Injection Molding-How Plastic is Molded

Plastic has, quite literally, become the cornerstone of our society. We make so many things from plastic that it is hard to imagine what our lives would be like if it was never invented. With so many of our everyday products being made of plastic, it is easy to understand why plastic injection molding is such a huge industry.

Approximately 30% of all plastic products are produced using an injection molding process. Of this 30%, a large amount of these products are produced by using custom injection molding technology. Six steps are involved in the injection molding process, after the prototype has been made and approved.

The first step to the injection molding process is the clamping of the mold. This clamping unit is one of three standard parts of the injection machine. They are the mold, the clamping unit and the injection unit. The clamp is what actually holds the mold while the melted plastic is being injected, the mold is held under pressure while the injected plastic is cooling.

Next is the actual injection of the melted plastic. The plastic usually begins this process as pellets that are put into a large hopper. The pellets are then fed to a cylinder; here they are heated until they become molten plastic that is easily forced into the mold. The plastic stays in the mold, where it is being clamped under pressure until it cools.

The next couple of steps consist of the dwelling phase, which is basically making sure that all of the cavities of the mold are filled with the melted plastic. After the dwelling phase, the cooling process begins and continues until the plastic becomes solid inside the form. Finally, the mold is opened and the newly formed plastic part is ejected from its mold. The part is cleaned of any extra plastic from the mold.

As with any process, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with plastic injection molding. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages for most companies; they include being able to keep up high levels of production, being able to replicate a high tolerance level in the products being produced, and lower costs for labor as the bulk of the work is done by machine. Plastic injection molding also has the added benefit of lower scrap costs because the mold is so precisely made.

However, the disadvantages can be a deal breaker for smaller companies that would like to utilize plastic injection molding as a way to produce parts. These disadvantages are, that they equipment needed is expensive, therefore, increasing operating costs.

Thankfully, for these smaller companies, there are businesses that specialize in custom plastic injection molding. They will make a mock up mold to the exact specifications, run it through the complete process and present the completed piece along with an estimate to complete the job to the customer.

Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects including home ownership, travel, personal enrichment, plastic injection molding and replacement auto glass

Mold - What Causes It And How To Get Rid Of It

Mold. And no, we're not talking about the kind found on 40 year old bread. We're talking about the kind of mold found in your bathroom on the tub tiles and a number of other places you'd never even suspect. In this article we're going to go over the causes of mold and how to get rid of it.

Mold is actually always present in the air and all it needs to trigger it off is a little moisture and a food source. Most surfaces contain all the nutrients that mold will need for it to grow and any dirt on that surface only provides additional fuel for the fire.

Mold is pretty easy to spot even if you can't see it, which is usually white or can even be black. Mold can always be smelled and the odor is rather musty and not at all pleasant. It grows on paper, drywall, wood, paint and wallpaper and many other surfaces that contain sufficient amounts of moisture.

Okay, so if mold is so prevalent just how do we get rid of it or if possible keep it from forming?

The first step in reducing mold (you'll never completely kill it) is to keep things clean. A 1 part to 4 part solution of chlorine bleach and water will kill mold. If you add a detergent to that solution you will also remove dust and dirt. You have to be very careful when disturbing mold spores because they can cause respiratory problems, especially if you are allergic to mold, have asthma or other breathing problems.

The next thing to do is to reduce humidity. In a climate where you have to heat the air in the winter time, this can be a real challenge. Warm air holds much more moisture than cold air. Air conditioning systems can remove the moisture and circulate cool dry air back into the room. Of course if you live in a hot dry climate like Arizona, this isn't that much of a problem. Air movement, through the use of a fan, is another great way of reducing the moisture in the air. Just from cooking and bathing alone you can add as much as 3 gallons of water a day to your home unless you have adequate circulation.

Corners are a common place for mold to grow. Usually because of improper insulation the interior wall can become colder than the air that is inside the room and this causes moisture to form on the surface. The underside of windows is another common location. Humid air will condense on cold windows which will form frost and then go through a cycle by which the moisture will freeze and defrost. This will cause water to drip down underneath the window which is what causes the mold to form and grow and your wall to start rotting.

By following the above procedures, keeping your home cool and dry and cleaning often especially after a bath or shower, you can help prevent mold from taking over your house.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Mold

What Exactly Is Crown Molding?

By definition, a molding is an ornamental piece of wood, metal, or plaster, used to decorate or outline something. It can be used on the interior or exterior of a home. Moldings frame walls, ceilings, windows, and door openings. Examples of moldings used to decorate with are baseboards, crown molding, and chair rails. Today, I want to talk exclusively about crown molding as a decorative architectural choice.

Crown molding, also referred to as crown moulding, or cornice, is probably the most important architectural accent used to detail any interior space. Most interior designers today would agree that every room can be improved with the use of crown molding. Crown molding smoothes the transition from the wall to the ceiling and does a wonderful job of defining the architectural style of a room. The size and style of crown molding used may vary widely, from a simple cove in a farmhouse kitchen to a large built-up cornice in a grand entry.

The initial use of a cornice in building design is anyone's guess. By the time the ancient Greeks had gained power, rules had already been created to define the use and design of crown molding. Originally, it was used as a structural element to help support the weight of the roof. It also served to keep water away from the building, thus protecting the lower walls and the foundation. However, the use of cornice as a decorative element was not considered any less important than it's more utilitarian functions. Most of the ornamental design patterns that you see on today's crown molding originated from the ancient Greeks. Egg and dart, dentil and acanthus leaf are the most obvious examples and these were used extensively in ancient times by both the Greeks and the Romans.

With the rebirth of the arts in the Renaissance period came a renewed interest in classical architecture as well. The rules of the classical orders were applied to the interior decoration of rooms. These were the rules of "3". A column, the basis of classical architecture, is divided into 3 parts: base, shaft and capital. The base and the capital were then further divided into 3 parts and prescribed rules applied to the relationship and the proportion of these divisions as well. The same divisions that apply to a column are also applied to the wall. The wall is divided into the baseboard, the wall and a crown molding. The lower wall can be further divided into the base, dado and chair rail. Finally, the upper wall is divided into the picture molding, frieze and crown molding.

