When you go to hire a professional company that deals with mold contaminations, there are a few different things that you need to look for to determine whether or not the company is actually professional or not. Do they use the most modern methods of mold detection and cleaning? Do they wear protective gear? What kind of gear do they wear? Body suits? Respirators? And this is perhaps one of the most important questions of all: do they use animals to detect the presence of mold in your home?
The simple fact is that companies that use dogs to detect mold in a home or business are not professionals. They just are not. The practice of using dogs to detect mold in a home or in another building is inhumane and cruel to the animal, simply because of the knowledge that pets are just as susceptible to health damage due to mold as human beings are. A “mold dog” cannot detect whether or not the mold that exists in your home is toxic, what kind of mold it is, or in what quantity that it may exist. This is what mold laboratories and testing kits are for. All a mold dog can do is tell you if mold exists on the premises or not.
It can cost thousands of dollars for a company to have a dog trained to detect mold, but even after the dog is trained, it is almost surely money thrown down the drain. Dogs are trained to actively inhale mold spores, which is something that we as human beings are repeatedly told NEVER to do. We are told to wear respirators to filter these harmful spores out of the air that we breathe when we are dealing with mold. The animal is not aware that these spores can harm them at all. Dogs can develop severe skin, eye, and sinus infections and not to mention lung infections and even pneumonia. Unfortunately, the dog has no way of telling us that something is wrong with it. It knows, but cannot communicate this to us.
There are many other more modern, more professional ways to deal with the task of detecting mold on a piece of property. Any company that uses mold to detect dogs is not one that you want to deal with. Mold dog websites often have pictures of completely healthy animals and they will remain healthy for a while, but the typical cause of death is due to mold-related health complications.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration contractors and
Mold Remediation companies across the united states.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Mold Causes Valley Fever in the Southwest
There is a mold that exists in the southwestern United States, different areas of South America, and the deserts of Mexico that the majority of people are not aware of when they visit the area. The people the most at risk for coming into contact with this mold are construction workers and archeologists, because they dig around in the soil where this mold tends to be found. What is it called and just how dangerous is it really?
Coccidioides immitis causes a skin disease that has been referred to as “Valley Fever” by some, but as Coccidioidomycosis to physicians. The features of this skin disease are typically rashes, coughing, myalgia, rashes, and headaches. Myalgia is synonymous with “muscle pain” and this can be a sign or symptom of many other different kinds of diseases, not just Valley Fever. The usual cause of myalgia is the over-use of a specific muscle or possibly an entire set of muscles. If a person does not have a medical history of overworking or accidents, then the myalgia is probably being caused by a bacterial or even a viral infection. If it is present in a person chronically, then it could possibly be a sign of some deficiency in the person’s nutrition.
The disease is known to be endemic in the states of New Mexico, California, and Arizona.
The most common cause of C. immitis exposure is due to the digging or disturbing of soil that has been contaminated. For the mold spores to get into the air and allow you to inhale them, this contaminated soil typically needs to be wet and recently, in order for archeologists to be able to dig in soil in the southwestern United States, they have ordered the soil be saturated with water first to avoid this exposure. This has been put into practice not only with archeologists, but also any other occupation that involves digging into the soil. Soil can also be stirred up due to natural disasters such as earthquakes or dust storms.
Those at the risk for developing the most serious aspects of the disease can include those who are pregnant and in their third trimester, African Americans, Asians, and anyone with a weakened immune system, such as those who have HIV or AIDS. Severe pulmonary disease could develop in these individuals in addition to the skin rashes, fever, and other symptoms that are associated with Valley Fever.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Coccidioides immitis causes a skin disease that has been referred to as “Valley Fever” by some, but as Coccidioidomycosis to physicians. The features of this skin disease are typically rashes, coughing, myalgia, rashes, and headaches. Myalgia is synonymous with “muscle pain” and this can be a sign or symptom of many other different kinds of diseases, not just Valley Fever. The usual cause of myalgia is the over-use of a specific muscle or possibly an entire set of muscles. If a person does not have a medical history of overworking or accidents, then the myalgia is probably being caused by a bacterial or even a viral infection. If it is present in a person chronically, then it could possibly be a sign of some deficiency in the person’s nutrition.
