The Mold Survival Guide: For Your Home and for Your Health

by Jeffrey C. May, Connie L. May

The image was a couple wearing protective suits and masks in their own home! The accompanying USA Weekend story documented the mold-related headaches, fatigue, and respiratory problems that forced Melinda Ballard and Ron Allison to abandon their dream house, leaving all their possessions behind. Another family was so terrified that they had their mold-filled house torn down. Mold growth threatens property managers and builders, as well as home owners and renters. Legal settlements in some mold cases have reached the millions, and home insurance rates are skyrocketing. Some people argue that mold concerns are exaggerated; others are convinced that mold growth is destroying their health. In The Mold Survival Guide , a prominent indoor air quality professional teams up with a writing specialist to describe mold, to explain where and why it flourishes in homes, and to offer advice on how to eradicate mold while minimizing health risks. The book includes a chapter by two physicians who explain how exposure to mold can affect health. With clear scientific explanations and expert advice, The Mold Survival Guide is a valuable resource for anyone worried about a common household problem that can have serious consequences.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published April 7, 2004

About the author

Jeffrey C. May, M.A., CIAQP (Certified Indoor Air Quality Professional) is a building consultant, indoor air quality expert, and the principal scientist of May Indoor Air Investigations LLC in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has conducted indoor environmental investigations in thousands of buildings, including offices, schools, and homes; and he has personally analyzed over 20,000 air and dust samples. Widely published, May frequently lectures nationally about indoor air quality.

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really in-depth information about mold infestation. Plenty of information that explains how molds spread and what they need to thrive. The author is a microbiologist and indoor air specialist. In general, about the only kind of mold infestation you should deal with is what happens in your fridge or your shower. Anything larger should be handled by professionals.

The bottom line: Resolve moisture problems in your home first and foremost. Take care of roof leaks, plumbing leaks, damp basements, seal up the dirt in crawl spaces. This will remove the primary sources of moisture that mold need to proliferate. Secondly, do what you can to control dust. Mold uses that as food. If you can do those two things, you'll bring your mold problem under control. The benefits are a reduction in dust mites which in turn reduces the spider population to reasonable levels. You might also avoid problems with carpenter ants or termites.

I highly recommend this book if you think you have mold problems in your house.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this, I couldn't wait to get back to something more soul nourishing. It also left me wondering if there are actually any competent architects/builders in the US, the target audience. Confronting as it was, it did give quite a bit of useful information concerning common damp and mold issues in homes, the health effects, what to look for when renting or buying and how best to approach remediation. Some of the information was too technical for me to take in, but overall, it was a good general guide with plenty of illustrations to clarify the author's point. Certainly recommended for anyone with respiratory problems who may be living in a damp, moldy home, and also for anyone considering building or buying.

[Rick Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this is hard book to rate because it's obviously not a pleasure read. Mold is destroying my wife's health, and we are currently working on trying to eliminate mold from our house and lives.

Jeffrey May is thorough in his explanations of how mold grows and what it does. He dedicates a great deal of space to explaining the fascinating science behind mold. He gives very practical and reasonable advice on dealing with mold as well, explaining when it's possible to remedy the solution alone and when professional help is required.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative