About Mold

It is not found in the green mold on bread. The toxic mold environmental risk may be one of the next major real estate “due diligence” concerns, especially in property development areas where major flooding has occurred.

If you’ve experienced a flood, roof leak, siding leak, pipe leak under a sink, or if you smell a starnge musty smell, and you’re still unsure as to what mold is, you need us to evaluate and determine if you need mold removal. Molds cause havoc on your immune system and can lead to serious illnesses.

If you think you might have mold spores in your home, inhaling or touching toxic mold may cause health problems. We are trained professionals, equipped to inspect for mold in your home, for a safer and healthier lifestyle.

The seriousness of mold, and legalities   

The big-money mold award came from a landmark 1999 Texas lawsuit in which homeowner Melinda Ballard sued her insurer for $100 million after her family allegedly got sick from mold contamination. The New York Times Magazine  ran photos of workers in hazard suits combing through her mold-infested Texas mansion. In June 2001, a jury awarded Ballard $32 million, including $12 million in punitive damages, $5 million for mental anguish, and nearly $9 million for attorney fees.

Within months, mold lawsuits proliferated, fed by an uncritical media. Television personality Ed McMahon sued for $20 million, claiming fungus in his home killed his dog;  his case ultimately settled for $7 million.  Activist Erin Brockovich went to court over mold in the $6 million home she bought with proceeds from her hit movie. Personal injury attorneys are ready and willing to accept mold cases.  Dr. Mold   can verify, and certify the air quality of any home, apartment, business, or any property.

Looking for more info about mold?

Mold and mildew basics from OSHA

Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds are fungi that can be found anywhere - inside or outside - throughout the year. About 1,000 species of mold can be found in the United States, with more than 100,000 known species worldwide.

Outdoors, molds play an important role in nature by breaking down organic matter such as toppled trees, fallen leaves, and dead animals. We would not have food and medicines, like cheese and penicillin, without mold.

Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Problems may arise when mold starts eating away at materials, affecting the look, smell, and possibly, with the respect to wood-framed buildings, affecting the structural integrity of the buildings.

Molds can grow on virtually any substance, as long as moisture or water, oxygen, and an organic source are present. Molds reproduce by creating tiny spores (viable seeds) that usually cannot be seen without magnification. Mold spores continually float through the indoor and outdoor air.

Molds are usually not a problem unless mold spores land on a damp spot and begin growing. They digest whatever they land on in order to survive. There are molds that grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and insulation, while other molds feast on the everyday dust and dirt that gather in the moist regions of a building.

When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth often will occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains uncorrected. While it is impossible to eliminate all molds and mold spores, controlling moisture can control indoor mold growth.

All molds share the characteristic of being able to grow without sunlight; mold needs only a viable seed (spore), a nutrient source, moisture, and the right temperature to proliferate. This explains why mold infestation is often found in damp, dark, hidden spaces; light and air circulation dry areas out, making them less hospitable for mold.

Molds gradually damage building materials and furnishings. If left unchecked, mold can eventually cause structural damage to a wood framed building, weakening floors and walls as it feeds on moist wooden structural members. If you suspect that mold has damaged your building’s integrity, we can provide the  professional expertise needed to address your concerns.

Since mold requires water (or elevated humidity levels) to grow, it is important to prevent excessive moisture in buildings. Some moisture problems in buildings have been linked to changes in building construction practices since the 1970s, which resulted in tightly sealed buildings with diminished ventilation, contributing to moisture vapor buildup. Other moisture problems may result from roof leaks, landscaping or gutters that direct water into or under a building, or unvented combustion appliance. Delayed or insufficient maintenance may contribute to moisture problems in buildings. Improper maintenance and design of building heating/ventilating/air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, such as insufficient cooling capacity for an air conditioning system, can result in elevated humidity levels in a building.

Health Effects of Mold

Molds can be classified as either the mycotoxin producing molds such as Penicillium and Stachybotrys and the non-toxic molds such as Trichophyton (Athlete Foot Fungus). While the toxicities differ, all mold spores contain allergens, which according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), can aggravate symptoms of both allergies and asthma.

In a bulletin, entitled A Brief Guide to Mold In The Workplace released on October 14, 2003, OSHA reinforced information that the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and others have stated about the hazards of mold.

In part, OSHA stated:

Currently, there are no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores. Scientific research on the relationship between mold exposures and health effects is ongoing. This section provides a brief overview, but does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information, consult a health professional or your state or local health department.

There are many types of mold. Most typical indoor air exposures to mold do not present a risk of adverse health effects. Molds can cause adverse effects by producing allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions). Potential health concerns are important reasons to prevent mold growth and to remediate existing problem areas.

The onset of allergic reactions to mold can be either immediate or delayed. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms such as runny nose and red eyes.
 
Molds may cause localized skin or mucosal infections but, in general, do not cause systemic infections in humans, except for persons with impaired immunity, AIDS, uncontrolled diabetes, or those taking immune suppressive drugs. An important reference with guidelines for immuno-compromised individuals can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (www.cdc.gov).

Molds can also cause asthma attacks in some individuals who are allergic to mold. In addition, exposure to mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose and throat in certain individuals. Symptoms other than allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold in the indoor environment.
Some specific species of mold produce mycotoxins under certain environmental conditions. Potential health effects from mycotoxins are the subject of ongoing scientific research and are beyond the scope of this document.

Eating, drinking, and using tobacco products and cosmetics where mold remediation is taking place should be avoided. This will prevent unnecessary contamination of food, beverage, cosmetics, and tobacco products by mold and other harmful substances within the work area.

Source and more information: http://www.osha.gov

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