The disease is known to be endemic in the states of New Mexico, California, and Arizona.
The most common cause of C. immitis exposure is due to the digging or disturbing of soil that has been contaminated. For the mold spores to get into the air and allow you to inhale them, this contaminated soil typically needs to be wet and recently, in order for archeologists to be able to dig in soil in the southwestern United States, they have ordered the soil be saturated with water first to avoid this exposure. This has been put into practice not only with archeologists, but also any other occupation that involves digging into the soil. Soil can also be stirred up due to natural disasters such as earthquakes or dust storms.
Those at the risk for developing the most serious aspects of the disease can include those who are pregnant and in their third trimester, African Americans, Asians, and anyone with a weakened immune system, such as those who have HIV or AIDS. Severe pulmonary disease could develop in these individuals in addition to the skin rashes, fever, and other symptoms that are associated with Valley Fever.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
water damage restoration companies and
Dallas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
Dangerous Mold in the Desert
It might not have occurred to you, but mold can exist even in some of the hottest climates, such as parts of the southwestern United States. Just because this mold can exist there, however, does not mean that it is not a danger to human beings. People who live in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. might not think that they are in any danger from mold due to the high temperatures and lack of rain, but the fact is that these areas are in just as much danger of mold and water damage as areas that get more rain and have more life-friendly temperatures.
Coccidioides simmitis is a dangerous mold that lives in the western deserts of the United States and causes what has become known as “Valley Fever”. This is a skin disease that can lead to death if it is left untreated for long enough and while this mold is located in the deserts of the southwestern United States and even Mexico, it is oddly absent from the deserts of other continents such as Asia, Africa, and Australia.
The reason that mold damage can be a huge problem in areas of desert such as those of Arizona and New Mexico is that residents sometimes use “swamp heaters” to cool down their homes and offices during the most hot and dry parts of the year. Unfortunately, the downside to these will cause the indoor humidity to skyrocket and condensation ends up building on windows and any other cold surface. Leaks can also occur where water pipes flow upward to the coolers on the rooftops and this can cause water damage to attics, ceilings, and walls.
Water and air conditioning are very important in desert climates and so the possibility of air conditioning condensation leakage and plumbing leaks is pretty high. Air conditioners and fans are used almost constantly and in some places, hot water heaters are not needed during the majority of the year because the water is hot when it comes out of the faucet.
Most of the mold insurance claims in the deserts of the United States are caused by water damage, even though most people think that desert climates do not have enough moisture to cause mold to become an issue. With the presence of the mold that causes Valley Fever in the southwestern United States, if you live in a desert area, you should be extremely careful to make sure that water leaks in your home or business are taken care of very quickly and efficiently.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
South Carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
Connecticut water damage restoration companies across the united states.
Coccidioides simmitis is a dangerous mold that lives in the western deserts of the United States and causes what has become known as “Valley Fever”. This is a skin disease that can lead to death if it is left untreated for long enough and while this mold is located in the deserts of the southwestern United States and even Mexico, it is oddly absent from the deserts of other continents such as Asia, Africa, and Australia.
The reason that mold damage can be a huge problem in areas of desert such as those of Arizona and New Mexico is that residents sometimes use “swamp heaters” to cool down their homes and offices during the most hot and dry parts of the year. Unfortunately, the downside to these will cause the indoor humidity to skyrocket and condensation ends up building on windows and any other cold surface. Leaks can also occur where water pipes flow upward to the coolers on the rooftops and this can cause water damage to attics, ceilings, and walls.
Water and air conditioning are very important in desert climates and so the possibility of air conditioning condensation leakage and plumbing leaks is pretty high. Air conditioners and fans are used almost constantly and in some places, hot water heaters are not needed during the majority of the year because the water is hot when it comes out of the faucet.
