Indoor Air
Mold
Molds are fungi that can be found indoors and outdoors almost everywhere in the environment. Mold can grow year-round but grows better in warm, humid conditions.
In the home, mold is almost always present in the air but tends to grow best in areas with high humidity levels, like bathrooms and basements. There are thousands of different species of mold, but the most common indoor molds include Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria and Aspergillus.
There is no established health exposure limit for mold but some people are sensitive to mold. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. People with mold allergies, lung conditions, or who have a compromised immune system can have more intense reactions.
Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.
Radon is higher in some parts of the country but can be found all over the U.S. including some areas in Kentucky. Radon gas can enter and collect in homes and buildings causing unsafe levels of radon to build up.
The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, this greatly increases your risk of developing lung cancer.
The only way to determine if your home has a radon problem is to test.
