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To find a
Certified Mold Inspector
in your area, please visit:
Mold Inspector.
To find a
Certified Mold Remediator
or
Certified Mold Contractor
in your area, visit:
Mold Remediator.
For information on being trained and certified as a mold professional, please visit: Mold
School.
Protect your home,
apartment, or rental house against toxic mold infestation, black mold contamination, and/or
any type of mold growth by following the mold prevention methods found in
Do-it-yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, and Remediation Guide.
More Real People Mold Questions & Answers
Q. We moved into our home 18 years ago. There was an apartment in the basement.
Our basement is a raised ranch at the back but in ground at front of house. At the
back of the house downstairs is the recreation/family room now. We reinsulated it and
laid down a carpet. There was a sub floor already there. We also have 2 bedrooms
closer to the front of the house. The first one has not caused us any problems as
neither has the recreation room. The bedroom at the very front of the house which is
your usual in ground basement has over the last 14 years smelt musty. I always thought
it was my daughters new box spring mattress, which we bought right after we renovated the
room (was tiled and we put an inlay then carpet on the floor). I even returned the
mattress claiming it was the batting in the mattress that was smelling moldy/musty.
They replaced it with another one and I left the plastic on for fear it would smell again.
It was better for a long time but then the odor started to reappear again. We decided
to tear the wallboard off to see if the cement walls were leaking, but they were not.
We reinsulated the walls, then we tore up the carpet as it smelt musty too. The carpet
had some rings underneath it and when we tore up the under padding, the tile had black mold
on it and the under padding was black. Could we clean the tile with something as it is going
to be difficult to remove it?? Help !!! [May 8, 2003]
A. You will need to remove and discard all mold-contaminated building
materials, including the tile, carpet, and padding. You will also need to find the source
of water that has enable the mold to grow [e.g., humidity level about 60%, water seeping
upward through concrete floor, water seeping through masonry walls of the basement, water
pipe leaks, etc. Unless you stop the water problem, you will not stop the unhealthy mold
problem. You also need to test the air of your various basement rooms, your main floor
rooms, and hvac ducts on both levels for elevated levels of unhealthy
mold spores.
Use do it
yourself mold test kits available from a large hardware, home
improvement, or safety store, or
hire a
Certified Mold Inspector.
For detailed info, visit
mold inspection,
mold testing, and
mold remediation and
mold removal.
Q.
We moved into our home two years ago this month. Since that time, we have had some
water in the basement, and we have determined that the water is coming in about midway up on
the front face of the house where the Stucco and Brick meet, also where the Stucco forms a
seam around two of the front windows. It is a very small seam and the water only
penetrates it during severe rain storms. Water has probably been evident about 7 or 8
times over the two years. The water seems to travel along the outer plywood behind the
brick, until it reaches the floor level of the upstairs, we have noticed some moisture under
the baseboard, however the carpet and pad have always remained dry. What is the
likelihood that mold has begun growing? We have not been able to physically see or
smell any type of mold, and for the most part the plywood and floor board is dry quickly
after the rainstorm subsides. Is there a type of remediation that could be sprayed in
the general area though not directly on the areas where the water has traveled, that would
kill any type of mold? [April 16, 2003]
A. First, you must stop the water
seepage into your basement walls as soon as possible. Otherwise, why worry about
mold
remediation? Second, you should test your basement rooms and the rooms above the
basement for the presence of elevated levels of mold spores, a strong sign that you have a
serious mold infestation problem somewhere in your house. Third, you need to open up all
walls that have possibly gotten wet to do mold inspection and testing. You can either use
do it yourself mold test kits, available from a large hardware, home
improvement, or safety store to test for mold,
or hire a
Certified Mold Inspector. Fourth, if you open up the walls and
find mold growth or testing reveals elevated levels of mold spores in
those opened up areas, you need to mold remediate that area in
accordance with the steps explained at
mold remediation.
Q.
We have had a condensation problem over our den and about 2 years ago the ceiling started to
turn black in a small area. We planned to have it fixed but now wonder if we should touch it
without having it inspected. My husband has several of the symptoms or health related
problems due to Black Mold. chronic fatigue, memory loss, and also a bad tremor. These
problems have occurred since the black stain appeared. Please let me know who to contact to
have our home tested.
[April
3, 2003]
A. One concern you should
have is whether the visible mold is only the tip of the iceberg. Another concern is the
type
of mold infestation you are dealing with. You can use Scotch tape to
collect a sample of the visible mold to send to a mold lab of your
choice for mold lab
analysis and mold species identification. You should also mold test the room air in the various rooms and areas of your
home [such as hvac ducts, attic, basement, crawl space] for elevated levels of airborne mold
spores.
Use do it yourself
mold test kits available from a large hardware, home improvement, or
safety store.
Click for Info on tape lift sampling.
Have your home, apartment, condominium, office or commercial building
mold inspected and mold tested by a
Certified Mold Inspector. You should also stop the condensation problem by
operating a dehumidifier that is set to keep room air at 30 to 40% humidity, a level that
discourages mold growth.
Q.
I live in Fairbanks Alaska. Some three years
ago my wife worked in a local facility that had obvious mold problems. It was housed in a
small, old, house with an earthen floor and a very very strong smell of mold that could be
overpowering the minute you opened the front door. The employer was not willing to do
anything about the situation and my wife continued to work there for the next eight months.
Actually her employment was eight months, she was only able to actually work a little over
half of that time. She kept getting sick, would stay home until better, then go back and get
sick all over again. We knew nothing about mold and it's dangers at that time, but finally
came to the conclusion that it was the mold that was making her sick. She quit, but it seems
the damage had already been done. She took two more jobs after that, but because of
recurring sickness, was never able to work more than half time. Eventually she had to quit
working altogether. She has not worked for almost two years now and still the problems
persist. The problems run the gamut of almost all of the symptoms that we see listed in
toxic mold exposure on your website. Because we live in Alaska and health professionals are
not numerous, there seems to be little help in identifying the cause of the problem and most
doctors merely treat the symptoms and never get to the root problem. I see a lot of
resources on your site for legal help and information, but I see no help in the form of
information of a medical nature, other than symptoms. I am in need of resources for doctors
that have experience in this field that have the ability to diagnose the problem. I am
convinced in my own mind that mold is/was the problem, but it needs to be diagnosed before
we can move on in any manner. [July 13, 2002]
A.