Most of the mold insurance claims in the deserts of the United States are caused by water damage, even though most people think that desert climates do not have enough moisture to cause mold to become an issue. With the presence of the mold that causes Valley Fever in the southwestern United States, if you live in a desert area, you should be extremely careful to make sure that water leaks in your home or business are taken care of very quickly and efficiently.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
South Carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
Connecticut water damage restoration companies across the united states.
What Molded Foods to Discard
Knowing what kind of food in your refrigerator that has become moldy that you should throw away can sometimes be a difficult task, especially if you do not understand what kinds of foods are affected by mold the most severely. If people would keep their refrigerators cleaned out more often, there might be less instances of mold growth in them, but mold growing in the refrigerator on some food every once in a while is fairly unavoidable. Sometimes we leave things in the fridge for too long because we forget they are there or possibly we just put off eating that particular item until it becomes moldy and it is too late to save. So, what kinds of foods can be saved if they become contaminated by mold?
Fruits and vegetables can become moldy if you leave them in the refrigerator long enough and especially if there is a bad one among them that does not get thrown out. Leaving a bad fruit or vegetable near healthy ones will inevitably cause the others to go bad in a relatively short period of time. Most molded fruits and vegetables cannot be saved because these items are porous and generally have a high content of moisture.
Other foods that contain a high moisture content such as jams, jellies, and etcetera should also be thrown out if you find mold growing on them or even just on the inner surface on the lid of the jar. The mold will contaminate the entire jar, because they are not dense foods.
Foods like cakes, cookies, breads, and other baked goods should also be thrown away because of their porous, non-dense nature. We all know that breads can become moldy and most of us throw them away and this logic is usually applied to everything else baked in the oven.
Foods like blocks of cheese and hard salami, however, can usually be saved even if they become contaminated with mold. Simply take a knife and cut around the molded area by about one inch and cut one inch underneath. Throw the molded piece away. Unfortunately, individually sliced cheeses that become moldy cannot be treated in this manner because they are moist enough that the mold “roots” will contaminate the whole slice and even possibly the entire pack. Just throw them away.
Let’s review. Items that contain a lot of moisture such as cream cheese, sour cream, and etcetera should be thrown away. Foods that are also very porous like baked goods should also be thrown out. Dense foods like blocks of cheese and hard salami can be saved.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
north carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation companies across the united states.
Fruits and vegetables can become moldy if you leave them in the refrigerator long enough and especially if there is a bad one among them that does not get thrown out. Leaving a bad fruit or vegetable near healthy ones will inevitably cause the others to go bad in a relatively short period of time. Most molded fruits and vegetables cannot be saved because these items are porous and generally have a high content of moisture.
Other foods that contain a high moisture content such as jams, jellies, and etcetera should also be thrown out if you find mold growing on them or even just on the inner surface on the lid of the jar. The mold will contaminate the entire jar, because they are not dense foods.
Foods like cakes, cookies, breads, and other baked goods should also be thrown away because of their porous, non-dense nature. We all know that breads can become moldy and most of us throw them away and this logic is usually applied to everything else baked in the oven.
Foods like blocks of cheese and hard salami, however, can usually be saved even if they become contaminated with mold. Simply take a knife and cut around the molded area by about one inch and cut one inch underneath. Throw the molded piece away. Unfortunately, individually sliced cheeses that become moldy cannot be treated in this manner because they are moist enough that the mold “roots” will contaminate the whole slice and even possibly the entire pack. Just throw them away.
Let’s review. Items that contain a lot of moisture such as cream cheese, sour cream, and etcetera should be thrown away. Foods that are also very porous like baked goods should also be thrown out. Dense foods like blocks of cheese and hard salami can be saved.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
north carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation companies across the united states.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Mold in the Bible
Insurance adjusters are terribly fond of telling people that mold has been around long before human beings walked the earth and that it is not as big of a deal as the modern day medical community is making it out to be, however what many of these people don’t know (or are banking that their clients don’t know) is that mold has been a problem ever since Biblical times and probably before.
