Health Concerns - Toxic Mold and Mildew

[TOXIC MOLD & MILDEW] [ASBESTOS] [INDOOR AIR QUALITY] [LEAD] [RADON] [VOCs]

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health concerns  toxic mold & mildew


Some molds can cause respiratory infection when the spores are ingested deep into the lungs or respiratory tract. This usually does not affect most healthy people. This can be a greater danger for individuals with severely weakened immune systems, young children/infants and the elderly.

Toxicity & Mycotoxins
Very large doses of certain molds, whether inhaled or ingested, can result in poisoning caused by toxins (called mycotoxins) in the mold cells. It is not clear whether an individual can receive a high enough exposure to mold growing indoors to experience these toxic effects

Health effects from exposure to toxic mold can include any of the following symptoms:
Headaches - memory loss - problems focusing or concentrating - chronic fatigue - nose and throat irritation - persistent cold-like symptoms - burning, itching or watering eyes - dizziness - nausea - tremors - heart palpitations - shortness of breath (during mild exertion) - exhaustion- after routine activity - serious swelling in legs, ankles, feet - serious swelling in torso or stomach - prolonged muscle cramps and joint pain - sensitivity to - odors - cancer - women who are pregnant could experience multiple problems, even miscarriages.

If you or you or your family members show signs of unexplained chronic fatigue, daily headaches, persistent cold-like or flu-like symptoms, you could be suffering from exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) and should see a physician. Mold health effects are nothing to ignore. The health effects of breathing mycotoxins are not well understood, but we do know that most molds can present some health risks, such as allergic reactions. Therefore, any mold growth in a building should be cleaned up, regardless of the type of mold.

High Risk Groups of People:
Infants and children - elderly - people with asthma or allergies, and other respiratory (breathing) conditions like bronchitis or emphysema - people with weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant)

Any person that has any of the above mentioned risks should not be in an area that is likely to be contaminated with mold!

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Mold Inspections
Mold inspection has become a standard of the pre-purchase due-diligence for both buyers and sellers. It is critical that such an inspection is conducted thoroughly and by a trained professional with experience in the identification of water entry problems and indoor air quality issues. The key points that the inspection should address include:

Is the house or business currently impacted by mold ?

Do hidden mold concerns exist within the house ?

If mold or hidden mold concerns exist, what is the cause and origin of the moisture problem ?

What steps must be taken to correct the source of the water/moisture entry problem and to address removal (remediation) of the mold ?

Finally, the inspection must be to provide a cost to fix the problem and cost for remediation so that the buyer and seller can make an informed decision as to proceed with the transaction or cancel the purchase.

The inspection should include the conducting of ambient air testing of all rooms within the house. As part of our inspections, air sampling is performed in every major room, including bathrooms and utility rooms to serve as a hidden mold concern diagnostic tool. If an elevated level of water damage indicator fungal species are identified in a specific room, it is commonly an indication of a hidden problem. In such cases, in the absence of visual indicators, more invasive testing (wall cavity or cores) may be necessary as a follow-up.

HVAC systems are a major source for mold related indoor air quality problems. Ductwork and moisture air handler units are a haven for dust and dirt accumulation that can be the breeding ground for hidden mold growth. Our inspections routinely include the conducting of comparison testing with the A/C system on and off to provide an assessment of the sanitary condition of the hidden portions of the ductwork and air handler unit. Surface samples and/or swabs are taken from the inside surfaces of the ductwork as a direct measure of both mold and dust and dirt build-up.

The inspection should also include the conducting of wall cavity testing to evaluate for hidden fungal concerns in exterior and/or plumbing wall cavities. Wall cavity tests are performed in areas where water concerns are indicated or suspected.

Building material moisture testing is performed with both infrared cameras (infrared thermography) and moisture meters which allows the assessment of all building materials even those that are not accessible..
Please contact us for more information or to schedule a mold inspection today.