frequent
questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Allergen/Mold Inspection
* What is mold and should I be scared?
* Why is mold growing in my home/building?
* How can I prevent Mold growth?
* Can Mold be toxic?
* What is Black Mold?
* Why are we concerned about Mold?
* How do Molds affect people?
* Who is affected by exposure to Mold?
* What should I do if I see or smell Mold
in my house/building?
* Should I test my building/house for Mold?
* Who do I call to deal with extensive Mold
growth in a building?
* Can I remediate the problem myself?
Ultraviolet Air Purification
* What is ultraviolet light?
* Is ultraviolet light safe?
* Will ultraviolet light kill mold, bacteria
and viruses?
* Will ultraviolet light reduce or eliminate
odors within my home or building?
* What is the life of the UV lamps?
*How much power do they
consume?
*What about cost?
Indoor Dust Testing
* What triggers allergic reactions?
* How do I control dust mites, animal dander,
cockroaches and mold?
* Can my allergist use this information
to help with my allergies?
What is Mold and should I be scared?
Most likely everyone has experienced indoor mold in our world, from
bread and cheese mold to mold growing in that forgotten jar at the rear
of our refrigerator. It is a common occurrence and not something to
get overly alarmed about. What we need instead of fear is caution, living
in the knowledge that molds can be dangerous in the right concentration
and combination. We all know of the Ballard House in Texas and the Ed
McMahon stories where the houses made the inhabitants sick. Michael
Jordan currently has a suit in progress for mold in his Illinois mansion.
With a bit of knowledge we can protect ourselves and be ever cautions
of moisture on nutrient sources, i.e., almost any material in the modern
building (wood, metal, fuel, concrete, drywall, carpet, anything carbon
based).
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Why is Mold growing in my home/building?
It is important to stress that mold spores are everywhere, on all surfaces.
When the factors are right, they will grow and form colonies. Add moisture
and nutrients and mold will grow. Different types of mold will grow
in a variety of conditions. Most likely there is a moisture source in
your building that needs to be remedied. Sometimes the building structure
was wet during construction. Moisture intrusion (from swamp coolers)
may push the building envelope over the 60% mark. Mold spores will grow
and propagate (multiply) on a variety of surfaces when moisture requirements
are met. Common sources of indoor moisture that can cause mold problems
include flooding, roof and plumbing leaks, damp basement or crawl spaces,
or anywhere moist air condenses on cold surfaces.
How can I prevent Mold growth?
Controlling excess moisture is the key to preventing and stopping indoor
mold growth. Keeping susceptible areas in the home clean and dry is
very important. Ventilate or use exhaust fans (to the outdoors) to remove
moisture where it accumulates: bathrooms: kitchens: and laundry areas.
Be sure the clothes dryer vents to outside the house. Repair water leaks
promptly, and either dry out and clean or replace any water-damaged
materials. Materials that stay wet for longer that 48 hours are likely
to produce mold growth. Lowering the humidity in the home also helps
prevent condensation problems. To lower humidity during humid weather,
air conditioners and dehumidifiers may be used. Proper exterior wall
insulation helps prevent condensation inside the home during cold weather
that could cause mold growth.
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Can Mold be toxic?
Some molds can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins. Airborne
mycotoxins have not been shown to cause health problems to occupants
in residential or commercial buildings. The health effects of breathing
mycotoxins are not well understood and are currently under study.
High or chronic airborne exposures, typically associated with certain
occupations like agricultural work, have been associated with illnesses,
although these are rare. More is known about eating mycotoxins (from
humans and animals consuming moldy foods or feed) and the resulting
health effects than is known about breathing mycotoxins.
What is "Black Mold"?
The news media often refer to "black mold" or "toxic
black mold". It has usually been associated with the mod Stachybotrys
chartarum, a type of greenish-black mold commonly associated with heavy
water damage. Known health effects are similar to other common molds.
It has been inconclusively associated with more severe helth effects
in some people. While there are only a few molds that are truly black,
many can appear black. Not all mold that appears to be black is Stachybotrus.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), this mold is responsible
for over "100 cases of lung disorders".
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Why are we concerned about Mold?
Small amounts of mold growth in workplaces or homes (such as mildew
on a shower curtain) or workplaces are not a major concern, but no mold
should be permitted to grow and multiply indoors. When molds are present
in large quantities, they may cause nuisance odors and health problems
for some people. Mold can damage building materials, finishes and home
furnishings. Some molds can cause structural damage to wood.