The book of Leviticus speaks of a mold contaminated home in chapter 14:39-47. A priest was said to remove the stones in the home that were contaminated with mold and they were to be taken to a place outside of town that was used to dump things that were considered “unclean”. If the mold (or mildew) came back after all these stones were removed, then the entire house was to be torn down. It was considered to be a defiled place to live in and that also any clothing that was contaminated with it was to be shown to the priest and thrown away, as well.
The eighth plague of Egypt, the locusts, would have caused the Egyptians to collect as many crops from the field as possible and store them underground (where it is moist and dark). It is speculated that the reason for the deaths of the first born children of Egypt was mold that contaminated the crops and when fed to children, would cause disease and if enough was ingested, death. The Bible says that the eldest child received double portions of food in those times and a theory says that this is the reason that the firstborn alone died: he/she was the only child who had eaten enough of the mold for it to be fatal. Stachybotrys atra, along with other kinds of mold, releases mycotoxins and if this was present in the grain that the Egyptians stored underground after the plague of locusts, then anyone who consumed it would have become ill. It is said that the Jews living in Egypt at the time would have been eating herbs, unleavened bread, and lamb, which are supposedly safe from being contaminated by this mold.
So, if your insurance adjuster claims that mold was not a problem years ago and that mold has been around longer than we have, take a Bible and show him the book of Leviticus. Even if he’s not religious, seeing mold talked about in a text over 2,000 years old should be enough to take back his statements.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
north carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation companies across the united states.
The book of Leviticus speaks of a mold contaminated home in chapter 14:39-47. A priest was said to remove the stones in the home that were contaminated with mold and they were to be taken to a place outside of town that was used to dump things that were considered “unclean”. If the mold (or mildew) came back after all these stones were removed, then the entire house was to be torn down. It was considered to be a defiled place to live in and that also any clothing that was contaminated with it was to be shown to the priest and thrown away, as well.
The eighth plague of Egypt, the locusts, would have caused the Egyptians to collect as many crops from the field as possible and store them underground (where it is moist and dark). It is speculated that the reason for the deaths of the first born children of Egypt was mold that contaminated the crops and when fed to children, would cause disease and if enough was ingested, death. The Bible says that the eldest child received double portions of food in those times and a theory says that this is the reason that the firstborn alone died: he/she was the only child who had eaten enough of the mold for it to be fatal. Stachybotrys atra, along with other kinds of mold, releases mycotoxins and if this was present in the grain that the Egyptians stored underground after the plague of locusts, then anyone who consumed it would have become ill. It is said that the Jews living in Egypt at the time would have been eating herbs, unleavened bread, and lamb, which are supposedly safe from being contaminated by this mold.
So, if your insurance adjuster claims that mold was not a problem years ago and that mold has been around longer than we have, take a Bible and show him the book of Leviticus. Even if he’s not religious, seeing mold talked about in a text over 2,000 years old should be enough to take back his statements.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
north carolina flood water damage restoration and other states such as
New Jersey mold remediation companies across the united states.
Keeping Mold Out of Household Items
If you have a water bottle or you are a parent who has baby bottles and you are constantly having to replace them due to the insides (or the lids) becoming moldy, there is hope. Sometimes the odd shapes of the bottles are what keep them from drying out completely and when they do not dry all the way, mold starts to grow. The best thing that you can do to prevent mold from growing in your baby bottles is to not even bother trying to dry the inside completely after you’ve washed them. Simply dry the outside, dry as much of the inside as you can, and then stick them in the freezer. Many people put things like flour and cornmeal into the freezer to protect them from mice, bugs, and other pests, so why not do this to stop mold?
Clothes can also be a good source of food for mold, but some people are at a loss as to what they can do to stop mold from growing in their closets. The first thing that you can do is not pack your clothes in the closet so tightly together. Allowing air to circulate through the closet and amongst the clothing will hinder the mold’s growth.
Tossing dirty, damp clothes or towels into the bathroom closet or on the floor anywhere and just leaving them there can also cause mold to grow. Mold needs moisture, warmth, and a source of nutrients.
