Mold grows in wet environments, and produces spores that can get into the air. Most health problems caused by mold involve these spores getting into your lungs. Stuffiness or a runny nose may be the sign of mold allergy. Other common health problems caused by mold is shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. You may experience asthma-like symptoms even though you do not suffer from asthma.
Mold needs three things to grow: Food Source, Temperature, and most importantly Moisture. Mold eats only organic material as they primarily degrade cellulose. In homes and offices there are plenty of organic materials used in construction which contain cellulose, such as drywall, wood, and even carpet with organic fibers. Mold will not eat synthetic materials but it will dine on organic debris that land on these synthetics such as dead skin, dust, or oils. (Think back to the mold that builds up in your shower when not cleaned regularly.) They can thrive in cool and warm climates but most prefer temperatures ranging from roughly 50 degrees F to 80 degrees F making our indoor environments an excellent place to live. The only ingredient for mold growth that is not ever-present in our dwellings is MOISTURE. Moisture is the key to mold growth and enters our dwellings in a variety of ways. Leaky roofs, high humidity, wet basements, plumbing leaks, improperly sealed windows or doors are just some of the ways water infiltrates a structure and allows mold to grow.
Mold reproduces by way of spores, which are microscopic in size. Mold spores are measured in units called Microns. Generally, one of the smallest things someone with 20/20 vision can see is a raindrop, which is approximately 600 microns. Most mold spores range in size from 5-30 microns making them impossible to see with the human eye and easily moved through the air from even the smallest force. Wind, insects, human or animal movements can all move spores around a dwelling and they can easily pass through small cracks, window screens, and doorways. Mold spores can stay in the air for prolonged periods of time and will do so until appropriate conditions are found for reproduction.
Due to their incredibly small size, mold spores can be easily inhaled or ingested. Spores can also enter a human or animal's body by way of the ears, eyes, and even pores. Certain health effects have been associated with mold such as but not limited to: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, fatigue, short-term memory loss, diarrhea, asthma, aspergillosis, pnuemonitis, hair loss, and even death.
Generally mold spores are classified into three different categories when pertaining to health. They are Toxic, Pathogenic, and Allergenic.
A Toxic mold is one that produces a mycotoxin which has been associated with adverse affects in almost anyone if found present in elevations. Some examples of mycotoxins include: tricothecene (produced by the fabled Stachybotrys genus), petulin (generally produced by Aspergillus sp. ), and sterigmatocystin (also produced by some species of Aspergillus sp. ).
A Pathogentic mold will affect those who are already immune-compromised. Many mold fall into this category. Immune compromised individuals include but are not limited to: cancer patients, pregnant women, and small children with undeveloped immune systems, some animals, people with heart disease, and others who suffer from illness.
An Allergenic mold is one that may affect some but not others. This affect is very similar to an animal or pollen allergy. An allergenic mold can sometimes divide a family because only one person may complain of symptoms while others do not have concern for the problem and ultimately do not address it. An individual can build a tolerance to an allergy as well as become more susceptible after chronic exposure.
Mold spores can be viable or non-viable. A viable spore can actively reproduce while a non-viable spore will not actively reproduce. Mold spores have been associated with effects on human health both when they are living or dead. The health affects associated with a spore are not negated when the spore is rendered non-viable. In fact a dead spore, which still contains mycotoxins, may be more detrimental because it becomes lighter and can become airborne more readily. Not all non-viable spores are dead, some may simply be dormant until favorable conditions for growth arise. PowerBees can remove both viable and non-viable mold spores.
We also provide Mold Removal and Mold Testing services in Southern New Hampshire (Nashua, Manchester, Concord, and Keene).
Additionally, PowerBees will provide Mold Removal and Mold Testing services in all of Rhode Island (such as Providence, Warwick and Cranston) as well as Eastern Connecticut through Hartford.
PowerBees also provides Mold Removal and Mold Testing services to Brattleboro, VT and the surrounding areas.
In Massachusetts: PowerBees deploys technicians from the following communities in Massachusetts for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: Boston, Quincy, Hyannis, Natick, Sudbury, Brookline, Newton, Marlborough, Arlington, North Reading, Malden, Swampscott, Worcester, Lincoln and Hull.
In Massachusetts: PowerBees also provides a "rapid deployment" service to the following communities in Massachusetts for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: Acton, Bedford, Lexington, Marshfield, Plymouth, Andover, Salem, Marblehead, Braintree and Revere.
In Florida: PowerBees deploys technicians from the following communities in Florida for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter and Coral Springs.
In Florida: PowerBees also provides a "rapid deployment" service to the following communities in Florida for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: Juno Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Wellington, Lighthouse Point, Margate, Oakland Park, Plantation, Pompano Beach and Wilton Manners.
In Rhode Island: PowerBees deploys technicians from the following locations in Rhode Island for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: Providence, Cumberland, Smithfield and Warwick.
In New Hampshire: PowerBees deploys technicians from the following locations in New Hampshire for Mold Removal and Mold Testing: Manchester, Nashua, Bedford, Concord, Goffstown, Dover, Merrimack, New London and Pelham.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has served as the Industry Guardian for the cleaning, inspection and restoration service industries. IICRC helps ensure that customers have access to trusted and trained cleaning professionals by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for these industries. To qualify for IICRC-Certified Firm status businesses must demonstrate proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with documented follow-up and provide ongoing education and training leading to certification for all technicians. IICRC Certified Firms are also required to abide by the IICRC Code of Ethics.
The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit, multi-disciplined organization, dedicated to promoting the exchange of indoor environmental information, through education and research, for the safety and well being of the general public.
operates a state-of-the-art microbiological analysis laboratory. They specialize in full service environmental microbial analyses for indoor air quality investigations. Their extensive experience in indoor air quality sampling techniques, fungal identification, and analytical interpretation allows them to offer customers expert advice on all aspects of their IAQ investigations. This personalized service has made IMS Laboratory an industry leader. Their laboratory is designed to accept a variety of IAQ investigation sample types for fungal analysis, including viable and non-viable air, bulk and surface samples. To maintain quality control and quality assurance, IMS Laboratory uses standardized procedures approved under strict AIHA guidelines.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association is one of the largest international associations serving the needs of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals practicing industrial hygiene in industry, government, labor, academic institutions, and independent organizations. The AIHA is devoted to achieving and maintaining the highest professional standards for its members.
Information about mold and how to prevent it.