Pollen Plant material generally from the outdoors

Spores Mold and other fungi, both indoors & outdoors

Dust Animal dander, excrementInsect parts, excrementSkin Cells

Bacteria Humans, Water, Soil

Viruses Humans

Biological

Pollutants

(Bioaerosols) Sources

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #1

Mold Problems are Caused by Excess Moisture

Solve the moisture problem–solve the mold problem

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #2

Where Biological Pollutants May be found in the Home1. Dirty air conditioners

2. Dirty humidifiers and/or windows3. Bathroom without vents or

windows4. Kitchen without vents or windows5. Dirty refrigerator drip pans6. Laundry room with unvented

dryer7. Unventilated attic8. Carpet on damp basement floor9. Bedding10. Closet on outside wall11. Dirty heating/air conditioning

system12. Dogs or cats13. Water damage (around windows,

roof,or basement)

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #3

Solving Moisture Problems

• Block moisture entry• Control or remove source• Dehumidifiers and A/C equipment – possible

options

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #4

SporesPollensAnimal DanderDust Mites

These are allergens that may affect only sensitive persons. These persons experience symptoms such as sneezing, nasal obstruction, and discharge, redness, watering, and itching, headache, eye and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue

Viruses Influenza, measles, etc.

Bacteria Tuberculosis, Legionnaires’ disease, etc.

s

Biological Pollutants

Health Effects

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #5

Mold Grows on organic materials and needs high humidity.Spores are generated that become airborne and move through the house to land and form new colonies.

Dust Mites Dust mites thrive on a food source of dead human skin cells, at humidity levels above 45% and at temperatures above 65 degrees. Heaviest populations are generally in bedding, carpeting, upholstered furniture, and other textiles. Vacuuming, bed making, and other cleaning may cause the dust to become airborne.

Biological Pollutant

How Transported

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #6

Pollen Generated by outdoor plants and enters the house through cracks, open doors and windows, and on shoes and clothing. Because they are small, they can become airborne.

AnimalDander

Animal dander and saliva from pets, rodents, and other animals can become airborne.

Biological Pollutant

How Transported

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #7

Viruses Persons with viruses can transmit the viruses through coughing and wheezing.

Bacteria Can be transmitted from persons with the disease and from contaminated water.

Biological Pollutant

How Transported

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #8

Mold Musty Smell, evidence of high humidity, standing water

Animal Dander

Pets in the home

Dust MitesPollenVirusesBacteria

Cannot be seen or smelled

Biological Pollutant

How to Detect the Contaminant

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #9

Controlling Mold• Clean, disinfect, and dry surfaces• Lower humidity levels• Clean and disinfect humidifiers, dehumidifiers, refrigerator pans and air conditioning coils• Exhaust the dryer to the outdoors• Run a bathroom exhaust fan during bathing or showering• Use a rangehood to exhaust cooking moisture• Fix plumbing leaks and seepage• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces with insulation or storm windows• Increase air circulation by opening closet doors and moving furniture away from walls• Dispose of wet carpeting and other damp fabric furnishings

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #10

Other Mold Control Measures• Lower humidity levels with dehumidifiers and air

conditioning• Control moisture in crawlspace• Correct drainage problems around foundation• Waterproof basement walls and insulate• Replace carpet with hard-surface floors in

basement

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #11

Dust Mites• Replace fabric furnishings with hard surface

coverings• Lower humidity levels• Vacuum fabric furnishings with HEPA vacuum or

central vacuum system• Wash bedding in hot water (130 degrees F)• Use plastic coverings on mattresses and pillows• Damp clean hard surfaces

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #12

General Control Measures• Maintain and clean all appliances that come in contact

with water• Change filters on heating and air conditioning units

according to manufacturer’s directions.• Empty and regularly clean refrigerator drip pans,

humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and furnace attached humidifiers

• Use air conditioning during the summer to reduce pollen infiltration into the home and lower humidity levels

• Air cleaning devices may achieve an additional reduction in the levels of biological pollutants when other control methods do not result in acceptable pollutant concentrations.

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #13

SUMMARY• Remove the source of contamination• Replace soft textiles with hard surfaces• Use vacuums with high-efficiency filters or

central vacuuming systems• Ventilate to lower humidity levels• Use air cleaners only if necessary

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Slide #14

Optional slide #1

What is Stachybotrys?A black, slimy mold that needs abundant moisture. Can grow on paper, wood, and products made from these:

Cardboard

Wallboard

Ceiling tiles

Drywall

Wallpaper

Newspaper

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module

Identification

• Black, slimy mold – grows on wet paper or wood-based products

• Laboratory analysis – only way to tell for sure• (Other, less harmful black molds are more

common in homes)

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Optional Slide #2

Health Effects

• Infants: lung hemorrhaging, coughing up of blood, possible anemia or death

• Adults: severe breathing problems, other symptoms, possible death

• Toxic spores are to blame

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Optional Slide #3

Cleanup

• Small areas: clean carefully with bleach; personal protection important

• Large areas: get professional help

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes Bugs, Mold and Rot (Biologicals) Instructional Module Optional Slide #4