Tag Archives: Consequences of Mold

City Throws in the Towel in Fighting Mold in Old City Hall

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When the Cost of Mold Outweighs the Cost to Demolish

When the Cost of Mold Outweighs the Cost to Demolish

The presence of mold and fungus in a building can quickly become a health hazard. When mold isn’t completely removed, it can spread rapidly and prove difficult or even impossible to get rid of. A recent example of this can be seen at the city hall in Indiana, which is scheduled to be torn down due to mold.

Water Damage Cleanup Reveals Mold

In January 2014, pipes in West Lafayette City Hall ended up rupturing after freezing, which led to serious water damage. Crews that cleaned up the building discovered that mold had been growing in the basement and was later found growing on the first two floors. In March 2014, West Lafayette City Hall was abandoned while city officials looked into the expense of removing the building’s mold problem.

Costs of Mold Removal vs. Demolition

City officials calculated that removing all of the mold that had been growing in City Hall would cost more than tearing the building down. Over the next two years, city officials worked with insurance adjusters to come to agreement on settling this claim. West Lafayette City Hall is now scheduled to be torn down in November 2016 and there are currently no plans to rebuild on the same site.

This situation shows just how serious and costly mold and fungus problems can be. It’s important to detect these problems as early as possible and to have them taken care of before they can get worse.

If your building has a mold problem, contact Stern Mold for help. We offer mold and fungus removal services for homes and businesses in NJ, NYC and Long Island.

Posted in Mold Remediation, MoldExterm, News

What Are the Symptoms of Mold Exposure?

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One Service Away From Being Mold Free - Why You Should Trust Us To Help

One Service Away From Being Mold Free – Why You Should Trust Us To Help

It can be hard to tell if you’ve been exposed to mold since the symptoms usually feel like a common cold or seasonal allergies. There are a few things to be on the lookout for that might tip you off as to whether or not you are dealing with a mold problem.

Symptoms of Mold Exposure

A cough or stuffy nose might last a few days when you catch a cold, but it can last indefinitely if it is being caused by mold in your home. Other mold symptoms include wheezing, rash, eye irritation, and muscle aches. In more serious cases, you might experience vomiting, nausea, fever, or decreased mental/physical functions.

Feeling Better Elsewhere?

If you feel better after a couple of days away from your home or business, then go right back to feeling bad again when you return, you might have a mold problem. When your body doesn’t have to deal with toxic mold spores, you should bounce back pretty quickly.

Mold and Your Health

Suspected mold growth can usually be confirmed in just a few seconds when a trained professional takes a look at it. Depending on how much mold there is, treatment can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In order to prevent it from coming back, you will need our specialists to remedy the cause and remove the colony.

Our team at Stern Mold will take care of your mold problems both in your home and your business. Contact us today to find out more about the relationship between mold and your health, as well as what can be done to prevent mold and treat it.

Posted in Mold & Your Health

Mold Mycotoxins and Your Health

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Is Mold Causing You to Feel Under the Weather?

Is Mold Causing You to Feel Under the Weather?

Understanding the relationship between mold and your health can be very important if you see mold growing in your home. The mycotoxins that some mold varieties produce can cause serious allergic reactions and make you or your loved ones very sick.

What Are Mycotoxins?

Scientifically speaking, a mycotoxin is a type of byproduct that mold colonies produce that is harmful to humans or animals. Different types of mold make their own toxic byproducts, but some of them only harm bacteria (this is where we get prescription antibiotics) or only harm plants.

How Do They Affect Your Health?

Less serious health effects can include mild allergic reactions, coughing, clogged sinuses, and watery eyes. Prolonged exposure to certain mycotoxins, or even acute exposure to very dangerous strains, can cause respiratory problems, among other issues, that may require hospitalization.

How to Get Rid of Mycotoxins

Getting rid of mycotoxins means eliminating the mold colonies which are producing them. The best way to do this is to get a mold removal expert who knows what to look for and how to take care of the problem. The negative effects of mold and your health problems that might arise from long-term exposure usually means the sooner you have it treated, the better.

If you think you might have mold in your home, give us a call at 888-887-8376 and we will be happy to inspect to see if you do have a mold problem. Our staff is trained to identify different types of mold, inform you on the risks you might face, and recommend the appropriate remediation.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Tips

Are You Allergic to Your Bed? Find Out Why.

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Could Your Bed Be Making You Sick?

Could Your Bed Be Making You Sick?

If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms without finding any specific causes, you may want to blame your bed. People spend a third of their lives in bed, so it makes sense to ensure that it’s free of any of the following contaminants.

While you probably won’t see any of these contaminants (bacteria, fungi and allergens), they are there and while you sleep you’re contaminating your bed and breathing them into your lungs.

Mold and Fungi Spores

While mold and fungi are usually too small to see with the naked eye, studies have shown that they are often found in beds. Even minute amounts can cause a reaction so wash your bed sheets in hot water once a week. A NYC mold treatment may be necessary to alleviate allergy symptoms.

Dust Mite Droppings

While you might not be allergic to dust mites, you might be allergic to dust mite poop. Dust mites are found in four out of five homes in the United States, which means that they could very well be in your bed. Again, clean bed sheets will reduce this problem.

Sweat

Familiar with sweating in bed? It’s something that everybody does. If you’re sick, you can transmit strep or staph infection of the skin if allowed to build up.

Pet Droppings

Your pet may be the apple of your eye, but its urine, dander or saliva could be causing an allergy flare-up.

Clean, dry bed sheets are key to healthy living, but when it comes to mold and your health, don’t take any chances. Contact Stern Mold today to discuss your NYC mold treatment options and schedule a free inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, News

Aspergillosis – a Lung Infection Caused by Exposure to Mold

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Lungs And Mold

Lungs And Mold

Inhaling mold spores on a regular basis can irritate your throat and nasal passages, causing allergic reactions such as sneezing and coughing. A more serious threat lurks for people who have low resistance or pre-existing lung conditions.

Aspergillosis: When Mold Turns Infectious

Aspergillus is one of the more common types of mold, occurring frequently both indoors and outdoors. Chances are you inhale Aspergillus spores on a daily basis with little or no adverse effects.

However, individuals with weakened immune systems or who have a lung disease are at risk of developing aspergillosis, which is an infection resulting from exposure to Aspergillus spores.

Types of Aspergillosis

There are more than 180 identified species of Aspergillus, but fewer than 40 of them cause infection. Different forms of aspergillosis include:

• Allergic bronchopulmonary and allergic sinustis cause inflammation that triggers allergic reactions but no infection.

• Aspergilloma, or “fungus ball,” is a ball of Aspergillus mold that grows in the lungs and sinuses.

• Chronic pulmonary causes cavities in the lungs, and may occur in conjunction with aspergilloma.

• Invasive is an infectious form that usually affects the lungs, although it can spread to other parts of the body.

• Cutaneous develops when Aspergillus spores enter the body via the skin, such as through a cut or wound.

Live in Northern NJ or NYC? Schedule your Free Mold Inspection from Stern Mold.

If you suspect a mold infestation in your home, it should be treated immediately regardless of the type of fungus. Contact us today to schedule your free mold inspection by our professionally trained technicians. We can deal with mold infestation quickly and effectively using our eco-friendly MoldExterm process.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Tips, News
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