The culprit for these ailments may take a while to track down. Because mold s harmful effects are still becoming known, most people do not immediately suspect fungus when confronted by a new health problem. A snootful of Stachy mold flattened Wane Baker with G.I. problems for three days not too long ago. I sure didn t get much mold, said Baker. But the consequences were very real.
Mold is tough to fight because it is a cinch to grow.
Its needs are few. Wet or dry, toxic molds and there are several varieties, each with many strains are sturdy, wily critters. That means drywall, wallpaper, ceiling tile, insulation, wood, carpets. Throw in moisture of any kind flood waters, leaky pipes, a sewer backup, heavy rain and the slime can chow like Pac-Man across whole walls, behind the wallpaper, inside wall cavities, out of sight. A snack of wallpaper paste washed down with a steady little drip from a pipe can nourish whole tribes of spores.