New York City’s Mold Problems
New York City, comprising the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island is in many ways unique, in that it the most densely populated city in the country, and contains an inordinately large number of apartment buildings, condominiums and high rises. Many hazardous substances we live with are in fact, geographically contingent. So what about mold?
Mold is a Health Hazard
This is a valid concern given the fact that mold is a known health hazard. Although it affects many different people in different ways due to their particular individual physiology, it has been shown to cause respiratory problems such as asthma and emphysema, headaches, flu-like symptoms, rashes and even more severe things like memory loss and cancer.
The question is often asked as to whether high density, tall buildings as found in New York City are more or less susceptible to mold problems. The answer in short, is that it is, indeed just as prevalent, although for certain unique reasons.
What it has in common with other less densely populated adjacent areas
such as Westchester, Long Island,Putnam, Fairfield and New Jersey is that there is plenty of rain and summer time humidity which acts as a catalyst for mold growth. But what makes Manhattan, the Bronx, and other parts of New York City different than those other regions is that when living in an apartment building or condominium, you have very unique factors that can add to mold problems.
NYC Apartment and Condo Buildings
First of all, most buildings have flat roofs which are the most susceptible to leaking, and require periodic maintenance to control ponding of water and penetration through cracks, flashing and penetrations. Living with neighbors above and below you makes you vulnerable to their problems as well, such as plumbing leaks from bathrooms and kitchens, bathtub overflows, etc. A single shower leak can cause mold problems in adjacent units in several stories below.
In addition, many buildings are not designed with adequate ventilation or properly functioning windows. Without proper ventilation, mold can grow. This is often a consequence of older buildings designed with antiquated building science. Windows that were defective, worn, or otherwise damaged can also cause seepage which causes mold. The main issue in many of these cases is that since these are not private homes, lived in exclusively by the owners, the inhabitants are at the mercy of the building superintendents to make quality repairs. All too often, they are either late in responding or respond with inadequately trained, underpaid handymen, instead of qualified professional carpenters, plumbers or electricians. And all too often, the supers are in denial that there is even a problem and refuse to implement the necessary repairs.
Manhattan is an island and the entire city is surrounded by water, so opportunities for mold to grow are plentiful. In such a high-density living environment, those residents are often at the mercy of their neighbors’ mold-creating problems and uncaring supers making them vulnerable to unhealthy mold conditions in a unique way.
