Two years of severe hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and heavy rains and flooding this spring in the Northeast are providing a national breeding ground for indoor mold and mildew growth (some deadly) now that the heat of the summer is here. What is the solution?

The issue is surrounded by controversy. The Centers for Disease Control, the Institute of Medicine, as well as scientists and physicians from Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and several state health agencies have analyzed the problem. Several studies have been conducted by medical researchers in recent years looking for links between various respiratory and physical illnesses and deaths and the presence of mold in our living space. While some say there is a link, others say the facts do not support it.

Here are the facts. Mold is everywhere; in and out. Some molds are good (penicillin), others are very toxic and emit gases that can be inhaled (“black mold” from Stachybotrys). Although some people apparently are not bothered by mold, all varieties have the potential to cause disease. Mold reproduces by generating spores that are released into the air, where they land on damp surfaces. They can grow on any organic surface such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpet, drywall, and wood. They thrive in dark, hot, and humid places, such as under carpets, interior walls, and ceilings. They will also contaminate items that come in contact with those surfaces.

Mold can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in many. Complaints of flu-like symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome, memory impairment, migraines, sick building syndrome, dizziness, and nosebleeds are common. These are mild symptoms. Many researchers claim that mold can attack several major body systems, including the brain, central nervous system, and immune system, and has been the direct cause of some deaths. Regardless of your position on this issue, who wants to smell mold and inhale spores of household fungi? They can lodge in your lungs (remember dark, hot and humid). Asthmatics, infants, and people with immune system deficiencies are particularly susceptible.

So what should you do if you think your home might have a mold problem? Here is a suggested 5-step process:

• Mold Inspection – Hire a qualified and certified mold inspection company to evaluate your home and determine the cause of the mold and the severity of the infestation.

• Area isolation: If there is a mold problem, you will want to carefully isolate the area to avoid carry-over to non-infested areas during clean-up.

• Cleanup / Remediation: care must be taken not to stir up mold; if it is severe, or on the walls, it may be necessary to use a specialized remediation company (with spacesuits) and remove the materials in hazardous waste containers.

• Repair the cause: If there is structural damage or leaky pipes causing a moisture problem, fix it.

• Maintenance / Prevention – An ongoing program to ensure that the cause is not repeated and the use of proven purification technology to maintain a clean environment and eliminate mold growth.

At this last point, the emphasis is on using technology that has a proven track record of removing mold. HEPA filters and electrostatic filters that are called purifiers are not effective against mold. However, there is an affordable, patented and safe technology currently available that has a proven ability to disinfect surfaces from a variety of microbes and stop mold / mildew growth. This effective technology has been widely accepted since it was used by the government during the September 11 Pentagon cleanup, is currently used in various government facilities, and is available to the general public through a network of authorized distributors. For more information, visit www.freshair2u.info [http://www.freshair2u.info]