Ten Facts About Mold You Need To Know!
Mold Fact #1: Mold Needs Less Than 48 Hours To Begin Growing!
Mold Fact #1: Mold Needs Less Than 48
Hours To Begin Growing!
Mold requires
three key ingredients to grow:
1.
Food: wood & wood products; paper and other paper products
like cardboard and wallpaper; leather; fabric and upholstery; grout; painted
walls; cement; plaster (drywall); ceiling tiles; insulation materials; and
carpet.
2.
The ideal temperature of 41 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit;
and
3.
Moisture, the key ingredient.
In the presence of moisture, the ideal
temperature, and ample food, mold will begin growing within 24 to 48 hours.
This is the reason that water damage restoration is
so important during a flood event!
Mold Fact #2: Mold Causes Chronic Sinusitis!
Mold Fact #2: Mold Causes Chronic
Sinusitis!
According to Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, David Sherris, Eugene Kern, and Jens
Ponikau, chronic sinusitis is caused by a fungus and is an immune reaction:
“Medications haven’t worked for
chronic sinusitis because we didn’t know what the cause of the problem was.
Fungus allergy was thought to be involved in less than ten percent of cases.
Our studies indicate that, in fact, fungus is likely the cause of nearly all of
these problems. And it is not an allergic reaction, but an immune reaction.
This is a potential breakthrough that offers great hope for the millions of
people who suffer from this problem. We can now begin to treat the cause of the
problem instead of the symptoms. Finally we are on the trail of a treatment
that may actually work.”
This conclusion was based on a research study of 210 patients
with chronic sinusitis. The Doctors collected mucus samples from the patients’
noses and discovered fungus in 96 percent of the patients. In addition, they
identified 40 different kinds of fungi, averaging out to 2.7 types per patient.
Further research was done on 101 of these patients by removing
nasal polyps. What they found were eosiniphils, which are which blood cells
activated by the immune system in the nasal tissue of the patients. The Doctors
believe that this discovery shows that the body’s immune system is sending the
eosinophils to attack the fungi which is what is causing the irritation and
inflammation of the membranes of the nose. For this reason, they do not believe
that traditional treatments work because they do not address the root cause of
the problem, fungi, which will continue to irritate the nose membranes.
Mold Fact #3: Your Home Provides Food For Mold!
Mold Fact #3: Your Home Provides Food
For Mold!
Mold is nature’s recycler, its main purpose in our eco-system is
to break down dead organic material.
In the outdoors, the relative number of spores is small enough
not to cause significant harmful health effects for most people.
However, indoors, once mold begins to grow, it
will cause health concerns because
the spore counts will increase. Indoor air quality is a critical concern, because 90% of
our time is spent indoors.
The problem with mold is the fact that most
homes are made out of the material that it loves to eat. A home is an “all you can eat buffet” for mold because homes are constructed using
dead organic materials: wood & wood products; paper and other paper
products like cardboard and wallpaper; leather; fabric and upholstery; grout;
painted walls; cement; plaster (drywall); ceiling tiles; insulation materials;
and carpet.
Mold Fact #4: Studies Show A Strong Link Between Mold and Asthma!
Mold Fact #4: Studies Show A Strong
Link Between Mold and Asthma!
“Infants who are exposed to
mold in their living environments have nearly a three times greater risk of
becoming asthmatic than those who did not have extensive mold exposure in their
first year of life.” (Medical Evidence that Connects
Mold Exposure to Illness Keeps Piling Up)
According to Medical News Today, asthma affects 300 million people in the
world and more than 22 million Americans. Although people of all ages suffer
from the disease, it most often starts in childhood, currently affecting 6
million children in the US. Asthma kills about 255,000 people worldwide every
year.
Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by
spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. According
to WebMD, no one really knows
what causes asthma, but what is known is that it is a chronic inflammatory
disease of the airways. Trigger and causes of asthma include
allergies, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, obesity, genetics, and other
factors.
Mold Fact #5: Mold Grows Undetected!
Mold Fact #5: Mold Grows Undetected!
Most people do not realize they have a mold
problem because it is hidden.
Mold can be detected through smell, visual
clues, and knowledge of the building history, i.e., was there a flood or indoor leak?
One of the first signs that you have a mold
problem will be a “musty”
or “mildew”
odor.
The next step is to determine where the smell is coming from.
The seven areas of the home that
you will likely find mold includes
the following: bathrooms and kitchen that have leaks under the sink; leaks
behind appliances (refrigerator, dishwater, and washing machine); ceilings and
walls where there are water leaks; window sills and around the windows where
condensation accumulates; your basement; closets; and crawl spaces.
Mold Fact #6: Building Practices Promote Mold Growth!
Mold Fact #6: Building Practices
Promote Mold Growth!
The rush to make quick money and high profits
by real estate developers has created a disaster waiting to happen because new homes built today are more susceptible to mold
growth.
1.
The quest to reduce energy bills means that many new homes are
air tight and lack proper ventilation, conducive to mold growth.
2.
The season that the home was built is also a factor. For
instance, if the home was built during a period when there was lots of rain and
the foundation was not allowed to completely dry before installing the
insulation and vapor barrier, then moisture could be trapped behind the walls.
3.
