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1. Is mold harmful to my family?

Typical reactions to mold are allergy-like symptoms that occur in individuals who are allergic to mold. Symptoms can include coughing, sneezing, and other upper respiratory symptoms. Symptoms can be more severe in the elderly, infants, asthmatics, or anyone with a compromised immune system.

2. How do I clean up mold?

To clean up the mold, first you need to stop the water infiltration into the area. This is imperative; mold will continue to grow as long as the area remains wet. Physically remove any large quantities of visible mold and dry the area with fans, being careful to not distribute the mold spores to the occupied area of the home. You may need to contain the contaminated area with plastic sheeting. Once it is dry, a detergent should be used to clean up the mold. You should not use anything to apply the detergent that will disturb the spores, such as a garden hose. If you’ve got a large area to clean up (greater than 10 ft2), you should consider hiring a mold remediation company to do it. Companies can be found by searching the online Yellow Pages under terms such as “mold remediation” and “mold removal”.

Other Mold Resources:
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- Homeowner's Guide to Moisture Management
- Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (Although it was written for schools and commercial buildings, the concepts apply to the home setting as well)

3. Is air sampling for mold recommended?

We generally do not recommend air sampling for mold spores, because of the potential for getting “false negatives”. False negative results occur because of how mold spores are generated. The mold organism casts off the mold spores in blooms; it is difficult to predict when this is going to happen. Once the spores are in the air, they eventually settle onto the ground and other horizontal surfaces, such as furniture. Air is typically sampled for 5 minutes at the most, so there is a possibility of not collecting the mold spores while they are suspended in the air. A good rule of thumb is if you can see mold, then you have mold.

4. I have mold in my apartment and my landlord won’t do anything about it. What are my options?

There are no local, state, or federal regulations regarding mold. Consequently, Tri-County Health Department staff can’t force your landlord to clean up the mold. We can only send a letter to the landlord which explains the potential adverse health effects associated with mold exposure and recommend the landlord clean up the mold. We’ll need the landlord’s name and address, your address, as well as the locations of the mold in the apartment. Contact your local Tri-County Environmental Health office.

Note: Tri-County Health Department cannot provide legal services. For further legal questions you can contact Colorado Legal Services at 303-837-1313.

5. Can you check the air quality in our home? Our family is experiencing symptoms.

Tri-County does not currently have trained staff to check the air quality of your home. Visit this EPA website for more information.

6. I want to measure the radon levels in my home. How do I do this?

There are at least three methods available to test radon levels: 1) Tri-County Health Department has a radon meter that we can use to test the radon levels; or 2) You can purchase a radon test canister at your local hardware store; or 3) You can order a test kit online from the Kansas State University National Radon Program.

7. How does Tri-County Health Department test for radon and is there a fee?

Tri-County Health Department places a radon meter in your home and measures the radon levels for comparison to the EPA standard of 4.0 pCi/l (picocuries per liter). The house needs to be closed up (no doors or windows left ajar) for at least 12 hours prior to sampling. We provide you with a written report that summarizes the results. This is a free service for residents but we charge a fee for businesses and non-county government agencies.

8. Can I purchase a radon test kit and do the test myself?

Yes. Radon test canisters are available at hardware stores (Lowes, Ace Hardware, for example), but you should call first to ensure the store carries them. Sometimes the canisters have an expiration date, so you should check the date before purchasing the kit. Normally you would test in the lowest livable space in your home, which is typically the basement, regardless of whether it’s finished or not. Follow the instructions included in the kit regarding canister placement for the test. It’s generally recommended that you do a short-term test first, which lasts 2 to 4 days. For a short term test, the house should be closed up for 12 hours prior to the test. This means close all windows and doors, but you can open a door if necessary to enter and leave the house.

9. I tested my home for radon and the level came back high. What do I do?

The EPA standard of 4 picocuries per liter of air is an annual standard. If you aren’t in a hurry (for example, selling or buying the tested home), then re-test the home for 3 months to a year using a long term radon test kit, to get a better idea of what the average level is. If you don’t have the time, then re-test with another short term radon test kit. If the average of the two short term tests OR the result of the long term test is 4 pCi/l or higher, hire a radon mitigator to install a mitigation system. For a list of companies certified in Colorado click on: Certified Radon Measurement and Mitigation Contractors.

Other Radon Resources:
- Citizens Guide to Radon
- Dealing with Radon in Real Estate Transactions
- Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction-- How to Fix Your Home

10. What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

For more information see EPA's Asbestos website.

11. What are the health effects from exposure to asbestos?

There are three main exposure routes for asbestos fibers: (1) inhalation, (2) ingestion, and (3) skin contact. However, inhalation is the primary route of entry leading to asbestos-related disease. Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling. Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are: lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest and the abdomen and heart) and asbestosis (a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs).

For more information on these and other health effects of asbestos exposure see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Cancer Institute.

12. I want to know if material in my home contains asbestos. How can I test for this?

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has a list of registered consulting firms that can assist with asbestos testing.