Category Archives: Mold & Your Health

What the EPA Wants You to Know About Mold

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Mold colonies

Act Quickly To Clean Up And Control Mold As Soon As It’s Found

Your health and your home are both threatened by mold growth, and the Environmental Protection Agency stresses the importance of acting quickly to clean up and control mold as soon as it’s found.

The EPA mold guide lays out the basic facts about mold:

  • Mold is common. Nobody should be surprised by the presence of mold. The important thing is controlling its growth if it spreads on indoor surfaces.
  • Mold causes health problems. Respiratory issues including asthma attacks and allergic reactions are common health problems caused by toxic mold.
  • Moisture makes mold grow. Molds need humidity to thrive. If you want to prevent the problem from recurring after you’ve brought in a NJ mold removal service, you need to make sure that the process includes stopping the moisture at its source.

What the EPA Says about Mold Cleanup

The EPA recommends cleaning up very small patches of mold by scrubbing with detergent and water. Be careful, however, because you need to wear protective clothing and equipment to reduce the risk of toxic mold-related health problems.

If the mold has gotten inside of a wall or ceiling, or the mold has spread to an area larger than about 10 square feet, the EPA advises you to find a mold removal professional. Our MoldExterm system uses EPA-registered antimicrobials for our NJ mold removal services.

If you’ve found mold growing in your home or business, Stern Mold can help by actually killing and removing the mold — and also treating surfaces to prevent mold from coming back ever again. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and quote for our NY and NJ mold service.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment

Pamela Stern is Our Professional Industrial Hygienist

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Introducing Pamela Stern, whose Many Duties Include Evaluating Hazardous Conditions in the Workplace

“Sick” workplaces can have a negative impact on the health of employees as well as people in the surrounding community. Pamela Stern, our professional industrial hygienist on staff, has extensive experience in recognizing, evaluating and controlling stressful environmental factors such as mold and fungus.

Becoming a Professional Industrial Hygienist

In order to achieve the designation of professional industrial hygienist, an individual must meet specific academic and field criteria.

  • A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry or related biological or physical science from an accredited institution.
  • In addition, the individual must have completed at least three years of industrial hygiene experience.
  • A master’s degree equates to one year of experience while a doctorate can count for two years, but that is the maximum amount of work experience that may be waived.

Certified Industrial Hygienist

The American Industrial Hygiene Association recommends that all eligible members attain certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. Requirements include:

  • Academic training along with four years of work experience
  • Passing a one-day exam
  • Staying active by applying for recertification every five years

As a professional industrial hygienist, Pamela’s responsibilities include evaluating hazardous conditions in the workplace, developing methods to treat and control possible risk factors, and training workers in proper heath and safety procedures.

Stern Mold: The Leader in Manhattan and NYC Mold Removal

Our first-class mold removal team includes Pamela along with our other professionally-trained and experienced technicians. Don’t take chances with the health of employees and others in the community. Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection and learn more about our unique and effective MoldExterm program.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment

Mold 101: How Mold Poisons Your Body

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Mold and Your Health

By definition, a biotoxin is literally a poison produced by a living organism such as mold. Once a biotoxin is ingested into your system, it triggers a chain of processes that can lead to a variety of serious health problems.

How Biotoxins Evade the Immune System

Your body’s immune system serves as the front line of defense against biotoxins and other foreign substances. In most cases, the immune system recognizes the biotoxin as an invader and proceeds to break it down and remove it via the liver.

Complications arise with individuals who don’t have a sufficient supply of HLA-DR, the gene that forms antibodies to target the biotoxin. At this point, the rogue biotoxin cells are free to travel throughout the body.

Biotoxin-Related Symptoms and Illnesses

As the biotoxin starts binding to surface receptors, it generates an inflammatory response which increases the level of cytokines. Resulting symptoms include headaches, fever and inability to concentrate.

The situation is compounded when cytokines begin binding to the receptors, which serves to suppress production of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). Low levels of MSH can cause development of the following symptoms:

  • Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
  • Gastrointestinal problems or “leaky gut” syndrome
  • Infections
  • Excessive thirst and frequent urination
  • High blood pressure

Safeguard Your Health with Effective Manhattan Mold Treatment

When exposure to mold continues, biotoxin-related illnesses can become chronic and more difficult to treat. Stern Mold uses a two-step process that provides safer, less invasive and more cost-effective Manhattan mold treatment than traditional remediation.

Contact us today to schedule a free inspection conducted by our cheerful and experienced Manhattan mold treatment technicians.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, News

Mold 101: OSHA Gives Guidance on Mold in the Workplace

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Know the Facts About Mold.

Mold At The Work Place

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) requires that all employers provide “safe and healthful working conditions” for all employees. While people often interpret the regulation in terms of physical risks, a workplace should also include clean air without excess levels of mold.

OSHA, the governing body established to enforce the OSH Act, offers tips about detecting and preventing mold exposure in the workplace.

Where Is Mold Found?

Mold spores are present everywhere, but they usually don’t cause problems at normal levels outdoors. Problems arise when the spores land on a damp spot indoors where they can multiply.

Common breeding grounds for mold in the workplace include:

  • Leaky or sweaty pipes
  • Poorly-maintained drain pans
  • Damp foundations
  • Poorly vented kitchens, showers or any area where steam is present

Building-Related Illnesses (BRIs)

A building-related illness is one that includes symptoms objectively found to be linked to specific elements inside the building. Mold-related BRIs are often allergic conditions such as rhinitis, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Reducing Risk of Mold BRIs

  • Conduct regular inspections for water leaks, damaged door and window seals, and visible mold.
  • Make sure all damp areas and equipment are cleaned and dried as soon as possible.
  • Wherever possible, vent all moisture-generating appliances and equipment to the outside.

Effective Manhattan Mold Remediation for Buildings and Workplaces

Workers compensation claims are some of the biggest expenses for any business. Our two-step MoldExterm Manhattan mold remediation program makes your workplace safer by removing existing mold and preventing future infestations. Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection by one of our friendly and professional technicians.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, Mold Treatment, News

Mold 101: Mold’s Impact on Our Kids

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Kids are the Future. Keep Them Safe From Dangerous Molds.

Kids are the Future. Keep Them Safe From Dangerous Molds.

Manhattan mold removal companies all agree that breathing in mold spores, or being exposed to them on any level, is bad enough for adults, but when it comes to kids, it’s worse. Young people are more susceptible to mold exposure in ways that are different from adults. Consequently, they need more protection than adults do, and here’s why.

  • Breathing — Did you know that kids breathe in more air, per pound of body weight, than adults do? Essentially, that ratio means they are taking in more mold spores with each breath during exposure. If it’s toxic black mold, kids are getting many more toxins through regular breathing than an average adult would.
  • Hand to Mouth — Yes, kids are told time and again to wash their hands, especially in bathroom areas where mold is most common. But everyone knows that kids forget, and that means they have a much greater chance of hand-to-mouth contact after touching mold infested areas.
  • Under Development — Both a youngster’s body organs and immune system are under development during these formative years, making them more susceptible to allergic reactions from mold infestation.

Kids are often thought of as young adults, but the reality is that they are still growing and have special requirements and needs, especially when it comes to mold exposure. Keep that in mind if you ever notice signs of mold in your home, school or other public place where kids congregate.

If you have any questions about mold infestation and the health of your kids, please contact one of the foremost Manhattan mold removal companies, Stern Mold. We offer a free mold inspection and are the experts at mold remediation.

 

Posted in Mold & Your Health
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