Mold has also been known to grow in mattresses that have gotten wet and have been allowed to dry naturally. Mattresses that are re-used over and over, especially in baby beds, are unsanitary and should be thrown away if they are found to be contaminated with mold. A study that comes from New Zealand says that when mold gets into a mattress (particularly Scopularipsis brevicaulis) and begins to feed on the mattress material. The danger of this is that the mattress probably contains antimony, arsenic, or phosphorus are used as fire retardants by law in some places. The mold digests these chemicals and as all organisms do when they digest something, gases are released back into the air. These gases are toxic to human beings and it is speculated in New Zealand that this is the main cause of crib death and it is not “unavoidable”, as many North American studies claim.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut Mold Remediation services and other states such as
north carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Clothes can also be a good source of food for mold, but some people are at a loss as to what they can do to stop mold from growing in their closets. The first thing that you can do is not pack your clothes in the closet so tightly together. Allowing air to circulate through the closet and amongst the clothing will hinder the mold’s growth.
Tossing dirty, damp clothes or towels into the bathroom closet or on the floor anywhere and just leaving them there can also cause mold to grow. Mold needs moisture, warmth, and a source of nutrients.
Mold has also been known to grow in mattresses that have gotten wet and have been allowed to dry naturally. Mattresses that are re-used over and over, especially in baby beds, are unsanitary and should be thrown away if they are found to be contaminated with mold. A study that comes from New Zealand says that when mold gets into a mattress (particularly Scopularipsis brevicaulis) and begins to feed on the mattress material. The danger of this is that the mattress probably contains antimony, arsenic, or phosphorus are used as fire retardants by law in some places. The mold digests these chemicals and as all organisms do when they digest something, gases are released back into the air. These gases are toxic to human beings and it is speculated in New Zealand that this is the main cause of crib death and it is not “unavoidable”, as many North American studies claim.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Connecticut Mold Remediation services and other states such as
north carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
How to Test For Mold
The basic idea of mold test kits is to detect the mold in your home first of all and then secondly, to send off the test samples to a mold laboratory for analysis and so they can identify just what kinds of mold you have living in your home. If you have one kind of mold in your house, odds are that you have at least a second.
If you see mold growing on your wall, floor, ceiling, or your air conditioning system, you can use scotch tape to lift mold particles off of the moldy area and onto the surface of the mold test kit. You could also scrape the mold particles off of the surface with a knife or other item, but this is not recommended because it will stir up the spores. Doing this barehanded is also not recommended; do not touch mold with your bare hands. Use some kind of glove, preferably latex, if possible. After you collect the mold into the test, even if you used gloves, wash your hands thoroughly. Do this even if you’re going to go and test another area of the home, because you don’t want to cross-contaminate the sites.
After you are done, you should print your name, the name of whoever owns the property, the address, and the exact location of that particular test sample, the date, and the kind of sampling method you used. Also include the duration of the test in minutes or hours, along with the person’s name who conducted the test and how they can be contacted.
Take samples from your air conditioning ducts. You should run the air conditioner on its fan setting for about ten minutes before you do the test and you should tape the test kit to the grill of the duct so the air hits the sticky surface directly.
Testing each room, basement, attic, garage, and any kind of crawl space is also necessary. Use a fan to stir up the air in the room for about 10 to 15 minutes before testing.
Also test the outdoor environment for mold to have something to compare the indoor results to.
If there is a kind of mold that exists in the indoor tests that does not exist in the outdoor tests, then the cause of that mold is restricted to the indoor environment and is not coming from the outside. This mold is being generated from the inside of the home and you should do your best to find the cause in the area where that test was taken.
After you’ve looked at the tests yourself (wearing gloves and eye protection), have them sent to a mold laboratory for analysis and identification. They will send you back the results and after that, calling in a professional mold remediation specialist is necessary.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.moldrestorationny.info
http://www.moldrestorationnj.info
If you see mold growing on your wall, floor, ceiling, or your air conditioning system, you can use scotch tape to lift mold particles off of the moldy area and onto the surface of the mold test kit. You could also scrape the mold particles off of the surface with a knife or other item, but this is not recommended because it will stir up the spores. Doing this barehanded is also not recommended; do not touch mold with your bare hands. Use some kind of glove, preferably latex, if possible. After you collect the mold into the test, even if you used gloves, wash your hands thoroughly. Do this even if you’re going to go and test another area of the home, because you don’t want to cross-contaminate the sites.
