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Health Problem
from
Toxic Mold Contamination
How am I exposed to indoor molds?
Mold is found everywhere, indoors and
outdoors. It is common to find mold spores in the air of homes and
growing on damp surfaces. Much of the mold found indoors comes from
outdoor sources. Therefore, everyone is exposed to some mold on a
daily basis without evident harm. Mold spores primarily cause health
problems when they enter the air and are inhaled in large number.
People can also be exposed to mold through skin contact and eating.
How much mold can make me sick?
It depends. For some people, a relatively
small number of mold spores can cause health problems. For other
people, it may take may more. The basic rule is, if you can see or
smell it, take steps to eliminate the excess moisture, and to cleanup
and remove the mold.
What is at greater risk when exposed to
mold?
Exposure to mold is not health for anyone
inside buildings. It is important to quickly identify and correct any
moisture sources before health problems develop. The following
individuals appear to be at higher risk for adverse health effects of
molds:
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Infants and Children
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Elderly
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Immune compromised patients ( people with
HIV infection, cancer, chemotherapy, liver disease, etc.)
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Pregnant Women
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Individuals with existing respiratory
conditions, such as allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and
asthma.
Infection from Mold
Although many mold fungi are harmless, there
are now over 100 identified species that are known to cause one of
these types of infection of humans:
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Systemic Infection;
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Opportunistic Infection (Mold Parasites);
and
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Dermatophytes (a group of fungi that
infects the hair, skin, and nails)
Opportunistic infection is usually a
secondary result of some other primary disease. Systemic infection can
be fatal to immune suppressed individuals. Infection by dermatophytes
usually occurs through direct contact with an individual or indirectly
by sharing clothes, grooming utensils, etc., and rarely from the
environment.
Toxicosis from Mold
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, nose bleeds, dermatitis, and immune
suppression. Many mycotoxins are highly carcinogenic (disease
causing).
Allergy from Mold
Allergy is the most common symptom associated
with exposure to elevated levels of fungal spores or mold fragments.
Any fungus can be allergenic., Symptoms include conjunctivitis
rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonities.
Irritation from Mold
Fungi produced volatile organic compounds
during degradation of substrates that cause the "moldy" odor
associated with fungal contamination. These compounds can be
irritating to mucous membranes, causing headaches and other symptoms.
Asthma from Mold
17.3 million Americans have asthma, a
respiratory disease that leaves sufferers coughing, wheezing and
gasping for air. Cases of asthma have risen about 75 percent since
1980, particularly among blacks and poor, inner-city populations, says
the report released by the prestigious Institute of Medicine that
studied just how big a role that air inside people's homes can play in
the disease.
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Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Solutions
Phil can help you fix your own property’s mold
problems at low-cost, more safely, and better-in- results than what is
done by many mold inspectors and mold contractors. How can Phil
help you?
1. Read Phil’s five plain-English,
mold advice books to master mold
inspection, testing, removal, remediation, and prevention for your house,
condo, apartment, office, or workplace.
2. Buy do-it-yourself, affordable
mold test kits,
mold lab analysis,
video inspection scope,
mold cleaner, and
mold killer, for the successful toxic and household mold
inspection, mold testing, mold species identification and quantification,
mold cleaning, mold removal, and mold remediation to find mold, kill mold,
clean mold, and remove mold from your residence or commercial building.
3. Get FREE mold advice, mold help, and/or answers
to your mold questions, by emailing mold expert Phillip Fry at
envirotraining@moldinspector.com.
You can also email pictures of your mold problems in
jpeg file format as email attachments. |