The Serious Dangers of Mold and Mildew in Your House

Two years of severe hurricane hits along the Gulf Coast and heavy rains and flooding this spring in the Northeast are providing a nationwide breeding ground for indoor mold and mildew growth (some deadly) now that summer heat is here. What is the solution?

The subject is surrounded by controversy. The Centers for Disease Control, Institute of Medicine, as well as scientists and doctors at Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and several State Health Agencies have all looked at the problem. There have been several studies conducted by medical researchers over the past few years looking for any linkages between various respiratory and physical ailments and deaths and the presence of molds in our living space. While some say there is a linkage, others say the facts don?t support that.

Here are the facts. Mold is everywhere; inside and outside. Some molds are good (penicillin), some are very toxic and emit gases that can be inhaled (Stachybotrys ?black mold?). Although some people apparently aren?t bothered by mold, all varieties have the potential to cause illness. Mold reproduces by generating spores that are released into the air, where they land on moist surfaces. They can grow on any organic surface such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpeting, wallboard and wood. They thrive in dark, warm, moist locations, like under carpets, inside walls and ceilings. They will also contaminate items that come in contact with those surfaces.

Mold can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in many. Complaints of flu-like symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome, memory impairment, migraines, sick building syndrome, dizziness and nosebleeds are common. These are the mild symptoms. Many researchers claim that mold can attack several main body systems, including the brain, central nervous and immune systems and have been the direct cause of some deaths. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, who wants to smell mold/mildew and inhale spores from household fungus? They can lodge in your lungs (remember dark, warm and moist). Asthmatics, infants and individuals suffering immune system deficiencies are particularly susceptible.

So, what should you do if you think that your home might have a mold/mildew problem? Here?s a suggested 5 step process:

? Mold Inspection- retain a qualified, certified mold inspection firm to evaluate your home and determine cause of mold and severity of infestation.

? Isolation of the Area- if there is a mold problem, you will want to isolate the area carefully to prevent carryover into non infested areas during clean up.

? Clean Up/Remediation- care should be taken to not stir up the mold; if it is severe, or in the walls, a specialized remediation firm (in space suits) may have to be used and materials removed in hazardous waste containers.

? Repair of the Cause- if there is structural damage or leaky plumbing causing a moisture problem, fix it.

? Maintenance/Prevention- an ongoing program to ensure no recurrence of the cause and use of proven purification technology to maintain a clean environment and kill mold growth.

On this last point, emphasis is placed on use of technology that has a proven track record of mold abatement. HEPA filters and electrostatic filters that are called purifiers are not effective on mold/mildew. There is, however, affordable, proprietary and safe technology currently available that has a demonstrated ability to sanitize surfaces from a variety of microbials and to stop mold/mildew growth. This effective technology has become widely accepted since it?s use by the government during the 9/11 Pentagon cleanup, is currently in use in several government facilities and is available to the general public through an authorized dealer network. For more information visit www.freshair2u.info

Bruce Bley is founder of BCB Associates, a marketing and environmental consulting firm that deals with issues pertaining to family health and wellness and provides leadership training to affiliates. He has a B.S. Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and MBA from University of Hartford.

Basement Mold - The Most Common Place In The Home

Basement mold is the most common mold that you will encounter in your home. This is because the basement is underground and is usually not developed as the rest of the house, and so is the perfect breeding ground for basement mold. It is often a storage area where there is little heat and it is also where moisture can build up from condensation on the pipes or even a leak. The mold can actually build up quite a bit in the basement if you do not keep a close watch on the conditions, such as excess moisture and damp conditions which are the prime breeding areas for basement mold.

Once mold spores settle in your basement, they will keep growing. Mold in basements can be found on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, cement, sheet rock and insulation. There is no realistic way to get rid of all the basement mold that you have because mold spores are everywhere. Once you do find mold in the basement, though, you have to look at methods of basement mold removal.

You have to be careful when you are removing basement mold because once you disturb the mold spores you spread them around. Cleaning up one area could spread the mold to another part of the basement. You also have to be careful when you handle moldy materials to make sure you don't breathe in the mold that is in your basement when you are going through the process of basement mold removal. When you set about this task, you should wear a paper facemask and gloves so that you don't breathe in or come in direct contact with the mold.

Basement mold is one of the leading causes of allergies in homes as well as toxic mold syndrome. Not all molds are toxic, but you won't know if the mold in basement is toxic or not until you get it tested. This is why basement mold removal is so important. Mold allergies often disguise themselves as sunus problems or flu-like symptoms and they can aggravate asthma.

When you realize that you have basement mold, the first thing you need to do is search for the cause of the mold. If you find leaks or excess moisture, you have to make the repairs to prevent the moisture from re-occurring and the mold from coming back. Then you have to take measures of basement mold removal. There are many excellent sprays and cleaners on the market that do an effective job of mold removal. You do have to make sure that you completely dry the area after you clean to prevent the basement mold from growing back.

To find out more about Mold removal visit Peter's Website <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.the-mold-removal-guide.com/">The Mold Removal Guide and find out about <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.the-mold-removal-guide.com/mold-removal-products.html">Mold Removal Products and more, including Mold allergies and toxic Mold.