When disaster strikes, the worms come out of the woodwork. The recent hurricane season left an open window for many who would now use this opportunity to worm their way out of a more serious problem that of mold and bacterial amplification. Compounding this problem is the fact that the mold remediation and assessment industry in Florida remains unregulated. As such, there are those who oppose pending legislation and who instead would opt to market to consumers a quick-remedy or “out of sight, out of mind” approach to mold removal. This includes fogging or gassing techniques or merely painting over the problem with a stain blocker or mold retardant paint, or simply wiping mold away with bleaching agents, i.e. Clorox, etc. However, out of sight and out of mind does not necessarily mean out of harms way. There is a phrase worth remembering, “toxic live, toxic dead” that was coined by the medical community concerning the dangers of improper or inadequate remediation efforts involving mold (fungi) and bacteria. Many fungi and bacteria do not even start to release toxic vapors, mycotoxins, endotoxins or aflotoxins (opportunistic invasive species of fungi) until after the spore has already died, simply killing the mold or bacteria is not enough. It must be removed.
Consider for our discussion those microbial organisms within a building structure, a home, office or automobile, namely fungi and bacteria including: mold, mildew, yeast, and mushrooms. Bacteria generally consist of gram-negative bacteria or gram-positive bacteria, the latter being relatively common and found in most environments. Gram-negative bacteria produce endotoxins which can be extremely harmful to the human body, causing at minimum symptoms of “fever, chills, muscle ache, malaise, feeling of uneasiness or discomfort, minor pulmonary function changes, toxic pneumonitis,” as stated in the American Indoor Air Quality Council Study Guide for a Certified Microbial Consultant.
Many fungi can produce mycotoxins and aflotoxins, which are opportunistic invasive species of fungi and bacteria (as are endotoxins). All three produce allergies to susceptible individuals, and many produce infection, as cited by the Institute of Medicine, 1993: “14% suffer allergy-related sinusitis (sinus inflammation), 10% suffer allergy-related asthma (restriction of bronchial airways), 9% suffer allergenic dermatitis (skin rash)” and infections.
Mold spores can be introduced into the body through inhalation, breathing into the lungs, or swallowing, whether intentionally (wine, cheese, breads) or unintentionally (contamination on the hands, lips, food, beverages, etc.)
Infection can exhibit short-term health effects including: ENT irritations (ear, nose, throat), respiratory wheezing or shortness of breath, dizziness or lethargy and fever, as well as digestive problems. Possible long-term health effects from mycotoxins include damage to organs (such as the liver), damage to the central nervous system, or damage to digestive and immune systems (American Indoor Air Quality Council).
It is therefore imperative that remediation of contaminated microbial organisms follow published guidelines, where available (e.g. the New York City Department of Health Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration Certification S-520), which collectively agree that killing of the microorganisms is not enough, but that contaminated materials and microbial spores must be professionally removed. Otherwise, one faces the real possibility of cross contamination with non-affected areas, i.e. making a bad situation even worse.
Consider also the liability and impact of selling your property. If professional remediation was not completed pursuant to industry standards, including post remediation clearance testing, the potential buyer has the right to require mold of bacteria sampling prior to closing. Inadequate or improper remediation efforts of contaminants can threaten the value of your property.
In June 2005, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) published “Mold Steps Towards Clarity,” in which they strongly recommend that remediation be based on good research in accordance with the best practice within the industry. Additionally, the MBA referenced the Institute of Medicines report on damp indoor spaces, agreeing with its conclusions about levels of risk.
Lastly, Floridas pending legislation may require both professional training certification and educational requirements for mold assessors, as well as training certification with documented years of experience for mold remediators. Proper mold remediation and assessment must be conducted to determine the vertical and horizontal extent of contamination and adequate protocols (scope of work) must be developed to ensure that proper and adequate removal has been accomplished. This is not an issue that we can merely wish away.
Post Views: 821
