Category Archives: MoldExterm

Toxic Mold May Trigger Psychiatric Symptoms

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Depression Linked to Mold

Depression Linked to Mold

Experts regularly warn about toxic mold as a risk to your physical health, particularly the upper respiratory system. A noted mental health professional recently spoke about the lesser-known link between toxic mold and psychiatric symptoms.

Mold and Biotoxin Illness

Dr. Mary Ackerley of Tucson is an integrative psychiatrist who uses alternative treatments with patients who don’t respond to traditional methods. She is also certified in the Shoemaker Protocol for treating biotoxin illness and chronic inflammatory response.

While Dr. Ackerley was originally unaware of the dangers of mold, she had her first experience with a patient who presented with depression and brain fog along with stomach pains and chronic sinus infections. It turned out that remodeling of the woman’s home had uncovered extensive mold.

The Mold-Brain Connection

Cytokines are proteins that regulate the body’s immune response to foreign organisms. When cytokines are at elevated levels, such as during prolonged exposure to mycotoxins in mold, they can result in neuroinflammation, triggering these psychiatric symptoms.

Dr. Ackerley cited another case of a woman who began suffering from extreme depression and anxiety when her husband performed DIY mold remediation at their home. The doctor pointed out the irony of these patients being told depression is “all in their head” only to discover that there are clear physical causes.

Stern Mold: Effective Mold Remediation for NYC and Northern NJ

As in the cases of these patients, traditional mold remediation can actually aggravate toxic mold symptoms rather than relieve them. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic, non-invasive MoldExterm process and schedule your free mold inspection by our experienced professional technicians.

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

My House is Making Me Sick – The MoldExterm Makeover

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Have You Been Experiencing Upper Respiratory Symptoms?

Have You Been Experiencing Upper Respiratory Symptoms?

Have you or your family been experiencing unexplained sneezing, coughing or other symptoms of upper respiratory illness? Maybe your doctor has suggested mold as the underlying cause.

If you suspect that your house is making you sick, don’t wait to investigate. Prompt and effective mold remediation may be the answer to your chronic health problems.

Does My House Have Mold?

The short answer is: yes, it does. Mold and mold spores exist nearly everywhere. Problems arise when mold levels rise beyond your body’s ability to tolerate them.

Begin by scheduling a professional inspection. Mold is notorious for growing in hidden places, so you need someone with an experienced eye who knows where to look.

The MoldExterm Makeover

Once the presence of mold has been confirmed, the next step is mold remediation. Unfortunately, the traditional process of removing affected materials is expensive, messy and inconvenient.

Our revolutionary MoldExterm process solves the disadvantages of regular mold remediation. The system is cost-effective, requires no replacement of building materials and generally takes only one day to complete.

• Affected areas are first treated with an EPA-registered, multi-purpose antimicrobial solution that cleans, disinfects and deodorizes.

• Next, our proprietary polymer sealer is applied to all surfaces for an effective barrier against the reappearance of mold, even when covered by a coat of paint.

• Finally, we install a professional-grade dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels, which discourages mold growth.

Get the MoldExterm Makeover for your NYC or Northern NJ Home

Our friendly, experienced technicians at Stern Mold provide state-of-the-art mold remediation with a minimum of disruption to your household. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection.

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

Realtor.com – Mold’s Top Hiding Places

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You Can Be Meticulous About Housekeeping and Still Have Mold Thriving Inside Your Home.

You Can Be Meticulous About Housekeeping and Still Have Mold Thriving Inside Your Home.

Mold is one of the scariest words for any homeowner. You can be meticulous about housekeeping and still have mold thriving inside your home. Mold needs only three things to grow: Moisture, an organic food source like wood or paper, and the right temperature.

Mold can grow in temperatures as low as 32 degrees (Fahrenheit) and as high as 120 degrees. Temperatures below 32 degrees do not kill mold. It simply goes dormant until things warm up again. The optimal temperature for mold growth is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

Top hiding places for mold

As a reporter for NBC’s “Today” show found out when he asked a mold remediation expert to inspect his home, mold can lurk in an otherwise clean-looking kitchen or bathroom. Places that you don’t normally go looking are ideal for mold colonies. Behind your refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine, a small leak can feed mold growth.

The same is true for leaky pipes under your sinks or in the crawl spaces. Long before you notice any water stains on your ceiling, a small roof leak can contribute to mold growth in your attic. Even if you don’t see the mold, its spores can cause respiratory problems for occupants with certain conditions. Also, there are studies that suggest mold contributes to asthma in some children.

Don’t jeopardize the health of your family. Contact the mold experts at Stern Mold. Our highly trained and professional technicians will carefully assess your mold problem and recommend the best mold remediation process to kill and prevent it from growing back again. The MoldExterm process is quick, inexpensive and eco-friendly.

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

Inhalation of Mold and Dust – a Health Hazard

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Inhaled Mold Spores Can Be Detrimental to Health

Inhaled Mold Spores Can Be Detrimental to Health

Big things come in small packages, and that applies to health risks as well. Dust and mold spores may not be visible to the naked eye, but they can have a serious impact on your physical well-being. Why do these microscopic particles create such a threat?

Mold Spores: Small but Mighty

Even the largest mold spores measure only 40 microns. In comparison, a human hair ranges from 100 to 150 microns. At that size, it’s easy for spores to slip past the natural filtering in your nasal passages, causing irritation to your upper respiratory system that triggers allergic reactions.

People who don’t generally suffer from allergies can still experience mild symptoms, such as wheezing and a runny nose, but the more sensitive an individual is, the more serious the effects. Reactions can range from chronic sinus infections to asthma attacks as well as lung infections in people with compromised immune systems.

Dangers of Dust in the Air

Dust is always present in the air, but treatments like traditional mold remediation can aggravate their presence. When building materials are removed, chemical vapors, silica particles and other irritants are released to combine with existing dust motes. Such disturbances also stir up mold spores that are dispersed into the air, where they can enter your system or find a new surface where they will continue to multiply.

State-of-the-Art Mold Remediation in NYC and northern NJ

Stern Mold uses a proprietary system called MoldExterm for effective and eco-friendly mold removal. Visit our website to learn more about why MoldExterm is superior to traditional mold remediation.

 

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

Mold and the Allergy Connection

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Protect your family from an allergies by treating mold quickly.

Protect your family from allergies by treating mold quickly.

Allergies are a regular part of life, and millions of people suffer from them. In most cases, pollen is the main allergen, with symptoms including sneezing, itchy eyes, and others.

The Mold Connection

The interesting part of this scenario is that, if you or your kids are allergic to mold spores, the same symptoms will occur. Especially during the spring and summer, a mold allergy may be mistaken for a common allergy, and if your son or daughter also suffers from asthma, it could become a very serious health issue.

Mold Allergy Clues

If you or your children are prone to seasonal allergies, check to see if they become worse or flare up in different places. Go into other parts of the home, like laundry rooms, bathrooms and basements and monitor the reactions. If there is no difference in any room than being outside, then the chances are that you don’t have a mold problem.

If, however, allergic reactions become worse in these areas, it would be in your best interest to search for hidden mold, and there are several mold removal tips you can use if you find mold growing, or call in a professional.

If you have any questions about mold infestation, allergic mold reactions or want to know about mold removal tips for your residence, count on the professionals at Stern Mold. We are part of the Stern Environmental Group and we have answers to your questions. If you believe there is an allergic reaction to mold in your home, ask for our free mold inspection. We have been serving the New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island area since 1995.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, Mold Tips, MoldExterm
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