The best physician to start with for diagnosing mold medical problems is a pulmonary
physician [specializes in lung problems] because most serious mold health problems cause
damage to one's lungs. A pulmonary doctor can use several important diagnostic tests such as
taking laboratory biopsy samples of lung tissue, and mold antibody blood
testing.. A neurologist can also
be consulted with to do brain testing to identify brain damage from
Stachybotrys mold
[causes similar symptoms as Alzheimers Disease, such as extreme
forgetfulness, problems in logical thinking, feeling disconnected from
the world around you, etc.]. Read the top 100
mold health
symptoms.
Q. I need advice on what to
do. Where Do our family members get tested? Who do I contact to inspect our
home? The mold is here now and I don't know what to do with it. I have scrubbed the
walls with pure bleach and the mold has returned. We moved into this house in 1991.
When we were in escrow the dining room wallpaper was full of mold on the wall near the
window. When it rains the window did and still does leak water( I shouldn't say
leaks it seems to "runs" down the wall like a small stream) into the house and the
mold grows. We were promised by the Real Estate Company that the problem would be
fixed before escrow closed. As soon as it started raining the new wallpaper was
soaked and the mold began to grow again in the same place and the same way. I don't
think this water come through the window. It's strange how it runs down the wall at
a diagonal, soaking the carpeting. Pipes have leaked in the wall a few months ago and the
bathroom wall and the closet wall are full of mold. Our plumber advise us that the reason
our copper pipes were leaking was due to electrolysis. He said this was caused by the
improper use of galvanized straps applied directly to the copper plumbing.
These straps were applied during escrow by the firm selected by either the previous owner
or their real estate agent. This was in response to our complaint that the pipes
could be heard rattling against the wood. Also on the advice of our Real
Estate agent we had the house inspected by an inspected they recommend who assured us all
repairs were properly completed . Our plumber informed us that the use of galvanized
straps over copper was extremely irresponsible and was a "cheap" temporary fix to the
problem and would certainly lead to leaky pipes over a period of time. Subsequently
we replaced all the horizontal pipes and the vertical pipes that were damage from the
straps at a cost of $2000.00. Since moving into this house in 1991, I have had my thyroid
removed due to Graves disease, my gallbladder removed due to gall stones, I have had
pneumonia three times in one year. I started seeing a pulmonary doctor because I was
having difficulty breathing. I was diagnosed as Asthmatic ( which I did not have
prior to moving in this home.) and I take three medications when the condition
flares up. When a guest, who are also asthmatic come into this house they have
difficulty breathing. and they are usual sitting in the living room area where the moldy
closet and bathroom are next to. Our dog has died of cancer. She grew tumors after we
moved into this house. I don't know if this is a coincidence or if indeed its the mold
growing here that is affecting me. Could you advise us on what we should do?
I had no idea this could be so very dangerous. [June 6, 2002]
A.
Pets getting sick from mold and pets dying from mold are an early warning system that
there is a serious mold infestation problem in your home. In addition, the very serious
health problems you have been experiencing and the known water leak problems of your home
make it a certainty that you have a massive mold problem. The questions are: (1) what
types of mold---some are more dangerous than others, although all molds in elevated levels
indoors can cause health problems; (2) WHERE precisely is mold growing inside your walls,
ceilings, floors, hvac equipment/ducts, and elsewhere; and (3) how to get rid of the mold
contamination effectively, completely, and safely. Your first step is to have your home
thoroughly inspected and tested by a
Certified Mold Inspector.
Q.
I purchased a
home in October of 2001 (the home was built in October of 2000). The former owners had a
child that was born without a brain stem. Three months after we moved in my 11 month old son
became very ill. His blood was infected with meningitis. We caught it before it had reached
his brain. Now, he is 2 years old and has been diagnosed with autism. I don't know if mold
could have anything to do with these problems, but it is a strange coincidence. Have
you ever heard of medical problems like this as a result of mold? Any information you could
give me would be appreciated. [May 21, 2002]
A.
A pregnant woman living in a mold-infested home can experience birth defects in the baby
because of mold infestation getting to and harming the fetus through the mother's blood.
Hire a
Certified Mold
Inspector
to thoroughly mold test your home and to remove completely any mold
contamination.
Q. We purchased a 34 year old home
in Amarillo, Texas in June 2001. I cleaned up mold under a bathroom vanity when we
moved in to the home. This was thirty days of after the home inspection was done.
I began to have a burning sensation in my lungs when we moved into the house. I
started to have a constant runny nose. I also felt tired and nauseated when I was
home. I felt worse after taking a nap. I also felt depressed and tired.
I felt better when we went on a four day trip. I felt bad and all the symptoms
return quickly after returning home. I went to an allergy doctor that advised me to
take allergy shots and told me there was no need to move. A member of our Sunday
school class asked if I had any mold. She told me her family had the same symptoms
due to mold. They all improved after moving. Our insurance company denied our
claim in November because the water damage occurred before we owned the house. We
had a plumber do a pressure test and another company take samples and perform an air test.
The asked the seller to file a claim, she refused. We hired an attorney, the seller
hired an attorney. Our attorney sent the discovery and filed the fraud suit.
The seller's attorney advised her to file a claim. On March 30th I went to the
emergency room gasping for air. I went back to the emergency room on April 1st
gasping for air. I was advised by a friend to go to a doctor. I arrived barley
breathing and think I would have died if he had not had knowledge of how to treat me.
He is a chiropractor and has studied a technique that is like acupuncture without the
needles. He told me all my body systems were in shock and shutting down. I
also exhibited stroke like symptoms. I went through about a week that I could not
stop talking. I had a very hard time saying what I was thinking. I also had
trouble walking and using my left side. I reacted to mold, perfume, smoke by
exhibiting these symptoms. I have been out of the house for about five weeks now.
My health has improved but I am not 100% yet. Only by the grace of God am I alive to
tell my story. Thank you for the opportunity to read stories from others; I
feel less alone in this nightmare called mold. Question: Are there any medical tests
that check for mold spores in your body? If yes, how is this treated?
[May 13, 2002]
A.
Work hard to help your lawyer win. Lawsuits take a long time, money,
and effort to win. Second piece of advice: If your family is still
living in the home, move out immediately. The home mold problems and
the adverse health effects are indicative of a very major health
threat to your family. Third, if you want to find out [and thus
document for your lawsuit] the presence of mold in your body, ask your
doctor to order a Mold Antibody Blood Test to be performed at a
major local hospital laboratory. If a person has mold growing in one's body, the body's
natural defense to try to resist the mold is to create a specific antibody in the blood
for each type of mold that has infested one's body.
Q.
