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Mold Inspector
Black Toxic Mold, Household Mold, Mold Allergy, & Mold Symptom
Information & Help, plus Mold Laboratory for Toxic Mold Analysis & Toxic Mold
Species Identification, plus Mold Training and Mold Certification

The Internet's first mold self-help website online since 1999
, this Mold Inspector website includes over
300 pages of "how to" guidance & advice on black toxic mold, household mold, mold species, mold
infestation, mold health problems & treatments, mold inspection, mold testing, toxic mold testing,
mold removal, mold remediation, mold legal claims, mold legal defenses, mold training,
mold certification
, mold products, plus Certified Mold Inspector & Certified Mold Remediator
Directories. 
Visit the
Site Map at the bottom of this page to explore this website
to learn how to deal with mold infestation problems in the USA, Canada, Central America,
South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, & Africa.


Solve Your Home Mold Problems for $199 anywhere in the world with the UNLIMITED (60 days)
 expert email guidance, direction, and assistance of Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Environmental Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator, and Certified Environmental Hygienist!


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Read all 5 mold advice ebooks in the Mold Library for only $49 to learn: (1) do-it-yourself mold
inspection, testing, remediation, and prevention techniques; (2) medical mold diagnostic and treatment procedures;
and (3) mold legal issues. You can buy these five helpful mold advice books separately for $15.00 each or in the
Mold Library Combination for only $49.00. The ebooks are delivered to your email address by email
attachments within 12-24 hours of your order.
"I purchased several of your online mold books which
I have found to be of invaluable assistance with my ongoing mold problems,"
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"I've purchased and devoured all of your
mold guides - they are excellent, and extremely helpful. Worth every penny! (more, really)..."

emailed book customer D.N. on July 8, 2005.


Do-it-best-yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection,
Testing & Remediation

by Phillip Fry.
$15.00


Mold Health Guide
by Phillip Fry.
$15.00


Mold Legal Guide
by Phillip Fry and
Edward Dy [law school graduate].
$15.00


Mold Home Remedy Recipes & Instructions
by Phillip Fry.
$15.00


Mold Monsters
by Phillip Fry and
Maria Adee Light Hilado
[B.S. Microbiology].
$15.00

 
 
 

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Mold
News
Termite Symbiotic Relationships With Fungi  January 2008

Mold Induced Neuropsychological Illness
January 2008

Condominium Mold Lawsuit in US Virgin Islands  Dec. 26, 2007

Elementary School evacuated due to mold  December 19, 2007

Court Finds Toxic Mold
Caused Worker’s Health Problems--Nov. 6, 2007

Fungus Genome Research Yielding Answers To Protect Grains, People And Animals
October 5, 2007

Asthma Linked to Cat & Alternaria Mold Allergies according to National Institutes of Health study September, 2007

Link Found between Household Mold & Mental Depression
Aug. 29, 2007, Brown University study
documents link between household mold and depression.

Universal Mold Insurance
Exclusion

Read July 4, 2007, posted article from
the lender's perspective as to the total absence of insurance mold coverage

New Treatment for
Body Fungal Infections

A new compound has been developed for the human body to kill fungal pathogens by blocking an enzyme crucial for their protein synthesis. Reported June 24, 2007, in the ebook Mold Health Guide, available for purchase at Mold Mart.

YWCA Mold Infestation
June 27, 2007

Home Builder Pulte Homes Schedules Massive Mold Cleanup in Apple Valley, California (2007)

Top 10 Moldiest States

Fungus Killing Frogs Worldwide 
Frogs are considered by scientists to be a biohazard indicator warning for environmental health dangers to humans.

Moldy VA Clinics

Air purifiers found not so pure
Popular indoor air purifiers can sometimes emit dangerous levels of ozone, a lung-damaging pollutant, a Univ. Calif.-Irvine chemistry professor reports.

Mold Found In Local Hospital
Mold Led To Several Deaths

SAN DIEGO -- Mold was found in the ventilation system of Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, prompting the hospital to discharge two directors, a hospital official said Saturday.

Air purifiers using negative ions have little effect
Air purifiers using negative ions have little air-cleansing effect and even emit high-level ozone that can cause respiratory illnesses, a government test has found.