After you are done, you should print your name, the name of whoever owns the property, the address, and the exact location of that particular test sample, the date, and the kind of sampling method you used. Also include the duration of the test in minutes or hours, along with the person’s name who conducted the test and how they can be contacted.
Take samples from your air conditioning ducts. You should run the air conditioner on its fan setting for about ten minutes before you do the test and you should tape the test kit to the grill of the duct so the air hits the sticky surface directly.
Testing each room, basement, attic, garage, and any kind of crawl space is also necessary. Use a fan to stir up the air in the room for about 10 to 15 minutes before testing.
Also test the outdoor environment for mold to have something to compare the indoor results to.
If there is a kind of mold that exists in the indoor tests that does not exist in the outdoor tests, then the cause of that mold is restricted to the indoor environment and is not coming from the outside. This mold is being generated from the inside of the home and you should do your best to find the cause in the area where that test was taken.
After you’ve looked at the tests yourself (wearing gloves and eye protection), have them sent to a mold laboratory for analysis and identification. They will send you back the results and after that, calling in a professional mold remediation specialist is necessary.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.moldrestorationny.info
http://www.moldrestorationnj.info
How to Dry Out Your Home
If you have had a home or some kind of building submerged in water, by way of either rain, or some kind of flood, then you are probably well aware of just how frustrating of a task drying it out can be. If you have not had to do this before, then you’re in luck, because here are some different ways to start drying it out.
One of the most unexpected things that can happen is a flood. And sometimes, the water can get high enough to where it can get inside of your home, or building, and drying this water out is a long arduous process. And, depending on the building, hot air drying techniques can do more harm than do help.
The very first thing you should do before drying your building out, is to make sure that there is no room for electrical hazard. You should make sure that all of the power in your home is completely off. You shouldn’t just be aware of the electrical hazards; you should keep an eye out for biological ones, because the flood water could very well be infected with human waste, chemicals, dead bodies, and countless amounts of bacteria that could cause serious medical harm. It is important that you protect your eyes, hands, mouth, and wear a respirator. You should wash your hands very thoroughly after cleaning, and once again before eating. It is recommended that you use strong disinfectant hand soap.
It is also important that you keep documentation of the damage done to your home. It is preferred that you document the damage with photos and a video camera. This will be a big help when making an insurance claim and finding out what compensation you will be eligible for.
You should also take time to make temporary repairs to prevent more water from getting into your home and causing further damage. Once again, these repairs should only be temporary.
A recommended place to begin drying out your home is the attic. If there is any wet insulation, you should remove it immediately, because it is cumbersome, and holds a lot of moisture for a long period of time causing more damage to the foundation, such as wood rot, rust, and drywall damage. It is also important to remove anything else that has water on it, or in it. You should make sure, after these measures are taken, that you keep your home cool, and that air is circulating. You might want to keep your windows open for a short amount of time, as long as it’s not raining.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey Sewage Damage Cleanup and other states such as
New York mold remediation companies across the united states.
One of the most unexpected things that can happen is a flood. And sometimes, the water can get high enough to where it can get inside of your home, or building, and drying this water out is a long arduous process. And, depending on the building, hot air drying techniques can do more harm than do help.
The very first thing you should do before drying your building out, is to make sure that there is no room for electrical hazard. You should make sure that all of the power in your home is completely off. You shouldn’t just be aware of the electrical hazards; you should keep an eye out for biological ones, because the flood water could very well be infected with human waste, chemicals, dead bodies, and countless amounts of bacteria that could cause serious medical harm. It is important that you protect your eyes, hands, mouth, and wear a respirator. You should wash your hands very thoroughly after cleaning, and once again before eating. It is recommended that you use strong disinfectant hand soap.