After reading some of these stories I am
feeling really scared. We live in an older home one block from the ocean. Our house is very
musty and there is black mold several places through out the house. I never would have
suspected this was the problem had quite a few people not brought it to our attention. We
have lived here for seven years. I have been really sick for almost a year. I have swollen
Lymph nodes through my body, sinus infections, stomach problems, joint pain, severe
headaches and pain in my chest. I feel sometimes like I have a pneumonia but I don't. I have
been tested for many things. They diagnosed me with Pernicious Anemia which would cause some
of these problems, but not all. My son who is ten has frequent nose bleeds and constant
allergies. My husband has battled major anxiety, depression and the inability to concentrate
on the simplest of things. I know these are a multitude of symptoms but I would really like
to know what you think. Any help would
be appreciated! [April 21, 2002]
A.
Move your family out of this mold hell immediately to prevent any further damage to your
family's health. After moving out, have one of our Certified Mold Inspectors thoroughly
inspect and mold test your home to identify the types of molds present in your home and to
locate their whereabouts. Do not move back into the home until you have completed mold
remediation and the home passes mold clearance tests after the mold removal. For more
information, please visit:
Mold Testing,
Mold Inspection,
and
Mold Remediation.
Q.
We built our home in 1989 and moved in Dec
1989. In the spring of 1990 we had a terrible flood with about 4 ft of water in the
basement. We had the flood cleaned up professionally and dried out. The next 3 years we had
a flood every year with water ranging from 1 ft to 2 ft. Again had it cleaned up.
I noticed that some of the foundation blocks are cracked and water has been seeping in. I
also noticed a white chalky substance on the walls and my 10 year old son has been not
feeling his self lately. He has had three upper respiratory infections in 2 months,
headaches and tired. We went to Florida for 10 days and he was fine. Now this week he
is sick again. We also had a pipe break behind a shower wall in our bathroom and it
leaked to a spare room. We didn't notice for about 4 months upon opening the closet I
noticed the drywall was black and crumbling and the carpet was wet. We removed the drywall
but I think that our house is got severe mold. My husband has also developed a memory
problem, he can't remember where he puts anything. We live in Canada and I hope that you can
help. [April 8, 2002]
A.
You need to leave the house immediately because of the severe damage that mold may be
causing to your family's health. Your first job is to test the
visible mold and the air in
the basement and in the various upstairs rooms of your home to determine [through
mold laboratory analysis and mold species identification of visible mold and air samples taken] what
types of molds have infested your home. Follow
the mold testing techniques at Mold Testing. You must find a way to stop the flooding of your basement or you will
never solve your mold problem. Find the best foundation and basement wall waterproofing
contractor in your area to get a bid on the changes necessary for waterproofing the exterior
basement walls and for draining water away from the basement walls rather than through them!
You can deal with
mold infestation in the bathroom leak area by the following the
mold removal
suggestions provided at: Mold
Remediation.
Q.
I moved into my new home on January 17, 2001. After only a few days I started having
problems with the house. One of the biggest problems was having a lot of water standing
under my house in the crawl space. I called my contractor and he pumped the water out on
several occasions. I thought the problem had been taken care of. In or about Dec. I decided
to refinance my house with the State Employees Credit Union. They sent someone to check for
termites. He told me I might as well stop the process until I fixed the water problem. He
said I had a pond under my house. I called in the county inspection dept. and my contractor.
My question is: I have been exposed to this problem for over a year. I have been sick
but never thought of mold might be causing
my problems. Is there any way my doctor can check to see if this is in fact my problems with
breathing, headaches, coughing so hard I almost pass out, and symptoms such as I have.
[April 8, 2002]
A.
Two tests that you might consider asking your
doctor to perform on you and your family members: (1) blood test to detect levels of mold
anti-bodies in your blood; and (2) biopsy of lung tissues to determine if there has been
lung tissue damage from molds likes aspergillus. Learn all about
mold health. You would
also be wise to read the book
Mold Health Guide.
Q.
We have had to move out of our home in
December, 2001, because of mold. We live in Valparaiso, Indiana. We are in the start of a
law suit because we only lived in the house for 7 months and there is mold everywhere from a
wet crawlspace, I have emailed several people but have gotten no response. It makes me
wonder why some people get their stories on tv and newspapers. [April 5,
2002]
A.
To get the attention of local newspapers and TV stations, you need to make their job easy to
report about your mold hell---deliver high quality photo's, videotapes,
mold test results, and typed factual
summaries of your bad experiences with your moldy home to your local media. Besides
waiting for some one to save you, you ought to learn how to do
mold testing and
mold remediation of your
own home so that you can get this problem over with on an affordable and
prompt basis.
Q.
My family has lived in our house for about 7 years, the house is about 50-60 years old.
During these seven years we have had about 5 episodes of some type of water damage. We had
black mold in the bathrooms and in the kitchen. We have it in the basement. Recently we had
the kitchen and the bathroom remodeled. Because this was done, does that mean that the mold
in those areas is gone? Also the mold in our basement was painted over, does the mold grow
over the paint if it still exists? We have 5 children and my oldest child got asthma about 2
years ago and three of my children get bloody noses pretty often out of nowhere. And they
are always sick with cold like symptoms. I feel like no one believes me when I say this is
going on. Recently I went to the doctor because I have been having problems breathing, but
the doctor said it is not asthma but gave me an inhaler. Within a time frame of a month and
a half I have had 4 breathing attacks, where you can hear how awful my breathing sounds. My
house smells musty when no one has been home for hours and has not been aired out. My
husband thinks that it is all in my head. Could you tell me what are some symptoms that the
black mold can cause? And what can I do? [April 3, 2002]
A.
Take your family out of this house immediately and live in a mold-free place for as long as
it takes you to test the mold in your home and to remove it completely and safely. The
health symptoms you describe are typical symptoms of living in a severely mold-contaminated
residence. Painting over mold does nothing to get rid of mold---it just gives more food for the mold to eat [the paint itself]. To identify and quantify
the types of mold that have infested your home, you need to do testing either on your own or
with one of our Certified Mold Inspectors. Find a
Certified Mold Inspector in your area. For do it yourself mold testing, please
follow the suggestions at:
Mold Testing. For detailed steps on how to remove
mold from your mold contaminated home, please visit:
Mold Remediation.
Q.
My husband and I are renting a 50-60
year old house and have mold growing in almost every room. I have to use bleach water
at least 2 a month to keep it from being visible. After visiting your web site, I
noticed that the bleach water does not kill what could be growing behind the walls. I
have brought this to the attention of our landlord twice. Each time I am told to clean
it really well with the bleach water and repaint it with an enamel paint and it should be
okay. How do I know that this will work? After reading your website, it seems
like that would just be covering up the problem. I want to stay on very good terms
with my landlords ( I can't afford to move), but I also want my family to be safe. My
husband and I suffer from headaches almost daily, my husband and 3 children all suffer from
nasal problems. I am at a loss of what to do. PLEASE HELP!!!!
