PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS: Answers To Your Tough Pest Questions

Editor’s note: George Rambo has received many questions regarding borates and mold in the past several months. Below is some information regarding this topic.

BORATES AND MOLD

Many pest management professionals have been asking about the use of borates in an effort to control mold. I think it is essential that pest management professionals understand the issue and the efforts that can be used to control the conditions that foster mold growth.

First, borates will inhibit and even kill some mold growth. Preventive applications have been very good as well. But remedial applications are another story. Even though the mold’s physical growth is stopped, killed or inhibited, the presence of mold spores is a more important issue than stopping their growth. Spores can be a problem for people allergic to molds. In addition, the application of sprays to widespread areas of mold growth may dislodge mold spores, increasing the number of them in the air.

The second phase of this "control" program is the control of the conditions that favor the mold growth, i.e., moisture. Even if borates are used in control efforts, if the moisture is not reduced, the mold problem can still continue.

The best thing for pest management professionals to remember is that there are no shortcuts in controlling mold. In an effort to find something "easy" and "not too involved," pest management professionals may actually open themselves to more problems. Remember that molds grow on many different substrates — not just wood. Many of those areas are not available for treatment, i.e., wall voids and even some crawlspaces. Remediation of mold problems could require extensive work, dismantling parts of the structure, correcting the moisture problem, and following clean-up recommendations from industrial hygiene and health department personnel. And don’t forget OSHA requirements for respiratory protection.

The author is president of George Rambo Consulting Services, Central, S.C. Fax questions to him at 864/654-2447 or via e-mail at grambo@pctonline.com.