Healthy Environment & Clean Air Advice
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Ten Things You Should Know About Mold
Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
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Common Causes of Indoor Mold Growth
Do You Know What To Look For?
Visual mold growth on the walls, floors and ceilings. An idea location on the walls would be around baseboards or flooring, under windows, around door and window trim.
Musty Odors
Allergic Reactions such as headaches, sneezing, water eyes, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, coughing, bloody noses, etc.
Health problems that become more noticeable when you enter certain rooms that are infected or an entire house or building that is infected.
Visible water stains
Condensation on the windows
The mold spores become airborne when disturbed. When toxic mold spores become airborne, they travel throughout the airways of the structure that they are in which includes every room, the HVAC system ductwork, attic space, basement, on and in furniture upholstery, clothing, shoes, and in every space or crack in the walls, cabinets, appliances and anywhere else they can penetrate. Molds of all types can adversely affect you and your family’s health. NEVER take mold for granted as being okay!
Common Causes For Mold:
Leaky pipes
Previous flooding
Poor ventilation
High temperature and/or high levels of humidity
Excessive moisture
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Mold 101
Everyone has mold, in fact 1 out of 4 homes has toxic mold! Mold is not something to ignore!
Most people try to remove mold with chlorine bleach – THIS DOES NOT WORK!
Mold is a living organism that has a root – bleach ONLY DISCOLORS the mold!
**BLEACH DOES NOT KILL THE ROOT OF THE MOLD!**
This is similar to weeds – you can buy the spray to kill the surface weeds to make the yard look better, however, if the root of the weed is not gone, it will grow back!
What Is Mold?
Mold is fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth.
Common Indoor Molds
Cladosporium
Aspergillus/Penicillium Like
Alternaria
Mucor
Mycelial Frangments
Pollen
Smuts/Myxomycetes/Periconia
Where Are Molds Found?
Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, in both indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers. Additional methods of finding mold are through the use of surface sample, particle counters, smell, vision and other means.
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Types of Mold
There are many difference types of mold – black mold, toxic mold and allergenic molds. These molds are present around us all the time in the air we breathe whether inside or outside. In low levels, mold and mold spores are harmless but if the levels increase they can have serious effects on people; especially those who suffer with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions or immune suppressed individuals.
Black Mold
The media often refers to “black mold” as being “toxic mold”. It is usually associated with the mold Stachybotrys, a type of greenish-black mold which is associated with heavy water damage. This mold is not always toxic mold. While there are only a few molds that are truly black, many molds may appear to be black. Not all molds that appear to be solid black are Stachybotrys mold.
Toxic Mold
Certain molds excrete toxic compounds called mycotoxins, sometimes only under specific growing conditions. Certain mycotoxins can be very harmful or even lethal to humans and animals when the level of contamination is high enough. Some of the most deadly chemicals on the planet are mycotoxins. Mycotoxins breed on the surfaces in which they land on. They can cause human illnesses through ingestion, but also through dermal exposure and inhalation of mycotoxin-contaminated debris or air borne spores.
Mycotoxic mold and mold spores are the more dangerous molds which contain toxins that reside in the mold cell wall.These molds can cause serious health problems to both humans and pets. They range from short-term irritations of the respiratory tract to immunosuppression, to cancer and even death.
One example of a common toxic mold is Stachybotrys, which has been associated with “sick building syndrome”. Some mycotoxins cause immune system responses that vary considerably, depending on the individual. The duration of exposure is a key factor in triggering immune system response.
Allergenic Molds
Mold spores can also be allergenic, causing irritations of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Molds may excrete liquids or gases, not all of which can be detected by smell.
Allergenic mold and mold spores are not usually harmful to humans unless they are at high levels. However, allergenic molds can cause allergenic or asthmatic symptoms when exposed. Generally, allergenic molds are easily cleaned and removed. NOTE: Even dead allergenic mold spores or mold contaminated particles can trigger allergic and/or asthmatic reactions.
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Symptoms of Mold Exposure
If mold spores are inhaled or ingested, YOU CAN BECOME SERIOUSLY ILL!
The longer you go undiagnosed and untreated, the faster the mold will continuously grow inside your body making you more sick with each day that passes. As mold continues to grow inside your body, it produces a poison called “MYCOTOXIN”, these poisons remain in your body day after day. Each day the mold is left untreated, the larger the colonies of mold will become producing larger amounts of toxins in your body.
Related Illnesses from Mold Exposure:
Lung Damage
Brain Damage
Skin Disorders
Asthma
Allergies
Headaches
Death
Different species of molds produce different types of toxins and people can go through a wide range of different symptoms. Because the variety of a person’s symptoms to mold exposure range differently, many physicians diagnose patients to having “psychological issues.”
Level I – Common Symptoms of Mold Exposure
The most common reported symptoms of short term mold exposure:
Sneezing
Itching Skin
Redness of the Skin
Watery Eyes
Itching Eyes
Dizziness
Headache
Fatigue
Level II – Advanced Symptoms of Mold Exposure:
The following symptoms have been reported by people who have been exposed
to a mold contaminated property for an extended period of time (home, school, office)!
Constant Headache
Nose Bleeds
Fatigue
Breathing Disorder
Coughing up Blood or Black Looking Mucus
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Loss of Appetite
Weight Loss
Hair Loss
Skin Irritations
Open Sores
Short Term Memory Loss
Neurological and Nervous Disorders
Sexual Dysfunction
Swollen Glands in the neck and/or armpit area
Sudden Asthma Attacks or Breathing Disorders
Ear Infections and Ear Pain
Chronic Sinus Infections
Chronic Bronchitis
Painful Muscles and Joints
It is important to remember that different species of molds have different reactions with
the human body!
Level III – Late Stage Symptoms of Mold Exposure:
The following conditions of mold exposure are the most severe and are caused by high
levels of exposure!
Blindness
Brain Damage
Long Term Memory Loss
Bleeding Lungs
Cancer
Death
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Disclaimer: This information is to provide you with general information about mold
and is not intended to provide legal advice, construction advice, or medical advice of any kind.
For proper legal advice, contact an attorney. For construction and remediation advice, contact a certified mold remediation company. For proper medical advice, please contact your physician.
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