[March 3, 2002]
A.
Chlorine bleach does not kill mold infestation because: (1) it is too
weak from heavy dilution; (2) chlorine stays on the surface and does not
soak INTO porous materials like drywall and wood where the mold has
enzyme roots; and (3) weak chlorine bleach becomes even weaker when it
sits for long times in warehouses and store shelves. Learn all about the
failure of bleach to kill mold on porous surfaces like building
materials at
Bleach Mold.
Your second problem is that you are just treating the symptoms of the problem. You need to
do a thorough mold investigation through mold inspection and
mold testing to find the water
sources of your mold problem and to find mold contamination that may be hidden inside walls,
ceilings, floors, hvac equipment and ducts, crawl space, basement, and attic. Follow the
mold investigation techniques explained in the ebook
Do it yourself Mold Inspection,
Remediation, Prevention, & Testing Guide that you can purchase online at
Product
Catalog. Ask your landlord to help you pay for mold testing because the
landlord owes you a duty to provide you with a HABITABLE place to live. Living in a mold
hell is not a habitable place to live!
Q. My sister-in-laws'
house has a strong musky odor. They have been living under these conditions for the past
year. When they visit my house I notice that their clothes have this strong musky odor. I
recently asked them about their home and was told that they had had water damage to one of
their rooms a year or so ago. Do you think that the odor is from mold on the drywall? What
should they do to remedy this possible mold problem? {March 1, 2002]
A.
Their first step is to mold test the air inside the various rooms of their home, plus any
crawl space, basement, attic, and several sample hvac ducts. The moldy smell of their
clothes and the house is a very good indication that your relatives have a very serious
mold contamination problem. They should follow the mold testing suggestions provided at:
Mold Testing.
Q.
I live on South Padre Island, Texas.
My question is can I leave my windows open or should I close them and run the air
conditioner to help prevent mold infestation. I currently do not have a mold contamination
problem and like fresh air but wonder if it going to cause a problem to the interior
furniture and appliances. My building is 5 years old and outside is block-stucco inside is
tile and 2 bedrooms carpeted. [Feb. 20, 2002]
A.
Living along the ocean means that your main problem is not the fresh air you desire, but in
removing excess humidity from the air inside your home. Buy a digital hygrometer [$30] to
check daily the humidity level in the various rooms. Desired humidity to discourage mold
growth is 30 to 40% or less. The more your humidity is above 50%, the more you encourage
mold to grow in your home and possessions. Use one or more powerful dehumidifiers [with a
humidity level control setting] to keep the humidity in the 30 to 40% range---and enjoy your
fresh air! You should also carefully check your home and possessions for any signs of mold
growth. Follow the mold prevention and mold detection tips contained in
the ebook Do it
yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide---see
Mold Book.
Q.
We made an offer on older home and the inspector found evidence of mold
in the crawl space. He actually brought out a piece of dry rotted wood that had a grayish
powdery looking substance on it. It broke off when he pushed on it. Anyway it appears
that there was once a water problem and it has been fixed. Previous owners added more
wood underneath - i.e. added new piers and joists to about 60% of the house - but did not
remove the old ones. All of this wood is now discolored. A vapor barrier is present
and there is 3" of insulation underneath. Based on what I have read it appears that we
would have to clean and remove all of the wood, insulation, and sub-floor and replace it
without the guarantee that we would get it all. As an additional note, the dryer and
Jen-Aire range
are vented into the crawl space. We really like the house, but after reading you
website info - it is our opinion that we need to get out of the contract based on the
presence of mold growth and the health/liability issues you raise. Not to mention the
costs associated with the repairs. So with this little bit of info - do you suggest
that we punt this house and look for another? [Feb. 17, 2002]
A.
Look for another home with no mold growth problems. Crawl space mold can easily grow into
the floor and walls above the crawl space. The dryer and Jen-Aire range
venting into the crawl space means that there will be massive mold
growth in the crawl space, from which the mold will have grown into the
floors and walls above. Unless you are prepared to spend a considerable
amount of money in mold testing and mold remediation, you should forget this house with its
bad mold infestation history. When you get a contract to purchase your next home, get at
least a 21 day environmental testing time period in your purchase contract, and then a hire
a Certified Mold Inspector to check out your home---also
visit mold inspection.
Q. We have recently moved
into a home and agreed to rent it until our other home sells, at which time we would
purchase the house. This was contingent on an inspection. We had the home
inspected and moved in while problems identified during the inspection process were being
resolved. One of the problems identified in the inspectors report was a spot of mold
on the garage ceiling. This "spot" was due to a leaking roof that was totally
replaced in August of last year ( we did not move in until late December). When
tested by _______, the spot contained "Numerous Stachybotrys spores". My home
inspector had the area completely removed, however he suggested we could get an air test
to "see if we had a problem". I agreed and an air test was conducted outside as well
as in the garage, in a room directly above the garage, and in the basement (smelled
funny). The air test results are back and Stachybotrys was present in the basement
air sample. Volume (L) was 150 and Detection Limits (Spores / M3) was 27.
Results in the basement showed Stachybotrys 27. The owners insurance seemed to
be stalling. My wife and 6 children (ages 3 months to 9 years) moved out on Saturday the
9th and I am still living in the home until I can get some indication of what we should do
next (I have a job in town and cannot realistically move to where my family is staying - 3
hours away). A "Mold Expert" was sent out on Monday the 11th and said that although
he could not guarantee anything, he didn't think i would have a problem staying here for
the next week. The insurance company wants to send another person out this coming
Monday and I am confused as to the significance of the homes health hazard. I am
also unsure as to what to do with all of our possessions. Are they "contaminated"?
Can we take them to a new home or will that increase the risk of taking this problem
with us? What should I expect from the owner / landlord and his insurance company?
[Feb. 17, 2002]
A.
You need to insist that the landlord do thorough mold testing through out the entire home
as well as the hvac equipment and ducts. Follow the mold testing suggestions contained at:
Mold Testing.
Then the house needs to have mold remediation using the guidelines contained at:
Mold Removal.
You should join your family in living somewhere else until the ENTIRE home has had mold
testing and mold remediation and then mold tests free of
Stachybotrys. Do NOT move
anything from the mold-contaminated home without first disinfecting all personal property
from mold infestation and mold spores. Learn about
landlord mold
liability.
Q. The house I'm buying
has mold growth in the attic because there is no ventilation up there. What can I do to
kill the mold infestation? How do I know if mold contamination has spread through
the whole house? [Feb. 13, 2001]
A.