Most Lens Wearers Who Got Severe Fungal (Mold) Infection Used Bausch & Lomb Cleaner
Nearly two-thirds of contact-lens wearers who contracted a potentially blinding fungal eye infection reported using Bausch & Lomb Inc.'s newest lens cleaner, health authorities said Tuesday.

Building-related respiratory symptoms can be predicted with semi-quantitative indices of exposure to dampness and mold.

New Study Finds Eating Moldy Corn Caused Birth Defects

Toxic Mold Case In California Settles For $22 Million

Fox News Employees Sue Over Alleged Mold

NEW YORK
Two Fox News employees have filed a lawsuit alleging they were sickened by toxic molds and pesticides in a building where some of the network's top shows are produced.

Mold Killing Entire Populations of Frogs
LONDON  An infectious fungus [mold] aggravated by global warming has killed entire populations of frogs in Central and South America and driven some species to extinction, scientists said on January 11, 2006.

Hilton Waikiki Mold Lawsuit Settlement
     On December 24, 2005, the trial judge approved a settlement of a class action lawsuit, in which settlement the Hilton Corporation agreed to pay $1.8 million to mold victims who had been guests of its mold-infested facility at Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. The Hilton itself is a plaintiff in other lawsuits against the contractors, subcontractors, and architects who designed the mold ill-fated hotel. Read all about prosecuting and defending mold legal claims in the indepth ebook Mold Legal Guide, only $15.00.

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Mold Control 500: EASY TO USE 10 MINUTE MOLD REMOVAL

Mold Monsters
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Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Mold Tips
 

Mold Certification
be trained and certified online as a Certified Mold Inspector & Certified Mold Remediator

 

 

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Best Temperatures for Mold Growth
There are three critical temperatures for mold: the temperature below which no growth
occurs, the temperature above which no growth occurs, and the temperature at which most rapid growth takes place. Most  mold species grow in temperatures ranging from 59º to 95º F (15º to 35° C), although there are molds which will grow at almost freezing and others which thrive at over 150º F. The average optimum for mold growth is usually stated to be in the vicinity of 86° F. Freezing mold does not kill mold spores or mold colonies---they become dormant waiting for warm temperatures and access  to moisture to grow again..


Mold Inspector Site Map

SCOPE OF MOLD PROBLEM : "Molds are microscopic fungi that comprise 25% of the earth's biomass. They can be found almost anywhere and can grow on virtually any organic substance as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Molds can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. Moisture encourages mold growth. People who are allergic to mold or whose asthma is triggered by mold usually react to the spores, the reproductive bodies for molds. The process by which these spores are released into the air becomes intensified when moldy material is damaged or disturbed. Sometimes mold can produce a toxic substance called mycotoxins, which also can cause illness in sensitive populations, especially those with substantial exposures, such as agricultural workers. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture. Many types of molds exist and they all have the potential to cause health effects. Molds produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks. Health concerns are an important reason to prevent mold growth and to remedy/clean up any existing indoor mold growth. The range of symptoms of overexposure to mold include cough, congestion, runny nose, eye irritation, and asthma symptoms.  As is true of all environmentally-related illnesses, the sensitivity and vulnerability of the person will dictate the level of response to any given exposure."---American Nursing Association

Airborne mold spores spread mold-based infectious mold-related diseases like asthma, chronic sinusitis, and aspergilliosis. Stachybotrys atra mold can cause nervous system symptoms, such as personality changes, sleep disorders and memory loss. 
Currently, there are no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores. Mold health problems usually arise from the cumulative breathing in of airborne mold spores over time in a moldy home, apartment, or workplace.  Mold Health Problems.

Toxic Black Mold Health Symptoms, Illnesses, Problems
The “toxic mold” term refers to any mold that produces mycotoxins in its spores. Mycotoxins are generally recognized to be cytoxic, meaning they have the capacity to pass through the human cellular wall and disrupt certain cellular processes---causing serious health damage to residents and workers.  Stachybotrys ("black mold"), Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are the four most dangerous indoor toxic molds---frequently found to be growing in homes and workplaces.  Mold Terms Mold Health Problems.

