How to Avoid Sick-House Syndrome

Jun 21, 2018 by Admins

Although we all know that fresh air is good for us, we tend to associate it with spending time outdoors. Since many of us spend most of our lives indoors, we should educate ourselves on the danger of what is called “sick-house” syndrome. This occurs when our homes, offices, etc. are sealed tightly to prevent noise, pollution, or cold air from entering. Unfortunately, this also prevents harmful fumes caused by paints, cleaning products, deodorizers and wood smoke from getting out. Even our furnishings, carpeting, and clothing can emit dangerous pollutants.

Image: Invisible toxins may be throughout your home, causing sick-house syndrome.

Studies show that the air in our homes should be changed ten times per day – anything less causes build up of dangerous pollutants. Below are some tips to help avoid Sick-House Syndrome. First, open the windows (just a crack is sufficient) when possible, and check to make sure that all vents are unblocked.

Another problem that lack of ventilation can cause is mold and mildew. This is found to be a danger not only to your health, but it can also damage the structure of your house. Especially in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, where humidity is likely to be high, proper ventilation is essential. The use of fans in these areas are helpful.

Also, check areas such as the attic and underneath floors for proper air circulation. If you have a humidity problem upstairs, it probably means that the attic or roof space needs more ventilation. Be aware that some types of flooring can sustain structural damage if there is not adequate ventilation beneath it.

We all want our homes to smell nice, and a clean, well-ventilated house will. But unpleasant odors happen, and we should not become overzealous in using artificial scents that add more pollutants to the air. Aerosols, in particular, are not eco-friendly and often contain nasty additives that contribute to allergies and even lung damage. Do not fall into the trap of trying to create a “fresh smelling” home by adding more chemicals to your already polluted air.

You can easily make your own room deodorizer by sprinkling a few drops of vanilla or essential oil on a cotton ball. Place this in a small open container to prevent the oil or alcohol from damaging your furniture. Other natural room fresheners to use include baking soda, white vinegar, fresh or dried herbs, or even a bowl of fresh apples. And, if you like the scent of fresh flowers, treat yourself to the real thing instead of using an artificial spray. Try to keep chemical-laced cleaners and perfumed products to a minimum, and use natural products as much as possible.

If you or your loved ones suffer from unexplained drowsiness, headaches or a general malaise, try getting fresher air through the house. Your family and your home with breath easier and you can avoid the “sick-house” syndrome.

Next : Air Purification Solutions

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Mold Cleaning Tips

Jun 21, 2018 by Admins

The first step in solving an indoor mold problem is stopping the source of moisture. Next is to remove the mold growth. Here are the most common remedies for small occurrences of mold.

Sunlight
Ventilation
Use non-porous building materials
Household cleansers and/or bleach

Image: Protect yourself with gloves and mask when cleaning away mold.

If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. (This is for common mold or mildew, NOT toxic mold! In order to determine what type of mold you have, it is strongly advised to first have the proper sampling and laboratory testing performed by a qualified company before cleaning mold yourself.)

Warning: Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes can be produced, making the cure worse than the problem.

Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear an N95 mask.

If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at https://www.epa.gov/mold.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product. Remember to protect your hands, eyes and lungs using rubber gloves, eye wear and a mask.

It is usually recommended that larger areas of 10 sq. ft. or more should be removed by a professional in mold cleanup. If possible, discard any building materials saturated by the water or already having visible mold growth.

Who should ask for microbial air testing?

Those who suspect a mold infestation – The Mold Patrol Testing Unit should be contacted if you suspect that you may have a problem with mold in your home or building.

All home owners and potential home buyers should be interested to know what kind of indoor air quality is in place.

Offices, schools, cottages, hospitals, clinics, gyms and other indoor area should be tested for mold problems.

Precautionary Measure – Whether or not you are aware of a mold problem in your home or building, air testing can be performed as a precautionary measure. Leave the Investigating to the professionals. Disturbance of a mold infested area can lead to a release of spores into the air that can cause serious illnesses.

“Now is the time to find out, before the occupants become sick.”