You need to get a contract extension to allow you at least 2 to 3 weeks for environ-
mental testing of the home being purchased. Follow the mold test suggestions at
Mold Testing to
mold test the visible attic mold, the attic air, the home's hvac ducts, and all rooms of
the house, plus the basement and any crawl space. Attic mold, basement mold, and crawl
space mold are especially dangerous because they can easily spread into the ceilings,
floors, and walls of the rest of your home.
Q.
I am helping a friend who has been
exposed to toxic black mold spores. She and her son are extremely ill. I am very worried
that she will die as a result of her exposure. She is in constant pain throughout her body,
her hair if falling out, she sleeps most of the day, and she is constantly trying to remove
a “sticky” substance from her skin and hair. All of her belongings are still in the
apartment, and the landlord is threatening to sell her things and rent the contaminated
apartment to someone else. She is so sick that she has problems doing very simple tasks such
as making phone calls. I am one of her only voices to the outside world. I am currently
looking for legal, medical, and technical help for her. [Feb. 11, 2002]
A.
Get her to a pulmonary specialist [lung Medical Doctor] for mold testing and mold treatment
immediately. If she cannot pay for medical help, get her enrolled in your state Medicaid
program. As far as her legal rights against the landlord, contact the local legal aid
society, or call the local bar association [attorney group] and ask for pro bono
[free] help if she is unable to pay for legal assistance. Read the
indepth ebook Mold
Legal Guide. Learn all
about mold health
problems.
Q.
Could you please tell me how I can
get mold testing done on my mobile home which is a double wide and it is now 7 years old
with 24 code violations on it and the company knew about all of this and my family has been
staying so sick and between the headaches, can't breathe, rashes, dry coughs, sinus
infections, and it seems to be getting worse and I was wondering it I could get this place
tested. I haven't got a lot of money and it is so hard right now so if you could please tell
me how I sure would be grateful.
[Feb. 11, 2002]
A. To do
mold testing and
mold removal on a small budget, please do the following: (1)
study our mold testing & mold removal pages; (2) buy the ebook
Do it yourself Mold Prevention,
Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide; (3) use do-it-yourself mold test kits,
available from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store, to identify the types
of molds that have infested your home; (4) purchase at least one or two
of the top-rated electronic air cleaners such as the Friedrich brand recommended
by Consumer Reports to continually remove
airborne mold spores
from your breathing air; and (5) seek a legal aid attorney to go after
the seller if you can prove that the seller failed to disclosed known
problems with the home when the seller sold it to you. Read the ebook Mold
Legal Guide.
Q.
My daughter just informed me that they have a problem with mold growth coming out on the
walls in their bedrooms on the north end of their house and some in the bathroom area.
Having never had a problem with mold
contamination, we are at a lose as to what can be done and where to start. The house is
brick and sits very low to the ground with very little crawl space under it. I'm
sure the problem is coming from a wet crawl space. When the cover on the floor, to the
crawl space , is opened, a very strong odor of mildew is present. Also there are 2 young
children in the home, ages 6 and 4. Are there health risks to them and the family?
Please advise us on what to do with
this problem. We don't even know where to start.
Also is this something that
homeowners insurance would cover? [Feb. 11, 2002]
A.
Having crawl space mold can definitely cause serious health problems to the family. In
addition, the problem can get much worse because crawl space mold often goes into the
floor above and into the walls on top of the floor, causing a huge mold remediation
problem and an extremely dangerous home in which to live. In addition,
airborne mold spores can travel from the crawl space mold to mold
cross contaminate the entire house and its heating/cooling system. Usually, there is no insurance
coverage unless the mold arises from an insured water problem [such as a water line break
on a specific date]. Your first step should be to move the family into a mold-free place
to live while the home is tested and remediated. Your second step should be to thoroughly
mold test the home to determine the types of molds involved and the extent of the mold
invasion. Follow the mold testing suggestions contained at
Mold Testing.
Your third step is to follow the mold removal steps explained at:
Mold Removal.
Q.
We have had mold health problems since moving into our apt. shortly thereafter,
headaches, rashes, nosebleeds, memory problems, sleep and digestion problems, animals
sick, and we are getting out finally as the landlord refuses to do anything except cover
up what he can so you can't see the water stains on the ceiling and had the ducts
"cleaned" even when he was told it would do no good to remove mold in fiberglass
ductwork and needed replacing. We have had to stay in hotels which they wont reimburse
us for. Lost rent, sick days, medical expense. one medicine alone for fungus infection
which i have in my lungs is $450 for 1 month...I washed all items that were washable but
we cant afford to buy anything now to clean furniture....should we not take it with us
even if i vacuum it?...we wont have anything but that would be better than carrying
mold...how about tv's..hard surfaces??..or just cloth furniture should we leave...We are
planning to leave in a few days so any info you can give would be helpful...This
landlord is terrible mean...I think they should have to live in the mold infestation and
see how funny they think it is when they get sick and bleed everywhere and cant
breath....it may cost to fix but we didn't cause the damage but we sure have suffered
from it...Thanks for your site ..I hope an attorney will read what I have read hear as
it seems people just don't get how dangerous mold is.......now not only do I have
allergies to penicillin, mold, now just about everything bothers me.. perfume, smells,
clothing....one thing.......since I can hardly work much less do anything (am praying
for quick recovery for me and my family when we get out of here)...one thing I can do
well now...detect mold anywhere it seems...my nose just freaks out!......well thanks
again.....keep on informing the people. [Feb. 9, 2002]
A.
To
kill mold and to
remove mold
from clothes, wash them once or twice; [better] with Borax laundry detergent. You can
also use Borax mixed in water to wash all of your possessions. You are very smart to
move out quickly because most landlords will not spend money to test for or to remove
mold----they just don't care if they ruin their tenants' health. You are also right that
attorneys need to step in to correct this problem by filing lawsuits for compensatory
and punitive damages against such bad landlords.
Q.
