If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

After a flood it is not enough to only remove wet carpeting, furniture and padding. To prevent mold growth, wet drywall should be removed at least 12 inches above the area that has been exposed to floodwater and then taken out of the building.

It’s essential to dry out the structural supports of a home with dehumidifiers or heat-inducing fans, and then clean the affected areas with disinfectants and bleach. Be aware that the act of cleaning up the mold will stir mold particles into the air and can affect readings. Vacuuming and filtration can help amend this.

The moisture content in floor joists and wall studs should be below 14 percent and can be checked with a moisture meter. At fiber saturation the moisture content of wood is 28 percent.

Moisture detectors provide moisture spot checks inside the homes. This can help find mold behind the walls, ceiling, or crawlspace.

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

The EPA says that here is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

• If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
• Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
• 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, dishwashing, and cleaning.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
• Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
• Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
• In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
• Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

src: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

The term Sick building syndrome evolved in the 1970′s describing office-bound workers trapped in airtight buildings. The official OSHA Sick building syndrome lists the symptoms: eye, nose, and throat irritation; dryness of mucous membranes and skin; nosebleeds; skin rash; mental fatigue; headache; cough, hoarseness, and wheezing; nausea; and dizziness. These symptoms may disappear when workers leave the building. If these symptoms seem familiar to you as the ones described as exposure to mold, well…are you surprised? Mold can be one of the contaminants trapped inside a building contaminating the air.

In fact, gases given off by mold also contaminate the air. Aspergillus and mildew typically produce gases that can alert human immunes system to severe allergic reactions or a suppressed response. Inside the office space, inside air conditioning systems can be fertile breeding grounds for mold. Inexpensive filters used in many air conditioning systems may not eliminate the problem, plus shutting office systems down over weekends produces can produce a “Monday morning cocktail,” i.e. a blast of unfiltered air that may take hours to clear. Spores trapped in the fibers and filtration systems can grow, and the air conditioning system becomes a mold delivery system. Make sure filters are changed frequently, and that they are dry.

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Another question from the BYEBYEMOLD Archive
Yes, of course. Just as you don’t normally see the agents that cause other infections, the source of mold may not be visible.

The spores themselves are very small. Plus there are parts of your house you can not see, such as inside walls, under carpeting, crawlspaces, attics. Anywhere that water can leak into, or anywhere that humidity can be trapped is a fertile place for mold to grow–whether or not you can see it. Just because you don’t see it does not mean it isn’t there. On the other hand, you are likely to smell a musty smell before you actually see the mold.

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Another question from the BYEBYEMOLD Archive

What health symptoms are common with mold exposure?

Allergic reactions are the most common mold health problem from exposure such as allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, asthma associated aggravation and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A toxic affect may cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, runny nose, headache, fatigue and muscle pain. A lack of concentration and mood swings have also been reported. Rare fungal infections are usually suffered by the seriously immune compromised.

Some individuals will have no reaction when exposed to molds while other, susceptible, individuals may suffer from more severe health risk, or hazard. This is a subject under continuous and evolving study by experts.

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Does Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) cause acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?

One study of a geographical cluster of ten infants tied Idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage to contaminants in the home related to mold and water damage.

Matched analysis demonstrated that case infants’ homes were more likely to have had water damage preceding the pulmonary hemorrhage event (odds ratio, 16.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.55 to ∞). Case infants were also more likely to have had close relatives with pulmonary hemorrhage (odds ratio, 33.14; 95% confidence interval, 5.10 to ∞). In addition, 50.0% of case infants experienced recurrent pulmonary hemorrhaging after returning to their homes.

An investigation led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found an association with household exposure to a toxigenic mold, Stachybotrys chartarum.

Work Cited:

OverviewofInvestigationsintoPulmonaryHemorrhageamong Infants inCleveland,Ohio

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• Share on Linkedin
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post
• Bookmark in Browser
• Tell a friend

Tweet

Ordinarily we don’t approve of cultivating Stachybotrys Chartarum, the evil mold that has been known to victimize infants, asthmatics, those with vulnerable immune systems as well as being known for chowing down on moisture-prone houses, but this guy is just too cute. Maybe we should just get some of these guys. We found this one at Amazon.com.

Just as long as we all remember that, rather than being a cute and cuddly stuffed animal, the actual Stachybotrys Chartarum has been connected with health problems for decades, possibly for centuries.

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Toxic mold uncovered at Union Gap City Hall is leading to the city hall being shut down.

Last week during repairs, chunks of drywall covered in black mold fell from the ceiling. The mayor’s assistant may have a skin condition due to mold exposure. A number of workers in City Hall believe the mold exposure is making them sick.

The District 11 Fire Hall will serve as the temporary municipal court, however it will not be open until next Monday. All crucial courts paraphernalia has been moved from city hall to the temporary location on Washington Avenue but it will take more time to get organized.

It may weeks or months till it is safe to return to city hall. They may even consider tearing down the building, if it is more cost effective than abatement.

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.

Moody MN, Tschen J, Mesko M. have published a paper on Cutaneous Curvularia infection of the forearm in Cutis. 2012 Feb;89(2):65-8.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a broad clinicopathologic designation that refers to chronic cutaneous, subcutaneous, or mucosal infection caused by one of several genera and species of pigmented fungi of the family Dematiaceae. Several fungal genera have been reported to affect humans and other animals including Alternaria, Bipolaris, Cladophialophora (Xylohypha, Cladosporium), Curvularia, Exophiala, Fonsecaea, Moniliella, Phialophora, Ramichloridium, and Scolecobasidium

Although rare in humans, these infections are being reported at an increasing rate. Curvularia is a dematiaceous fungus that is ubiquitous among soil and vegetation in temperate areas and has only recently been revealed to cause human disease. Treatment guidelines have yet to be delineated due so few reported cases. We discuss a 73-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, recent pneumonia caused by Actinomyces, and a localized plaque on his right lateral forearm extending to his medial arm caused by Curvularia species with complete resolution from itraconazole therapy.

http://byebyemold.com/glossary.php

If you’re in California, you might want to give us a call and see about getting an assessment from Byebyemold.