Resource: Printable Version of a Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home

Next: Mold Prevention Tips

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Mold Prevention Tips

Jun 21, 2018 by Admins

Control dampness – Moisture is the key ingredient for mold growth. Cleaning and keeping the area dry will help prevent mold from regrowing. If conditions aren’t improved, mold can regrow in as little as twenty-four hours after the area was cleaned. Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.

Image: Moldy basement wall due to leaky pipe.

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, dish-washing, and cleaning.

Humidity levels should stay between fifteen percent (15%) and below forty percent (40%) during the heating season, depending on the outdoor temperature.

Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Add mold inhibitors for mold prevention to paints before painting.

Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.

Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

Dead mold can continue to cause allergic reactions in some people so it is important that the mold is properly managed, neutralized and also removed.

To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency’s publications about mold at
https://www.epa.gov/mold/

Next : How to Avoid Sick-House Syndrome

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Who Is Most Vulnerable to Illness from Molds

Jun 20, 2018 by Admins

Human bodies can tolerate molds and mycotoxins in small quantities, but common molds are a very common allergen. Because exposure to mycotoxins is relatively rare, allergic effects are more common than toxic effects, but flooding such as is caused by hurricanes and typhoons have led to some serious dangers from Mycotoxin, or what is commonly called Black Mold or Toxic Mold.

Image: Mold toxins can cause flu-like symptoms, especially in children and people with allergies.

Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. There does not have to be an extensive amount of mold in an area to affect certain people. Toxic Mold such as Stachybotrys and Memnoniella can cause serious and sometimes fatal health conditions. (Remember that all molds can be harmful to your health, especially in your home and especially to people with allergies.)

There are not really any laboratory tests of blood or urine that can determine absolutely whether a person has been exposed to mycotoxins. Blood can be tested for antibodies to some specific types of fungi, but these tests only determine if a person who has become allergic to fungi has been exposed recently to that specific type of fungus. Allergy tests cannot determine if a person has been exposed to fungal toxins.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Illness from Molds

The most vulnerable are:

Infants
Children
Immune-compromised patients
Pregnant women
People who have respiratory problems
Diabetics
People with allergies or asthma
The elderly

Next: Symptoms of Toxic Mold Illness

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Symptoms of Toxic Mold Illness

Jun 18, 2018 by Admins

Human bodies can tolerate molds and mycotoxins in small quantities, but common molds are a very common allergen. Because exposure to mycotoxins is relatively rare, allergic effects are more common than toxic effects, but flooding such as is caused by hurricanes or other storms have led to some serious dangers from Mycotoxin, or what is commonly called Black Mold or Toxic Mold.

Image: Mold toxins can cause flu-like symptoms, especially in children and people with allergies.

Stachybotrys mold spores are toxic because they produce a poisonous substance called mycotoxin. When these spores are inhaled they can cause many unpleasant, and even very serious, symptoms and conditions.

The health effects of mycotoxin exposure are different from allergic reactions to mold spores. Toxic effects can include flu-like symptoms, respiratory problems, headaches, memory and cognitive problems, and skin irritation.

Another and more dangerous health threat from mold exposure is systemic fungal infection. Individuals with compromised immune systems, exposed to high levels of mold, or possibly individuals with chronic exposure paired with mycotoxic exposure may become infected. Sinuses and digestic tract infections are most common. Lung and skin infections are also possible.

Systemic fungal infection can be a serious health problem. Alcohol and mycotoxin production may result from the fungal growth, leading to a myriad of symptoms. Sudden food allergies and digestive problems can mislead diagnosis. Treatment can be long-term (many years).

Systemic infection may be of the environmental mold itself, or by other common food-related molds consumed under an weakend immune system. A weakened immune system may also result in other opportunistic infections, for example bacterial infection.

Environmental illnesses can be difficult for healthcare practitioners to diagnose. Because those who are living in houses comntaminated by the mold generally can’t smell the mildewy odor, they tend to be in denial that the problem exists.

MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TOXIC MOLD EXPOSURE

Symptoms of black mold or toxic mold exposure may not seem life threatening at the onset. Over time more serious illnesses may develop.

