Breathe easier, it's Mold Awareness Month

September as Mold Awareness Month. The observance is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which states that molds create "toxins that cause asthma, respiratory infections and chronic sinus problems."

The agency attributes a threefold increase in asthma cases nationally in the last 20 years to mold.

Mold starts its life in a wet or damp area. Twenty-four hours of dampness is enough time for mold to begin to grow. The longer an area remains wet, the more toxic the mold is likely to be.

Other symptoms of exposure to toxic mold can include memory loss, flu-like symptoms, bleeding in the lungs and difficulty speaking. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately, or call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 800-232-4636.

Mold can grow behind walls and under floors, above ceiling tiles, or behind shower walls -- wherever there are wet materials mold can feed on, such as wood, ceiling tiles or plasterboard.

Once mold has been identified, professional remediation is highly recommended. It can regrow if not completely removed.

-- McClatchy-Tribune News

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Breathe easier, it's Mold Awareness Month