When beginning any decorative project to include several types of molding, it is recommended that you choose the style and size of crown molding first, as it is the most prominently displayed. Then select the rest of the moldings to match. Regarding the proper sizing of the crown molding, advice is abundant and many guidelines have been written. Most often the advice directs you to select the size of the crown molding based on the height of your ceiling. This may be a common approach to this aspect of the design process, though, as larger crown moldings have often been used to impressively decorate rooms of more modest proportions. What IS important is to properly scale the casings and other moldings to the size of the crown molding that you wish to use. When choosing crown molding for your interior, feel free to select the size and style that YOU like. Historically, larger crown moldings were more frequently used than what is recommended today by many interior designers. Change is anticipated as the current architectural renaissance continues and more designers and homeowners endeavor to add warmth to their homes and to personalize their interiors. So have a go at it and don't be intimidated . You are limited only by your imagination.  Patricia Tomaskovic is President of http://www.goceilingmedallion.com.

6 Tips to Stop Mold Growing in Your Home

It is normal to find mold spores in a homes indoor air and surfaces such as clothes, walls, and furniture. Most of the time mold spores found indoors are from outside sources. Regular housekeeping cleaning helps keep mold levels low. Cleaning small areas of visible mold, like the mold around your shower, is obligatory to maintain sanitary conditions.

When you should be more concerned is when your home has a large-scale of active mold growing. Such problems are most likely to happen when there's been an on-going water leak, flood, or excessively high levels of humidity in the home. Indoor mold growth may lead to high levels of airborne mold spores, which, in turn, can trigger the spread of mold growth from the original source to additional areas of the home having high moisture levels.

Extensive mold growth will damage your home and furnishings, like carpets, sofas and cabinets. Over a period of time, uncontrolled mold growth can even instigate damage to structural elements of your home. While there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment, keeping your home clean and dry can avert extensive mold growth and the ensuing damage.

Damage to your home and possessions is not the only reason to be concerned with mold. Although most people are exposed to small amounts of mold or their spores on a daily basis without apparent harm, mold is an unsanitary condition that may present potential health risks to certain individuals.

Possible adverse health effects produced by molds can include allergic, irritating, or toxigenic effects, and even infections, allergic reactions being the most common. Symptoms reported by affected people include: respiratory conditions, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath, sneezing and/or nasal congestion, eye and/or throat irritation, headaches and fatigue. Here are a few tips to keep moisture from becoming a breeding ground in your home for molds.

1. Ensure that bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-creating sources are vented to the outside

2. Take care not to block any of your house's air conditioning vents

3. Install de-humidifiers in basements and crawlspaces. 4. Use your kitchen's exhaust fans when cooking

5. Install insulation on cold surfaces like piping, air ducts or basement walls to lessen possibilities of condensation

6. Install moisture sensor alarms in potential water back-up and overflow areas to alert you when a leak occurs.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on basement dehumidifiers, Oreck air purifiers, and other home and garden topics.

7 Steps for Easy Elegance: Visually Enhance Any Room with Panel Molding

Panel molding dates back to the Georgian period of the 1700's. Georgian architecture is characterized by a sense of proportion and balance. Symmetry and adherence to the classical rules were valued as regular and desirable. Today, panel molding is used to break up large surfaces, which adds a formal feeling to most designs. It is also utilized as a border separating colors or textures. Visually enhance any room with decorative panel molding; from walls and doors to ceilings, these exquisite accents can be installed by the average do it yourself home owner.

As with any project, proper safety practices should be used at all times. That includes wearing hearing and eye protection as appropriate. If you need to use a respirator, dust mask or any other tool or equipment, always select the right one for the job.

Planning
When beginning any project, it is important to plan the layout. Establishing a plan keeps the job flowing smoothly. It is perhaps the most important step. Although installing panel molding requires that you have a good drawing that accurately shows the room and the pattern, you won't need to generate detailed blueprints. A pencil sketch on graph paper will do. Be certain that the measurements are accurate. Reference dimensions on the drawing to either the center of the room (or to a ceiling dome or ceiling medallion, etc..) or to the walls. This will depend on the dominant feature of your design. Although you may not have any interest in recreating an extravagant baroque ceiling for your own home, you can often find some great pattern ideas by studying the ceilings of historic castles and palaces. Look around your room and decide whether you will have full or split panels; single size or variable sizes, or symmetric sized panels. Panel molding is strictly a decorative element, so there are no rules to follow for the design. This is your opportunity to create a unique and individual design.

Ordering
When ordering your panel molding make sure that the pattern of the molding is compatible with the corners (if you are using corners) and that you have made adequate allowance for cutting waste. Remember to take pattern repeat into account when figuring cutting waste. I like to use a cut list for all trim work. It allows me to plan all of the joints before I start cutting. I use the same list to plan my order. Normally, panel molding is inexpensive due to its small profile. Therefore, you may want to save some work and order enough to eliminate as many joints as possible. You are also going to need adhesive, caulk, etc. to complete the installation.

Prefinishing
If you are not planning to finish (paint or faux finish) the ceiling and the molding at the same, you may want to prefinish the molding and then touch it up after installation.

Assemble Materials
Setup a work area close to the job and assemble your tools and materials. Look over the moldings to make sure they haven't been damaged either on shipping or on the job. Inventory your tools and supplies to ensure that everything you will need is there. If something is missing, stop and get it now rather than waiting until you need it, which inevitably is at the worst possible time.

Layout
Transfer your plan to the ceiling in full size. Layout the outline of the molding rather than the centerlines so the layout will be visible with the molding installed. Remember to reference patterns that surround ceiling domes or ceiling medallions, to the center of the feature they surround. Reference moldings that run parallel to walls to the wall (to minimize the effect of out of square or wavy walls).

Install
Because of their light weight no mechanical fasteners are required. Use an appropriate size bead of adhesive and temporary fasteners as necessary until the adhesive sets.

Finish Up
After the adhesive has set, remove the temporary fasteners or set below surface. Caulk the joint between the ceiling and the molding. Fill the holes made by the fasteners with non-shrink filler, sand, prime and paint.

Voila! Enjoy and relish in the glow of all the compliments you receive when others see how beautiful your room is with the simple addition of panel molding.
 

MCS, Toxic Mold, Sick Building Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 MCS, Toxic Mold, Sick Building Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Thomas Ogren

Often people who suffer from undiagnosed illnesses may be experiencing multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), unusual pollen or mold reactions, food allergies, fibromyalgia, or even combinations of one or more of these.

