Is Mold Making Your Building Sick?
By Burton T. Fried, President, LVI Services
www.moldstoppers.com
Toxic mold is becoming "the next asbestos," and can grow where there is high humidity or dampness, leading not only to building damage but various illnesses. Once toxic mold starts to grow and release spores into the air, it can spread quickly throughout a building – behind the walls and into HVAC systems – and can cause concern for occupants' health. This, combined with the increasing chance of mold-related lawsuits, is why it is essential to be able to recognize situations that have a high potential for mold growth, and to know when the problem reaches the point where it is necessary to bring in remediation and decontamination experts.
There are more than 100,000 species of mold (with at least 1,000 species common in the US), and these microscopic fungi are found naturally in the air. Needing only moisture and a food source to survive, molds flourish in damp environments where humidity is over 40%. Water damage is one of the main causes of mold growth in commercial, residential buildings, and single-family residences. The areas around pipes and fittings, wet pipe insulation, roof leaks, crawl spaces, water closets, or anywhere that has been flooded can be a breeding ground for mycotoxins produced by toxic molds such as stachybotrys chartarum ("black mold"), penicillium and others.
While researchers and health experts often debate the exact symptoms associated with toxic mold, it has been established that mold can cause a plethora of ailments in different people. It may be hard to know if you are a victim of toxic mold since many of the ailments associated with mold exposure are also symptomatic of other common illnesses. Mold can provoke allergic reactions, watery eyes, sore throats, headaches, fatigue and, in more severe cases, toxic mold may even cause memory loss and death. In some cases, people suffer for months and go from doctor to doctor seeking cures for their mysterious ailments.
However, doctors are also just becoming aware of the dangers associated with toxic mold exposure. So, if you suspect that you are suffering from exposure to toxic mold spores, it is imperative that you consult a physician and educate yourself, your friends, your family, and your co-workers on the possibility of risk, the warnings, and the solutions that can only be achieved from companies that are experienced and equipped to clean-up mold.
Identifying the source of mold contamination is the first step in ensuring a water-damaged building is safe. While toxic mold may not be completely killed, the microorganisms can be isolated, contained, and treated with chemicals. Mold remediation experts such as LVI Services are trained to do this, secure the contaminated areas, and treat the mold with anything from diluted bleach or dry-cleaning chemicals to gamma rays and UV light, depending on the severity of the contamination. The decontamination process may include dehumidification, negative pressure containment, and HEPA-vacuuming. Mold may be toxic, therefore it is important to bring trained professionals onto the job, to ensure proper decontamination and disposal of contaminated materials.
Public awareness of toxic mold is increasing, with high profile cases ranging from schools and hospitals, apartment complexes following the 2001 Houston flooding, and public buildings such as the Ronald Reagan Office Building in Washington, DC. Even celebrity Ed McMahon has been making headlines with his recent lawsuit regarding sickness caused by mold contamination in his home. Along with this awareness are an increase in public fear of toxic mold, and the need for contractors to gain first hand knowledge of what to do should an emergency response to microbial contamination be necessary.
The need to remediate toxic mold is being discovered all across the country, especially in regions with extremely warm and humid climates, such as Texas, Florida, California, and practically everywhere in the northeast, southwest or southeast United States. Unfortunately, while agencies in California, New York and Texas are some of the regions that have defined best practices for mold remediation, there are currently no nation-wide industry standards in place. It is for this reason that LVI has developed its own standards, and ensures that its workers across the country are properly trained and able to successfully respond to mold or any other similar environmental emergencies at moment's notice.
If a contractor fails to call in remediation experts or hygienists that are specially trained to deal with toxic mold, he can find himself on the wrong end of a serious lawsuit. Experts in the insurance industry are predicting premiums to rise by as much as 40% to offset the recent increase in mold claims. Also, property damage and personal injury suits – where juries are often likely to award tobacco/asbestos-like damages to the plaintiffs – are also on the rise. Faulty design, poor construction, maintenance or repairs are all blamed in these cases. This accentuates how important it is for contractors to learn as much as they can about the dangers of toxic mold, be conscientious in any repairs they make where mold may be a potential problem, and understand the nature and extent of their possible liability.