Toxic black mold and fungi problems can cause severe health problems and mold illness such as birth defects, miscarriages, headaches, memory loss, destruction of brain tissue, cancer, allergic reactions, loss of hair, skin disease, open skin sores, skin rashes, skin lacerations, fungal infections, chronic sinusitis, sinus problems, allergies to mold, lung diseases [like Aspergilliosis], and other respiratory illnesses, mold induced infections, and even death. Many asthmatics are sensitive to airborne molds rather than to pollens or animal dander, according to an epidemiological survey published in the Aug. 24, 2002, issue of the British Medical Journal. Read Mold and Health, and new book Mold Health Guide, $15.00. Mold Health Problems.

Learn the available medical mold medical diagnostic procedures and mold infection treatment therapies in the in depth book Mold Health Guide. Mayo Clinic report on mold causing chronic sinusitis.  Learn how to handle a mold emergency Mold Home Remedy Recipes. Mold Health Problems

Mold Legal Problems
Learn about mold legal problems and tosic mold litigation such as home mold misrepresentations by home sellers and/or realtors in the $15.00 indepth ebook  Mold Legal Guide

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Bleach Mold Myth

 Low-cost Mold Home Remedy Recipes available at Mold Mart. Learn why bleach is ineffective for killing mold on porous surfaces

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Selling or Buying a Moldy Home

Bleach Mold Myth

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Giant mold mushroom growing indoors next to a window and on a wall because of water intrusion problems in this United Kingdom rental flat.

Mold in the Bible
Mold is NOT a new problem for humans. Read the Bible at Leviticus 14:45 "A house desecrated by mildew, mold, or fungus would be a defiled place to live in, so drastic measures had to be taken."
Read more from the Bible about mold.
Mold damage, mold contamination, and mold infestation  have always been threats to people, animals, and plants. Mold Prevention is always needed. "The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture,” reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. See Mold Growth Photo's.
Mold Home Remedy Recipes. Read Bleach Mold Myth  Mold Health Problems

Mold Sex
Mold Sex. When it comes to sex, molds and humans share at least one fundamental principle: In both species, the parents must donate a copy of their DNA to the offspring in order to successfully reproduce. Mold term definitions Mold Health Problems

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Erectile Dysfunction How to use Indian and Chinese herbal medicine pills to overcome impotency.

Sex Terms Dictionary Online sex dictionary provides definitions and meanings for important sexual words, terms, and phrases.

Sex Education Online  Be trained and designated online as a Certified Sex Educator.

Certified Sex Educators Worldwide Directory. Find a Certified Sex Educator.

Massage Therapists Directory   Find a massage therapist in your area.

Oriental & Shiatsu Massage Therapists Worldwide Directory

International Pen Pals  How to meet and marry the right beautiful, young, faithful, ideal foreign lady for you.

Hidden Mold Discovery & Removal Service $99 for Your House or Condominium

MOLD DEFENSE
Mold Defense for your body---read Mold Health Guide. Mold Defense for your property---read Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Inspection, Testing, Remediation, & Prevention. Mold Defense against lawsuits---read Mold Legal Guide.

Moody & Moldy? You may be suffering from health problems caused by mold, which include headaches, diminished brain capacity, and brain damage.

 Is your neighbor's house mold-contaminated?
The adjacent moldy house mold is very risky to your family health and home investment because air currents can regularly transport airborne mold spores from the moldy exterior of the neighbor's house to mold cross contaminate your entire home by entering your open windows, doors, and fresh air intake of your heating and cooling system.

Bleach does NOT kill toxic black mold spores and mold growth or household mold or stop toxic black mold growth on porous surfaces such as wood and other builng materials. "While bleach is often recommended for remediation of surface mold on wood, our [university research study] results illustrate that the treatment does not eliminate the surface microflora," is the conclusion of the Oregon State University study of the effects of chlorine bleach on mold growth on Douglas fir wood [an important timber crop in the state of Oregon]. The research study was conducted by Professor Jeffrey Morrell, Dept. of Wood Science, Oregon State University, as assisted by Adam Taylor [graduate research assistant] and Camille Freitag [Senior Research Associate], Forest Products Journal, 54:4, 2004. Read the Bleach-Mold-Myth Mold Home Remedy Recipes Mold Health Problems  Most homes have mold infestation.   Basement Mold Removal

Environmental molds potentially can result in human illness by the production of allergens, proteases, beta-glucans, and volatile organic compounds, and toxic mycotoxins and mold spores. Any mold of ANY color in elevated levels indoors can cause health problems. The worst mold problems are often the ones you don't see because of hidden mold growth INSIDE walls, floors, ceilings, attics, crawl spaces, basements, and heating/cooling equipment and ducts.
 

