What causes chemical sensitivity? It seems to result from acute or chronic exposure to any chemicals. These chemicals can come from consumer products like bleach and disinfectants or from environmental toxins like mold.
All the families living in this 30-unit apartment complex have been forced to vacate the building after a long battle with a growing mold problem – a battle they have evidently lost. Industrial hygienist, Chris Lakin, declared 24 apartment units should be vacated immediately, but gave the remaining 6 units a slightly less failing grade of “uninhabitable, but only until the fall.”
Owners of Quadrant-built homes are complaining about numerous things. In one house, a heater is not powerful enough to heat more than the bedroom. In another house, inspectors found that a dryer vent had been routed to the attic but never piped outdoors, allowing mold to grow rampantly in the attic. More than 1,200 square feet of mold is growing in these houses.
You might find mold in growing in dark, damp, poorly-ventilated areas like bathrooms, closets, basements, laundry rooms, and crawlspaces. Mold could be found under sinks, around tubs and showers, on windowsills. Mold is pretty easy to identify; check for any wet, spongy, discoloration – usually white, green, or black.
In fact, the Federal Trade Commission warns against purchasing products that have vague terms and sweeping claims in their advertising. Instead, look for a more concrete term like “organic.” Our enzyme is one of the only organic mold removal products available. Also, check to make sure that a “green” cleaning product actually has the Green Seal (or EcoLogo in Canada). This certification is given by the federal government and while not perfect, it shows some testing was done to give the product certification.
Don’t use bleach to kill mold! But you don’t have to take our word for it. The EPA now says “the use of a chemical biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation.” Additionally, OSHA’s Mold Remediation/ Clean Up Methods guidelines also discourage the use of chlorine bleach as a mold remediation tool.
Wine is not only enjoyable for many but for some it is an investment. Is your wine susceptible to mold? The label is made of paper and is also susceptible to mold. It may seem like a minor loss, but the label largely determines how valuable the wine is. You can wrap the label in sealable polyethylene to protect it from mold degradation.
Check back with “The Future of Mold” to see the conclusion of the top 10 most interesting mold facts. For more information on mold, go to Preservation Services to find out how you can quickly and easily remove mold by using a safe and inexpensive new mold-fighting technology.
Here are three shortcuts or quick-fixes that a dishonest remediator may use. While some of these tactics may work in conjunction with other more effective remediation tactics, using them alone is usually a red flag that your remediator is trying to bilk you out of money with a shortcut.