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| Try these sites… but come back soon! Scroll down for Mold Information. |
This is great article on "Would you by a home without an inspection?"
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The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc.(NACHI)
The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) is the largest inspection association in North America. Our home buying clients enjoy the HI Experience® only NACHI Certified Inspectors can provide. Formed in 1990, NACHI is both a non-profit organization as well as tax exempt. Its 205,000+ page, 132 million hit per year website, nachi.org, is host to interactive online continuing education, the industry's most popular exams and quizzes, and a 300,000+ post message board. NACHI is the industry's largest provider of continuing education and host to hundreds of inspection events each year. More than 9,800 North American inspectors call NACHI home. NACHI... Inspected once, inspected right.
The Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc.(WINACHI)
The Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors (WAHI) |
THE "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon" SITE, CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE EPA.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html |
| THIS IS A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT OFFERS EXPLANTIONS ABOUT RADON, FAQ'S, AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE QUALITY OF INDOOR AIR IN YOUR HOME. www.epa.gov/radon/ |
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| What Is Mold? |
Mold is a microscopic organism, which grows from spores. There are mold spores everywhere in our environment but they are usually inactive. However, when the relative humidity exceeds 60% and the temperature is between 32 and 104 degrtess F, they germinate and multiply. As the mold develops, it produces enzymes to digest organic materials including paper, books, cloth, photographs, leather, and wood.
There are 100,000 different species of mold in the world. Mold is part of the fungi kingdom; a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast and mildews.
What does mold need to grow?
In order for mold to grow it needs a food source such as leaves, wood, insulation, wallboard, drywall, carpeting, clothing, paper or dirt. In addition, mold needs a source of moisture for at least 24 to 48 hours. Temperatures above 65 degrees increase the likelihood of mold growth. Below is a list of moisture sources that may cause mold problems:
Flooding
Backed up sewers
Leaky roofs
Humidifiers
Mud or ice dams
Damp basement or crawl spaces
Constant plumbing leaks
House plants
Steam from cooking or boiling
Shower/bath
Clothing dryers vented indoors
Combustion appliances
Should I be concerned about mold?
Even though mold can cause many problems, it is also an important part of the world we live in. Mold plays a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood and other plant debris. Without mold we would find ourselves wading neck-deep in dead plant matter. Mold is also an aid in the development of food and medicine, such as cheese and penicillin. However, problems do arise when mold begins to digest organic material we do not want it to, like our homes.
Health Effects
Can mold make my family and myself sick?
Mold grows everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Most often mold found indoors comes from outdoor sources. Outdoor mold spores travel indoors through windows, cracks, crevices or are carried inside on shoes and clothing. It is very common to find mold spores in the air of homes and growing on damp surfaces.
We are all exposed to mold on a daily basis without evident harm. However, health problems arise when mold spores enter our bodies in large numbers. For some people a relatively small amount of mold spores can cause health problems, and yet for others it may take a considerably greater amount. The following are three ways mold spores can enter the human body:
Inhalation: Breathing in airborne mold spores.
Skin: Touching moldy surfaces such as furniture or coming in contact with plants that may have molds. Worse yet, is if you may have an open wound or abrasion that mold can penetrate into your body.
Ingestion: Eating toxic fungal species on spoiled food, including nuts, grain, rice and agricultural products.
What symptoms might I see?
The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly report problems such as:
1. abdominal pain
2. abnormal pap smears
3. acid reflux / indigestion
4. acne
5. allergies and anaphylaxis [severe allergic reaction]
6. altered immunity
7. asthma and asthmatic signs [sudden onset
asthma,increased asthma attacks, wheezing,
shortness in breath, coughing, burning in lungs]
8. balance problems
9. bladder and kidney pain
10. bleeding lungs
11. blood pressure irregularities
12. body aches and muscle pains
13. breathing difficulties [tightness in chest,
shortness of breath]
14. bruising easily
15. burning in mouth, throat and lungs similar to
acid reflux
16. cancer
17. central nervous system effects
18. chills
19. choking
20. cholesterol or triglycerides irregularities
21. chronic fatigue (chronic, excessive or continued
and/or general malaise
22. chronic sinus infections
23. coated tongue
24. colds, recurring and with decreased resistance to
infections
25. constipation
26. dandruff problems (chronic) that won’t go away
despite use of anti-dandruff shampoos
27. dark urine
28. death in extreme cases
29. depression/anxiety/dementia
30. dermatitis and skin rashes
31. diarrhea
32. difficulty concentrating
33. difficulty in swallowing
34. dirt-like taste in mouth
35. dizziness
36. dry, hacking cough or coughing up blood [resulting
to sore lungs/chest due to excessive coughing]
37. early menopause
38. eye and vision problems
39. eye irritation (burning, watery, or reddened eyes)
40. face flushing intermittently
41. facial movements inadvertently or extreme jerking
42. feeling lost or disconnected from what’s happening
around you
43. feelings of hopelessness
44. fevers
45. fibromyalgia [chronic fatigue and widespread pain]
46. food allergies
47. frequent bloody noses
48. frequent infections