 
 
 

DEADLY TOXIC BLACK MOLD & HOUSEHOLD MOLD DANGERS
Molds of all species and colors are dangerous environmental
health predators of humans, animals, & plants.


14 Important Mold Facts for Homeowners,
Landlords, Tenants, & Employers

1. What is Mold? Mold is a fungus---a parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll, a rigid cell wall, leaves, true stems & roots. Mold is multicellular, and it is composed of thread-like hyphae. Mold is a very large group of microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. Most are filamentous organisms and produce spores [for reproduction] that can travel in the air and water, or be carried by insects, birds, dogs, cats, and other animals.

2. Airborne mold spores are everywhere both indoors and outdoors. Resident and employee health is at serious risk if there are elevated levels of mold spores indoors, as compared to an outdoor mold control test.

3. The most dangerous indoor molds are Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. Mold sampling and mold lab analysis are required to identify specific mold species.

4. Molds spores can cause serious health problems even if the spores are dead or dormant (inactive while waiting for more moisture to resume growth). Even the smell of dead or dormant mold can make some mold-sensitive persons ill. There are no legal mold exposure limits. Read the Mold Health Guide, $15, to learn all about mold health.

5. There are no absolute levels of safe or unsafe mold infestation inside a home or other building. Because of the huge discrepancies person to person in mold sensitivity, what might be a harmless amount of mold exposure to one occupant can be devastating health-wise to another person. Usually, mold infestation is considered to be elevated if indoor mold samples show higher mold counts and more mold species indoors than in an outdoor mold control test. Mold infestation usually affects first and most strongly pregnant ladies [and their unborn babies], infants, elderly, and persons with immune system problems. But day in and day out, cumulative exposure to mold infestation can make healthy adults quite sick.

6. It is impossible to get rid of all mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will always be present in house dust and floating in the air.

      7. The mold spores will not grow into mold colonies if there is insufficient moisture.  Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If organic materials are wet for more than 24 hours, mold

    8. Mold grows by eating and destroying organic building materials and other cellulose-based materials such as carpeting, upholstery, and clothing. The longer that mold grows, the more mold damage to the building. growth can begin.

     9. Cellulose is the main substance in the cell walls of plants (and thus of wood), and it is used in the manufacture of many organic building materials such as drywall, plasterboard, plywood substitutes, and ceiling tiles.

10. Mold can grow hidden and undetected inside wall and ceiling cavities; beneath wallpaper, paneling, and carpeting; and inside heating and cooling equipment and ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and basements.

11. Mold growth is often the result of a structural or construction defect, or of maintenance neglect, that allows moisture to enter the building, making a toxic mold building or toxic mold house.

12. The owner or employer must first fix the water problem (roof leak, plumbing leak, high indoor humidity) that enables the mold to grow. Effective mold remediation requires killing the mold with a mold home remedy recipe, removing it, and then re-treating the cleaned area with the mold home remedy recipe. Read how about do it yourself mold removal techniques.

     13. Be trained and certified as a Certified Mold Inspector and Certified Mold Remediator to make big money helping property owners in your area to find and fix mold infestation problems.

     14. Learn the steps to eradicate mold. Visit Mold Eradication.

Household Mold and Mildew Health Issues: Read the toxic mold warning signs and the top 100 toxic black mold and mildew exposure allergy health symptoms, toxic mold sickness & illnesses, toxic mold poisoning symptoms, toxic mold syndrome, and other toxic mold side effects and toxic mold health effects:

The top 100, most-common toxic mold in home health symptoms, symptoms of mold exposure, symptoms of mold allergies, mold and mildew allergies, allergy asthma mold, black mold lung disease, symptoms of deadly or unhealthy black mold and toxic mold, symptoms of toxic black mold poisoning, toxic black mold health problems and health risks, toxic mold syndrome, and toxic black mold toxicity risks are listed below, in alphabetical order.