Last spring I gave a talk to a group of allergists from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties (California). I mentioned that I liked to see allergists hire college horticulture students to map the exact species of plants growing in a patients yard. Sometimes, as I explained, without knowledge of exactly what is growing closest to them, it is next to impossible to figure out the problem.

One of the allergists then told me this true story: They had a patient, a woman in her 60s, from Santa Barbara, who was extremely sick and getting sicker by the day. She was having classic symptoms of both allergy and asthma, was not responding to any type of treatment, and they were afraid that she would die. And so they took the unusual step of sending someone from their office out to her house to look it all over.
The allergists assistant didnt find any high allergy plants in her yards. He didnt find any strange houseplants in her house, nor any unreported pets or anything of the sort. He saw no walls, windows, bathrooms or anything that appeared to pose a mold problem. The house was an older one, and he doubted that it was off-gassing chemicals. He was about to give up when he noticed a door he hadnt seen before. Where does that go? he asked her.
To my basement, she told him.
Now, because basements are rare in California, he was surprised to discover this. When he opened the door, turned on the lights and walked down the steps he was even more surprised. There, growing all over the cement floor of her basement were thousands of unusual looking mushrooms. When he asked her why they were there, she told him, Well, they just started to grow there and I let them grow since they were so pretty.
Im sure you can figure out the rest of the story. He took samples of the mushrooms back to the office and the woman was tested for spores from these same fungi and it turned out that her entire system was swamped with these allergenic, poisonous mushroom spores. The mushrooms were of some rare species native to the southeastern US and no one ever did figure out how their spores had arrived in that ladys basement and started growing.
The mushrooms were removed, the basement was cleaned up and the patient regained her health.

Another interesting episode of trigger sleuthing: A woman from Lompoc, California asked me to look over the yard of her apartment to see if I could figure out what was making her so sick. She was in her late 30s, married, had always enjoyed excellent health, but was getting sicker and sicker. She was starting to forget things, had headaches, sore throats, was always tired, often had stuffed up sinuses, and now and then would slur her words while she was talking. More and more she would forget what she was saying right in mid-sentence.
It was a nice enough apartment, neat and orderly, and she told me that their rent was very reasonable. Inside I discovered that one wall in her bedroom, next to her bed, looked moldy. I also found another wall, a wall in the living room that also looked moldy. Outside in the yard I discovered that the rainbird sprinklers for the lawn would hit the wall directly every time they went around. There had also been a leak in the roof, directly over the bedroom wall. I suggested she hire someone to do an inside and outside mold count for her. This she did and it was found that the mold spore count was high in the yard, and even higher inside the house. It was highest in her bedroom.
She then confessed that she had tried to clean up all this mold, several times, using soap and water. Afterwards she had felt even sicker.
I suggested that she explain all of this to the landlord, and immediately move out until it was fixed.
She did explain it all to the landlord, but she did not move out. The landlord hired someone who supposedly cleaned it all up but she just got sicker and sicker.
One day a few weeks later she called me up again. She was crying and told me that her doctor said that she had MS. The symptoms she was having certainly did seem like multiple sclerosis but I didnt think that was her problem. As we talked she would lose it, stutter, slur her words, forget what shed just said.
She said that shed had to take a leave of absence from her job since she just couldnt work any more. When I asked her what she was doing instead of working, she said she was mostly just lying in her bed. It was about all she could do. That bedroom, I told her, is killing you.
I called her back later and got her husband on the phone. He was now starting to feel kind of sick himself. Look, I said, a little angry now, get the hell out of there! Leave that apartment and do it tonight. Pack a few things, go to a motel and check yourselves in. Tomorrow you can tell your landlord what you had to do. If they wont pay for the motel bill, Ill help you find a lawyer and you can sue him.
They moved out of the apartment that night and into a nearby motel room. He took some time off work and the two of them just hung out at the motel, watching TV, eating in a restaurant around the corner, and they slept a good deal. The landlord (I think he was finally afraid of a lawsuit) did agree to cover their motel bill while this was being figured out.
On the phone I advised her husband that he ought to start looking for a new apartment. He told me that he was starting to feel more like himself again, and agreed to look for a different place to live.
They stayed at the motel for two weeks and by the time they moved into their new apartment she too was starting to feel a little better. I insisted that her husband move everything from their old apartment himself. That all their clothes, everything, had to be thoroughly cleaned before he brought it into their next place. I didnt want her to even walk in that door again, and she didnt.
As I write this now, it has been just over two years since they moved out of that mold spore-ridden apartment. Little by little she started getting better, the slurring of words stopped, the disorientation stopped, eventually all the symptoms disappeared. Two months after they moved she went back to work. Six months later she felt so good she started taking night classes at the local college. They are now both working full time, both are taking advanced computer classes in the evenings and they are doing great. Theres been no more talk about her having MS either.

Thomas Ogren

Often people who suffer from undiagnosed illnesses may be experiencing multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), unusual pollen or mold reactions, food allergies, fibromyalgia, or even combinations of one or more of these.

Last spring I gave a talk to a group of allergists from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties (California). I mentioned that I liked to see allergists hire college horticulture students to map the exact species of plants growing in a patients yard. Sometimes, as I explained, without knowledge of exactly what is growing closest to them, it is next to impossible to figure out the problem.

One of the allergists then told me this true story: They had a patient, a woman in her 60s, from Santa Barbara, who was extremely sick and getting sicker by the day. She was having classic symptoms of both allergy and asthma, was not responding to any type of treatment, and they were afraid that she would die. And so they took the unusual step of sending someone from their office out to her house to look it all over.
The allergists assistant didnt find any high allergy plants in her yards. He didnt find any strange houseplants in her house, nor any unreported pets or anything of the sort. He saw no walls, windows, bathrooms or anything that appeared to pose a mold problem. The house was an older one, and he doubted that it was off-gassing chemicals. He was about to give up when he noticed a door he hadnt seen before. Where does that go? he asked her.
To my basement, she told him.
Now, because basements are rare in California, he was surprised to discover this. When he opened the door, turned on the lights and walked down the steps he was even more surprised. There, growing all over the cement floor of her basement were thousands of unusual looking mushrooms. When he asked her why they were there, she told him, Well, they just started to grow there and I let them grow since they were so pretty.
Im sure you can figure out the rest of the story. He took samples of the mushrooms back to the office and the woman was tested for spores from these same fungi and it turned out that her entire system was swamped with these allergenic, poisonous mushroom spores. The mushrooms were of some rare species native to the southeastern US and no one ever did figure out how their spores had arrived in that ladys basement and started growing.
The mushrooms were removed, the basement was cleaned up and the patient regained her health.