People with chronic illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. Mycotoxin poisoning by the Stachybotrys fungus is called stachybotryotoxicosis.

A few of the possible symptoms of mold allergy:
Nasal Congestion
Irritation of the eyes
Inflammation of the sinuses
Irritation of the skin
Breathlessness
Headache
Runny nose
Fatigue
Cough
Sore throat
Hoarseness

MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS
You may develop a skin rash.
Flu like symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, fever, headaches, abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur.
Can induce serious respiratory problems.
May cause wheezing or shortness or breath.
Inflammation of the ear
Bleeding Lungs
Nose Bleeds
Memory Loss
Arthralgia ( Pain in the joints without swelling )

Below Are A Few News Items About this Problem

Asthma from Mold Exposure in Infancy. “Recent studies have confirmed what scientists have suspected for years: that asthma is an immune system reaction to dust, pollution and other allergens [e.g., airborne mold spores] in the environment, which trigger spasms and tightening of the airways of some people who also have a genetic predisposition. Now they’re zeroing in on the genetic vulnerability. The new thinking is that asthma isn’t simply a matter of having the wrong genes. Instead, at some point in early childhood, or possibly in the womb, an event takes place that turns a person into a lifetime asthmatic. Scientists think the fetus or infant is somehow exposed to a critical dose of pollutants that cause the immune system to overreact, permanently narrowing the airways and making them more sensitive to irritants. It might be possible to inoculate children against the condition before this even occurs, preventing asthma entirely.”—from “Waiting to Inhale,” NEWSWEEK, March 14, 2005.

“Fungi are also being recognized more frequently as a factor in chronic sinusitis, and the importance of fungi in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis is a subject of increasing research interest.”—“A Practical Approach to the Patient with Sinusitis” on Medscape, November, 2005.

Deadly Tsunami and Hurricane Fungal Infections. Survivors of the Asian tsunami could be at risk of the deadly fungal infection Mucormycosis, Australian researchers said on Jan. 28, 2005. Doctors at Sydney’s St George Hospital treated the Mucormycosis infection in an Australian man who was injured in the disaster. Doctors fear it could be the first case of many. This fungal disease is caused by the Mucor mold species, which is a very common mold species that readily grows in water-damaged buildings worldwide, and which is commonly found in the soil and in decaying vegetation. Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, brain, lungs, skin and kidneys. People with immune disorders are more susceptible to the infection.

Coccidioides immitis mold [the cause of widespread “Valley Fever” in the southwestern USA desert cities] is on the U.S. Dept. of Human Service list of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and that can potentially be utilized by terrorists to infect and kill Americans.

Next : Who Is Most Vulnerable to Illness from Molds

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How to Find Indoor Mold

Jun 18, 2018 by Admins

Indoor Molds can be found just about anywhere, but most often they are found indoors on or around plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, air-conditioning systems and water-heaters. It is also quite commonly found near points such as roof leaks, improperly sealed windows, foundation slab cracks, unsealed concrete foundations, cracks in siding and plumbing leaks. It can also be found, as in the picture at the left, behind wallboard or flooring, especially in humid climates or when insulation is lacking.

Image: A lot of mold was hidden behind these sheetrock panels, invisibly but negatively affecting the health of everyone living there.

Checking for Hidden Mold

Carpeting that has been water damage or is exposed to high levels of humidity is prone to mold growth. You can detect mold by lifting a small section of the carpeting away from the floor and looking for.

Get down to floor level – look under bathroom and kitchen cabinets in spaces that are not easily seen.

Open up wall cavities in the kitchen and bathroom to check for mold growth.

Air conditioners and furnaces need to be thoroughly inspected for stagnant water and serviced regularly. Furnace duct systems should also be thoroughly cleaned regularly.