WE HAVE THE STACHYBOTRYS MOLD IN OUR HOME. WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR
FURNITURE. WE HAD THE SAMPLES TESTED AND KNOW THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE SOLID WOOD
FURNITURE IN THE BEDROOM, IT DID NOT GET WET IT WAS CONTAMINATED BY THE SPORES IN THE
AIR, AND WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO CLEAN IT. WE ARE ALSO WONDERING ON HOW TO CLEAN OUR TWO
COMPUTERS AND TV'S CONTAMINATED THE SAME WAY. WE NO LONGER ARE IN THIS HOUSE BUT WOULD
LIKE TO CLEAN OUR THINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ALSO WE HAVE SOME BOOKS THAT ALSO DID NOT
GET WET BUT MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY THE SPORES IN THE AIR, IS THE SOMETHING TO CLEAN
THESE THINGS WITH? [Feb. 4, 2002]
A. Here are a few mold removal
suggestions from Mold Inspector's helpful
mold book
Do
It Best Yourself Mold Prevention,
Remediation, Inspection, & Testing Guide. Mix Borax laundry detergent with water to
make a mold-killing solution to wash hard surfaces such as wood furniture. You should
also use Borax to wash your clothes at least twice to kill and remove mold
contamination. Clothes that can be dry cleaned should be so treated because the dry
cleaning process is a
Mold Home Remedy
Recipe. Unplug electronic items and then spray a
light spray of a home remedy on all interior surfaces of electronics
to kill mold spores therein--be sure area is completely dry before
plugging back into electricity.
Q.
There is a house I am looking in to moving in to. a house down the street from it had
toxic
mold and the whole family died. The house I am looking at had flooded, and was treated but
the outside of it has mold on it. What do I look for? [Feb. 3, 2002]
A.
Somewhere else to live that has no
mold infestation! Knowing that the house has been flooded
and that it has visible mold growing on the outside of the home are all you need to know to
reject that house as a possible place to live. Most landlords or sellers are not willing to
spend the substantial sums required to find and to remove mold infestation that may be
hidden inside walls, above ceilings, below floors, inside heating and air conditioning
equipment and ducts, attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Removing mold can be very
difficult and very expensive. Read the 25 steps for safe and effective
mold removal. Learn about
Landlord
Mold Liability.
Q.
My boyfriend and I recently discovered
extensive mold contamination in our kitchen which is currently being tested. Even without
the results, our situation looks grim. The mold is black, leading us to believe it's toxic.
There is also a lot of dry rot behind the portion of the wall that has fallen away. We
suspect this type of damage in other areas of the house as well. Unfortunately, due to a
sudden and severe change in income, we barely have enough to get the bills and mortgage
paid. At this time, regardless of lab results, we cannot afford to make repairs or pay for
decontamination. Can you offer us any advice? Our homeowner policy does not cover mold. We
considered going after the man who sold us the house in February of 1999, as time has proved
he hid several other problems. However, we are not able to prove any of it. Selling the
house is not an option, as we can't afford to purchase another one, nor could we legally
sell a mold-infested house. We are extremely frustrated and worried. Do we have any options
or are we just screwed? [Jan. 25, 2002]
A.
Your first step is to protect yourselves from breathing in harmful black mold spores, toxic
mold spores, and elevated levels of
mold spores. Do you have a friend or family members you
can live with temporarily while you do your own mold remediation? If so, move there,
but don't take any personal possessions or clothing with you without first decontaminating
them from mold. If you stay in the home, as soon as possible, buy one or more
of the top-rated electronic air cleaners such as the Friedrich model
recommended by Consumer Reports.
By running hepa filters 24 hours in several areas of your home, you can reduce airborne mold
spores big-time. If you see any moldy areas, until you can afford to take remedial steps,
cover those areas completely with 6 mil thick clear plastic sheeting [use duct tape to make
tight fit on edges of sheeting]. Your first remediation step must be to find the source[s]
of water intrusion that is causing your mold problem. Until you fix water and moisture
problems, you will be unable to control your mold problems. One area at a time, as you can
afford it, follow the do-it-yourself home
mold remediation steps provided at:
Mold Removal.
Q.
What a relief to find a site that may
have answers for me. Words can not explain how upset I am. My new house is not yet three
years old. I notice the first year that I had some dark spots on my cathedral ceiling--I
thought it was roof trusses drying out. I have recycle white pop bottle carpeting and when I
scrubbed in I noticed it was black around the registers. Months later I went into the open
loft and found black cobweb type things hanging from the ceiling as well as the fan and the
carpet was black on the outside walls. As months progressed the walls started getting
blacker but only in corners and walls that faced the outside. I have had two builders come
out, three furnace men and each one has a different idea of what it is. What are you
feelings and what is the cause, plus who would be responsible? [Jan. 24,
2002]
A.
The most likely cause of the attic
mold, loft mold, and ceiling mold is roof leaks. You should have your proof carefully
inspected for any entry points for water by a qualified roofing contractor. Another possible
mold source is if you have a dryer venting humid air into the attic area. To find the mold
contamination sources by mold testing and careful physical inspection of your home
[including the use of a hidden moisture meter and a fiber optics inspection device,
hire a
Certified Mold
Inspector.
Q.
Purchased my home in 1998. In spring
to Summer of 2000, Town put waterline in. I was concerned as the front of my home was
constructed in mid 1800's and addition on back in 1947 after a fire. After they
completed the blasting and trenching in front of my home, I would not let them blast
directly in front of my home as the trenching was done three to four feet from my house, I
began to experience problems. that winter after the snow melted, I got a small area of water
stains on my kitchen ceiling. Kitchen is in "newer" addition. Since then , I have had
another leak this year in the same spot, cracking drywall along the exterior addition wall
in my stairway, a sinking and cracking living room oak floor, water spots on my bedroom and
the spare bedroom ceiling a a contaminated well that made me and my dog ill. I am
concerned as to mold growth behind the second floor wall that runs along the area where all
of the problems are occurring. I spoke with an environmental testing lab that stated that
since my home is so old, there is air circulating through the walls .True, because when we
purchased the home that second story room was only studs, and we could feel the cold air
blasting, that it why we dry walled it. They told me that the water most lost likely
dried (dissipated) as it traveled down the wall and settled in my kitchen ceiling tiles
below that room. They did say however that there could be mold, although they do not think
so. They said it is better to air on the side of caution and not to disturb anything until I
get a lawyer. I have having a MAJOR problem trying to find a lawyer to represent me.
I was diagnosed wit anxiety and panic disorder November 2000, as I became fearful after the
illness I suffered after the contaminated well. I remain emotionally scarred and
continue to fear any germs and mold. I have nightmares and my daily life has been
altered as i fear for my 12 year old son who has allergies and asthma. He had this
before we bought the house. He is growing out of these illnesses and they have not been
worse while we have been residing here. Sinus infections are now common, however, for both
of us. [Jan. 21, 2002]
A.