It is also important that you keep documentation of the damage done to your home. It is preferred that you document the damage with photos and a video camera. This will be a big help when making an insurance claim and finding out what compensation you will be eligible for.
You should also take time to make temporary repairs to prevent more water from getting into your home and causing further damage. Once again, these repairs should only be temporary.
A recommended place to begin drying out your home is the attic. If there is any wet insulation, you should remove it immediately, because it is cumbersome, and holds a lot of moisture for a long period of time causing more damage to the foundation, such as wood rot, rust, and drywall damage. It is also important to remove anything else that has water on it, or in it. You should make sure, after these measures are taken, that you keep your home cool, and that air is circulating. You might want to keep your windows open for a short amount of time, as long as it’s not raining.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey Sewage Damage Cleanup and other states such as
New York mold remediation companies across the united states.
Cladosporium Mold
Cladosporium mold is one of the most common and globally present molds in existence. It has around 40 species that are found in soil or on decaying organic matter and some studies that have been conducted in North America and in Europe claim that the mold is present outdoors year round, although the concentration of this mold is quite low during the winter.
In the summer, spore levels can reach from 2,000 to 50,000 particles per cubic meter of air. The air and concentration of these spores in your home are influenced by two factors: the outdoor concentration and whether the mold is growing in your house or not.
In the home, Cladosporium species manifest themselves as an infection in the walls, second to Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, and Wallemia sebi. It is prevalent on building materials that have gotten wet. The four species that occur most commonly are Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Cladosporium macrocarpum. The spores of these molds are dispersed by air currents and are extremely common in outdoor environments; when they are found indoors, they grow on surfaces where moisture is present.
The different species of this mold that occur are not generally human pathogens unless a person’s immune system has been compromised in some way. They do, however, have the tendency to cause allergic reactions in certain people. Exposure to high levels of spores can induce asthma and chronic allergies. A concentration of 3000 spores per cubic meter of air space are usually seen as being of clinical importance. Some people may react to a lower concentration of these spores depending upon their own individual sensitivity to them. Infections of the toenails and skin can occur, along with some reports of sinusitis and some pulmonary infections, but only rarely do these occur.
These species of mold are detected quite easily in mold test kits and spore traps around the home and can appear as black, grey, green, or brown when it grows upon a surface. Generally speaking, the only negative effects associated with Cladosporium are allergic reactions and are less serious of a threat than molds such as Penicillin, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. Prolonged exposure to Cladosporium, however, can cause weakened immune systems and while they do not produce any mycotoxins of any significance, they do produce some volatile organic compounds that are associated with odors.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodingnc.info
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In the summer, spore levels can reach from 2,000 to 50,000 particles per cubic meter of air. The air and concentration of these spores in your home are influenced by two factors: the outdoor concentration and whether the mold is growing in your house or not.
In the home, Cladosporium species manifest themselves as an infection in the walls, second to Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, and Wallemia sebi. It is prevalent on building materials that have gotten wet. The four species that occur most commonly are Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Cladosporium macrocarpum. The spores of these molds are dispersed by air currents and are extremely common in outdoor environments; when they are found indoors, they grow on surfaces where moisture is present.
The different species of this mold that occur are not generally human pathogens unless a person’s immune system has been compromised in some way. They do, however, have the tendency to cause allergic reactions in certain people. Exposure to high levels of spores can induce asthma and chronic allergies. A concentration of 3000 spores per cubic meter of air space are usually seen as being of clinical importance. Some people may react to a lower concentration of these spores depending upon their own individual sensitivity to them. Infections of the toenails and skin can occur, along with some reports of sinusitis and some pulmonary infections, but only rarely do these occur.
These species of mold are detected quite easily in mold test kits and spore traps around the home and can appear as black, grey, green, or brown when it grows upon a surface. Generally speaking, the only negative effects associated with Cladosporium are allergic reactions and are less serious of a threat than molds such as Penicillin, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. Prolonged exposure to Cladosporium, however, can cause weakened immune systems and while they do not produce any mycotoxins of any significance, they do produce some volatile organic compounds that are associated with odors.
Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.floodingnc.info
http://www.floodnj.info
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