Another interesting episode of trigger sleuthing: A woman from Lompoc, California asked me to look over the yard of her apartment to see if I could figure out what was making her so sick. She was in her late 30s, married, had always enjoyed excellent health, but was getting sicker and sicker. She was starting to forget things, had headaches, sore throats, was always tired, often had stuffed up sinuses, and now and then would slur her words while she was talking. More and more she would forget what she was saying right in mid-sentence.
It was a nice enough apartment, neat and orderly, and she told me that their rent was very reasonable. Inside I discovered that one wall in her bedroom, next to her bed, looked moldy. I also found another wall, a wall in the living room that also looked moldy. Outside in the yard I discovered that the rainbird sprinklers for the lawn would hit the wall directly every time they went around. There had also been a leak in the roof, directly over the bedroom wall. I suggested she hire someone to do an inside and outside mold count for her. This she did and it was found that the mold spore count was high in the yard, and even higher inside the house. It was highest in her bedroom.
She then confessed that she had tried to clean up all this mold, several times, using soap and water. Afterwards she had felt even sicker.
I suggested that she explain all of this to the landlord, and immediately move out until it was fixed.
She did explain it all to the landlord, but she did not move out. The landlord hired someone who supposedly cleaned it all up but she just got sicker and sicker.
One day a few weeks later she called me up again. She was crying and told me that her doctor said that she had MS. The symptoms she was having certainly did seem like multiple sclerosis but I didnt think that was her problem. As we talked she would lose it, stutter, slur her words, forget what shed just said.
She said that shed had to take a leave of absence from her job since she just couldnt work any more. When I asked her what she was doing instead of working, she said she was mostly just lying in her bed. It was about all she could do. That bedroom, I told her, is killing you.
I called her back later and got her husband on the phone. He was now starting to feel kind of sick himself. Look, I said, a little angry now, get the hell out of there! Leave that apartment and do it tonight. Pack a few things, go to a motel and check yourselves in. Tomorrow you can tell your landlord what you had to do. If they wont pay for the motel bill, Ill help you find a lawyer and you can sue him.
They moved out of the apartment that night and into a nearby motel room. He took some time off work and the two of them just hung out at the motel, watching TV, eating in a restaurant around the corner, and they slept a good deal. The landlord (I think he was finally afraid of a lawsuit) did agree to cover their motel bill while this was being figured out.
On the phone I advised her husband that he ought to start looking for a new apartment. He told me that he was starting to feel more like himself again, and agreed to look for a different place to live.
They stayed at the motel for two weeks and by the time they moved into their new apartment she too was starting to feel a little better. I insisted that her husband move everything from their old apartment himself. That all their clothes, everything, had to be thoroughly cleaned before he brought it into their next place. I didnt want her to even walk in that door again, and she didnt.
As I write this now, it has been just over two years since they moved out of that mold spore-ridden apartment. Little by little she started getting better, the slurring of words stopped, the disorientation stopped, eventually all the symptoms disappeared. Two months after they moved she went back to work. Six months later she felt so good she started taking night classes at the local college. They are now both working full time, both are taking advanced computer classes in the evenings and they are doing great. Theres been no more talk about her having MS either.

Thomas Ogren is the author of Allergy-Free Gardening. Tom does consulting work on landscaping for the USDA, county asthma coalitions, www.Allegra.com, and the Canadian and American Lung Associations. He has appeared on HGTV and The Discovery Channel. His book, Safe Sex in the Garden, was published in 2003. In 2004 Time Warner Books published his latest book: What the Experts May NOT Tell You About: Growing the Perfect Lawn. His website: www.allergyfree-gardening.com

 

Kanban Selected by Outokumpu and Wiremold

Outokumpu and Wiremold select e-Kanban by Datacraft Solutions over Fax-kanban companies. Fax-kanban is not efficent and not lean.

Outokumpu and Wiremold select e-Kanban by Datacraft Solutions over Fax-kanban companies. Fax-kanban is not efficent and not lean.

1000% growth in e-kanban services in the past twelve months has North Carolina-based Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) poised to capture significant percentage of lean manufacturing organizations business.

According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions, We have seen explosive growth from major manufacturing enterprises with Lean initiatives. From Wiremold to dj Orthopedics to KOYO to Outokumpu, our e-kanban system, Signum, is being used throughout North America.

Fax Kanban is not Efficient and not lean. At ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.

Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.

Bayer noted, Signum, our electronic kanban system gives manufacturers a heads up to which of those four faxes might be the problem and then frees you up to deal with them because our system has dealt with the other 396 kanban signals with zero effort. Bayer also noted that process improvement with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system.

The leader in e-kanban is Datacraft Solutions. With more than 1000% growth in the past twelve months, Datacraft Solutions anticipates a continued rate of growth throughout 2008.

Datacraft Solutions
www.datacraftsolutions.com
Sam Bayer
e-mail protected from spam bots
919-667-9804

Professional Marketing Firm reaching the Manufacturing Community Worldwide

 

Kanban Selected by KOYO and Wiremold

KOYO and Wiremold select e-kanban over Fax Kanban. Fax-kanban is NOT Efficient and NOT Lean

1000% growth in e-kanban services in the past twelve months has North Carolina-based Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) poised to capture significant percentage of lean manufacturing organizations business.

According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions, We have seen explosive growth from major manufacturing enterprises with Lean initiatives. From Wiremold to dj Orthopedics to KOYO to Outokumpu, our e-kanban system, Signum, is being used throughout North America.

FAX KANBAN is NOT Efficient and NOT Lean
At ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.

Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.

Bayer noted, Signum, our electronic kanban system gives manufacturers a heads up to which of those four faxes might be the problem and then frees you up to deal with them because our system has dealt with the other 396 kanban signals with zero effort. Bayer also noted that process improvement with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system.

The leader in e-kanban is Datacraft Solutions. With more than 1000% growth in the past twelve months, Datacraft Solutions anticipates a continued rate of growth throughout 2008.

