IS MOLD IN MY CAR MAKING ME SICK?
Mold can live in many places on plants, and on the dead or rotting matter. The presence of mold in a car can cause health responses when exposure occurs. Once inhaled, particles can affect the heart and lungs and in some cases cause serious health effects. Many studies directly link the size of particles to their potential for causing health problems. Exposure to Mold and Mycotoxins can have serious health implications. Diseases and health symptoms linked to Mycotoxins include fever, pneumonia-like symptoms, heart disease, rheumatic disease, asthma, sinusitis, cancer, memory loss, vision loss, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, depression, ADHD, anxiety, liver damage, and more.
The reality is that it takes a very minimal amount of moisture for mold to grow and only a few days for it to colonize. However, when mold grows in a car it can be a real pain to get rid of and can even destroy the interior of a vehicle. But what is worse is when you start to feel sick inside your car, leading you to wonder, is mold in car making me sick? So, how does mold get into your car in the first place? Here are a few common ways:
Detailing – if it hasn’t been dried properly afterwards.
Flooding – if a window is open for an extended period or there is a sealing problem.
Cross Contamination – Plants, pets, uncleaned spillages and other moldy objects can spread spores.
Air conditioners – Ventilation is important to keep moisture out.
Moisture control is the way to mold control. Molds need both nourishment and water to get by; since molds can process most things, water is the factor that breaking points mold development. Molds will frequently develop in moist or wet regions inside. Water intrusion can come in many forms such as:
High Relative humidity
Leaky window
Flood
Roof Leak
Condensation
Ice Damming
To prevent mold in the future is all about controlling moisture. Moisture control is the way to mold control. Molds need both nourishment and water to get by; since molds can process most things, water is the factor that breaking points mold development. This can act as a double-edged sword, if there is already a mold problem. Mold becomes dormant with no active water source. Then, the colony will roll in and out of active stages with just humidity in the air. Mold is all about source removal. Removing water without removing the mold can make the problem worse.
If the source of the mold problem is not fixed mold remediation can be performed but it is likely for the growth to recur. Furthermore, these water issues can cause additional problems in the environment such as structural damage, insect infestation and bacteria overgrowth. This is why it is very important to hire an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) at any sign of mold or water damage and prior to any clean up being performed.
References:
Mercedes-Benz agrees to massive settlement after mold found growing in HVAC systems