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We care about our air. People have been fighting against increasing pollution from industries and from cars. But these days, more and more people are beginning to wonder about the quality of air inside our buildings.

"These are changing times," says Mark Sneller. He is a microbiologist and mold consultant in Arizona. "People have become more focused on the indoor environment."

This increased awareness has led people to speculate on how molds in our homes, schools and businesses may be affecting us.

You've seen mildew growing on your windowsills and mold sprouting in the breadbox. But what do we really know about these molds and how they can affect our health?

"This is a growing problem mainly because there is an increased awareness of molds in the home," says Marie Lienhop. She is a mold specialist in Missouri. She says that molds have always been present in homes and other buildings, but people are just now realizing that health problems may be associated with them.

"Wherever there is moisture intrusion, molds move in," she says. These molds can be hazardous, causing infections, allergies and other health problems for the building's inhabitants.

"There have always been problems with mold, especially on both the east and west coasts," agrees Don Bremner. He is an environmental consultant.

He says that more people are also becoming aware of molds in buildings. "More people have become aware of it as an issue because of exposure in the media, in schools and in portable classrooms," he says.

"The interest in testing for mold has been expanding. People who are already working in the environmental field are getting more involved in mold issues."

Mold consulting is a new field that Lienhop says really only came up as a career opportunity about 10 years ago. She takes pleasure in working in the area because of this. "It's enjoyable to be working in a brand new field," she says.

But the fact that it is so new can make some aspects of the work difficult. "Rules and regulations for exposure limits aren't in place," she says. "Nor is the methodology in the lab firmly established."

Sneller agrees that we have much more to learn about molds. "This science is just in its infancy technologically," he says. "We've now learned that there are toxins on spores, but we still don't know how much these mycotoxins affect humans."

Some molds are sure to make people sneeze. But what other damage can they do? "We know about the allergenic effects, but it's complicated to figure out what other conditions could be associated with spores."

The fungi that most commonly attack building structures are mold, mildew and wood-rotting fungi. The dangerous molds are the ones that are able to produce mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are hazardous to humans.

When people find molds in their homes, they often wipe them up and believe the problem to be solved. This may not be the case because mycotoxins can be found in both living and dead spores.

The problem is pervasive. Mycotoxins have been found in agricultural settings, food, homes, offices and schools. The same few mold types cause most of the problems in all buildings.

"Molds are unlike pollen," says Sneller. "The top 10 molds are always the top 10 molds."

Sneller visits homes to locate mold problems. "I go in and identify the molds, monitor the air quality and see how many spores are in the air and where they're coming from," he says. "From this information, I can make recommendations on how to remove the molds."

In some instances, mold removal can be costly. In these cases, people may have to move from their homes or have parts of the building destroyed and rebuilt.

Many insurance companies in the past weren't covering building occupants for damage caused by mold, only for water damage. Sneller says this is changing.

"As more people are in tune with health issues, insurance companies are losing big fights to the people," he says.

Helping people discover molds in their homes and helping them find a solution to the problem is rewarding. "You try and work together," says Sneller. "You guide people towards hot spots in the house, and you take a precautionary approach."

Sneller believes that as more is learned about the effect of molds on human health, and as more people become aware of the issue, mold consultants will have work to do.

"In today's world and in tomorrow's world, people will want to know more and more about their indoor and outdoor air quality."

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