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Mold: The Fungus Among Us
www.pureaircontrols.com/
by Holly Hungerford
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Molds are forms of fungi that are found everywhere- both indoors and outdoors all year round. Hot and humid is how mold likes it, which makes Savannah the perfect place for mold to grow. Water is the main culprit; if you've had a water leak or damage and it's left untreated in a hot environment, mold can develop in as soon as 48 hours.
Whether or not mold can harm your health is highly debatable, between doctors, mold experts and the people who say they suffer from it. The reason is that the Centers for Disease Control has not established guidelines as to what level of mold is acceptable or tolerable. Medical studies to date have had a difficult time directly linking health problems with mold. Doctors say generally, mold acts like an allergy: not everyone is affected by it and if they are, it affects people differently. Sharon Varn who's with the Chatham County Health Department has been studying the health risks of mold for years: "We've got to learn that everyone of us are individuals and different. What affects me may not affect you and what affects you may not affect me." Allergens, produced by the mold, are what actually causes allergic type reactions. About 5 to 10 percent of people are adversely affected this way. Molds can also produce toxic substances called mycotoxins. These mycotoxins have indirectly been linked, in cases involving highly sensitive people, to serious health
problems. The Chatham County Health Department says there are three different groups of people who are especially susceptible to mold - the immune compromised, the elderly and very young children.
It's important to remember that just because you have allergy symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you have mold growing in your home. You need to look for evidence of a fair amount of mold growing in your home first, and then consider talking with a doctor if your symptoms appear to be serious.
Mold can also affect more than just your health; it can damage walls within your home and maybe even force you to move out of your home, at least temporarily. Depending on the amount of water damage and how long it's been a problem- you may have to knock out an entire room to clean it up. Bob Harvin is a mold remediator -he 'searches and destroys' any mold that is growing inside- undetected. Sometimes, he uncovers more than what he's expecting. "It was like the tip of the iceberg. We started remediating and we found more mold and more mold and more mold." Correcting a mold problem can become a major project, but remember, no matter how much cleaning you do, the problem won't get solved unless you deal with a primary source-- water. Whether or not you should call a professional depends upon the extent of the damage. You may not exactly know how much damage there is unless you have it professionally inspected or speak with a mold remediation company. Both should know exactly what to look for.
However, the health department says if the infected area is less than 10 square feet- grab some latex gloves, a painter's mask and a well mixed bleach solution and sponge it off. It doesn't seem to matter to mold if your home is a new one (built within the last 20 years) or older. However, newer homes can be easier targets for mold if they're not built with sufficient insulation or if they were built with poor quality materials. You can help maintain your home's relative humidity with proper ventilation from your air conditioner. Your system should remove the moisture from the air. AC systems should be checked and cleaned regularly.
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Examples of Mold
Damage
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| Mold is an extensive topic and there are a lot of resources and websites you can check out. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Assn.) Flood Clean-up Guidelines, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, and the New York City Department of Health. |
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Indoor Air Quality Screen Test Kit
1-800-422-7873
4911 Creekside Drive, Suite C,
Clearwater, FL 33760
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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IAQ Report-Effects of Building Frame & Moisture
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The New Mold Standard- The PIEQ
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