Learn about available medical mold diagnostic and treatment procedures and mold allergy treatments in the in depth ebook Mold Health Guide, $15.00.  A mold victim may experience one or more of these listed mold symptoms, mold allergies,  mold illnesses, or mold side effects:

1. abdominal pain
2. abnormal pap smears
3. acid reflux / indigestion
4. acne
5. allergies and anaphylaxis
    [severe allergic reaction]
6. altered immunity
7. asthma and asthmatic signs
    [sudden onset asthma,
    increased asthma attacks,
    wheezing, shortness in breath,
    coughing, burning in lungs]
8. balance problems
9. bladder and kidney pain
10. bleeding lungs
11. blood pressure irregularities
12. body aches and muscle pains
13. breathing difficulties [tightness
     in chest, shortness of breath]
14. bruising easily
15. burning in mouth, throat and
     lungs similar to acid reflux
16. cancer
17. central nervous system effects
18. chills
19. choking
20. cholesterol or triglycerides
      irregularities
21. chronic fatigue (chronic,
      excessive or continued)
      and/or general malaise
22. chronic sinus infections
23. coated tongue
24. colds, recurring and with
      decreased resistance to
      infections
25. constipation
26. dandruff problems (chronic)
      that won’t go away despite
      use of anti-dandruff shampoos
27. dark urine
28. death in extreme cases
29.depression/anxiety/dementia
30. dermatitis and skin rashes
31. diarrhea
32. difficulty concentrating
33. difficulty in swallowing
34. dirt-like taste in mouth
35. dizziness
36. dry, hacking cough or coughing up blood [resulting to sore lungs/chest due to
      excessive coughing]
37. early menopause
38. eye and vision problems
39. eye irritation (burning, watery,
      or reddened eyes)
40. face flushing intermittently
41. facial movements inadvertently
     or extreme jerking
42. feeling lost or disconnected
      from what’s happening
      around you
43. feelings of hopelessness
44. fevers
45. fibromyalgia [chronic fatigue
     and widespread pain]
46. food allergies
47. frequent bloody noses
48. frequent infections
49. hair loss
50. headaches/migraines
51. heart attack
52. hemorrhagic or hypersensitivity
     pneumonitis [extrinsic allergic
     alveolitis, or farmers’ lung
     disease]
53. hypersensitivity to mold
54. indigestion [heartburn /
     acid reflux ]
55. infertility
56. irritability, mood swings,
      spleen pain or sudden
      personality changes
57. irritable bowel syndrome
58. itching of the nose, mouth,
      eyes, throat, skin or any area
59. kidney pain and failure
60. large boils on neck
61. leaky gut syndrome
62. liver pain
63. long lasting flu-like symptoms
64. memory loss or learning
      difficulties [brain fog,
      confusion, Alzheimer’s-like
      symptoms]
65. metallic taste in mouth
66. multiple chemical sensitivity
67. night sweats and hot flashes
68. nose or throat irritation
69. nosebleeds
70. numbness in face and limbs
71. open skin sores and lacerations
72. open sores on head
73. organic dust toxic syndrome
74. peripheral nervous
      system effects
75. physical weakness
76. poor appetite
77. puffy or droopy eyes
78. rashes or hives
79. redness of the sclera
      (white portion of your eyes)
80. respiratory distress
81. ringing in ears
82. runny nose (rhinitis), clear,
      thin, watery mucus from your
      nose may appear suddenly, or
      thick, green slime coming out
      of nose (from sinus cavities)
83. seizures
84. sensitivity to smells / odors
85. sinus congestion, sinus
      problems, chronic sinusitis
      and other nasal problems
86. skin rashes or irritation
87. skin redness
88. sleep disorders
89. slurred speech or verbal
      dysfunction (trouble in
      speaking)
90. sneezing fits (more than
      three sneezes in a row,
      happening often)
91. spitting up mucous
92. swollen glands
93. swollen lymph nodes
94. systemic candida infection
95. tremors (shaking)
96. unexplained fevers
97. urinary tract infection (uti)
98. vertigo or dizziness
99. vomiting (nausea)
100. women’s health problems
       [such as endometriosis and
       vaginal yeast infections].