Building practices have changed. In the past, most homes were
built with non-porous materials like plywood and timber which made it difficult
for mold to penetrate the surface. Today, cost conscious builders use Orient
Strand Board (OSB) and particle board which are porous and susceptible to mold
growth.
According to the MOLDY documentary, at least 50 percent of homes in the United States
have water damage issues caused by water line leaks, tears in moisture vapor
barriers, leaky showers, condensation under eaves, and water pooling in crawl
spaces. It is this water damage which causes mold to grow.
Improving building practices to prevent moisture issues is the
single most effective way to prevent mold.
Mold Fact #7: 1 in 4 People Are Susceptible To Mold Illness!
Mold Fact #7: 1 in 4 People Are
Susceptible To Mold Illness!
According to Dr. Richie Shoemaker,
physician and expert in the field of biotoxin-related illness and author of the
book Surviving Mold, 1 in 4 people have a genetic pre-disposition to the mold illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
(CIRS):
“Genes made them prime targets
for an assault by their own innate immune systems….exposure to the interior
environment of a Water-Damaged Building (WDB), [causes] an innate immune
response that is going haywire.”
Individuals exposed to the toxins in a water damaged building
suffer from chronic illness because their bodies are trying to eliminate the
foreign substances that stay in the body resulting in chronic inflammation and
multiple symptoms.
It is difficult to diagnose CIRS because there are 37 symptoms
patients could suffer from: fatigue; weakness; aches; muscle cramps; unusual
pain; ice pick pain; headache; light sensitivity; red eyes; blurred vision;
tearing; sinus problems; cough; shortness of breath; abdominal pain; diarrhea;
joint pain; morning stiffness; memory issues; focus/concentration issues; word
recollection issues; decreased learning of new knowledge; confusion;
disorientation; skin sensitivity; mood swings; appetite swings; sweats
(especially night sweats); temperature regulation or dysregulation problems;
excessive thirst; increased urination; static shocks; numbness; tingling;
vertigo; metallic taste; and tremors.
Mold Fact #8: Mold Reduces Property Values!
Mold Fact #8: Mold Reduces Property
Values!
“Mold is a serious issue. If
you leave it untreated, it continues to grow. It leads to respiratory illness
and it rots the wood, leaving the property valueless.” (Ian Schlake of Respond and Rebuild)
Like a parasite or cancer, mold will continue to grow as long as
there is a food source, moisture, and the right temperature.
Failing to fix the underlying causes of the mold and effectively
removing the mold will lead to reduced property values caused by structural
damage as the mold continues to feed on the home.
Mold Fact #9: Professional Mold
Removal Can Be Expensive!
As mentioned in an earlier article, the cost of mold remediation will depend on
three key factors:
1.
How much of the area is infected with mold?
2.
What kind of materials are infected?
3.
How easy is it to access the mold?
On average, the typical household mold removal project will
range from $2,000 to $6,000, but can be as high as $30,000 or more depending on
the extent of contamination.
The core problem with the mold remediation
industry is any contractor can offer mold removal services…so it is truly “Buyer Beware.” Because of the lack of regulation, many
contractors believe they can offer mold removal services without the proper
training or experience. To stay competitive, these contractors may offer “quick fix” solutions that focusing on killing the mold.
However, as stated by Michael Pinto:
“Killing mold, but leaving the
residue in place, is not acceptable. Since many health impacts can be triggered
by exposure to both live and dead mold spores, the source and secondary
contamination must be removed.” (MOLD INDOORS: Killing it is not
Enough)
Killing mold is not the answer because it is
not a permanent solution to a mold problem. Professional mold removal
contractors will follow an eight step process to
ensure that your mold problem is fixed properly and will back up their work
with a guarantee.
Don’t pinch pennies when you encounter a mold problem, the
cheapest estimate may not necessarily be the best one. Do your due diligence,
ask questions, get references, and most importantly avoid contractors that
offer you magical solutions that involve just spraying a chemical to kill the
mold dead.
Mold Fact #10: Mold Sickness Is An Epidemic Most People Are
Unaware Of!
Mold Fact #10: Mold Sickness Is An
Epidemic Most People Are Unaware Of!
According to the producers of the MOLDY documentary released earlier in 2015, most Physicians do
not understand or have the knowledge to properly diagnose patients with mold
sickness:
“Possibly every doctor in the
United States is treating mold illness, and they just don’t realize it.” (Dr. Scott McMahon, MD)
Since most physicians are not trained to treat and identify mold
illness, their patients continue to suffer in silence, mis-diagnosis, and a
vicious cycle of numerous visits to different doctors and specialists that do
not understand why they are sick.
Considering the statistics revealed in the MOLDY documentary it is not surprising that mold sickness
is now considered a hidden epidemic.
1.
At least 45 million buildings in the United States have
unhealthy levels of mold.
You have a 33% chance of being exposed to toxic mold when you move into a new
home, apartment or office. The documentary also emphasizes the fact that many
foods are contaminated with mold, including corn, peanuts, and coffee.
2.
Approximately 28 percent of the population have genes that make
them highly susceptible to mold-related health issues.
3.
Despite the fact that mold is a significant health concern, like
lead and asbestos, there are no federal environmental protections laws.
Mold is a hidden epidemic because it makes people sick and they
do not know that mold is the cause!