Mold colors may be white, gray, black, brown, yellow or greenish, or a combination of these. Colonies of mold may appear cottony, velvety, granular, leathery and glassy.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR MOLD

Around and under plumbing fixtures:
sinks
tubs
toilets
showers
air-conditioners
heating systems
water-heaters

Places leaks from outside are likely:
uninsulated outside walls
improperly sealed windows
cracks in siding
roof eaves
concrete slab cracks
unsealed building foundations

Q. If you do have mold, do you need to call a professional?

A. Not necessarily, it depends on the type(s) of mold and how much has grown. If you have less than 10 square feet of molds that are strictly a Type I Allergen these may be usually be cleaned up and kept at bay using a soapy or 25% bleach and water solution. If, however, the mold is Toxic, the services of a professional remediation company should be acquired.

Next : How Mold Gets There

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How Mold Gets There

Jun 18, 2018 by Admins

Mold is an necessary part of our ecosystem. It aids the decomposition of many organic substances necessary to plant, animal and human life. Molds multiply by producing spores which then circulate in the air. When the spore finds a moist surface it sticks to it and begins to grow into mold. Indoors, those airborne mold spores can cause serious health problems for people.

Image: Mold can hide in your home.

Mold spores can enter a household through open doorways, windows, heating systems, ventilation and air conditioning units. They attach themselves to your clothing and can even be brought in by pets. When they find the right conditions they grow and contaminate the air in your home.

Mold requires just two things for life and growth: there must be a source of water and a surface to which it can cling. Mold can be found just about anywhere, but indoors it is most often found on or around plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, air-conditioning systems and water-heaters.

Many common building materials such as drywall, wood, carpets, and carpet padding are suitable surfaces for mold growth, and mold is often found near points where water can collect, such as roof leaks, improperly sealed windows, foundation slab cracks, unsealed concrete foundations, cracks in siding and plumbing leaks. Beyond leaks and floods, with normal life moisture collects in our homes from showering and cooking, damp basement floors, even just from breathing.

Many experts agree that mold at least in some form is pretty much everywhere, but it is never healthy to live with mold. Current thinking is that mold-related health problems are related not only to the amount and types of mold but also the length of mold exposure.

If you have a moist basement, then you know you have mold. If you smell a moldy odor, then you know you have mold! The odor of mold indicates there are thousands of live mold spores floating in the air. These spores may be breathed in and cause illness, or aggravate pre-existing respiratory conditions.

No matter what type of mold you have, it is unhealthy and you need to get rid of it. The next page will help you find it.

Mold is an necessary part of our ecosystem. It aids the decomposition of many organic substances necessary to plant, animal and human life. Molds multiply by producing spores which then circulate in the air. When the spore finds a moist surface it sticks to it and begins to grow into mold. Indoors, those airborne mold spores can cause serious health problems for people.

Mold spores can enter a household through open doorways, windows, heating systems, ventilation and air conditioning units. They attach themselves to your clothing and can even be brought in by pets. When they find the right conditions they grow and contaminate the air in your home.

Mold requires just two things for life and growth: there must be a source of water and a surface to which it can cling. Mold can be found just about anywhere, but indoors it is most often found on or around plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs, toilets, showers, air-conditioning systems and water-heaters.

Many common building materials such as drywall, wood, carpets, and carpet padding are suitable surfaces for mold growth, and mold is often found near points where water can collect, such as roof leaks, improperly sealed windows, foundation slab cracks, unsealed concrete foundations, cracks in siding and plumbing leaks. Beyond leaks and floods, with normal life moisture collects in our homes from showering and cooking, damp basement floors, even just from breathing.

Many experts agree that mold at least in some form is pretty much everywhere, but it is never healthy to live with mold. Current thinking is that mold-related health problems are related not only to the amount and types of mold but also the length of mold exposure.

If you have a moist basement, then you know you have mold. If you smell a moldy odor, then you know you have mold! The odor of mold indicates there are thousands of live mold spores floating in the air. These spores may be breathed in and cause illness, or aggravate pre-existing respiratory conditions.

No matter what type of mold you have, it is unhealthy and you need to get rid of it. The next page will help you find it.

Next : Types of Mold and the Harm They Cause

How to Avoid Sick-House Syndrome

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