U.S. A Summary of Mold Health Problems
by Stephen C. Redd, M.D., Chief, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in his State of the Science on Molds and Human Health, July 18, 2002,, before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee. Here are Dr. Redd's opening paragraphs---

          Fungi are a kingdom of organisms that include mushrooms, mildews, molds, and yeasts. It is estimated that there are between 50,000 and 250,000 species of fungi, and fewer than 200 have been described as human pathogens that can cause infections. Molds are ubiquitous in nature and grow almost anywhere indoors and outdoors. More than 1,000 different kinds of indoor molds have been found in U.S. homes. Molds spread and reproduce by making spores, which are very small and lightweight, able to travel through air, capable of resisting dry, adverse environmental conditions, and hence capable of surviving a long time. Molds need moisture and food to grow, and their growth is stimulated by warm, damp, and humid conditions.

            Molds can cause illnesses in situations other than humid indoor environments. We have documented that molds can cause infections in susceptible people, particularly in hospital settings where 9% of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections are caused by fungi. Respiratory infections due to inhalation of the fungus Aspergillus have been documented mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Molds also have been associated with some cancers. Two mold-produced toxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) have been classified by the National Toxicology Program as human carcinogens (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/). Chronic ingestion of these toxins from eating contaminated foods has been associated with liver and kidney tumors in animals and people.

           We also know that respiratory illnesses among workers may be attributed to mold exposures. In industrial and agricultural settings, various forms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (e.g., farmer’s lung, woodworker’s lung, malt worker’s lung), and other allergic responses and infectious respiratory diseases (e.g., aspergillosis) have been reported. Farmer’s lung is caused by Thermoactinomycetes species or fungi found in moldy hay, straw, or grain dust. Farmer’s lung has been extensively reported in many countries including the United States, Canada, The Scandinavian countries, France, and other European countries. Reported prevalence of farmer’s lung ranges from 0.5% to 9.6% in farming populations.

            Outbreaks of hypersensitivity pneumonitis also have been reported in office buildings in relation to exposures to mold-contaminated humidifiers and ventilation systems (Arnow et al. 1987. Early detection of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in office workers, American Journal of Medicine 64:236-242 and Hodgson et al. 1987. An outbreak of recurrent acute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis in office workers. American Journal of Epidemiology 125:631-638)).

           We also know that molds can cause illness when people are exposed to extensive mold growth indoors. In its 1993 report "Indoor Allergens," the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that airborne fungal allergens were most often associated with allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In its 2000 report "Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures," IOM concluded that there is sufficient evidence of an association between exposure to mold and exacerbations of asthma. The IOM also stated that there was inadequate evidence that molds caused people to become asthmatic.

Mold or Mildew? Mildew is a common name for mold or fungi, often used to describe fungal growth on bathroom tiles/fixtures,
and on wet clothing.

Mold, mildew, and moisture in the home or workplace: "Molds can grow on virtually any substance, as long as moisture or water, oxygen, and an organic [food] source are present. Molds reproduce by creating tiny spores (viable seeds) that usually cannot be seen without magnification. Mold spores continually float through the indoor and outdoor air.," reports the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Mold that runs out of moisture to sustain its continued growth goes into a dormant state [that can last for millions of years] waiting for renewed access to moisture so that it can resume its relentless growth made possible by eating cellulose-based building materials and other organic food. Dormant mold does not disintegrate or biodegrade over time. The dormant or growing mold can endure being either frozen or high temperatures [up to 160 ºF].
           
If deprived of water, dormant mold fungi can survive without air, food, and water for millions of years in a hostile environment waiting for moisture or water and food to restart and to spread mold sickness and illness, toxic mold spores, mold growth, mold infestation and contamination. Mold does NOT need air or light to reproduce and to grow. Toxic mold grows well in both hot and cold climates [such as Alaska and Canada], and up to 6 miles high. Mold must be killed and removed by mold damage restoration.  Learn the Top 10 Mold Mistakes to Avoid.   Black Toxic Mold Home Remedy Recipes. Mold Health Problems   How To Remove Mold From Your Home  Toxic Black Mold Cleanup  Get Rid of Toxic Black Mold  Toxic Black Mold Killers  Removal of Black Mold  Mold Odor Removal