Datacraft Solutions
www.datacraftsolutions.com
Sam Bayer
e-mail protected from spam bots
919-667-9804

Professional Marketing Firm reaching the Manufacturing Community Worldwide

 

Toxic Mold & Diet

Some type of mold or yeast fungus disease affects an estimated 50% of patients, and can cause as many diseases as bacteria and
viruses.

This affects digestion and the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. Over time, the result is chronic progressive
disease such as cardiovascular ailments, arthritis, gout, asthma, allergies, sinusitis, gastritis, tuberculosis, cancer, and more. The most common symptoms include sneezing, wheezing, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, confusion, rashes, itching, poor memory, numbness, digestive ailments, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation hives, rashes,
vaginal yeast infections, and urinary frequency, attacks of anxiety and shaking when hungry, and the symptoms can be flu-like. Mold can cause fungal diseases of the skin, nails, ears and lungs.

You may experience a few of these symptoms or many to have a mold or yeast infection. [Candidiasis].

This can be caused by a poor diet [high in sugar and carbohydrates] and high stress levels, which keep feeding the yeast
overgrowth. Mold can grow on bread or cheese, overripe fruit, vegetables, grains, and other foods and get food by absorbing minerals, sugars, and water or from decaying matter on which they live.

Candida albicans is a harmless yeast that naturally lives in every ones gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes and on the skin.
It lives there in a symbiotic world in a healthy person's body but when your bodys eco- system becomes unbalanced, Candida overgrowth can occur, thus allowing it to attack any organ or system in your body, primarily targeting the nerves and muscles, but can attack any body tissue or organ depending on your bodys predisposition.

Dietary changes can help reduce yeast as well as can a number of herbs and supplements and can promote a healthy digestive tract.
Studies have shown that herbs such as garlic, barberry, oregano, Oregon grape and goldenseal, as well as the fatty acid caprylic acid, can inhibit the growth of yeast.

In case there is evidence of mold allergy, a four-day rotation diet is recommended to minimize contact with allergens. This is a diet where foods are eaten once every four days and food families every two days. Foods that my contain mold are peanuts, beef,
tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, soy, MSG, sulfites and aspartame [Nutrasweet/Equal].

This diet restricts foods that contain yeast and gluten, brown rice, popcorn, corn products, honey, smoked, dried, pickled and cured foods such as buttermilk and sour cream, [live cultured
yogurt helps to replenish your bacterial intestinal bacteria], no aged cheese of any kind [some cheeses are okay if milk is not a problem, e.g. cottage cheese, mozzarella, provolone, ricotta and farmer's cheese].

Avoid soy sauce, Tampeh and tamari, mushrooms, dried fruit, alcohol products, especially beer [the darker the beer, the more chance of mold] and wine, mustard, tomato products; juice, sauce
paste, ketchup, are made from moldy vegetables, salad dressings containing vinegar.

Avoid eggs, beef, corn, and potatoes. mushrooms, nuts or nut butter [except almonds and almond butter], fruit juices, [frozen
fruit juice is fine], dried or candied fruit and coffee, black tea, caffeine, cider and homemade root beer [commercial root beer
is fine].

No canned tomatoes, unless homemade . Avoid citric acid, which is a very common food additive; not derived from citrus fruit].

Eat leftovers within 24 hours. Multi-B Vitamins - Many contain either yeast or mold [Rice hulls are moldy]. Some are all right. Check with manufacturer.

Organic foods, although much better for the body effected by toxic mold due to the lack of chemicals tend to mold more quickly as they lack artificial preservatives.

Drink bottled water. Tap water contains mold. Try to drink distilled or reverse osmosis water as it retains the good bacteria in the digestive tract.

To fight Candida it is best to reduce all foods high in carbohydrate; sugars and starches in order to starve the Candida yeast. Wheat
does not directly feed yeast but since it is a common food sensitivity it is a good idea to eliminate it in the beginning.

The Causes of Candida Overgrowth can be antibiotics, steroids such as cortisone, prednisone, birth-control pills, and estrogen
replacement therapy, poor diet, chemotherapy, radiation, stress, and alcohol over-use. Avoid all chemical foods and drugs. Strong antibiotics, steroids, cortico-steroids and tobacco must be avoided. This diet is necessary for the first critical weeks. This is the only way to deprive the yeast of nutrients and kill it off.

Symptoms are often worsening in damp and/or moldy places.

The Candida cleansing diet should include the following foods, in the correct proportions; 65% high fiber, low starch vegetables
such as broccoli, celery, radish and asparagus. Plenty of fresh steamed vegetables, especially onions, garlic, ginger root, cabbage, carrots, peas, sweet potato, cauliflower, yams. Onions and garlic are very good anti-fungals. All root vegetables should be peeled.

20% high protein foods such as antibiotic-free fish, fowl, nuts, seeds and eggs. Note: spray all nuts and seeds with a solution of
15-30 drops GSE [grapeseed extract] in 2-cups water to kill any aflatoxins mold or fungus that may be present. All nuts should be roasted.

10% complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, beans, millet, amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat.

5% fruit; papaya pineapple, grapefruit, peaches, pears, and all types of berries. Other acceptable foods are seafood and sea
vegetables, olive oil, eggs mayonnaise, white rice, soy and vegetable pastas, white rice cakes and crackers, some citrus fruit,
herb teas and unsweetened cranberry juice.

This type of diet also reduces the unpleasant effects of headaches, nausea and fatigue, known as the "herxhiemer reaction", which
are caused by the release of toxins when pathogenic microbes "die-off".

Sources:
Alpha Nutrition Health Education Series The Book of Allergy and Immunology

Dr. William Crook, M.D.
"The Yeast Connection"

Lady B Enterprises
2226 Rudy Court
Midland MI 48642

DR.SHAHID`S ALLERGY CENTRE
HOUSE NO. 7, F10/3
MAIN DOUBLE ROAD
ISLAMABAD
TEL.NO.051-211395
E.MAIL:- shahida@paknbet2.ptc.pk
Visit our HOME PAGE OF ALLERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES http://members.tripod.com/~DR_SHAHID_ABBAS/allergyclinic.html

Linda Knittel
 

Toxic Mold & Disease

 

Asthma has increased 300 percent in children in the past ten years. Research by WHO, in Germany, finds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers increasing due to mold-related problems.

