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So you’re finally fed up with your damp, moldy home. You want to go outside, and breathe in some fresh, clean, mold-free air. You decide to head to a ball game and enjoy the stadium, peanut-vendors, and camaraderie of the athletic competition. Here, you believe you can enjoy a day without mold. But you’d be wrong.

There is seemingly no escape as a recent review by ESPN found mold, mouse droppings, and cockroaches infesting pretty much all of our nation’s biggest sporting arenas. They reviewed health department inspection reports from 2009 for food and beverage outlets at 107 professional arenas and stadiums, places where we go to watch live baseball, football, and hockey teams.

Sometimes, more than half of those arena concession stands or restaurants were cited for “critical” or “major” health violations. Among other things, mold was found on ice where food and cold drinks are stored. It makes sense; mold loves food and water, so it’s no surprise that these food vendors are creating an ideal ecosystem for mold to thrive.

The worse sports venue? The Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Here every single one of its vendors were cited for violations. So when you watch a Washington Capitals game, don’t forget to order a moldy hotdog with a side of mouse droppings. Yum!

While this study was limited to mold on food, I would also be curious about mold growing in the HVAC systems, bathrooms, and other water-rich places in these arenas. Hockey arenas are probably very susceptible to mold since they are climate-controlled and literally filled with frozen water.

I would encourage these facilities to look into mold removal companies and specialists that can offer an inexpensive mold removal estimate. Guardian Preservation offers a unique approach on mold removal that uses a naturally-occurring enzyme to seek out, break down, and eliminate mold. It’s safe, effective, and cheaper than older alternatives.

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When we think of mothers, words like loving, caring, and selfless come to mind.  With Mother’s Day only a few days away, many of us are scrambling trying to figure out what to get the important women in our lives.  Well don’t fret, I’m going to give you some great ideas that mom is sure to love!

Check out these natural and green gift ideas that will put a smile on her face and help the earth at the same time: 

Customized Tote: Imprint mom’s favorite photo on one of these organic totes and fill it with her favorite goodies: http://www.itsonlynaturalgifts.com/Organic_and_Natural_Mother_s_Day_Gifts_s/28.htm

Give to Charity: Moms understand the value of helping others more than anyone else, so why not honor her by donating to those in need? The International Rescue Committee provides prenatal care for expectant mothers and kits to families who need cooking and hygiene materials in war-torn countries: http://www.fromharmtohome.org/

Organic Bouquet: What woman doesn’t love flowers? These beautiful flowers are all organically grown and gentle on the earth. The packaging is green and biodegradable, but still innovative and stylish:  http://www.organicbouquet.com/c_38/eco-friendly/Mothers-Day-Gifts.html

Green Books: Companies like Chronicle Books provide a wide variety of books that come from in-house recycling programs within their Energy-Star certified building, and they carefully source paper from FSC and PEFC sources to continually reduce and reuse their paper volume: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/

Pamper her with Beauty: After all their hard work day after day, moms deserve a little pampering.  Saffron Rouge provides organic beauty products such as lotions, makeup, and hair products.  All products are safe and made without plastics, artificial fragrances, silicones, or dyes: http://www.saffronrouge.com/

If you’ve read this blog before, you know I believe in the importance of using natural products and protecting the earth. We should all do our part to keep the earth and our families safe and protected.   My company Guardian Preservation Services and I would like to thank all those mothers out there for all they do, and we wish them a Happy Mother’s Day!

Image by William Brawley via Flickr

The Asthma & Allergy Foundation recently ranked Louisville, KY one of the worst cities in the nation for allergy sufferers.  Louisville residents, along with all other allergy sufferers around the nation, are preparing themselves for the dreaded mold and allergy season that is now upon us.

When the warmer weather comes, mold spores take advantage of the moisture in the air and begin to multiply.  Mold can cause many allergy-like symptoms such as itchy watery eyes, scratchy throat, and nasal congestion. Along with the health effects, indoor mold can also cause catastrophic property damage. So if you have any type of water damage such as flooding or water leaks, that will only intensify the mold growth.

Allergist offices are swamped with appointments for allergy shots and requests for medications. Many sufferers are also turning to acupuncture for treatment, saying it keeps them clear with no clogged sinuses.  

No matter what treatments are used, the mold and allergy season is here whether we like it or not, so make sure you are ready! If you’re feeling symptoms or think you may have a mold problem in your home, it is critical to take immediate action and have the mold professionally removed before your health conditions worsen.  Contact Guardian Preservation Services for more information on mold and mold removal or check out our website to get free mold facts.

Image by McBeth via Flickr

A family in Alabama is left homeless after their home was condemned due to toxic mold. The family, originally from Ohio, found their home on Craigslist and was looking to make a new start for themselves. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize that fresh start included not so fresh toxic mold.

When the family arrived at their new home in Alabama, they found quite the surprise waiting for them. Not only were workers who were supposedly repairing their home actually living in it, but the house had holes in the walls, black mold, birds living in the kitchen, and rooms that had no floors. While trying to call the owners to get their money back, city officials stepped in and condemned the home because of its unlivable conditions, structural issues, and electrical hazards.  This poor family just wants to get to the bottom of the matter and have a safe home to live in.

The one thing the family can be truly thankful for is that they did not have to spend one single night in that home. Toxic black mold is a serious health threat that could have endangered the entire family. Breathing in the toxic mold spores could have caused anything from allergic reactions to depression and memory loss.

If you have a mold problem, call a mold removal expert immediately. Mold does not go away on its own, so the longer you wait the problem and risks will continue to grow. Check out Guardian Preservation Services for more information on the harmful health effects of toxic mold and the safe and efficient way to get rid of your mold problem for good.

Image by all that improbable blue via Flickr

Artist Ethan Gold‘s new album, appropriately titled “Songs from a Toxic Apartment” was literally written and recorded by Gold while he was living in a toxic apartment. The album, complete with 12 songs, is an interesting mix of emotions  and sad lyrics all that came about while Gold was hallucinating from exposure to mold and asbestos in his dilapidated apartment.

The album is a combination of natural and electronic sounds, and talks of feelings about isolation and angst. He also sings about being depressed, and as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, depression is a known side effect from mold exposure.

Though Gold was forced to eventually vacate the apartment because it was condemned, it’s very clear when listening to this album that the toxic mold in his apartment was severely harming his health and mental state.  There is no telling what damage could have been done if he stayed in that toxic apartment, even if it did make a good story line for his music.

Don’t endanger your health or the safety of your loved ones because of a mold problem. If you or anyone you know is living with toxic mold, call a mold removal expert immediately. Check out Guardian Preservation Services to learn more about the health effects from mold and the permanent damage it can do if not properly treated.  Unlike many mold removal companies, we use an organic mold removal method that is 100% safe, natural, and effective.