Your first step is to thoroughly mold test your home for
mold contamination [such
as the presence of black mold spores, toxic mold spores, and elevated
levels of mold spores]
using do it
yourself mold test kits available from a large hardware, home
improvement, or safety store, or hiring a
Certified Mold Inspector. A
Certified Mold Inspector
can not only test for mold problems, but also do a thorough physical inspection of the home
to document any water intrusion problems. Two inspection tools that are used by our
Certified Mold Inspectors
will be of especially high value in your home mold inspection and mold evaluation: (1)
hidden moisture detector; and (2) fiber optics inspection system [to check INSIDE
walls, ceilings, and floors for mold contamination]. Until you have a written report
of thorough mold testing done on your home, you are not ready to hire an attorney to pursue
whatever legal rights you may have---in mold contamination cases, the first thing an
attorney wants to see is the written mold test results.
Q.
I have been working in a very bad mold infested bldg. I suffered ear infections, and
breathing problems. After repeated requests for the results of the mold testing, I finally
got to find out that Aspergillus species, Penicillium species and Chaetomium were found. Can
anyone explain these species and the health effects they can cause.
[Jan. 18, 2002]
A.
No wonder you are so sick! Get a different job as soon as possible in a mold-free work
environment if your boss won't immediately correct this very adverse work environment.
Aspergillus causes severe health problems and is the only known mold to cause cancer in
humans. Penicillium destroys lung tissue and cause severe respiratory problems. Chaetomium
is also very destructive of your respiratory system. Mold health problems are extremely
serious! Learn about
workplace mold problems.
Q.
My car got sick when it was not
driven for a while. The interior was about 25% covered in black mold. Seats, carpet a/c vents and ducts too I suspect. We cleaned all we
could see but what about what we can't see? I assume your product has to come in contact w/
the affected area. Can it be used successfully for my problem? What about a/c ducts and
other hiding places? [Jan. 14, 2002]
A.
Many people cause mold contamination of their cars by the spread of mold spores [from their
home or work] that are on their hair, skins, clothing and shoes. Every time that a person
goes from a mold-contaminated indoor environment into a car, there is a definite chance of
increasing the cross- contamination of the car. Scrub your
entire passenger comparent completely with Borax laundry detergent, a
natural mold cleaner, in warm water. After washing with Borax, dry
quickly with fan to get rid of extra moisture.
You can use low-cost
Mold Home Remedy Recipes available at
Mold Mart.
Q.
I am a contractor who is in charge of performing work on a mid size motel with 20 plus
ground floor units that have been flooded three times with out major repairs other than
drying out of the units. Major mold growth and dry rot from mold has been spreading
for some time in these units. These units are built on pilling that supports a
laminated beam system that supports a floor joist system that is very contaminated with
fungi, mold and dry rot. The under floor was insulated with two inch foam insulation
screwed to the bottom of the floor joist's. This trapped moisture and dirt from the floods
in this area. Because no cleanup action were done after the floods, the partition
walls between each room have major dry rot damage to the partition wall framing. It is my
thinking that the foam insulation needs to be removed and the area needs to be pressure
washed, repaired and then sprayed with a fungicide. But after visiting your web page I
am not so sure. please advise any help would be greatly appreciated.
[Jan. 2, 2002]
A.
All support timbers or other building materials that have dry rot need
to be replaced or repaired [e.g., remove, fix, and reinforce sections
having dry rot]. All timbers and building materials that have mold
contamination need to be completely cleaned of mold or replaced with new
materials. To stop mold spreading, it is usually more cost-effective and
it makes better mold-free results if you replace damaged building
materials, rather than go through all of the steps for effective mold
removal. The precise methods you need to use to remove mold
contamination and to control mold are explained in detail at
Mold Removal.
Q.
I am
only 14, but I suspect something is wrong with our bathroom. The caulk around the
bathtub files has gone from white to black, and it is pretty nasty, and not only that but
our bathroom some times stinks, and on the upper wall there are these circular brown spots,
like stains on the wall, there are a nasty brown color, and covers a good amount of the
wall. It has been there for over 6 months, and has only gotten bigger. I was thinking
it might be mold. Also, there is this pretty large gap between the sink and the bathtub, and
if you look into the gap, there is continously nasty black stuff. Can you help? What should
we do? [Jan. 2, 2002]
A.
Follow the do-it-yourself mold testing instructions at
Mold Testing
to collect mold test samples of the black caulking, the brown stains
[cut out a sample of it from the wall], and nasty black stuff in the
gap.
Because your hunch is probably
right about the presence of mold, if you family can afford to do, buy 2 or more hepa filter
air purifiers from Home Depot or Lowe's or elsewhere and run them 24 hours per day to remove
airborne mold spores from the air you breathe in your home until the mold problems has been
taken care of.
Q.
My house is a ranch on a concrete slab, I think the mold is coming from
the heat ducts in the slab. And only in the bedrooms farthest away from
the furnace. There seems to be black mold every three or four months on
the ceilings and in the corners of the walls. We wiped it down with
bleach and it continues to come back. Also in the attic over the
bedrooms there is mold up on the rafters and the plywood. The roof was
replaced about three years ago and the mold is still coming back. What
do you think the problem is?[Dec. 22, 2001]
A.
Chlorine
bleach is an ineffective mold killer because it doesn't totally kill
all of the mold spores, especially the mold roots embedded into house
building materials. Instead
you can use low-cost
Mold Home Remedy Recipes.
Your first step is to use the lift tape method [1 inch wide clear
Scotch tape, about 3 inches long] of mold sampling inside the floor
heating ducts and on the roof rafters and roof plywood.
You need to find and fix the roof leaks that caused the
mold growth on the roof rafters and plywood. After fixing all water leaks, you can remove
the mold deposits by following the 25 step mold removal suggestions at
Mold Removal.
Q.
What kind of information could you
give to me or lead me to get on the serious health risks of mold. We have a home that
just had 174,000 gallons go through a broken hot water heater pipe in the
basement. There is only a small crawl space to the area where we need to get, but was
like a sauna, it went through the hollow walls (this is a 167 year old home which was a
one-room school house), up into the walk-in attic. The attic became like a sauna and
the condensation gathered on the A-frame ceiling, turning the attic into a rain forest, you
might say. This all dripped onto the floor and has soaked through the ceilings of 3/4
of the house. There is mold growing in some areas of the house and we're afraid it has
gone down the walls, between the walls and paneling, etc. My sister called from Iowa
and said their town had a flood problem, which the government came in and purchased the
houses and burned them all down. Many people got very sick and we'd like to know if
you have any thoughts on the matter, ideas for us, or info to suggest. [Dec.
16, 2001]
A.
Your first step is to mold test the visible mold to identify it using the lift tape sampling
method explained at
Lift Tape Test.
