 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MOLD
The following information was forwarded on by Nathan
Buckley. Nathan discovered it while surfing the internet.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In 1994, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported the deaths of several infants in Cleveland in a case that involved a type of mold called Stachybotrys chartarum. The alleged cause of the deaths was idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage (IPH). Though the deaths were associated with exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum, a summary of peer reviews concluded that the association between IPH and exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum was not proven.
Q1: How do molds get in the indoor environment and how do they grow?
A: Molds grow naturally in the indoor environment. Mold spores may also enter your house through open doorways and windows through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Spores in the outside air also attach themselves to people and animals, making clothing, shoes, bags, and pets convenient vehicles for transporting mold indoors. When mold spores drop on places with excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, or plant pots or where flooding may have occurred, molds will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, wallboard, carpet, fabric, and upholstery commonly support mold growth.
Q2: How do you know if you have a mold problem?
A: Large mold infestations can usually be seen or smelled.
Q3: I heard about toxic molds that grow in homes and other buildings. Should I be concerned about a serious health risk to my family and me?
A: The hazards presented by molds that may contain mycotoxin should be considered the same for other common molds that can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere-in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few case reports that toxic molds (those containing certain mycotoxin) inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. A causal link between the presence of the toxic mold and these conditions has not been proven. A common-sense approach should be used for any mold contamination inside buildings and homes. The common health concerns associated with molds include hay fever like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression may be at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, you should consult a qualified medical clinician for diagnosis and treatment. For the most part, routine measures will prevent mold growth in the home.
Q4: What is Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys
atra)?
A: Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Growth occurs in the presence of moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth. It is not necessary, however, to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.
Q5: How common is mold, including Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra), in buildings?
A: Molds are very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere indoor where there is moisture. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. We do not have accurate information about how often Stachybotrys chartarum is found in buildings and homes. While it is less common than other mold species it is not rare.
Q6: What are the potential health effects of mold in buildings and homes?
A: Mold exposure does not always present a health problem indoors. However, some people are sensitive to molds. These people may experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, or wheezing when exposed to molds. Some people may have more severe reactions to molds. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of mold in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. People with chronic illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
Q7: Who is most at risk for health problems associated with exposure to mold?
A: People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.
Q8: Does Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) cause acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?
A: To date, a possible association between acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage and Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) among infants has not been proved. Further studies are needed to determine what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage.
Q9: What if my child has acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage?
A: Parents should ensure that their children get proper medical treatment.
Q10: How do you get the molds out of buildings, including homes, schools, and places of employment?
A: In most cases, mold can be removed by a thorough cleaning with bleach and water. If you have an extensive amount of mold and you do not think you can manage the cleanup on your own, you may want to contact a professional experienced in cleaning mold in buildings and homes.
Q11: What should people to do if they determine they have Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) in their buildings or homes?
A: Mold growing in homes and buildings, whether Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) or other molds, indicates a problem with water or moisture. Thus, the first step is to address the water/moisture problem. With that issue resolved, the second step is to clean surfaces with a weak bleach solution. Mold under carpets typically requires removal of carpets. Once mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard, the only way to deal with it is by removal and replacement. In areas where flooding has occurred, prompt cleaning of walls and other flood-damaged items with water mixed with chlorine bleach, diluted 10 parts water to one part bleach, is necessary to prevent mold growth. Never mix bleach with ammonia. Moldy items should be discarded. The precautions with Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) follow the same steps.
Q12: Are there any circumstances where people should vacate a home or other building because of mold?
A: Decisions about vacating premises have to be made individually. If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold in a building, you should consult your physician to determine the appropriate action.
Q13: How do you keep mold out of buildings and homes?
A: As part of routine building maintenance, buildings should be inspected for visible mold and evidence of water damage. The conditions causing mold (such as water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) should be corrected to prevent mold from growing.
HOW CAN I RESTORE WATER-DAMAGED CARPET?
Source: Carpet and Rug Institute
There is no single procedure for dealing with flood damage in all situations. Each situation is different and must be evaluated by an expert.
Determine whether the floodwater is sanitary, unsanitary, or black water. Only in sanitary conditions should you attempt to clean and restore the carpet yourself. Cleaning professionals should be called in to handle the adverse effects of disease-carrying bacteria contained in unsanitary and black water.
Sanitary–may include uncontaminated sink or toilet overflows and flows from ruptured pipes.
Unsanitary–includes any water with some degree of biopollutant contamination, such as water from punctured waterbeds and contaminated toilet and dishwater overflows.
Black Water–includes any water that has come into contact with the ground or that contains raw sewage, including, but not limited to, natural flooding. Unfortunately, carpet flooded by black water must be discarded because of the high-level intrusion of bacteria and other pollutants.
Before restoration can begin, you must identify the source of the water flow and stop it. With sanitary water, once the water has been stopped, extraction of excess water from the carpet must begin immediately. To reduce the possibility of fungal growth, the carpet cushion should be discarded. In cases of natural flooding or rising water, the carpet and carpet cushion should be replaced immediately to minimize possible health concerns.
Immediate Steps:
* Quickly remove any furnishings that may be damaged by the intrusion and that may stain or damage the carpet.
* Keep traffic over the wet carpet to a minimum. Moisture can weaken the latex backing in carpet, and excess traffic may cause the backing to separate. Once dry, the backing will regain much of its original strength.
* Use fans to increase ventilation, a vacuum designed to extract water (if available), and dehumidifiers to speed the drying process (only in sanitary conditions).
* To minimize the growth of bacteria and fungi, completely dry the carpet within 24 hours after the elimination of the water source.
Because each situation is different, consult a cleaning professional to determine whether the carpet can be salvaged. Often, a homeowner's insurance agent will hire a cleaning professional for the homeowner. The cleaning professional should extract the excess water, clean and disinfect the carpet, or remove it if necessary.
Additional information is available by telephone from the Carpet and Rug Institute and in the IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration S500-99 document prepared by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification
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Oh
how things have changed....The cold weather has now set in and we had snow on
our mountains last week. It is now time to break out the Sorel snow boots,
snowmobiling suit, Floyd ear porotector hat, and fingerless gloves. It
drives me whacky because it is dark when I wake up and it is getting dark when I
finish the field work. Wasn't it just a month ago that I watched 9 o'clock
sunsets?
Shelly
and I were extremely concerned about departure and arrival times with
the recent security increases. So to be careful, we are arriving
in the brunch hour the day prior and we will not leave until the
following morning. This is different from other years where we
arrive right before and leave just hours after. Please be sure
to allow for the extra hours that may be needed to check in at the
airport. To be truthful I am hoping that other Inspectors and
their wives will also arrive early and leave late. This will
allow more time to socialize. 
