Mold Biology And Mold Related Heath Issues

BASIC MOLD BIOLOGY:

Fungi share some basic similarities with plants and bacteria but are not plants nor are they bacteria. They are in their own kingdom, the Fungi Kingdom.

The terms mold and mildew are often used interchangeably by lay persons, but according to some more specific definitions, mildew is a powdery growth that attacks and grows on living plants while molds are often fuzzy and grow on all sorts of moist surfaces. Molds, mildews, and other fungi usually reproduce by forming and releasing spores into the air. Most indoor spores are just 3 to 15 microns across, some spores are a few hundred microns long but these are still just a few microns across. The human eye can at best see objects that are 10 or more microns across. Toxins known as mycotoxins and also allergens are found primarily in the spores of various molds. These substances can be found in live or dead spores.

TOXIC MOLDS

Mycotoxins are chemicals that are sometimes produced by various species of toxic mold. These toxins are real and are powerful weapons used by toxic molds in a sort of microbial warfare to help them compete against bacteria and other molds. Toxic molds are common in Florida, but mold spores in residential settings, even if they are potentially toxic producing types and at high levels, are not automatically at high enough levels to result in toxic effects on humans via inhalation. It takes a lot of inhaled spores to poison a person. Currently, disagreement exists as to if residential mold spore exposures levels are ever high enough to result in toxic effect on humans. Toxic effects of mold mycotoxins in humans and farm animals leading to serious illness and even death via accidental ingestion of toxic mold, etc. have been well documented in scientific literature. Effects of heavy exposure to mold toxins are many, but just two of the more common effects are immuno suppression and liver cancer. Mycotoxins are believed to result in headaches, sore throats, hair loss, flu symptoms, diarrhea, fatigue, dermatitis, general malaise (tiredness) and psychological depression." (Croft et al, 1986, Jarvis, 1995). "Other reported responses to mycotoxin exposure includes skin rashes, lesions of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, and interference with blood cell formation." (Sorenson 1993).

Human and horse exposure to Stachybotrys mold infested hay that caused toxic reactions in the Ukraine around the 1920's or the 1930's is well documented. Industrial level exposures of mycotoxins such as at peanut processing facilities, composting facilities, or farms has caused documented toxigenic and severe allergenic problems. Countless farm animals have died as a result of eating food contaminated with toxic molds, in one extreme example that occurred in the mid 1960's 100,000 turkeys died in England after consuming moldy food shipped from Brazil. The causative agent was aflotoxin from Aspergillus flavus mold. In several such cases of human and animal exposure mycotoxin poisoning is well documented by scientists and doctors. For more information on documented cases and on mycotoxocosis refer to The Fifth Kingdom, by Brice Kindrick or Bioaerosols from ACGIH by Harriett Burge.

It is very important to not panic but to keep in mind that to accomplish the above serious detrimental effects, toxic molds like Stachybotrys and others may have to be either:

1. consumed in mold contaminated foods,
2. physically handled so that excessive physical contact is made between human skin and the mold, or
3. the mycotoxins have to be exposed to living cells in the laboratory.

Various studies have shown that the levels of mycotoxins encountered by breathing mold spores in your home or office appear to be far too low to cause toxic reactions in humans. Of course future studies may or may not change this current opinion held by many researches. Synergistic effects of various indoor pollutants and different mycotoxins mixing together may be more powerful than individual mycotoxin exposures. Fortunately scientists are not in the business of performing full fledged toxicity studies on human subjects.

However, asthma attacks, allergies, and sinus infections from mold appear to be very common and can give you just as much trouble as if you were being poisoned.

INFECTIOUS MOLDS

According to a Mayo clinic study, sinusitis caused by growth of fungus fibers or balls of fungus fibers in the sinus cavities is not unusual. This is typically caused by common Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Curvularia species. Aspergillosis caused by the growth of aspergillus species in the lungs most commonly A.fumigatus, A. flavus, A. Niger and A. territus species typically occurs in persons with compromised immune systems or a history of lung disease that resulted in past lung damage. Common Candida albicans that causes yeast infections is a major cause of serious nosocomial (hospital acquired) fungal infections. Histoplasma capsulatium and Cryptococcus neoformans are very dangerous yeast like molds that should be assumed to be present in any bird droppings but are primarily a concern when spread to humans via inhalation of particles from accumulations of pigeon, starling, and bat droppings. Coccidioides immitis mold spores are spread from dusty soil in the southwestern United States, it sometimes causes valley fever but at other times the same fungus can be deadly. Nearly any fungi can cause infections in persons with severely compromised immune systems.

Detection of infectious fungi such as but not limited to the above listed ones and identification of fungi to determine the species is not part of most mold inspections.

