Mold

What is mold & how does it develop?

Molds are a type of fungi, as are yeasts and mushrooms, and are multi-celled microorganisms that produce a filamentous root structure know as hyphae. Molds are ubiquitous, they are everywhere. They require moisture and a nutrient for the mold spore (seed) to flourish. Although plant like in nature, they do not require photosynthesis to produce its food but instead can obtain its nourishment directly from its environment. Most molds exist naturally in the outdoor environment with others that are more likely to thrive in a damp, dark indoor environment. Molds are part of the decomposition process of plants and are commonly found in ground cover and soils.

Are there both harmful and non-harmful molds?

Estimates for the total number of species of mold range from the tens of thousands upwards of two hundred thousand. Molds that occur naturally outdoors present little threat to us since they are constantly being diluted with fresh air. When molds colonize indoors, this lack of dilution allow the mold concentrations to reach abnormally high levels which can have negative health effects on the building’s occupants. While the vast majority of molds are not considered a health risk under normal circumstances, there are a few species of mold that are known to produce highly allergenic spores and in some cases, secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins. A hand full of molds are commonly associated with water damage to buildings and are known as WDI, Water Damage Indicator molds. These molds include Stachybotrys (commonly known as ‘black mold’), Chaetomium, Memnoniella, & Ulocladium.

Does mold effect everyone the same?

No. In the end, it comes down to the individual and their immune system. While a mold laden basement may be making an elderly person or someone with a compromised immune system sick, a healthy teenager, for instance, may not be experiencing any negative effects what so ever. The EPA also points out, and rightly so, that the exposure (dosage / time = exposure) to the mold is as much a factor as what kind of molds are present.

How much mold exposure is harmful?

There are many variables that come into play here. Once again, the individual’s immune system is a factor. Additionally, the types of mold play an important role as well. Some molds can flourish, producing heavy, globular spores that are not easily airborne, having very little impact on the occupants. Other molds produce very small spores that are easily airborne and can remain so for indefinite periods of time. While there are currently no federal guidelines or regulations to determine how much mold is too much mold, any spore counts from air sampling or Colony Forming Units from cultured media that are significantly higher that those found in the outdoor air should lead to a thorough physical inspection of the property in hopes of locating any mold reservoirs.

If mold is present, what is the best way to get rid of it?

Solid surfaces (glass, tiles, metal, finished woods, glossy painted surfaces) that have mold can be wiped clean with warm soapy water or any number of mold specific cleaners. Care should be taken to not cross contaminate surrounding areas by bagging any cleaning clothes before removing from the area and close off the moldy areas when working. Porous and semi-porous materials (drywall, wall paper, unfinished woods, insulation, litter and debris) are better removed that cleaned. In this case, containment of the affected area should be established and if possible, put under negative air pressure to prevent any spores from spreading to adjacent rooms.

Should I use Bleach to get rid of mold?

Bleach has largely fallen out of favor with the remediation industry in lieu of the advancement of far superior products that can penetrate semi-porous and porous materials to attack the mold’s root system (hyphae). As a last resort, it may be used on solid surfaces but will not provide any protection against future development.

WHAT ABOUT COMPANIES THAT OFFER MOLD TESTING IN ADDITION TO MOLD REMEDIATION ?

While it may be tempting to have a single company provide you with on site sampling as well as any Post Remediation Verification or Clearances, for quality assurance and to avoid any conflict of interest, it is highly suggested and any mold protocol be written by a third party, independent air quality professional to provide a scope of repairs that allows for an ‘apples to apples’ comparisons when obtaining bids. Additionally, when the remediation is complete, trusting the same company doing the mold removal with the final analysis of the effectiveness of their work is something akin to letting the fox guard the hen house. It is just not in the property owner’s best interest.

particulates

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON HOUSEHOLD PARTICULATES

A typical indoor environment contains countless airborne particles consisting of skin cells, human and pet dander and hair, dust, pollen, fibers from both natural and synthetic materials, dust mite feces, insect fragments and just about anything that be be carried indoors by its occupants and pets. Particulate matter is the name given to solids or liquids that are distributed in a gas. Most often the term "particulates" refers to particles, dust, mist or fume that has become suspended in the surrounding air. Foot traffic and indoor air flows can keep these particles airborne indefinitely. While not normally associated with abnormal moisture or microbial growth, many airborne particles not considered toxic or pathological in and of themselves, but, many individuals are sensitive to a variety of these particles and may experience a mild to severe allergic reaction. On the other hand, some particulate may consist of harmful chemicals that may be toxic. Inhalation is the most important route of exposure in the indoor environment. When particles are in the air, there is the chance that you will inhale them. How far the particle gets in the air passages of the respiratory system, and what it does when it is deposited, depends on the size, shape, and density of the particulate material. The "what happens" also depends on the chemical and toxic properties of the material.

VOC’s

What are voc’s and where do they come from?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperatures. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility. For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint and releases from materials like resin, has a boiling point of only –19 °C (–2 °F). VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Most scent or odors are of VOCs. VOCs play an important role in communication between plants, and messages from plants to animals. Some VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Harmful VOCs typically are not acutely toxic, but have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and their effects is difficult.

radon

What is radon and is it commonly found in the indoor environment

Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of the elements uranium, thorium, and radium in rocks and soil. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. In a few areas, depending on local geology, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air when the water is used. Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors. However, in areas without adequate ventilation, such as underground mines, radon can accumulate to levels that substantially increase the risk of lung cancer.

lead

Is lead a common issue with the built environment

Lead Lead can be found in many products and locations. Some you might never have thought of, including some imported candies, toys, and traditional medicines. The most common cause of lead poisoning is dust and chips from old paint. However, some non-paint sources, though less common, can cause severe cases of lead poisoning.Lead dust is the most common way that people are exposed to lead. Inside the home, most lead dust comes from chipping and flaking paint or when paint is scraped, sanded, or disturbed during home remodeling. Chipping and peeling paint is found mostly on surfaces that rub or bump up against another surface. These surfaces include doors and windows. Young children usually get exposed to lead when they put something with lead dust on it into their mouths. Lead dust may not be visible to the naked eye. There are many other sources of lead that should be avoided. For a more complete discussion of lead poisoning please visit www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/

asbestos

What is asbestos and how is it a threat to our health

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals, which all have in common, their asbestiform habit: i.e., long, thin fibrous crystals, with each visible fiber composed of millions of microscopic "fibrils" that can be released by abrasion and other processes. The minerals are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite.Most products made today do not contain asbestos. Those few products made which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos.  For more information on the 1970's and 1980's bans, click here.

Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry has used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos.

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use. Additionally, asbestos was voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed. The EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce the exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or encasing it. In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children�s exposure to asbestos fibers in crayons was extremely low. Read more at http://www.ehso.com/cssasbestos/asbestosfoundwhere.htm#x4ivxfO5e4052UH4.99