How do Molds affect people?
Most people will have no reaction at all when exposed to molds. Allergic
reactions, similar to common pollen or animal allergies, are the most
common health effects for individuals sensitive to molds. Flu-like symptoms
and skin rash may occur. Molds may also aggravate asthma. Fungal infections
from building-associated molds may occur in people with serious immune
disease but this is very rare. Most symptoms are temporary and eliminated
by correcting the mold problem in the home.
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Who is affected by exposure to mold?
For those who are affected by mold exposure, there can be a wide variation
in how they react. People who may be affected more severely and quickly
than others include:
* infants and children
* elderly people
* individuals with respiratory conditions or allergies and asthma
* persons with weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV
infection, chemotherapy patients, or organ or bone marrow transplant
recipients, autoimmune diseases.)
Those with special health concerns should consult their doctor if they
are concerned about mold exposure. The symptoms that may seem to occur
from mold exposure can also be due to other causes such as bacterial
or viral infections, or other allergies.
What should I do if I see or smell mold in
my home?
The most important step in solving a mold problem is to identify and
fix the moisture sources that caused the mold growth. For small mold
problems, use detergent and water to wash mold off hard surfaces and
dry completely. Porous or absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles,
wallboard and carpeting) that become moldy should be replaced. If you
do not see mold growth, but notice a musty odor, mold may be growing
behind water-damaged materials, such as walls, carpeting or wallpaper.
Persons cleaning mold should wear gloves, eye protection and a dust
mask or respirator to protect against breathing airborne spores (an
N95 dust mask or respirator may be purchased in hardware stores). If
you have health concerns, you should consult your doctor before doing
any mold cleanup. Back
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Should I test my home for mold?
Probably not. It should not be your first step. Your first step should
be to inspect your home for any evidence of water damage and any visible
mold growth. Testing for mold is expensive, and you should have a clear
reason for doing so. In most cases, it is not economically practical
or useful to test for mold growth on surfaces or for airborne spores
in the home. Testing also tells you little about where mold is located
and how to clean it up. In addition, there are no standards for 'acceptable'
levels of mold in buildings, so when testing is done, it is usually
to compare the levels and types of mold spores found inside the home
with those found outside the home. If you know you have a mold problem,
it is more important to spend time and resources to get rid of the mold
and solve the moisture problem causing the moldy conditions rather than
to test for the mold problem.
Who do I call to deal with extensive mold growth
in a building?
A professional experienced in mold cleanup may need to be hired to address
extensive mold growth in a building. It is important to correct large
mold problems as soon as possible by first fixing the source of the
moisture problem, then cleaning the surfaces, and finally by drying
the area completely. If you use outside contractors or professionals,
make sure they have experience cleaning up mold, check their references,
and have them follow the recommendations and guidelines as outlined
by the IESO (Indoor Environmental Standards Organization).
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Can I remediate the mold myself?
Spores from dried mold are very dangerous and should be cleaned with
caution. You should never scrape or scratch at dried mold as the spores
would then be released into the air and pose an inhalation risk. A respiratory
mask and eye protection are necessary and adequate clothing to prevent
skin contact is recommended.
If the problem is more internal such as on insulation or throughout
a carpet, the only solution is to remove and replace the items. An infested
area of over 2 feet is considered a "heavily infested" area
and professional help should be consulted. Mold problems resulting from
flooding should also be managed professionally to avoid possible health
risks.
What is ultraviolet light?
Light has a wide bandwidth, from ultraviolet at the lower end to infrared
at the upper end. Neither end is visible to the human eye. Near the
middle is the visible light spectrum, what we see. Ultraviolet light
is broken into different bandwidths: UVA (315 to 400 nanometers), also
known as black light, is used for safe skin tanning and to treat certain
skin disorders. UVB (290 to 315nm) is that part of sunlight that leads
to sunburn and skin cancer. Most of solar UVB is absorbed by the stratospheric
ozone layer. UVC (220-290nm) includes germicidal UV and can be used
for air, surface and water disinfection. Overexposure causes skin redness
and eye irritation, but does not cause skin cancer or cataracts. UVV
(187nm) is naturally occurring (from lightening you get that fresh smell
after a thunderstorm) but doesn't usually penetrate the upper atmosphere.
