Two years of severe hurricane hits along the Gulf Coast and heavy rains and flooding this spring in the Northeast are providing a nationwide breeding ground for indoor mold and mildew growth (some deadly) now that summer heat is here. What is the solution?
The
subject is surrounded by controversy. The Centers for Disease Control,
Institute of Medicine, as well as scientists and doctors at Harvard
University, Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and several State
Health Agencies have all looked at the problem. There have been several
studies conducted by medical researchers over the past few years
looking for any linkages between various respiratory and physical
ailments and deaths and the presence of molds in our living space. While
some say there is a linkage, others say the facts don’t support that.
Here
are the facts. Mold is everywhere; inside and outside. Some molds are
good (penicillin), some are very toxic and emit gases that can be
inhaled (Stachybotrys “black mold”). Although some people apparently
aren’t bothered by mold, all varieties have the potential to cause
illness. Mold reproduces by generating spores that are released into the
air, where they land on moist surfaces. They can grow on any organic
surface such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpeting, wallboard and wood.
They thrive in dark, warm, moist locations, like under carpets, inside
walls and ceilings. They will also contaminate items that come in
contact with those surfaces.
Mold can trigger allergic reactions
and asthma attacks in many. Complaints of flu-like symptoms, chronic
fatigue syndrome, memory impairment, migraines, sick building syndrome,
dizziness and nosebleeds are common. These are the mild symptoms. Many
researchers claim that mold can attack several main body systems,
including the brain, central nervous and immune systems and have been
the direct cause of some deaths. Regardless of where you stand on this
issue, who wants to smell mold/mildew and inhale spores from household
fungus? They can lodge in your lungs (remember dark, warm and moist).
Asthmatics, infants and individuals suffering immune system deficiencies
are particularly susceptible.
So, what should you do if you think that your home might have a mold/mildew problem? Here’s a suggested 5 step process:
•
Mold Inspection- retain a qualified, certified mold inspection firm to
evaluate your home and determine cause of mold and severity of
infestation.
• Isolation of the Area- if there is a mold problem,
you will want to isolate the area carefully to prevent carryover into
non infested areas during clean up.
• Clean Up/Remediation- care
should be taken to not stir up the mold; if it is severe, or in the
walls, a specialized remediation firm (in space suits) may have to be
used and materials removed in hazardous waste containers.
• Repair of the Cause- if there is structural damage or leaky plumbing causing a moisture problem, fix it.
•
Maintenance/Prevention- an ongoing program to ensure no recurrence of
the cause and use of proven purification technology to maintain a clean
environment and kill mold growth.
On this last point, emphasis is
placed on use of technology that has a proven track record of mold
abatement. HEPA filters and electrostatic filters that are called
purifiers are not effective on mold/mildew. There is, however,
affordable, proprietary and safe technology currently available that has
a demonstrated ability to sanitize surfaces from a variety of
microbials and to stop mold/mildew growth. This effective technology has
become widely accepted since it’s use by the government during the 9/11
Pentagon cleanup, is currently in use in several government facilities
and is available to the general public through an authorized dealer
network.
