Mold Contamination Health and Removal Precautions
Mold contamination is a proven serious health risk and immediate removal is key. Mold spores thrive in continuously wet conditions and can start to grow within 24 hours after a flood. They can cause allergy symptoms, headaches, bronchitis, asthma attacks, lung irritation and skin rashes. People with asthma or other pulmonary illnesses, compromised immune systems, infants and elderly are more likely to develop mold-related illnesses. Mold growth shoud not be ignored!
Effective and safe mold remediation means:
- The mold must be contained in the area and not allowed to aerosolize and spread.
- The mold must be killed with biocides.
- The dead mold and spores must be removed from infected areas.
- The infected areas must be treated and the source of moisture must be eliminated to prevent future mold growth.
Since many signs of mold health problems can be attributed to other illnesses, you may not even realize that the cure to your illness lies not in a physician, but in a mold removal contractor. Mold is considered a biotoxin since it is a biological organism and can be toxic. In order to live, mold breaks down and destroys whatever organic material it invades. This process then releases myotoxins in the spores, which are airborne and travel through your home finding more places to infest. You and your family easily inhale these airborne spores as you sleep, eat, watch television and enjoy your home.
This inhalation and possible physical contact with spores leads to a long list of complications and mold health problems. Understanding these problems and realizing that the symptoms you are experiencing is due to exposure to mold gives you a clear direction toward their resolution.
Symptoms of mold health problems include:
- Persistent cough
- Nose and/or throat irritation
- Nasal and/or sinus congestion
- Aspergillosis (when mold begins to grow in the lungs)
- Mood swings
- Memory loss
- Headaches
- Chronic body aches and pain
- Allergies to food
- Skin rashes and/or irritation
- Eye irritation
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is time for you to contact a mold removal contractor to inspect your home. A professional mold removal contractor can help you rid your home of mold and prevent these mold health problems from worsening.
The following precautions should be taken to minimize the likelihood of mold contamination:
- Flooded homes should be thoroughly dried out, a process that may take days or weeks;
- Wet carpet and padding should be removed and discarded;
- Porous materials—those that absorb water—such as dry wall, some paneling, fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation, mattresses, pillows, wallpaper and upholstered furniture should be discarded;
- Due to wicking, the upward movement of moisture to higher levels , dry wall and other porous wallboards should be removed at least 12 inches above the visible water line left by the flood.
- Wall studs, where wallboard has been removed, should be cleaned with bleach/water mixture and allowed to dry completely;
- Floors, concrete or brick walls, countertops, plastic, glass and other non-porous materials should be washed with non-ammonia soap and water and then with a solution of one to two cups of bleach to a gallon of water and allowed to completely dry;
- Make sure area is well ventilated and wear rubber gloves and eye protection when using bleach. Don’t mix bleach and ammonia. Consider using an N-95 rated dust mask if heavy concentrations of mold are already growing;
- Materials that cannot be effectively cleaned and dried should be placed in sealed plastic bags to prevent the spread of mold spores;
- People allergic to mold and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions should not do mold cleanup.