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Is ultraviolet light safe?
Yes, it is. Sanuvox uses only UVC and UVV in their purification process.
To prevent skin redness or eye irritation we place cutoff switches on
inspection/filter doors.
Will ultraviolet light kill mold, bacteria
and viruses?
Most
definitely. The EPA and Homeland Security have tested the Bio-Wall and
on a single pass, it killed 93% of anthrax surrogate, 99.97% of spore-producing
bacteria and 99% of a common hospital virus.
Will ultraviolet light reduce or eliminate
odors or smoke within my home/building?
Yes, it will. By using UVV (185nm) light, compounds are broken down
into smaller, less noxious particles. The extra oxygen atom readily
combines with any carbon based molecule, thus oxidizing it. Smoke, for
instance, is turned from a glue-like substance to a powder that is then
collected by filtration. Back
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What is the life of the UV lamps?
Two years or 17,000 hours. The ballast has a 5 year useful life.
How much power do these light devices consume?
These lamps have low power consumption, equivalent to fluorescent lamps.
What about cost?
Cost is surprisingly reasonable, given the benefits derived and the
2 year lamp life and 5 year ballast life. For an 1800sf house, a unit
can be installed for about $750. A large commercial building for about
$2.00/sf. Prices will vary depending on occupant need and HVAC design.Ozone
is a lung irritant and can be harmful to plants and animals. However,
since it is an unstable molecule, the extra oxygen atom has a stronger
attraction to carbon or sulfur compounds and will quickly recombine
with them, thus destroying them. Insects, dust mites, bad smells, animal
urine, mold and other VOC's are obliterated.
What triggers allergic reactions?
Allergies are triggered by substances called allergens. Each year, millions
of people suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms such as nose and sinus
congestion, itchy, watery eyes and runny nose. However, many also suffer
from perennial allergies, which result in symptoms throughout the year.
Perennial allergies are triggered by indoor allergens, including house
dust mite droppings, animal dander, cockroach droppings and indoor molds.
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How do I control dust mites, animal dander,
cockroach droppings and indoor mold?
Ozone Shocking will kill these pests, without chemical sprays or residues
and leave the indoor environment smelling clean. Indoor dust is composed
of small particles of plant and animal material. While this mix is not
appealing to us, dust mites thrive in it. They especially thrive in
high humidity and in areas where human dander (dead skin flakes) is
located, in homes and offices. Bedrooms are especially high mite areas
and problematic for allergy sufferers. Weekly vacuuming with a HEPA
filter will help.
Contrary to popular belief, people are not allergic to an animal's hair,
but rather, to a protein found in the saliva, dead skin flakes or urine
of an animal with fur. A dog or cat produces a certain amount of allergen
per week, and this amount can vary from animal to animal. All breeds
are capable of triggering symptoms - there are no 'hypoallergenic' breeds
of cats or dogs. While it may be a painful decision, some family members
may have to exclude certain pets. 
Cockroaches have been around 300 million years, a very successful species.
Besides being disgusting, a protein in their droppings is a primary
trigger of asthma symptoms. Block areas where cockroaches could enter
the building, including crevices, wall cracks, windows, woodwork or
floor gaps, cellar and outside doors and drains. Roaches feel less welcome
in a clean, dry house. To keep them from returning, keep food in tight-lidded
containers and put pet food dishes away after they are done eating.
Wash dishes immediately and wipe off the stove and countertop where
loose crumbs accumulate.
Indoor molds and mildew are easily eliminated once you discover them.
Use a cleaning solution containing 5% bleach and a small amount of detergent.
If mold or mildew are visible in small amounts of carpet or wallpaper,
remove them from the house. Strive to keep all sections of the house
below 60% relative humidity.
Making changes to your indoor environment can take some time. To begin,
you may want to write down a priority list. Progressive changes will
produce an indoor environment that is less allergenic, easier to clean,
and healthier for the whole family.
Can my Allergist use this information to help
with my allergies?
Most
likely. In many cases, any information is useful in eliminating allergies.
A positive answer is just that, it pinpoints the problem. A negative
answer is also instructive as it serves to eliminate that particular
allergen as a potential problem. Your Allergist will have a different
battery of tests which will provoke an allergic reaction. If it is within
your home or work environment, chances are fairly good that it can be
identified.
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