49. hair loss
50. headaches/migraines
51. heart attack
52. hemorrhagic or hypersensitivity pneumonitis
[extrinsic allergic alveolitis, or farmers’ lung
disease]
53. hypersensitivity to mold
54. indigestion [heartburn /acid reflux ]
55. infertility
56. irritability, mood swings, spleen pain or sudden
personality changes
57. irritable bowel syndrome
58. itching of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin or
any area
59. kidney pain and failure
60. large boils on neck
61. leaky gut syndrome
62. liver pain
63. long lasting flu-like symptoms
64. memory loss or learning difficulties [brain fog,
confusion, Alzheimer’s-like symptoms]
65. metallic taste in mouth
66. multiple chemical sensitivity
67. night sweats and hot flashes
68. nose or throat irritation
69. nosebleeds
70. numbness in face and limbs
71. open skin sores and lacerations
72. open sores on head
73. organic dust toxic syndrome
74. peripheral nervous system effects
75. physical weakness
76. poor appetite
77. puffy or droopy eyes
78. rashes or hives
79. redness of the sclera
(white portion of your eyes)
80. respiratory distress
81. ringing in ears
82. runny nose (rhinitis), clear, thin, watery mucus
from your nose may appear suddenly, or thick,
green slime coming out of nose (from sinus
cavities)
83. seizures
84. sensitivity to smells / odors
85. sinus congestion, sinus problems, chronic sinusitis
and other nasal problems
86. skin rashes or irritation
87. skin redness
88. sleep disorders
89. slurred speech or verbal dysfunction (trouble in
speaking)
90. sneezing fits (more than three sneezes in a row,
happening often)
91. spitting up mucous
92. swollen glands
93. swollen lymph nodes
94. systemic candida infection
95. tremors (shaking)
96. unexplained fevers
97. urinary tract infection (uti)
98. vertigo or dizziness
99. vomiting (nausea)
100. women’s health problems [such as endometriosis and
vaginal yeast infections].
Are the risks greater for some people?
There is wide variability in how different people are affected by indoor mold. However, the long term presence of indoor mold growth may eventually become unhealthy for anyone. The following types of people may be affected more severely and sooner than others:
Infants and children, Elderly people, Individuals with respiratory conditions or sensitivities such as allergies and asthma
Persons having weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV infection, chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients, or even a cold or flue)
Those with special health concerns should consult a medical professional if they feel their health is affected by indoor mold.
Are some types of mold more harmful?
Many fungi produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins. Dramatic and carcinogenic effects have been recorded for animals and humans exposed to high levels of mycotoxins in laboratory studies. Symptoms of exposure to mycotoxins may include cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, nosebleeds, dermatitis and immune suppression. Many mycotoxins are highly disease causing.
Home Investigation
How do I tell if I have a mold problem?
Investigate. The most practical way to find a mold problem is by using your eyes to look for mold growth and by using your nose to locate the source of a suspicious odor. If you see mold or if there is an earthy or musty smell, you should assume a mold problem exists. Other clues are signs of excess moisture or the worsening of allergy-like symptoms.
Look for visible mold growth (may appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery and have varied colors of white, gray, brown, black, yellow, green). Mold often appears as discoloration, staining, or fuzzy growth on the surface of building materials or furnishings. When mold is visible, I recommend testing to determine the type of mold we are dealing with.
Why shouldn't I just clean up the surface with bleach and water?
Bleach and water may clean up your surface as well as just soap and water, however anytime you so much as touch the mold or wave your hand across it you are releases tens of thousand of spores into the air and often into you lungs, eyes, ears, and on your clothing. The type of mold should be determined before any clean up should take place. After you know what type of Mold you have and If you feel so inclined to clean it up yourself, most of the time I don't recommend it, please use the appropriate gear, a mold respirator, ear plugs, eye shields, etc.
Should I test for mold?
I do not recommend testing for mold yourself. The Do-It-Yourself kits are not recommended and rarely provide accurate test results. Instead, you should simply assume there is a problem whenever you see mold or smell mold odors. Testing should never take the place of visual inspection and it should never use up resources that are needed to correct moisture problems and remove all visible growth.
Sometimes, mold growth is hidden and difficult to locate. In such cases, a combination of air (outdoor and indoor air samples) and bulk (material) samples may help determine the extent of contamination and where cleaning is needed.
I am trained and certified by Pro-Lab in Mold Assessment and sampling . I have extensive knowledge of mold, how it grows, spreads and causes problems. I have been professionally trained to inspect for the presence of mold and on the proper sampling methods required to provide fast and accurate results.
All samples taken are sent to a third party AIHA accredited laboratory for identification and I have the skills and knowledge required to properly interpret the laboratory results. You will be provided with a Certified Mold Inspection Report detailing the extent of the mold problem, usually by email. Should you need the report for legal proceedings, a Chain of Custody form from the time of collection to the time of processing at the laboratory can be provided. The Chain of Custody procedures are an important element should you find yourself in any legal proceedings as a result of mold complications.
Don't take chances with the health of your family members. If you suspect a mold problem, give me a call and lets get it corrected. |
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