A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc.
Mold Inspection and Testing by
A Certified Florida Toxic Mold Inspector
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Stachybotrys commonly called toxic black mold contains species known to produce toxins, more specifically they sometimes produce trichothecene mycotoxins. It is not unusual to find such molds growing in water damaged homes during mold inspections. Stachybotrys has gained large amounts of attention in recent years and many people who call for inspections are less concerned about mold problems and more concerned specifically about the possibility of toxic black mold in their homes. What are the reasons for concerns with this mold specifically?
1) One reason why this mold has become a problem in recent years is Melinda Ballard's massive lawsuit against Farmers Insurance in the late 1990's. In her case she claimed that mold caused sickness in her family to such a degree that her husband who previously had a high paying job and a sharp mind started having cognitive difficulties and lost his job. The entire family had to vacate the 11,000 square foot home near Austin Texas and leave all belongings behind.
2) Another reason for concerns over toxic black mold are a few separate cases of infants dying of infant hemosiderosis or bleeding of the lungs. The children were exposed to Stachybotrys mold in their flooded homes, however they were also exposed to cigarette mold and possible other unhealthy indoor contaminates. The role of Stachybotrys in the cases is not fully understood for several reasons. For example other cases of hemosiderosis had no known connection to toxic mold in the homes, and many other cases of toxic mold in homes have not resulted in hemosiderosis, thus this is a very confusing issue with no clean answers. I once received a call from a mold attorney who inquired about mold testing in Miami because of infant hemosiderosis in a Miami home, however he never scheduled. This was the closest I ever came to dealing with such health issues.
3) Many animals have become ill or even died after eating mold containing mycotoxins including 10,000 turkeys that died in 1965 in England after eating food contaminated with toxic Aspergillus flavus mold. According to the website Dr Fungus, horsed and cattle became ill after feeding on hay contaminated with Stachybotrys in the Ukraine in the 1920's. Symptoms included conjunctivitis, Stomatitis, pancytopenia, as well as rhinitis, and neurological problems that resulted after eating hay contaminated with Stachybotrys. The illness is known as stachybotrytoxicosis. Solders riding some of the same horses became ill with rashes and blisters etc, after burning some of the moldy hay and making beds out of it.
4) Many studies have shown that Stachybotrys, Fusarium, Memnonelia, Trichoderma, and some species of Penicillium and some species of Aspergillus as well as many other molds produce extremely potent toxins of various types and toxicity levels. It is not unusual to find many of these during a mold inspections.
Molds are not trying to posion you when they grow in your home. They likely produce these chemicals to help protect them from being consumed by predators such as insects. These toxins are known to aid fungus by killing off other microbes in the area such as bacteria, thus they do not have to compete as much with bacteria for food or space. Not all chemicals produced by molds are toxic to humans, for example after world war I toxins released by Penicillium mold were found to be killing off bacterial colonies in it's vicinity. This resulted in the discovery of penicillin antibiotics and antibiotics in general that have saved millions of lives around the world. Fortunately production of penicillin antibiotics was under way in time for world war II, many of you reading this article would not be alive today if a wounded ancestor had not been treated with penicillin.
Scientists have proven that mycotoxins are very toxic to humans and animals if eaten in mold contaminated food, but scientists at the time of this written statement have not yet proven if mycotoxins are toxic via inhalation at levels typically encountered in indoor residential environments. As a mold inspector out of West Palm Beach I have conducted mold inspections on many homes and have seen many people who I am convinced were ill as the result of mold exposure. The clients typically report allergy and asthma symptoms.
Elevated indoor mold spore production can result in allergic reactions in persons with allergies, or it can result in asthma in asthmatic persons, no debate exists here, this is a well known fact, doctors, persons in moldy homes, and mold inspectors can tell you mold allergy is common.
Exposure to mold odors in young persons has recently been linked to an increased risk of developing asthma later in life, according to a six year study (Environmental Health Perspectives vol 113 # 3 March 2005). Based on personal observations as a mold inspector who has conducted mold testing full time for 7 years now it appears obvious that you do not need toxic mold spores, or for that matter you do not need elevated levels of any type of mold spores for allergy or asthma like symptoms to start it appears. All you need is the mold odors, and the odors do not have to be elevated to the point of being easily detectable by the human nose. If the odor can be detected behind an electrical outlet in a bedroom wall full of mold, then you will find that a kid sleeping in that room is suffering from allergy. If mold odor can be detected in a moldy duct when the inspectors nose is only 12 inches away from the duct then you will find that the reason you were called out is because people in the office are complaining of allergy or asthma. This is not a case of the people reporting illness after the mold specialists pointed out the odor. The health complaints are reported on the phone when the inspection is being scheduled. In addition the odor is seldom known about by the clients till after the mold inspector points it out to them, thus the clients did not imagine illness after smelling something. most importantly in many of these homes and offices spore levels are not always elevated, thus a detailed inspection is needed in conjunction with mold testing.
Keep in mind that many molds are toxigenic, and are especially common indoors and out, so considering amounts of mold spores, mold growth, and mold odor regardless of the species of mold may be more important than just considering the types of molds found.
About A Accredited Mold Inspection, Inc.
For larger inspections we cover all of Florida and the Caribbean.
We check for home or house mold problems resulting from flood, storm surge, and hurricane damage as well as from roof and plumbing leaks and from humidity or condensation problems. If you have or even suspect that you have a mold issue give us a call.
We Service The Following South Florida Counties And Cities:
We inspect in Palm Beach, Dade, and Broward Counties including the entire Miami, and Ft Lauderdale metropolitian areas. In Palm Beach County we conduct investigations in all areas including but not limited to: West Palm Beach, Singer Island, Palm Beach Gardens, jupiter, and Juno Beach, as well as areas South such as Delray, Boca, Lake Worth and Boynton Beach.
Some of our certifications and memberships.
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A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc. - Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County,
Toll-Free: 1 (888) 381-6651
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