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What is Mold (The new environmental issue)
Mold are microscopic organism, that are part of natural
environment. There are many types of mold, all require water
vapor, moisture, humidity to grow mold. Mold only need 24 to 48
hrs to grow.
Why do molds
grow?
Mold will grow and multiply under the right conditions,
needing only sufficient moisture
(e.g., in the form of very high humidity, condensation, or water
from a leaking pipe, etc.),
and organic material (e.g., ceiling tile, drywall, paper, or
natural fiber carpet padding).
Can mold become a problem in my home?
Mold growth may occur in your home if there is sufficient
moisture because mold spores
are everywhere. Be on the lookout for these common sources of
moisture:
·
Flooding
·
Roof leaks
·
Plumbing leaks, drainage problems
·
Damp basements and crawl spaces
·
Steam from the bathroom or kitchen
·
Condensation resulting from poor or improper insulation or
ventilation
·
Humidifiers
·
Wet clothes drying inside the home or a clothes dryer venting
indoors
·
Poor or improper ventilation of combustion appliances
Indications of a moisture problem may include discoloration
of the ceiling or walls,
warping of the floor, or condensation on the walls or windows.
The key to preventing
mold growth is to control all moisture problems.
Can mold make my family sick?
Exposure to mold can cause health effects in some people. The
most common effects
are allergic responses from breathing mold spores. These
allergic responses include
hay fever or asthma and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat or
lungs. We usually cannot
say how much mold is too much as our reactions to allergens can
vary greatly
depending on individual sensitivity. Allergic responses can come
from exposure to dead
as well as to
living mold spores. Therefore, killing mold with bleach and or
other
disinfectants may not prevent allergic responses.
Less
common effects of mold exposure include infections and toxic
effects. Serious
infections from living molds are relatively rare and occur
mainly in people with severely
suppressed immune systems. Many types of molds may produce
toxins but only under
certain growth conditions. Toxic effects have been reported
from eating moldy grain,
but evidence is weak that breathing mold spores in buildings
causes toxic effects.
Health Effects of Mold
·
Sinus infections
·
Nasal and sinus congestion
·
Burning, watery or red eyes
·
Blurry vision or light sensitivity
·
Sore throat or coughing
·
Nose and throat irritations
·
Wheezing or breathing difficulties
·
Skin and eye irritations
·
Headaches
·
Memory problem
·
Mood changes
·
Nose bleeds
·
Fatigue, chills or fever
Mold Inspections
Our mold inspections includes full mold inspection, report,
follow-up meetings, lab analysis of air samples taken and lift
samples if required by visible mold inspection.
Complete mold inspection
·
A
non-invasive visual examination of the readily accessible,
visible, and installed system and components of the building
visited in the IAC2 mold inspection standard of
practice.
·
Moisture, temperature and humidity measurements
·
At least three air samples
·
Possibly one surface sampling at an area concern we report
·
Moisture intrusion
·
Water damage
·
Apparent mold growth
·
Conditions conductive to mold growth
·
Result of lab analysis of all mold sampling taken at building
Every home should be tested for mold
According to Dr. John D. Shane, Vice President of
Laboratory services of PRO-LAB millions of homes across north
America have hidden water leaks that are promoting mold growth
that can expose homeowners to mold spores. Mold has a potential
to cause health problems like allergies, irritation (to lungs,
eyes, skin, throat, nose) and are potentially toxic. Inhaling
and touching mold spores may cause allergic reactions in
sensitive individuals and normally healthy individuals may
become sensitive to mold after exposure.
The EPA states that, "It is important to take precautions
to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores. Avoid breathing
in mold or mold spores". The EPA also recommends that if you suspect you have a hidden mold problem you should
consider hiring an experienced professional to avoid exposure to
potentially massive doses of mold spores.
Mold damages what it grows on.
The longer it grows the more damage it can cause. If there is a
mold problem in your home, you should clean up the mold
promptly. Mold can be hidden, growing on the water from a hidden
leak, and can develop into a potentially large problem if not
caught in time.
Testing your home on a regular
basis is a prudent way to prevent small problems from growing
into a costly and unhealthy situation, and always avoid exposing
yourself and others to mold.
Our mold inspectors are members
of International Association
of Certified Indoor Air Consultants (IAC2).
Should I have my home tested for mold
Yes, its
simple inexpensive and fast ! |
