Information About Mold

Molds are everywhere. There is no way to remove all molds from our lives. However, there are ways of controlling the amount of molds in our living spaces. The goal is to have lower amounts of mold in our home than the outside environment.

Mold normally is not “toxic.” However, it can begin producing mycotoxins that in high enough doses can either be beneficial or detrimental to a human’s health. It is these molds that the media commonly refer to as toxic molds. A common mycotoxin is penicillin.

So what are possible signs of mold?
• Staining on walls or ceilings
• A musty or urine smell
• Residents having constant allergy type symptoms that continue
to persist despite treatment

Molds left untreated can cause health issues. This is especially true for people who already suffer from allergies or respiratory problems. The young and elderly are especially susceptible. Certain molds can also destroy building structures in addition to the contents of the building.

The first step in solving any mold problem is to have a mold inspection. Enviro-Clean detects mold through a full mold inspection by a Certified Mold Inspector and with the use of a trained canine.

If mold is found, testing needs to be done to determine what type of mold it is and what spore levels are present. We use the services of EM Labs PMK for all of our testing. With this information, proper remediation steps can be taken. Some remediation is simple, and some cases require the use of a professional remediator.

Bottom line, mold isn’t something to be scared of. It just needs to be controlled in our living environments.

For additional information on toxic molds, check out:
• www.dshs.state.tx.us/mold
• www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_health_issues
• epa.gov