Clean AirMold & Mildew Inspection & RemovalUpdated on Jul 26, 2016 View more like this | Visit NEW ORLEANS, LA | Contact Integrity Air Quality Solutions |
Mold is a fuzzy growth on moist organic matter by several types of fungi.
The quantity of mold fragments and spores needed to cause health problems varies from person to person. Besides inhalation, people can become exposed to mold through skin contact and air born spores.
Toxic molds can produce several toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can damage your health. These chemicals are present on the spores and small mold fragments that are released into the air. In high concentrations, mold fragments, spores, and mycotoxins can trigger symptoms even in individuals who have no allergies.
Recent studies have linked mold to the rapid rise of the asthma rate over the past 20 years.
A 1999 Mayo Clinic study implicates fungus as the cause of almost all of the chronic sinusitus afflicting 37 million Americans.
Toxic molds can increase your susceptibility to a wide variety of diseases by weakening your immune system.
Molds reproduce by spreading microscopic spores. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on damp organic material, such as wood, paper, feathers, hair, cellulose, petroleum products, rubber, carpet, etc., they may begin growing and digesting the material.
Some molds live in temperatures below freezing, and some like it as warm as 122° F. Molds primarily thrive and become a problem when the relative humidity level is above 60%, with temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees F. (10 to 32 degrees C.) and a pH from 3 to 8. Molds also tend to be more robust in poorly ventilated areas with little air movement to disrupt their growth.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to limit moisture. During humid weather, avoid excessive ventilation and use an air conditioners and/or dehumidifier to keep relative humidity below 60%. Sealing air leaks in the building's exterior and using a mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh filtered air can help to reduce entry of mold spores and make it easier to keep indoor relative humidity below 60%.
Indoor mold growth usually can be seen or smelled.In some cases mold can be invisible and testing is necessary to be detected. There are no health or exposure-based standards that individuals can use to evaluate a mold sample. The amount of mold it takes to cause illness varies from person to person.
Health Effects and Symptoms Associated with Mold Exposure
There are four kinds of health problems that come from exposure to mold:
Allergic reactions
Irritation of tissues
Infections
Toxic effects due to mycotoxins
Mold can trigger an allergic reaction and asthma in sensitized individuals (repeated exposure to mold or mold spores sometimes causes previously non-sensitive individuals to become sensitized). About 15 million Americans are allergic to mold. The most common reactions are flu-like symptoms and asthma. Those with chronic lung or immune problems, are at risk for more serious reactions like fever, lung infections and a pneumonia-like illness.
Some toxic molds such as Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Trichoderma produce mycotoxins capable of causing severe health problems.
When mold grows indoors in moist organic materials, building occupants may begin to notice odors and suffer a variety of health problems associated with mold exposure.
The quantity of mold fragments and spores needed to cause health problems varies from person to person. Besides inhalation, people can become exposed to mold through skin contact and air born spores.
Toxic molds can produce several toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can damage your health. These chemicals are present on the spores and small mold fragments that are released into the air. In high concentrations, mold fragments, spores, and mycotoxins can trigger symptoms even in individuals who have no allergies.
Recent studies have linked mold to the rapid rise of the asthma rate over the past 20 years.
A 1999 Mayo Clinic study implicates fungus as the cause of almost all of the chronic sinusitus afflicting 37 million Americans.
Toxic molds can increase your susceptibility to a wide variety of diseases by weakening your immune system.
Molds reproduce by spreading microscopic spores. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on damp organic material, such as wood, paper, feathers, hair, cellulose, petroleum products, rubber, carpet, etc., they may begin growing and digesting the material.
Some molds live in temperatures below freezing, and some like it as warm as 122° F. Molds primarily thrive and become a problem when the relative humidity level is above 60%, with temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees F. (10 to 32 degrees C.) and a pH from 3 to 8. Molds also tend to be more robust in poorly ventilated areas with little air movement to disrupt their growth.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to limit moisture. During humid weather, avoid excessive ventilation and use an air conditioners and/or dehumidifier to keep relative humidity below 60%. Sealing air leaks in the building's exterior and using a mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh filtered air can help to reduce entry of mold spores and make it easier to keep indoor relative humidity below 60%.
Indoor mold growth usually can be seen or smelled.In some cases mold can be invisible and testing is necessary to be detected. There are no health or exposure-based standards that individuals can use to evaluate a mold sample. The amount of mold it takes to cause illness varies from person to person.
Health Effects and Symptoms Associated with Mold Exposure
There are four kinds of health problems that come from exposure to mold:
Allergic reactions
Irritation of tissues
Infections
Toxic effects due to mycotoxins
Mold can trigger an allergic reaction and asthma in sensitized individuals (repeated exposure to mold or mold spores sometimes causes previously non-sensitive individuals to become sensitized). About 15 million Americans are allergic to mold. The most common reactions are flu-like symptoms and asthma. Those with chronic lung or immune problems, are at risk for more serious reactions like fever, lung infections and a pneumonia-like illness.
Some toxic molds such as Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Trichoderma produce mycotoxins capable of causing severe health problems.
When mold grows indoors in moist organic materials, building occupants may begin to notice odors and suffer a variety of health problems associated with mold exposure.
