Category Archives: Mold & Your Health

Mold and Sick Buildings a Real Problem

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You’ve probably heard tales regarding black mold and health issues related to contaminated buildings… But what’s the real story?

The CDC and EPA inspire confusion over mold and health issues
Though the CDC denies a correlation between mold and health issues, the EPA sustains molds have the potential to cause serious illness. Once inside the sinuses and lungs of susceptible individuals, mold spores colonize the body. Reproducing and metabolizing, the spores excrete mycotoxins, poisoning the blood and attacking the immune system.

Symptoms of black mold exposure include:

  • Irritation to the eyes, skin, throat, nose, and lungs of mold-allergic and non-allergic individuals.
  • Hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, and red eyes.
  • Skin rashes or dermatitis.
  • Immediate or delayed allergic reactions.
  • Asthma attacks.

Where is black mold hiding?
Black mold needs a consistently moist environment to grow and reproduce. It hides in the nooks and crannies of high cellulose, low nitrogen materials. It loves to grow on paper, fiberboard, drywall, fiberglass insulation, under floorboards – even on dust and lint. If you have attempted to remove this mold with soap and water – you’re only scratching the surface.

Guarding against mold

  • Limit standing moisture, paying special attention  high humidity areas such as kitchens, showers, bathrooms, and utility areas containing washers, water heaters, and pipes.
  • If mold issues are identified, address them promptly – furnishings and building materials must be dried within 24-48 to prevent colonies from forming.

Avoid toxic mold and health issues. Contact Stern Mold and remove mold from your home and your life today.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment, News

Black Mold Shuts Down School

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A current mold news story demonstrates that the fungus is an equal-opportunity invader with no respect for any demographics. Schools, hospitals, office buildings and other heavily populated facilities are all susceptible.

Workers at Carlin C. Coppin Elementary School in Lincoln, CA discovered mold while repairing leaks in the air conditioning system. After testing revealed the presence of black mold, the school was shut down for nearly a week so officials could investigate further.

The school was built in 1973 and has undergone periodic testing for black mold. Results of extensive testing in 2010 came back negative. At this time it’s believed that the infestation is a result of renovations in the affected classrooms over the past summer.

Students with allergies would be adversely affected by any mold in the building. Even people without a history of allergies or sinus trouble can eventually develop upper respiratory ailments such as runny noses and itchy, watery eyes.

Moisture is the lifeblood of mold. Any time a spore lands on a damp spot, it has the resources it needs to grow and expand. The experience at Coppin Elementary points out the importance of regular inspection and repair of air conditioning, faucets and other potential sites of water leaks.

If you discover a mold infestation in your home or office, you don’t have to look forward to the major inconvenience they had at Coppin Elementary. Our MoldExterm program provides safe and effective treatment that is usually completed within one day. Visit our website for more mold news and schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, MoldExterm, News

The Devastating Effects of Mold: A Real-Life Story

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The Effects Of Mold

The Effects Of Mold

Imagine finding your dream home only to have it fall victim to a seemingly innocent substance that occurs freely in nature. This was the unfortunate result for a Pacific Northwest couple whose residence of 24 years was destroyed by an infestation that could have been solved with mold treatment.

Craig and Shelly Johnson were newlyweds in 1990 when they purchased their home in Vancouver, WA, a suburb of Portland, OR. Six years later they completed major renovations, including finishing the basement and adding a bedroom and bathroom. They also had new insulation installed in the attic and redid the exterior with new siding and windows.

Several years later, the couple and their sons began suffering from health problems, beginning with respiratory ailments like bronchitis and pneumonia. Craig and Shelly continued to experience further declines in their conditions that seriously impaired their quality of life, including their ability to work. After failed attempts to determine the cause, a random comment from Shelly prompted Craig’s physician to suggest that their home be tested for toxins.

What they discovered was devastating. During that long-ago remodeling, the bathroom vents had never been installed and they were found laid on top of the attic insulation. In addition, the siding covered up the attic vents, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold. Moisture from years of showers resulted in an attic infested with various types of black and white mold.

Prompt mold treatment is essential to keep the fungus from gaining a foothold in your home or office. Our MoldExterm system eliminates the problem and adds protection to prevent it from reoccurring. Visit our website for more information.

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

Why MoldExterm Instead of Mold Remediation?

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Discovering that you have a mold infestation is enough bad news. You don’t need even worse news that you have to endure long, invasive and expensive mold treatment by way of remediation. Here’s some good news: MoldExterm offers a safer, more efficient, cost-effective way of removing and preventing mold.

Our proprietary MoldExterm system is based on technology developed by Dr. Leonard Pinchuk. This brilliant researcher holds more than 80 patents for biomaterials and medical devices, most notably the nylon angioplasty balloon catheter used to treat cardiovascular disease.

Here’s a closer look at just a few of the advantages MoldExterm has over remediation:

  • Remediation involves physical removal of affected materials, which can actually escalate the problem by dispersing mold spores into the atmosphere. MoldExterm encapsulates and treats the surfaces to prevent the spread of mold.
  • We use an EPA-registered anti-microbial to kill the mold and follow up with a patented polymer seal to prevent it from returning. Remediation puts no prevention methods in place.
  • MoldExterm preserves your building materials, making it a more eco-friendly solution than remediation which creates a significant amount of mold-covered debris.
  • Our skilled, professionally trained technicians are usually in and out of your home or office within one day. Remediation is a long, messy process that disrupts your everyday activities.

In addition to all these benefits, MoldExterm saves you up to 50 percent over the average cost of remediation. When it comes to mold treatment, you have a better option today. Visit our website for more information about our unique process and schedule an appointment for a free mold inspection.

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

What’s That Smell? Mold!

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Sometimes you don’t even have to see mold to know that it’s there. You’ve probably noticed that distinctively musty smell before, perhaps in a damp basement or bathroom. That tell-tale odor can alert you to the presence of mold even if it’s hidden away.

The smell comes from gases produced by mold. Microbial volatile organic compounds, or MVOC, are mostly odorless but some forms create that musty smell. When the smell is present, you are probably inhaling spores along with various compounds manufactured by mold.

Those spores and compounds can raise the likelihood of health difficulties. The most common are upper respiratory ailments such as sinus infections, sneezing and coughing. You may also suffer from red, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. A mold problem should be addressed regardless of whether or not you experience any physical symptoms.

Mold treatment is the only way to completely remove the smell. While scented candles, potpourri and other air fresheners may help to disguise it, the effect is only temporary. The odor is certainly unpleasant from a cosmetic standpoint, but your health is the main concern.

Not all mold produces an odor, so smell is not the only evidence you should be concerned with. Make it a regular practice to check all the areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements where moisture can accumulate.

Our comprehensive MoldExterm system provides safe and effective mold treatment that’s less expensive and intrusive than traditional remediation methods. In most cases our trained technicians can be in and out of your home or office in one day. Contact us to schedule a free mold inspection.

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