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Experts: Mold can be beat
By Ashley Rowland,
rowlana@gvillesun.com
Sun Staff Writer
December 12, 2002
Gainesville may be one of the hardest places in the country to fight mold thanks
to Florida's humid climate, according to local scientists and health experts.
And even though you can't get rid of mold, the experts say you can control it.
James Kimbrough, a University of Florida professor who teaches a course called
"Molds, Mildews, Mushrooms and Man," said Gainesville is located along a
mold-prone stretch of coastline that runs from New Jersey to Texas.
And in Tree City, mold is twice as prevalent as it is in Florida's coastal
cities, where less vegetation and prevailing ocean winds mean fewer mold spores.
Paul Myers, environmental health director for the Alachua County Health
Department, said he gets about two or three complaints about mold in homes and
private businesses each month.
Myers said four factors contribute to mold growth: mold spores, which are found
everywhere; mold food - almost any substance that contains carbon atoms; ideal
temperatures, which are the same temperatures humans prefer; and moisture.
"Of all of those factors, moisture is really the only one that you can try to
control," he said.
Myers recommended the following steps for controlling moisture:
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Set the fan mode on your air conditioner to
"auto," not "on," when in use. That allows moisture to dissipate from the
coils.
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Choose an air-conditioning unit that's
appropriately sized for your home.
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Open the interior doors when your
air-conditioning unit is on.
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Use ceiling fans during the summer.
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Avoid using a vinyl wall covering. It creates
a watertight surface that can trap moisture in the drywall behind it.
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Change air filters regularly, especially
during the summer.
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Use a bathroom ceiling fan if you have one. It
vents out moist air.
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Eliminate small leaks. Even a small one will
cause significant mold problems.
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Keep the relative humidity in your house below
70 percent.
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