ALLERGY ASTHMA AND HYPERSENSITIVITY DISEASES

An allergic reaction occurs when your body?s immune system mistakes harmless proteins in mold spores or other allergens as if these proteins were harmful microbes trying to infect your body. Your body?s immune system, feeling threatened releases histamines into the blood stream and these histamines are what actually causes coughing, sneeze, and watering of the eyes. Other person?s immune systems will not mistake proteins in mold spores as a microbial threat, and thus not develop allergic reactions. Asthma is a condition where the small air sack like structures in the lungs called alveoli can contract and exhale air, but cannot properly expand to bring in new air. Mold as well as other substances are common triggers of asthma. Mold-related allergenic and asthmatic conditions in homes are very common and very serious and should be addressed and not ignored. Many serious hypersensitivity diseases in humans, such as baker's lung, wood workers lung and others are the result of exposures to molds by persons working in industries that result in long term exposure to elevated spore levels. Hypersensitivity diseases have long been well documented in science and the medical field. According to Bioaerosols assessment and control hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a hypersensitivity disease that results from the long term repeated exposure to elevated mold spore levels or other antigens, this condition can occur at in industry or agriculture where spore levels are high, it may also occur in moldy offices or homes, it produces pneumonia like symptoms with fever, cough, tightness of chest, lung infiltrates, and difficulty breathing. Once sensitized, individuals may react to extremely low, often un measurable, concentrations of antigenic materials.

Organic dust toxic syndrome is a flu like illness that results from a short term exposure to very high levels of spores, such as the levels that may be encountered by workers doing large mold remediation jobs without wearing protective respirators. Symptoms show up several hours or a day or so after exposure and symptoms go away after a day or a few days.

Daryl Watters has a bachelors degree in education for teaching biology and general science and is a certified mold inspector, certified home inspector, and certified indoor environmentalist providing building inspections in South Florida since 1993. For more information visit http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com

What Black Mold Likes To Grow On: Your House's Trouble Spots

If you dug out some old boxes full of musty stuff from your attic, you might expect there to be a little mold on things, especially if you live in a humid environment. But, mold is probably growing somewhere in you house right now, and you don't even know it. That's why it's important to know what black mold likes to grow on. It's the first step to getting rid of it.

What mold likes to grow on is determined by what mold needs to thrive. Mold needs food, a good temperature, and water. In general, wherever there's water you can expect to find mold.

Mold isn't picky either. It doesn't just strike old, musty, dirty houses. If it has a chance, it will grow all over your nice, new, clean house. So, don't give it a chance!

Here are things mold commonly likes to grow on.

In The Kitchen

Of course, mold likes to grow on food. It's not always the dreaded black mold; it may be its less toxic cousin, the slimy green one. Either way, it's ugly and disgusting. The mold that grows on food is not so dangerous, but seal it in plastic before you throw it out just in case.

Mold also likes to grow in cabinets. You should check from time to time. Basically, any place that is dark and closed up, and might get a little water in it, is a breeding ground for mold.

Sinks, drying racks and other places that get lots of water are also favorite hang-outs of black mold.

In The Bathroom

The biggie here is shower tiles. You've probably seen black mold growing there before, or its friend orange mold. The wall material behind your tiles is delicious for black mold, so it gets carried away and starts growing around the tiles where human eyes can see it.

Just like in the kitchen, mold likes to be close to the water source in a somewhat hidden place. This means sinks, counters, cabinets and anywhere else that gets a little water. For more info see http://www.toxicblackmoldhelp.org/resource_sites.html

Anywhere In The House

Mold likes hidden-away places. On the walls, mold likes to grow behind things such as pictures or mirrors. If you haven't moved your pictures for cleaning in a while, check and see if our black moldy friend is hanging out there. Wallpaper, because it is porous, is also a great place for mold to live. Keep tabs on your wallpaper so you don't have to remove it all someday because of an infestation of our little friend.

Carpets are wonderful vacations spots for mold. If you ever have any water damage, you may have to remove the carpet if it gets bad. One good way to tell if you have mold in your carpets is just to sniff.

Mold can live in dust and lint. If you keep your house well dusted, you'll reduce black mold problems.

In The Basement

You may have a tenant you don't know about, living in your basement and not paying rent. Mold loves the dark, humid basement. It especially likes the walls and ceilings, where water is often running amok. You may also have mold growing around the concrete on the floor.

In The Attic

The attic is also ideal. It's a place that doesn't get much ventilation, so it's great for black mold. Houses with wooden beams in the attic are particularly favored.

In The Hidden Places

Mold loves crawlspaces, wall cavities, and any other place it can hide. You may be suffering from black mold-related health symptoms and not even know it, because our little friend is hanging out in your house and you can't find him.

Another fave place is inside your heating and cooling ducts.

Mold can get used to the weather just about anywhere, but it especially loves warm humid environments. Florida, California and the Pacific Northwest have some of the worst mold problems in the US. Desert areas and high altitude areas also get hit hard with mold infestations after a big rain or storm.

The key to keeping mold spores out of your respiratory system is to find it before it finds you. That's why it's important to know what black mold likes to grow on.
You can also find more information at toxic mold growing and get mold inspection.

