black" mold in news reports, which generally grows behind walls, under stairs, and beneath ceiling tiles. It is suspected that exposure to this toxic mold is linked to debilitating symptoms such as lung tissue damage and memory loss. If the presence of Stachybotrys is suspected, the home should be checked immediately by a trained professional.
