Questions and Answers
on Molds and
Mold Remediation
3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety
Frequently asked questions and answers on molds, health
hazards associated with molds and
proper use of respirators during
mold remediation.
Why should I be
concerned about being exposed to mold?
Mold
is a type of fungus
that can grow and
live in organic matter including
many building materials,
especially when elevated moisture levels are present. Some molds release spores that are small enough
to remain airborne. Fungi
can
also release low levels of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) that are thought to be the source of odors associated with mold and
mildew.
Molds
are known to cause a variety
of health effects if spores
are inhaled into lungs, swallowed, or if they get into the eyes, nose or open cuts. These health effects may include allergenic affects, asthma, runny nose, eye infection, dizziness, fatigue, nausea,
irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, as
well as infection
of
immune-compromised or immune-suppressed individuals. It is recommended that all
persons with asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, severe allergies, immune suppression, or
other chronic inflammatory
lung diseases be removed
from the mold-contaminated area
until remediation is complete.
Where is mold found?
Mold is found everywhere. It is a natural
part
of our environment. However, when it becomes concentrated indoors it can cause
health
effects and damage building
materials. Mold growth can become a problem in humid or water damaged areas,
such as:
· Flooded buildings
· Buildings
with high moisture
buildup, for example: HVAC systems and high
humidity areas.
· Fire-damaged buildings
· Around
general water damage
· Large areas of mold growth have
also been found in food, grain and agricultural industries
Who is potentially exposed to molds?
· Mold remediators
· People
working in areas near mold-growth
· Industrial Hygienists or consultants while
conducting air sampling
· Insurance adjusters, fire inspectors,
public and private
building/home inspectors while
assessing damages
· HVAC/maintenance personnel while working around air dispenser systems
· Allergic or asthmatic people (possibly)
· Food, grain and agricultural workers
Will wearing a
respirator protect
me from exposure to mold?
Use of respiratory protection products, along with the appropriate
gloves, goggles, disposable coveralls, full body clothing, head gear and foot coverings,
may help reduce exposure to certain airborne contaminants including those from
mold; however, respirators
cannot guarantee
the elimination of
exposure or the risk of contracting illness, disease or infections.
Misuse of respirators may result in sickness
or death. Therefore it is very important that you read all the User Instructions that come with a respirator and wear the respirator at
all
times when you
are in the contaminated area.
What type of respirator should I wear to reduce exposure
to mold?
Currently, there
are no published exposure
limits for mold. However, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA - www.epa.gov) and the New York City
Department of Health (NYCDOH
– www.nyc.gov/html/doh/home.html) have published recommendations on selecting respirators for mold remediation activities
based upon the size of the
contaminated area.
· For areas less
than 10 square feet,
filtering facepiece respirators (N95 disposable respirators) or
half masks with replaceable particulate filters may be used in conjunction with non-vented goggles.
· For areas between 10 and 100
square feet, either a half mask with non-vented
face goggles, or full facepiece
respirators with 100 level particulate filters should be used.
· For areas greater than 100 square feet, full facepiece
respirators with 100 level particle filters should be
used. The full facepiece may also be used as part of a
powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) system.
Professional judgment should also be
used depending upon the toxicity
of the mold (if known), possibility of hidden mold, potential for aerosolizing the mold,
and
the
needs of the wearer.
What types of cartridges or filters should I use to reduce
exposure to
the microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or the disinfectants?
In order to reduce unpleasant odors
associated with VOCs that are
produced by mold, 3M recommends the use of a particle filter with nuisance
level
organic vapor relief, or an organic
vapor cartridge in addition
to the particle filter mentioned above. Gases and vapors
associated with disinfectants (e.g. chlorine or ammonia) should be measured, and
may warrant the use of an
appropriate chemical cartridge in conjunction with the particulate
filter.
Cartridges and filters are available for half masks, full
facepieces or powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) depending upon the
concentration level of the
disinfectants. A change schedule for the chemical
cartridges should be implemented
based upon the chemical
concentration. Respirators that offer higher levels of protection
are available if the concentrations
are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)
or if the oxygen concentration is less
than 19.5%. This may be
a concern especially
when working in confined spaces.
What type of training is
required before
wearing a
respirator?
Training in respiratory
protection by qualified individuals
must be performed before engaging in
any
remediation activity. The use of NIOSH-certified respirators in workplace environments
must be accompanied by a full respiratory protection program as specified in OSHA 29 CFR1910.134. Important components of a respiratory protection program include
written standard operating
procedures, medical evaluation,
user training, respirator cleaning
and maintenance, and properly fitting
the respirator to the user.
Which 3M respirators can I use to reduce
my exposure to mold?
The 3M
Respirators for Abatement and Mold
Remediation brochure, found on this
website, gives examples of
some, but not all of the 3M respirators that meet
the descriptions given in
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(www.epa.gov) and the New
York City
Department of Health (www.nyc.gov/html/doh/home.html)
guidelines for mold
remediation. Goggles without
vents must be worn with
half mask respirators. For reduction
in exposure
to the mold
spores as well as the low level volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) that are
produced by mold, 3M recommends the use of a particle
filter with nuisance
level
organic
vapor relief, or the use of an organic
vapor cartridge in conjunction
with a particulate filter.
A 3M™
Mold Remediation kit is now available from 3M, and because professional mold remediators may encounter contaminated areas of all
sizes, the kit contains a 3M™ Full Facepiece Respirator 6000 with P100 filters having organic vapor
nuisance level relief. Gases and vapors
associated with disinfectants
(e.g. chlorine, chlorine
dioxide, ammonia, etc.) should be
measured,
and may warrant the use of an appropriate
chemical cartridge in conjunction with the particulate filter.
For more
information on respiratory protection,
contact your company's health
and safety officer, respirator supplier, or 3M
in the USA at 1-800-247-3941;
in Canada call
1-800-267-4414.
How can 3M help?
See the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
(EPA)
guidelines chart, which
will help you choose the proper
3M protective equipment that meet the published EPA
guidelines.
Review 3M's summary of the EPA guidelines
(3M Technical Data Bulletin #148 - United
States Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines for Mold
Remediation in Schools
and
Commercial Buildings).
Where can I find other information
on molds?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(www.cdc.gov)
Provides frequently asked questions (FAQs) on molds, such as where they
grow, side effects, how to remediate and tips for keeping them out of various
environments.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)
Provides
safety tips on identifying potential
mold areas, preventing mold and protecting people from mold
exposure.
