New Study Suggests Chlorine Bleach [sodium hypochlorite] Kills
Household Mold and Neutralizes Mold Allergen [but only
on hard surfaces]
By
University of Arizona News Services
March 24, 2004
Today at the
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology's (AAAAI) 60th Annual
meeting, Kelly Reynolds, a research scientist at the University of Arizona,
announced the results of a new study that proves, for the first time, a
chlorine bleach solution not only effectively kills mold but also
neutralizes the indoor mold allergen. The study, funded by a grant from The
Clorox Company, also found mold spores, a common trigger for allergies in
America, to be present in 100 percent of the homes surveyed.
When sensitive individuals are exposed to allergens, such as mold spores, by
either direct contact or inhalation, allergy and asthma symptoms may result.
Some of these symptoms may include sinus congestion, coughing, upper
respiratory distress, chronic headaches and flu-like symptoms. In fact, mold
spores are suspected in the tripling of the asthma rate in the past 20 years
and have been blamed by a 1999 Mayo Clinic Study for nearly all of the
chronic sinus infections afflicting 37 million Americans.
The primary cause of allergic responses from exposure to mold can be
attributed to surface allergens. These allergens become a problem when they
become airborne and contaminate indoor air quality. The study found that low
concentrations of chlorine bleach, such as those common to commercial
household products certified to kill mold and mildew, were proven to be
effective at not only killing the mold spores, but also denaturing, or
neutralizing, the surface allergen, making it essentially unable to produce
an immune response in sensitive individuals.
"Remaining fragments of dead mold can linger indoors long after the mold
spores have been inactivated, and can be as harmful as live mold," said
Kelly Reynolds, lead investigator for the study from the University of
Arizona. "The study results confirm that denaturing the mold spores with
a dilute chlorine bleach solution appears to be the most effective and
efficient way to reduce mold allergen on hard surfaces." [Comment
from mold expert Phillip Fry: a hard surface would be a non-porous
surface like a kitchen counter top or ceramic floor and wall tiles. Almost
any disinfectant can kill mold sitting on hard surfaces. The mold
remediation problem is mold growth in porous building materials like wood
timbers, drywall, chip board, plywood, and carpeting/padding. How to deal
with mold in porous materials by the combination of mold killing, mold
removal, and mold prevention techniques is explained at
Mold Remediation.
Molds can be classified as either the mycotoxin producing molds such as
Penicillium and Stachybotrys and the non-toxic molds such as Trichophyton.
While the toxicities differ, all mold spores contain allergens, which
according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), can
aggravate symptoms of both allergies and asthma.
The University of Arizona study yielded 1,330 mold samples and evaluated the
growth rate and distribution of household mold on indoor surfaces in 160
homes in seven geographical regions. The regions where sites were frequently
positive for fungal counts include the far west (San Francisco), Southwest
(Tucson, Dallas), Midwest (Chicago), Southeast (Atlanta, Tampa, Fla.), and
Northeast (New York) regions of the United States.
The study, which also looked at consumer perceptions towards mold,
demonstrated that mold is far more pervasive in the home than people
believe. While consumers understand that mold is a health concern, they are
confused with the extent of the problem in their homes, with just 17 percent
believing mold is an issue inside their own homes. Significant confusion
also exists with the best way to effectively treat the issue.
The abstract for this study, "Efficacy of Sodium Hypochlorite Disinfectant
on the Viability and Allergenic Properties of Household Mold," (abstract
617) was published in the February issue of the Journal of Allergy &
Clinical Immunology.
What should you use to kill and
remove mold effectively?
You can use a low cost Mold Home Remedy Recipes---available
at Mold Mart. You should also learn
the 25 steps recommended for safe and effective
mold
remediation.
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