Mold Can Be More Harmful Than You Think

What is mold exactly? Is mold a plant or an animal? Believe it or not mold is neither plant nor animal but it actually is a fungus. Mold can be found on old crusty food, on walls and ceilings of your home. Mold can be found anywhere there is moisture. Mold can be made into Penicillin which has saved many lives. It is amazing how mold can be harmful and yet help save lives. Mildew is also another name for mold.

Mold is a living organism and has a very important role in our environment.

First of all, mold grows in areas that tend to have a great deal of moisture, darkness, and heat. Most areas you may find mold are bathrooms, pool areas and even in kitchen cabinets, floor tiles and even books. Mold can pretty much grow anywhere as long as its conditions are right. Mold spreads pretty fast and can take over a home if you don?t have the proper mold remover to fight against the spread of mold.

Mold spreads by reproducing or regenerating the cells which are called spores. These spores once airborne can latch on to clothes, skin, pets and even air condition filters. There is no way to keep mold spores from entering your home. The best way is to buy certain mildew or mold removal products. You can fight off the spread of mold and keep it at bay.

Mold can be very harmful to your health. Mold is very harmful to your lungs. Sometimes you don?t even realize there is mold in your house or work place. Mold is also very harmful to people with allergies and may trigger an allergy attack. Most of the time you do not realize that mold is making you sick until it is too late. Some of the symptoms are an excess of coughing and chest pains from coughing.

Some other symptoms are shortness of breath or even a scratchy throat.The only way to find out if you have a mold problem is to have your home or place of work inspected. It may be a little pricey but a mold technician can come out to your home and take some samples.

The technician will take some samples from outside and inside the home. This will determine if the mold spores in your home are growing more rapid than outside. You have a problem if the mold spores are growing more in the home rather than outside.

You can fight the outbreak of mold spores with special mold removal products.

There are also mold cleansers that block the mold spores to prevent the mold spores from coming back. One of the main ingredients in these mold spray is bleach. When buying a mold remover product check and see if it is odorless.

The odorless ones will not make your eyes tear when using them. Spray the infected areas and start scrubbing. You should repeat this process in one week?s time for a month and you will see a difference.

Mold is a very important part of our environment but can be a problem to humans as well. Mold can never be destroyed but it can be controlled. You can fight mold spores to keep the mold from spreading by using the correct mold removal products. It is so ironic that mold can help save human life and also help take it as well.

Looking to purchase mold spray at a discounted rate? Learn what mold removal products can prevent mold from invading your home.

Molding Dreams into Reality, Art to Part in Plastics

 Molding Dreams into Reality, Art to Part in Plastics

by: Steve Koons

Art to Part in Plastics: Molding Dreams into Reality

An introduction to Injection Molding.

Every plastic product you see needs to be shaped, and the most common method is Injection Molding. Most people using their computer to read this give no thought to how all those plastic parts were formed. Or how complex and expensive it is even to produce a ballpoint pen. Just about every part made of plastic these days is formed using some kind of an injection mold, from tiny precision parts that can barely be seen to large automotive exterior parts. Just about every industry relies on some kind of injection mold for their products.

Injection molding is the forcing of molten plastic into a shaping cavity. An injection molding machine has three basic components:

1)Injection. Plastic pellets are fed into a hopper and then heated up. Once they are melted they are injected under extremely high pressure into a mold.
2)Mold. This is a custom designed tool for shaping and cooling the melted plastic. Two halves are precisely designed with cavities for the shaping of the part, channels for cooling the molten plastic, and an ejection system.
3)Clamping. This is the part of the machine that holds the removable mold in place, keeps the two halves together during molding, and opens the mold for part ejection.

Molds are complex and must be of heavy-duty construction since they are subjected to a considerable amount of pressure. They are usually carved/milled out of aluminum or steel blocks and contain many different parts such as the mold base, clamp plates, support plates, ejector plates and pins, guide pins, sprue puller pins, and of course, the two cavities with channels for the molted plastic flow, cooling and/or secondary heating units. The mold is the most expensive part of injection molding, with molds ranging from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Think about that next time you use that cheap plastic pen.

Injection molding started to catch on in the 1920s and was used for simple products such as combs, toothbrushes, and simple industrial parts. As the science of plastics and machining technology grew, molding became an increasingly popular way of manufacturing. With todays computer-controlled milling and molding machines, just about any idea or design can be shaped into plastic.

Ever wonder how they make hollow plastic spheres? Rotational molding is a mold in which after the plastic is injected, it is spun around at high speeds and then quickly cooled. Scissors and screwdrivers are made by insert molding. The metal part is suspended in the mold while the plastic flows around it. How about those plastic bottles and food containers? Those are made by blow molding. There are also other processes such as thermoforming and extrusion.

Injection molding, turning dreams into reality.
For more information and history on Injection Molding, please visit my blog at: http://www.injection-molds.blogspot.com
Steve works for Solinc Co., Ltd, an injection mold design company in South Korea.