Home toxic mold has NO natural enemies [except for the sun's ultraviolet rays], and thus no predator eats mold. Animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses do NOT eat mold. Mold is a non-stop PREDATOR and mold menace that eats animal and human flesh, as well as plant life! Visit Mold Health for fungal disease, mold sickness, mold disease, and mold illness information. Top 10 Mold Mistakes  Bleach Mold Myth   Mold Health Problems  How To Test for Mold in HomeDetecting Mold in Home  Mold Removal Chemicals  Mold Removal Techniques

Where Mold Grows Best---Frequent Causes of Mold Growth

  • Basement flooding and water intrusion, or
    Closeness to a lake, river, or ocean
  • Clothes dryer exhausting into walls/attic
  • Condensation water problems
  • Construction defects/poor workmanship
  • Crawl space dirt and humidity
  • Dryer venting into walls or attic
  • Exhaust fans venting into walls or attic
  • Firewood indoors
  • Flooding
  • Lot grading downward to home
  • High indoor humidity [50 to 60% plus]
  • Humidifiers & vaporizers
  • Inadequate ventilation
  • Indoor plants
  • Overflow from tubs/showers/sinks/toilets
  • Landscaping like mulch & plant glut
  • Leaky roof
  • Venting lacking in kitchen/bathrooms
  • Sewage pipe leaks
  • Siding water leaks
  • Water supply pipe leaks

Photograph of mold skin rash caused by exposure to chaetomium mold.
Toxic Mold Photograph and Picture: Mold Skin Disorder caused by exposure to Chaetomium mold. Photo by Certified Mold Inspector Hank Taylor of  Southern California's Indoor Environmental Control.

Phaeohyphomycosis due to Exophiala spinifera
Phaeohyphomycosis lesion in an immunologically compromised patient due to Exophiala spinifera mold. (Image Courtesy of www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)

Toxic Black Mold Allergy, Respiratory Problems, & Mold Health Issues

"Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems.  Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.  Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).  Allergic reactions to mold are common.  They can be immediate or delayed.  Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.  In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.  Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.  Research on mold and health effects is ongoing" advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to  mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants. Potential health concerns are an important reason." The U.S. EPA, March, 2001. The EPA warns people that "Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasion more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health." Ninety four percent (94%) of all respiratory ailments are caused by polluted air according to the American Medical Association, which also reported that one-third of the U.S.A.'s national health bill is for causes directly attributable to indoor air pollution. Mold Health Problems.  Most homes have mold infestation.    Mold Mitigation  Toxic Mold Cleanup

          
Adult-Onset Asthma from Workplace Mold Exposure. “The present [health study] results provide new evidence of the relation between workplace exposure to indoor molds and development of asthma in adulthood. Our findings suggest that indoor mold problems constitute an important occupational health hazard,” reported the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, in Environmental Health Perspectives, May, 2002. The Finnish workplace mold study estimated that the percentage of adult-onset asthma attributable to workplace mold exposure to be 35.1%  Read Asthma Home Remedies.  "We were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released from building materials. A rare ailment known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure in susceptible people," as reported in the almost 300 page report by the Institute of Medicine [division of U.S. Government's National Academy of Sciences], Tuesday, May 25, 2004. The study was financed by the U.S. Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Mold Smell Removal  Mold Removal Product
Ductwork Mold Removal  Stachybotrys Mold Removal  DIY Mold Removal  Mold Removal Companies


           Just a few hours of unprotected exposure to elevated levels of airborne mold spores can start mold growing inside one's body, and then possibly require medical intervention to cleanse the body of internal mold growth.
Learn  the various unhealthy Mold Species Sample indoor mold spores with a Certified Mold Inspector Mold Health Problems. Read about Selling or Buying a Moldy HomeHousehold Mold Removal. Mold Removal Directory