Then, each room of the house should have its air tested using do it
yourself mold test kits, available at a large hardware, home
improvement, or safety store, with
laboratory analysis and mold species identification of the collected
mold samples.Inside the walls and ceilings and floors need to be tested to identify and locate mold using
mold culture plates or mold swabs. Besides using do-it-yourself mold test kits, you
shuld
read the ebook Do It Best Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide
that is available at
Mold Mart.
Learn the 25 steps to remove mold by reading the directions at
Mold Removal.
Q.
I am a Tennessee realtor. I recently met a lady who had purchased a home in Knoxville which
had dangerous levels of mold. She has become very sick because of the mold contamination.
Tennessee laws do not yet require mold testing. I am not sure if this is because Tennessee
has not experienced many mold problems, or if it is because we are behind the times. I would
like to know more about mold testing and treatment. I feel it is my duty as a Realtor to
know more about mold testing and treatment. I feel it is my duty as a Realtor to home buyers
and sellers to know as much as possible. If you have any information for me, it would be
greatly appreciated. [Nov. 27, 2001]
A.
You have just won our award for your being the most caring realtor in America! If
Realtors and real estate sales agents were well-informed about the health dangers of mold
contamination in homes, there would be a big decline in buyers buying mold contaminated
homes. Learn the ten steps for avoiding mold problems and
mold lawsuits in
the selling and buying of real estate.
Your first step as a mold-enlightened Realtor is to look for and smell for the danger signs
of mold problems when you list properties for sale and when you inspect homes for sale
listed by other Realtors. Learn how to visually check out homes and other buildings for mold
problems by reading the ebook
Do It Best Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide,
available at Mold Mart.
Second step: If you believe that a particular home or building might
have a mold problem, you should encourage the property owner to test the
property
using do it
yourself mold test kits available from a large hardware, home
improvement, or safety store,
or by hiring a
Certified Mold Inspector.. Your third step would be to encourage
property owners to find and to correct all mold contamination locations prior to the sale of
their properties. Property owners should follow our mold removal directions explained at: Mold
Removal.
Q.
We have a son aged 11- he appeared to
be a healthy baby and at the age of five months old I took him to Holland (from where I
come) for a month to visit family. We returned to Australia and within a month his health
was not 100%. He was slow to gain weight, became a fussy eater and a poor sleeper. My son
has been diagnosed as dyspraxic which means he has poor motor skills and speech. His motor
skills have improved however his speech is a good measuring stick to tell if his general
health is good or bad. This seems to fluctuate immensely. In March this year we returned to
Holland for a month - during our time there his health seemed to improve drastically which
in turn improved his speech and he was like a different child. On returning home to
Australia he was back to the fluctuating speech and poor health within a period of ten days.
That got us thinking about environmental allergy which might adversely affect his general
health. Mould is a big problem in this house and recently we got someone to take some
samples. The results have been returned as aspergillus niger but have yet to be confirmed.
This mould is growing on our bedroom ceiling which used to be the bedroom of our son. Our
bathroom is covered in huge colonies of this mould and it doesn't matter how often I clean
it down with bleach, it returns within a matter of weeks. Our next task is to see whether
the mould is actually growing in the wall cavity. At this stage we're still tracking down
where the mould is and where it is coming from but my real question to you is whether you've
ever heard of mould affecting a person like it seems to be affecting my son. The house we
were in for a period of four weeks in Holland was a brick house which is constantly
centrally heated at around 22 degrees during the day and around 15 degrees during the night.
The air was so dry that our lips were cracked in the mornings. Now we are back to a
humid sick house which I'm quite prepared to move out of should it be affecting my son. I
have read a lot about mould and asthma, breathing problems and sneezing but can it actually
cause general ill health? [Nov. 19, 2001]
A.
Move out of your home immediately to
temporary, mold-free quarters elsewhere. The massive visible mold contamination guarantees
that the health of your family is at stake. Mold infestation problems affect strongest young
children and the elderly. The mold health symptoms your child is experiencing can well
be mold-related. The fact that your child's health improves or worsens depending on the
child's living in your home is strong evidence of the link between your home's mold
contamination and your child's health problems. Follow the suggestions in
the ebook
Do It Best Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide to
guide your testing of your home and your
mold removal efforts.
Q.
I am writing to inquire if there is a
test for black mold infection in a person. Forty years ago, I lived in a house that was
infested with this mold, and ever since, I have been plagued with upper respiratory
illnesses, including asthma. No one one seems to know much about this, and my primary care
physician is no help. I can't find any information on whether it is possible to test a
living person for mold. [Nov. 11, 2001]
A.
Yes, medical doctors can test a human
being for the presence of mold. For example, a lung specialist (pulmonary physician) can
take a sample of one's lung tissue in the doctor's office
(outpatient basis!) to do tests for lung damage (such as lung tissue destruction by the
dangerous and common mold penicillium). Blood tests can reveal the presence in the blood of
dangerous molds such as toxic Stachybotrys mold. Allergists can do
a number of tests for mold infection in one's sinus cavities and
respiratory areas. The most important task for you is to make sure
the physician has experience treating persons exposed to mold
contamination before you make an appointment [or risk wasting your money
and time seeing a physician who is ignorant of the effects of mold on
the body]. Also, you would be helped immensely by reading the in depth ebook
Mold Health Guide.
Q.
I recently began
renting a house that was built in 1916, in September with 4 other girls.
When I moved in, in my room there was a hole in the ceiling about 3x3,
at that time I was unsure of the cause of the hole, that is until it
rained one evening. Once, the water began pouring into my room, I knew
the cause and wanted it fixed immediately. The hole did get fixed and
also the hole in the roof was repaired. I am unsure of how long the
ceiling and hole in the roof sat like that. Since, this happened I have
begun to smell a strong weird unexplainable odor only present in my
bedroom. I am not sure if this will help, but a friend of mine said it
smells like an anesthesia that they give animals. I don't personally
know how to explain it. I am concerned that this may be mold growth
between the roof and my ceiling. I am on the second floor of three
floors and there is only dead space (closed off by walls in the shape of
a triangle) between my ceiling and the roof. I was wondering if you
could tell me what the mold will smell like? Also, if this is to be mold
what would be our legal rights? I know that also our basement has had
flooding problems in the past and now has a musty smell...could this
also be a problem? Could I find out by going to the doctor if I am sick
from mold in my house? [Oct. 24, 2001]
A.
Smell is one indication of
mold
problems. The former leaks in home are proof positive that there was
available water for mold growth.
Use do it yourself
mold test kits available from a large hardware, home improvement, or
safety store.to discover whether your
apartment has a mold problem.
You will test the air for the presence of unhealthy mold spores. Because most landlords are
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You can permanently harm your health big-time by living in a mold-contaminated apartment. To
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