Mold is the number one health problem with one in every three persons affected by mold and one in ten with a severe problem related to mold. These can range from the common cold, tonsillitis, otitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia, to cancer.

Check your home's humidity levels; buy or borrow a hygrometer and watch the changes in R.H. that occur throughout a typical day in different rooms of the house and over the heating season. To inspect your home for mold growth, winter is the best time except for basements which should also be inspected in the summer. With a flashlight and some simple tools, go through the entire house, both inside and outside, searching for moisture damage and mold growth and their potential causes.

The Stachybotrus species of mold is dangerous; it will start growing in 80 percent humidity but, once established, can grow at 55 percent humidity. This mold can develop from the decay of building materials and is much harder to control. If more than ten square feet develop, it is advised that a professional clean it up. When you see a small speck of mold, that's only part of the problem - the remainder being inside the walls.

'Frog Page' is a manual of the health of the environment and states that frogs are declining because of mold.

Some of the causes of mold are brush and trees within 30 feet of the building; venting the clothes drier inside the home; furniture against outside walls; old fill, causing building movement leading to cracks causing water ingress; concrete will wick up water even to several feet above ground; ventilation not directed outside, such as the kitchen range hood, which should be vented outside; plants and aquariums; drying clothing indoors; standing water, such as keeping cold water in the kitchen sink; hot tubs; using several gallons of water to wash floors.

'Sick Building Syndrome' is caused by moisture and mold growth. It migrates through foundations up from the soil. A dehumidifier is not the final answer as it only does the air and not the walls. What is required is a combination of ventilation, circulation, and heat.

Carpenter ants and termites will smell moisture from miles away and they only attack damaged wood.

Ventilation alone won't help a crawl space. In the summer the vents bring in warm, moist air.

Mold forms on the coldest space. The only
way to deal with it is with heat. Wall heaters with fans are more efficient than baseboard heaters.

Pull furniture and store material away from exterior walls and off basement floors; leave closet doors ajar; leave bedroom doors open as much as possible; undercut doors; don't block or deflect warm air registers; open drapes, blinds, and curtains; set the furnace fan to run continuously. This will use more electricity but can be offset by installing a two-speed energy-efficient motor; don't cut off the heating supply or close off unused rooms.

Uninsulated or poorly insulated areas such as exterior corners or foundation walls, should be improved with additional insulation. Be sure to install an air-vapor barrier, usually polyethylene, on the room side of the insulation to prevent hidden condensation behind the insulation. Seal hidden opening into the attic, tighten the attic hatch, weatherstrip and caulk around windows and doors, gasket electrical outlets, caulk baseboards and seal the top of foundations. Using an air conditioner on muggy summer days also helps take out the moisture.

Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units and filtration systems can be a source of mold growth if they are not regularly cleaned.

Key areas to check for moisture sources leading to condensation inside the home are roof leaks [especially at chimneys, flashings, skylights and eavestroughing]; wall leaks [especially at window and door flashing and sills]; foundation leaks [especially where the ground slopes toward the foundation]; and plumbing leaks [especially at toilet bases and under sink drains].

Check any fuel-burning equipment - furnaces, hot water heaters, boilers, fireplaces, and wood stoves - to ensure that they are venting properly. A blocked chimney could mean that combustion products, including large amounts of water vapor, are spilling into your house. Along with that moisture come dangerous combustion gasses, such as carbon monoxide, which cause deaths every year. Have heating equipment and venting systems checked by a trained service person.

If your moisture remedial work includes extensive air sealing, be sure that all fuel-burning equipment has an adequate supply of combustion air. High efficiency furnaces, for example, have their own air supplies and exhaust fans but conventional equipment may rely on house air for combustion and on 'natural draft' to move combustion products up the chimney flue. If starved for air or overpowered by an exhaust fan somewhere else in the house, such equipment can spill combustion gasses indoors. Examples of this include stains near the vent of a gas water heater, smoke entering the room from a wood-burning fireplace or stove, and pilot lights being blown out.

Mold growth often occurs in out-of-the-way areas like closets, corners, walls behind furniture and unused rooms. Increasing air circulation to these areas warms the cold surfaces and lowers local humidity levels.

To solve moisture problems, cover any exposed earth in a crawl space or basement with heavy polyethylene, sealed and weighted-down; slope soil away from foundations to keep basement walls and slab dry; patch any foundation leaks; don't use humidifiers, unless humidity levels are below 30 percent R.H.; avoid drying firewood indoors; operate bathroom exhaust fans during a bath or shower; use your range hood exhaust when cooking; avoid steam-cleaning carpets in winter; clean mold from wood and gyproc with a 10 percent to 30 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide applied with a spray bottle. This is more effective than bleach and water.

If you use chlorine bleach, mix one part bleach with two parts water and a little detergent to clean nearby surfaces. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse well. Use gloves and protective glasses and good ventilation. Badly mildewed carpets, furnishings and books will probably need to be thrown out.

Molds are parasitic micro-organisms that appear as black, white or multi-colored stain or fuzz. In addition to causing asthma, they can cause other allergies and serious health problems. There are tens of thousand of varieties of molds and are difficult and expensive to identify, even for experts. Health officials recommend eliminating all molds from inside your home.

Most mold spores need condensation or damp materials to germinate and once are established, many colonies generate their own moisture and can continue to survive even under dry conditions. They also need mild temperatures and a source of food, such as house dust or drywall paper.

Resources:

1. Natural Resources Canada [NRCan] "Air-Leakage Control" Pg. 11 [20 Feb 2002]

2.WHO [World Health Organization] [20 Feb. 2002]

3. Cormier, Dr. Y., Centre de Recherche, Hopital Laval, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Ste Foy, Quebec Canada, G1V-4G5 Institut de Recherche en Sante et Securite du Travail (IRSST), Quebec Canada July 21, 1999; revised; accepted for publication November 26, 1999.

4. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/ [20 Feb. 2002]

5. http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/qa/105-10news/NIEHSnews.html [20 Feb.2002]

6. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/fs-043-01/
[20 Feb. 2002]

Margot B, Writer, Information Broker, Web Developer at
Margot B & Associates
mailto:margotb@wonderport.com
http://www.writers.Org-HQ.com

How to Use Do-It-Yourself Toxic Mold Test Kits

 

How to Use Do-It-Yourself Toxic Mold Test Kits

VANCOUVER, CANADA. Many homeowners, landlords, renters, property managers, business owners, and employees want to know, and need to know, the precise identities of the various toxic mold species inhabiting their home, rental property, or place of work, according to Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector and author of the mold book Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, and Remediation.