            “An association between working and/or residing in damp buildings and respiratory health has been reported in a number of studies…Longtime exposure to building dampness may increase the risk for hyper-reactivity of the upper air-ways. This acquired hyper-reactivity may last for years and decrease only slowly, even after the indoor climate has been properly improved.”---from the study conclusion of Stig Rudblad of the famous Karolinska Medical Institute of Stockholm Sweden, in the medical research study “Nasal mucosal reactivity after long-time exposure to building dampness,” published on October 15, 2004, by the Institute.  [The human subjects in the study were teachers and students in school buildings with known dampness problems, as compared to a control group of teachers and students in buildings with no known moisture problems.] 
 Toxic Black Mold Treatment  Mold Mitigation  Mold Removal Treatment  Types of Mold

          “Fungi are also being recognized more frequently as a factor in chronic sinusitis, and the importance of fungi in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis is a subject of increasing research interest.”---“A Practical Approach to the Patient with Sinusitis” on Medscape, November, 2005. Toxic Mold Removal Do It Yourself  Mold Removal Organization

           Lifetime Asthma from Mold Exposure while in the Uterus or as an Infant
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"Recent studies have confirmed what scientists have suspected for years: that asthma is an immune system reaction to dust, pollution and other allergens [e.g., airborne mold spores] in the environment, which trigger spasms and tightening of the airways of some people who also have a genetic predisposition. Now they're zeroing in on the genetic vulnerability. The new thinking is that asthma isn't simply a matter of having the wrong genes. Instead, at some point in early childhood, or possibly in the womb, an event takes place that turns a person into a lifetime asthmatic. Scientists think the fetus or infant is somehow exposed to a critical dose of pollutants that cause the immune system to overreact, permanently narrowing the airways and making them more sensitive to irritants. It might be possible to inoculate children against the condition before this even occurs, preventing asthma entirely."---from "Waiting to Inhale," NEWSWEEK, March 14, 2005.

German Children Mold Study
          "Our [research study] results suggest that indoor mold spore exposure, mainly during winter, might increase the risk of sensitization to all allergens in children...[W]e found that allergic sensitization was significantly associated with exposure to one or more genera of indoor mold spores, even after adjustment for house dust mite exposure. The effect strengthened when we restricted our study population to children who had lived in the same home since birth. Furthermore, our study suggests that high indoor spore counts might increase the prevalence of allergic symptoms in all children whether they are sensitized or not."

Photograph of mold growth removed from inside a human skin cyst.
Mold growth removed from a human skin cyst.

Fungal Infections

Deadly Tsunami Fungal Infection. Survivors of the Asian tsunami could be at risk of the deadly fungal infection Mucormycosis, Australian researchers said on Jan. 28, 2005. Doctors at Sydney's St George Hospital treated the Mucormycosis infection in an Australian man who was injured in the disaster. Doctors fear it could be the first case of many. This fungal disease is caused by the Mucor mold species, which is a very common mold species that readily grows in water-damaged buildings worldwide, and which is commonly found in the soil and in decaying vegetation. Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, brain, lungs, skin and kidneys. People with immune disorders are more susceptible to the infection. Mold Health Problems.  

Mold Skin Diseases

Coccidioides immitis mold [the cause of widespread "Valley Fever" in the southwestern USA desert cities] is on the U.S. Dept. of Human Service list of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and that can potentially be utilized by terrorists to infect and kill Americans.  Top 10 Mold Mistakes to Avoid. Hire a  Certified Mold Inspector for mold inspectionMold Health Problems   Toxic Black Mold Cleaning  Mold Solution Clean Up Mold Removal  Indoor Air Quality Mold Testing

Moldy Food

Mold fungus spores are very small in size and can easily enter the human body by breathing [nose and mouth], eating mold spores [often contained IN food and from landing ON food], drinking mold infested water, entry through one's eyes, entry through open skin cuts and sores, and sometimes skin absorption through skin pores. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], "Most moldy foods should be thrown out. But you might be able to save molding hard cheeses, salami, and firm fruits and vegetables if you cut out not only the mold but a large area around it. Cutting the larger area around the mold is important because much of the mold growth is below the surface of the food." Mold Health Problems Visit Mold Remediation   How to mold remediate a mold infested home. Mold Killing Spray.  Mold Removal Tips

Photograph of mold mushrooms growing in the dirt of a crawl space beneath a mobile home.
Home mold picture: Mold mushrooms growing in
the dirt of a crawl space. Pictures of Toxic Mold

"Sick Building Syndrome"