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Envirosurf™
Environmental Search
Engine Announces
“Toxic Mold Prevention Month”
for January, 2006
Envirosurf™, the
global environmental search engine, announces that January, 2006, will be
the second annual, worldwide observance of “Toxic Mold Prevention Month.”
Homeowners, apartment residents, and workers can download the free,
ready-to-print flyer “Ten Toxic Mold Prevention Tips for both Home and Work”
to post on bulletin boards, give to landlords and job supervisors, or use as
a check list for preventing toxic mold infestation. Visit
Toxic Mold
Prevention Month.
1. “Toxic mold” 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---potentially causing serious health damage to residents
and employees.
2.
Stachybotrys ("black
mold"), Cladosporium,
Penicillium, and
Aspergillus are the four most
dangerous indoor toxic molds. All four molds are frequently discovered
growing in houses, apartments, motels, hotels, offices, and other workplaces
world-wide.
3. Even non-toxic indoor molds can cause health problems. According to 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.”
4. Because mold requires moisture to grow, the most important toxic mold
prevention step is to keep indoor humidity less than 60% year-round in all
areas of one’s home and workplace, and to regularly inspect all around the
entire residence or workplace for evidence of roof leaks, plumbing leaks,
basement/crawl space water problems, flooding, and visible mold growths.
5. Test for elevated levels of airborne toxic mold spores early-on by
mold
testing indoor air all around one’s home and workplace [including all rooms,
basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and the outward air flow from each
heating/cooling duct register] at least once or twice yearly with a
Certified Mold Inspector or the use of do-it-yourself
mold test kits available from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety
store.
6. Watch for co-resident and co-worker toxic mold health symptoms such as:
allergies, asthma, bleeding lungs, breathing difficulties,
cancer, central nervous system problems, recurring colds, coughing
[chronic], coughing up blood, dandruff problems [chronic] that don't go away
despite use of anti-dandruff shampoos, dermatitis and skin rashes, diarrhea,
and
Eye and vision problems, fatigue [chronic, excessive, or continued] and/or
general malaise,
flu symptoms [chronic], hair loss,
headaches, hemorrhagic pneumonitis, hives, hypersensitivity pneumonitis,
irritability, itching of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area ,
kidney failure, learning difficulties or mental functioning problems or
personality changes, memory loss or memory difficulties, and
Open skin sores and lacerations, peripheral nervous system effects,
redness of the sclera (white of your eyes), runny nose (rhinitis) or thick,
green slime coming out of nose (from sinus cavities), seizures, sinus
congestion, sinus problems, and chronic sinusitis, skin redness, sleep
disorders, sneezing fits, sore throat, tremors [shaking], verbal dysfunction
[trouble in speaking], vertigo [feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness,
faintness, and unsteadiness], and vomiting.
7. People differ significantly in their sensitivity and reaction to toxic
mold exposure. Therefore, if only some residents or workers are experiencing
one or more possible mold health symptoms, the home, apartment, or workplace
still might need to be inspected and tested for mold for the health
protection of the mold-sensitive persons, as well as for the others who may
ultimately be harmed from time-cumulative toxic mold exposure.
8. Do not use ineffective bleach to try to kill mold growth on, in, or
behind porous surfaces like drywall, wood timbers, plywood/chipboard,
insulation backing paper, carpeting/padding, and other construction
materials made from cellulose-containing materials.
9. You can use low-cost
Mold Home Remedy Recipes available at
Mold Mart to kill toxic mold effectively.
Learn how to use non-bleach
mold home remedy recipes which
feature such items as Borax or baking soda.
10. Toxic mold must be both killed and removed with safety precautions such
as: no occupancy of the dwelling or workplace during mold remediation;
containing the work area with floor to ceiling plastic sheeting; exhausting
of mold-spore laden air directly from the contained work area to the
outdoors; wearing proper protective gear such as a full face breathing mask
with organic vapor filters, biohazard suit [low-cost], and gloves; and
following the fungicide manufacturer’s product directions..
For more information, please visit:
http://www.bleach-mold-myth.com
http://www.epa.gov
http://www.mold.ph
http://www.moldinspector.com
http://www.certifiedmoldinspectors.com
http://www.moldmart.net
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