Mold Facts
Mold, which has been part of the natural environment for several hundred million
years, has recently become a matter of intense national concern, especially
within the building industry. Construction of tighter buildings and
inappropriate approaches to moisture control are often cited as contributing to
the seemingly higher incidence of mold-associated problems being reported today.
Another likely cause is increased awareness of mold due to extensive publicity
surrounding a few cases of extreme mold contamination of buildings.
One thing that has not contributed to mold problems is the growing popularity of
cellulose insulation among knowledgeable home owners who are interested in
sustainable building practices and energy conservation. Mycology experts
(mycology is the study of mold) are often quoted as saying: “Mold grows on
cellulose.” They are referring to cellulose the generic material that forms the
cell walls of all plants, not to cellulose insulation.
Unfortunately, all too often this statement is taken to mean that cellulose
insulation is exceptionally susceptible to mold contamination. In fact, due to
its favorable moisture control characteristics and other factors associated with
the manufacturing process relatively few cases of significant mold growth on
cellulose insulation have been reported. All the widely publicized incidents of
serious mold contamination of insulation have involved fiber insulation
materials other than cellulose.