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Mold mushrooms growing in the corner of two walls and also in the carpeting |
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Serious mold
growth in a house attic.
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Mold
News |
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GAO Report Reports the Top Dozen Mold Health Problems
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The September 30, 2008, U.S.
Government Accounting Office (GAO) summary of the health
effects caused by exposure to mold ("INDOOR MOLD," and
subtitled, "Better Coordination of Research on Health Effects
and More Consistent Guidance Would Improve Federal Efforts")
reported that the following are the top dozen most
commonly-reported mold health problems reported in thirty-two
(32) federal government mold studies and reports:
1. Asthma, asthma triggers, or asthma symptoms (such as
episodes or attacks)
2. Upper respiratory tract symptoms
3. Eye symptoms
4. Skin symptoms
5. Allergies or allergic reactions (symptoms not otherwise
specified)
6. Wheeze
7. Cough
8. Difficulty breathing, trouble breathing, or shortness of
breath
9. Infections (including those affecting people who have
chronic lung disease).
10. Adverse effects to the nervous system
11. Fungal colonization or opportunistic infections in
immune-compromised individuals
12. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
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Mold growth inside a
Montreal apartment.
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This mold growth in
Canada will cause health problems for tenants. |
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Chlorine Bleach is
not effective in
killing mold on porous-surfaced building materials [wood, drywall,
insulation paper, ceiling tiles, etc.] for at least
three reasons: |
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Chlorine Bleach is NOT registered with the EPA as a disinfectant to kill mold.
You can verify that important fact yourself when you are unable to find an EPA registration
number for killing mold on the label of any brand of chlorine bleach.
"Bleach is actually a poor cleaning agent and can be inactivated by
organic material..." reported the Indoor Air Unit, Environmental
Health Division, MINNESOTA DEPT. OF HEALTH, in its report
"Recommended Best Practices for Mold Investigation in Minnesota
Schools," November, 2001.
Read bleach users' comments
about the failure of bleach
to solve their property mold
problems.
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Disadvantages of Using Chlorine Bleach |
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The following disadvantages of using
chlorine bleach were published "Bleach Usage" on Facility-maintenance.com
1.
Chlorine bleach lacks the ability to cut through dirt. A surface
or object being cleaned and disinfected must first be cleaned if bleach is going to be used
as disinfectant, adding time and labor costs to any project. “Organic material readily
inactivates these disinfectants, so the surface must be cleaned first,” said one industry
consultant. “You have to essentially double the time that it should take to clean and
disinfect a soiled surface.”
[In a 2004 study of five different
household products to try to clean a moldy shower curtain, The Wall Street Journal
recently reported that the least effective product was chlorine bleach.]
2.
More disadvantages of chlorine bleach are as follow---
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Bleach loses strength
rapidly: Carol Bush, area manager for contract cleaner Central
Property Services, Pittsburgh,
said a bleach/water
solution left on a shelf for any period of time will lose its
effectiveness. At the same time, said
cleaning industry educator
William Griffin, Cleaning Consultant Services Inc, Seattle, bleach
loses its effectiveness
quickly when being used,
“gassing off” before most disinfecting can be accomplished.
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Bleach can hide dirt:
The bleach can make some soil transparent, leading a cleaner to think
he/she has actually cleaned a surface when in fact the soil remains
there, said Michael Smith, academic custodial supervisor, Western
Washington University, Bellingham, WA.
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Bleach damages floor
finishes: Bleach attacks floor coatings, eating away at their effectiveness.
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Bleach damages fibers,
carpets etc.
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Bleach corrodes hard
surfaces: Metals and other surfaces can not only be corroded, but discolored.
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Bleach causes health
concerns: Improper use of bleach – either using too much or mixing it with certain
products – such as those that contain ammonia hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and phosphoric
acid – can create hazardous health conditions.
[Another bleach health
hazard: bleach can
contaminate groundwater.]
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Comparison of Commercial
Products versus Home-Made Alternatives such as using Bleach |
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Often people choose to use
home-made alternatives to commercial cleaning products because they
believe that naturally occurring or naturally derived substances are
less toxic and better for the environment than commercial products.
However, scientists have not found a correlation between naturalness,
toxicity, or environmental compatibility. In fact, some of the most
toxic substances in existence are naturally occurring substances.
Furthermore, commercial products are tested in terms of effectiveness,
safety, and environmental compatibility.
Nonetheless, if you choose
to use a homemade cleaning solution, you MUST use precautions.
In addition to the factors listed in the following table, there are
safety factors that should be considered before making or
using a homemade cleaning product. For instance, you should NEVER mix
cleaning solutions. This is especially important because products that
are safe when used separately can become hazardous if mixed with another
product. An example of this type of product is chlorine bleach. NEVER
mix chlorine bleach or a product containing chlorine bleach with ammonia
or any product containing ammonia or with any acidic products such as
toilet bowl cleaners. If these products are mixed, toxic gases can be
released. Furthermore, mixing household chemicals can also result in
heat or explosion or household chemicals can become less effective if
mixed with another chemical. Still yet, some household solutions simply
do not work well or at all. This is of particular concern when
individuals are trying to disinfect a surface, or kill disease causing
microorganisms.
The following table outlines some of the
advantages and disadvantages of commercial products and homemade alternatives.
| Commercial Products |
Home-Made Alternatives |
| Meet Federal Safety Regulations |
Not Subject to Federal Regulations |
| Proper Precautionary Labeling |
No Precautionary Labeling |
| Ingredients Known to Poison Control Centers |
Ingredients May Not be Known to Poison Control Centers |
| Child-Resistant Closures Where Needed |
Usually No Child-Resistant Closures |
| Packaging Compatible with Formulation |
Packaging May Not Be Compatible |
| Formulation Stable |
Product May Degrade in Package |
| Won't Grow Harmful Bacteria |
May Grow Harmful Bacteria |
| Won't Harm Goods When Used as Directed |
May Harm Valuable Possessions |
| Careful Quality Control |
Varies By Consumer Skill |
| Evaluated for Safety and Environmental Compatibility |
Not Evaluated for Safety or Environmental Compatibility |
Source: The Consumer Products Handbook: A
Comprehensive Guide to Today's Household Chemical
Products. (1992)
Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association, Inc
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Mold picture |
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Mold pictures plus information on the health effects of
Absidia mold,
Alternaria mold,
Aspergillus mold,
Aureobasidium mold,
Chaetomium mold,
Cladosporium mold,
Exserohilum mold,
Fusarium mold,
Microsporum mold,
Mucor mold,
Penicillium mold,
Rhinocladiella mold,
Rhizopus mold,
Stachybotrys toxic black mold, and
Trichoderma mold----visit
www.blackmoldpicture.com
Also visit:
Mold Training &
Mold Certification information and procedures. |
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