To identify correctly toxic mold species, take these two steps: (1) use do-it-yourself mold test kits to collect mold samples during a thorough and complete building mold inspection and investigation; and (2) send the collected mold test samples to a mold laboratory for mold analysis and mold species identification.

Testing Visible Mold Growth

If a resident or occupant sees mold growing on a wall, ceiling, floor, heating or cooling duct register, or any other surface, he can scrape mold particles off the mold growth area onto the sticky surface of the opened mold test kit.

During such scraping of the mold growth, the tester needs to wear rubber gloves and a full-face respirator mask with organic vapor filters (such as the 3M brand from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store) to protect against toxic mold exposure.

To do the scraping, use a new or thoroughly disinfected (with ethyl or rubbing alcohol) paint scraper. Disinfect the scraper after each individual sampling to remove any possible mold contaminants, and thus avoid mold cross-contamination in the sampling process from one sample location to another.

Print clearly and neatly on a large pressure sensitive label the property owners name, the property address, the precise test location at that address, the testing date, and the type of sampling method (mold test kit settling), time duration of the test (e.g., thirty to sixty minutes) along with the testers name and contact information.

The label should also include each individual test number, as listed on the mold chain of custody form, available free from the mold laboratory. Attach the label to the bottom of the mold test kit that contains that respective, numbered mold sample.

Mold Testing of the Indoor Air

Use a separate mold test kit to collect a mold sample from the air of each of these areas---

1. Heating/cooling duct register. Expose the sticky side of an open mold test kit (one for each duct register) to the outward airflow from each separate heating/cooling duct register. Tape the open test kit to the duct grill so that the airflow directly hits the sticky surface.

Run the heating/cooling system on fan ventilation for 10 minutes prior to removing the mold test kit from each tested duct register. Then close, seal, and label each mold test kit.

2. Room Air by the Settling Method. Mold test the air of each room, attic, basement, crawl space, and the garage by first running a cleaned fan to stir up each room or areas air all around for about 15 minutes.

Thoroughly clean the fan blades and fan guard with rubbing alcohol or ethyl alcohol after the fans use in each separate testing location.

Then shut off the fan, open up a mold test kit, place it open side upwards in the middle of the room [on the floor, or upon a table or chair] for thirty minutes to one hour to allow airborne mold spores to settle down onto the sticky surface of the mold test kit.

Be sure to use the same time for all air test locations for the standardization of the mold test results. Then close, seal, and label the mold test kits.

3. Outdoor Mold Control Test. The mold lab results of the indoor mold tests have the most significance when the results of each indoor locations testing can be compared with the results of the outdoor mold control test.

The control test should be a mold test kit left open on the ground outside the building and at least five feet beyond the drip edge of the room. Use the same time (thirty minutes to one hour) that was utilized in the indoor air tests for the settling method tests. There should be no rain or snow falling.

Self-Interpretation of Mold Test Kit Results

The tester can then either watch the test kits himself for mold growth, with self-interpretation of the mold test kit results, over a seven day time period, or send the mold test kit to the mold lab immediately, or after the self-observation growth period.

Here is how to self-interpret the visible mold growth in the mold test kits after seven days of mold growth---

1. If the tester observes and count a greater number of mold colonies of any particular mold colony type (possessing the same or similar color, shape and/or structural pattern) growing in one indoor mold test kit than in the outdoor control mold test kit, then the tester can reasonably decide that there is a possible indoor-generated mold infestation in the area/location involved in that particular mold test.

2. If the tester observes a particular mold colony type growing in a particular indoor mold test sample that is NOT present in the outdoor control mold test, then the tester can reasonably conclude that there is a possible indoor-generated mold infestation in the area/location in which he conducted that particular mold test.

3. If the tester observes three or more of the same mold colony type growing in one mold test kit, then the tester can reasonably conclude that there is a possible mold infestation in the area/location in which he conducted that particular mold test, regardless of the number of similar mold colonies present in the outdoor control test.

Why is that conclusion possible? Consider this rat analogy: if there are only three rats living inside a particular area of ones home or building, is there no indoor rat problem just because there are more rats living immediately outside of the home or building?

It is the time-cumulative exposure and body intake of even modest numbers of indoor airborne mold spores that makes residents or occupants sick from mold exposure. Because residents or occupants spend many hours per day indoors in a home or workplace, they are continually inhaling or ingesting mold spores.

When the mold spores enter into the residents eyes, nasal/sinus areas, lungs, stomach (eating and drinking food and beverages upon which airborne mold spores have landed), or open body sores, the mold-spores, once inside the body, can begin dangerous mold growth inside the body because of the abundance of body moisture and food to eat (peoples bodies)!

4. If the tester observes three or more of the same mold colony types in several or many mold tests taken from different areas of the home or building, the tester can reasonably conclude that the mold species is possibly widespread in its contamination of the tested home or building.

The most dangerous mold species to residents and occupants are the molds that are omni-present through out the home or building, thus causing widespread, cumulative mold exposure and body intake.

For more information about the use of mold test kits, mold laboratory analysis, and mold species identification, please visit---

http://www.moldlab.biz
http://www.moldinspector.com
http://www.moldmart.net
Mr. Phillip Fry is a Certified Mold Inspector and a Certified Mold Remediator. He is the author of the ebooks Mold Health Guide and Do-It-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing and Remediation. He also co-authored the another ebook known as Mold Legal Guide.

Exposure to Mold Infestation Is a Proven and Serious Health Threat to Residents and Workers

 Many property owners, landlords, employers, and mold victim relatives in Canada, the USA, and worldwide often question or minimize the proven and serious health threat arising from exposure to elevated levels of indoor mold infestation, according to Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator, and author of the book Mold Health Guide.

Molds Harmful Effects

All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A number of commonly found mold species are, in fact, toxic mold, a description applied to any mold that produces mycotoxins in its spores. Stachybotrys (black mold), Aspergillus, and Penicillium are three of the most dangerous and commonly found indoor toxic molds.

Mycotoxins are cytotoxic, meaning they have the capacity to pass through the human cellular wall and disrupt certain cellular processes potentially causing serious health damage to workers and customers.

