Climate Change and Mold

If you don’t live in Southern California where our corporate offices are located, you might think that a week of over 100 degree temperatures is normal for us in August.

It’s not.

Even at night, it’s hot out there. And it’s been hotter than usual, not only here but all over the US.

Most places are hotter and drier–as you can see from the above drought map from August 7, 2012. But the combination of high temperatures and storms can bring another problem: mold.

In Chicago, Illinois, the mold count is off the charts.

Chicago has experienced 6 “very high” mold count days since 2010, until last week. “Very high” is defined as 50,000 spores per cubic meter of air. Last Monday’s reading was 125,000 spores per cubit meter or 2.5 times the “very high” level.

Rain, humidity, high temperatures and wind are making it miserable for allergy sufferers, who usually get a reprieve on mold allergies until September or October and aren’t used to anything like this.

These conditions can also lead to mold growth in your home. Anywhere that is warm and damp has the potential to be a home for mold and a source of the mold spores that make allergic individuals miserable.

People always say that California’s heat is a “dry heat” but mold is always looking for a foothold. If you find that you have mold in your home in California, call Alliance Environmental Group before you start having allergies from spores or the other health problems that can be caused by exposure to black or toxic mold.

Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!

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