The Life Cycle of Mold Growth

Mold needs moisture to grow, which means it can be a nuisance in coastal cities like Boston. Once mold starts growing in a residential or commercial building, it may be challenging to determine if the problem needs to be addressed by a professional. Since mold growth can stay dormant for years but continually repeat its growth cycle once conditions are ideal, it’s important to know the stages of the mold life cycle.

Hyphae Growth

It all begins with hyphae growth. Hyphae are thin, small, and stringy cells that release enzymes that basically "eat" nutrients from organic material, such as wood or plant debris. As the hyphae consume nutrients, it grows to a visible size, which is called a mycelium.

Spore Formation

Once the mycelium forms, the fungus develops spores—if the conditions are right. Like any other fungus, mold spores will only form with the right combination of light, oxygen, and temperature.

Spore Dispersal

After the spores form they disperse and release fungus into the air. They can stay dormant for years until they fall into an area with the right conditions to germinate. But this is where damp East Coast air comes into play. Mold spores grow when they fall in an area with a lot of excess moisture. The more access they have to damp cellulose material, the better they grow.

Spore Germination

When the spores land in a moist area with access to organic material, the mold growth cycle begins all over again. If the conditions are right, residents and business owners may end up with a serious mold problem quite quickly.

Do you think you have mold growing in your home? The best way to know for sure is to schedule a mold inspection. The specialists at ASAP Environmental, Inc. offer comprehensive inspections and risk assessments of mold growth in the Boston area. Contact us today to schedule your inspection.

Four Common Household Sources of Lead

Before 1978, many homes were constructed using building materials and paints that contained lead. Because lead exposure can cause serious health problems, it's critical to identify potential sources of lead and minimize contamination in residential spaces. Here are four common places that lead can be hiding in a home.

Dust

Homes that appear spotless may still contain dangerous amounts of lead-contaminated dust, which can enter the house from several sources. Dust containing lead can be tracked in from contaminated soil on shoes or can be leftover from a home remodeling project with flaking lead-based paint. Practicing good hygiene, avoiding wearing shoes inside, and dusting windows, sills, and floors are all good ways to minimize the risk of dust that contains lead.

Soil

Lead is also often present in soil, where it comes from two primary sources:

• Deteriorated buildings or fences that used lead-based paint or materials

• Roadways where vehicles that used leaded gasoline were once common

Covering bare soil with grass, shrubs, mulch, or cement can minimize humans' exposure to lead in soil. For this reason, parents and caregivers should prevent children from playing in or ingesting soil.

Water

Many homes built before 1930 were constructed with lead pipes for plumbing, but even homes built as recently as 1984 might also have used pipes containing lead-based solder in their copper joints. Any amount of lead in a plumbing system can easily contaminate the water, making it dangerous to use for drinking, cooking, or bathing. During a thorough lead inspection, a professional will test a home's water to check for the presence of lead.

Paint

Until the late 1970s, lead-based paint was commonly used on many household features and furniture items. In addition to the risk of flaking paint forming lead-contaminated dust over time, children have been known to ingest chips of paint that they find on the ground or windowsills. Merely applying another layer of paint on top of peeling or chipping lead-based paint isn't sufficient; it must be safely removed before it can be painted over.

Having a thorough lead inspection is one of the best ways of checking your household's risk of lead exposure. In addition to performing comprehensive lead inspections, the team at ASAP Environmental, Inc. provides residents in the Boston area with lead paint, asbestos, and mold inspection services. Schedule an inspection today by calling 800-349-7779.