Studies on animals and cell cultures in labs have found toxic effects from various microbial agents, raising concerns about whether these same agents growing in buildings can cause illness in people, according to the 2004 mold health report from the Institute of Medicine (U.S. Governments National Academy of Sciences).

Mold Health Symptoms

Fungi can cause health problems to both humans and animals by several different biological mechanisms: infections, allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, irritant reactions, or toxic reactions---reported a 2004 University of Connecticut Health Center report

If exposed to elevated levels of indoor mold, some or many residents and workers can experience one or more of most common, mold health symptoms: allergies, asthma, bleeding lungs, breathing difficulties, cancer, central nervous system problems, recurring colds, chronic coughing, coughing up with blood, dandruff problems (chronic) that do not go away despite use of anti-dandruff shampoos, dermatitis, skin rashes, diarrhea, and/or;

Eye and vision problems, fatigue (chronic, excessive, or continued) and/or general malaise, flu symptoms (chronic), sudden hair loss, headaches, hemorrhagic pneumonitis, hives, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, irritability, itching (of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin or any other area), kidney failure, learning difficulties or mental dysfunction or personality changes, memory loss or memory difficulties; and/or

Open skin sores and lacerations, peripheral nervous system effects, redness of the sclera (white of your eyes), runny nose (rhinitis) or thick, green slime coming out of nose (from sinus cavities), seizures, sinus congestion, sinus problems, and chronic sinusitis, skin redness, sleep disorders, sneezing fits, sore throat, tremors (shaking), verbal dysfunction (trouble in speaking), vertigo (feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness and unsteadiness), and vomiting.

Mold Health Studies

Where is the proof? ask skeptical moldy home sellers, landlords, employers, and unaffected relatives of mold victims. There is actually abundant evidence about the serious impact of mycotoxins and mold exposure in human disease.

Medical studies in both the military and agricultural environments have discovered that that significant health problems can readily arise from the inhalation of elevated levels of fungal spores and toxins by soldiers and farmers.

Laboratory studies in animals and at the cellular level provide supporting evidence for direct toxicity of fungal spores and mycotoxins in mammalian lungs (University of Connecticut Health Center report in 2004).

As to asthma (one of the most common health consequences of mold exposure), a health study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health links adult-onset asthma to workplace mold exposure---

The present (health study) results estimated that the percentage of adult-onset asthma attributable to workplace mold exposure to indoor molds and development of asthma in adulthood. Our findings suggest that indoor mold problems constitute an important occupational health hazard.

The Finnish workplace mold study estimated that the percentage of adult-onset asthma attributable to workplace mold exposure to be 35% (Reported in Environmental Health Perspectives, May, 2002).

A European Community respiratory health survey in 2002 reported that asthma patients experience more significant asthma symptoms after they become sensitized to molds such as Alternaria and Cladosporium species, and to dust mites.

Scientific evidence links mold and other factors related to damp conditions in homes and buildings to asthma symptoms in some people with the chronic asthma, as well as to coughing, wheezing, and upper respiratory tract symptoms in otherwise healthy people, stated the Institute of Medicine report.

We were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors, reported the Institute of Medicine in its mold health report on May 25, 2004.

In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released from building materials. A rare ailment known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure in susceptible people, reported the Institute of Medicine.

A 1994 Harvard University School of Public Health study of 10, 000 homes in the United States and Canada found that half had conditions of water damage and mold, which was associated in the study with a 50 to 100% increase in respiratory problems for the residents of water and mold damaged homes.

Dr. David Sherris of the Mayo Clinic conducted (1999) a study of 210 patients with chronic sinus infections and found that most had allergic fungal sinusitis. The prevailing medical opinion had been [prior to the Mayo Clinic study] that mold accounted for only 6 to 7% of all chronic sinusitis. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings reported on Sept. 13, 1999 that---

Researchers have found that chronic sinusitis, a condition that affects about 37 million people in the United States, is apparently caused by an immune response to fungus (mold).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found an apparent link, announced in 1997, between mold contamination in the homes and cases of infant pulmonary hemorrhage.

The American Academy for Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health released a statement (April 6, 1998) concerning the toxic effects of indoor molds and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants.

The AAP recommended that until more information is available on the cause of this condition, infants under one year of age should not be exposed to chronically moldy, water-damaged environments.

The AAP also recommended that pediatricians inquire about mold and water damage in the home when treating infants with pulmonary hemorrhage, and that when mold is present in a patients home, that pediatricians should encourage parents to try to find and eliminate sources of moisture.

At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, approximately 15-20% of patients with leukemia die of fungal leukemia caused most frequently by the species Aspergillus.

In patients with leukemia who have undergone allogenic bone marrow transplantation or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 15-30% of deaths are caused by refractory fungal infections such as Aspergillus, one of the most dangerous indoor molds.

In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.

Ninety four percent (94%) of all respiratory ailments are caused by polluted air according to the American Medical Association, which also reported that one-third of the U.S.A. national health bill is for causes directly attributable to indoor air pollution.

Suggestions

Any person at risk from mold should not be in an area that is likely to be contaminated with mold. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider, advises the Centers for Disease Control.

Residents and workers often differ significantly (from co-residents and co-workers) in their sensitivity and reaction to mold exposure. Even the smell of mold can make some residents and workers sick.

Consequently, there are no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, EPA and the Centers for Disease Control) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores in either the home or the workplace.

Thus, if one or a few residents, employees, or customers experience one or more possible mold health symptoms, the property owner, landlord or employer should still inspect and mold test the residential or work premises for the health protection of both the mold-sensitive residents and employees, as well as others who may ultimately be harmed from time-cumulative mold exposure.

Homes and workplaces should be carefully and thoroughly mold inspected and mold tested all around by a Certified Mold Inspector, Environmental Hygienist, or an Industrial Hygienist if there are: (1) significant amounts of visible mold; (2) serious water leaks, flooding problems, or high indoor humidity; and (3) residents, employees, or business customers [such as hotel guests] report experiencing one or more possible mold health symptoms.

For more information about mold health and coping with mold problems, please visit---

http://www.moldinspector.com
http://www.certifiedmoldinspectors.com
http://www.mold.ph
http://www.moldmart.net
http://www.envirosurf.com
Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator, and author of the book Mold Health Guide