How to Prevent Mold From Threatening Your Health – Mold Awareness and Prevention
By Darlene Rose
As healthy as you might think you are, you can’t hide from the health affects of chronic mold exposure. Though some might quarrel with this statement, there is without a doubt, enough overwhelming information from many professionals in the field of environmental medicine coupled with peer reviewed medical literature, and stories from mold victims, to demand action. Prevention is that action! If you are smart, you will do your part to ensure that mold does not have a chance to grow, thrive, proliferate, or produce deadly volatile organic compounds or toxins in your home that can cause permanent injury from chronic exposure.
This is a statement that really should go without saying, but as long as there is controversy over causal relationship between mold and symptoms, families chronically affected by mold are left to fend for themselves, they hit road block after road block with respect to answers, and are left to pay many out of pocket expenses in search for anything that will help them regain health after an exposure. All the while, insurance plans do not recognize environmental illness or advocate for your child if he/she has become sensitized to his/her environment, causing severe allergies/sensitivities. And this is only the beginning. As compounded insult, if elevated levels of mold spores are identified in your home, proper remediation also invites controversial debate as there are no government guidelines that dictate how professionals clean it up to be able to guarantee your home is safe to return to. There are recommendations to follow, but nothing guarantees the job gets done. For many, the controversy lends way to disbelief and lack of action, when in fact, ACTION is exactly what everyone must do to prevent mold growing out of control in your home or workplace.
There is much information on the internet that addresses the health affects associated with mold. Several websites that are recommended for viewing are the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other helpful information is available by download from the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled, “Spectrum of Noninfectious Health Effects from Molds.” Mold prefers to attack the elderly, immune compromised and the young. You can draw your own conclusions about health affects; however, don’t be caught off guard in your home if moisture or water intrusions become issues. Also, don’t be caught off guard by hidden mold and a weak immune system. Unfortunately, even a strong immune system might not fair well against chronic exposure and high levels of spores or mycotoxins produced by deadly molds such as Stachybotrys, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium.
To prevent the possibility that mold turns into a nightmare for you or your family, control moisture and control water intrusion. It’s that simple! For many who have been “damaged” by undetected molds, and in fact there are many, the “heed my warning” just isn’t enough. To prevent mold growth, you must control moisture and water intrusion. Buy a moisture meter and use it. Control humidity in your home. Regularly enter your attic space, especially during rainstorms and look for obvious leaks. Fix those leaks as soon as they are identified. If you suspect water intrusion from leaks, don’t waste time speculating. Check into it. All it takes for a spore to begin to grow is 24 to 48 hours of moisture and it spreads. Contrary to popular belief, it does not need a continual source of water. It thrives off of even a little bit of moisture on wood, drywall, cement or even the moisture in the air above the shower.
Education on mold is the key to preventing injury. Being proactive is also the key; deal with moisture and water intrusion given the potential for harm. Don’t panic if you find mold. There are molds that are not as harmful as others. Stachybotrys, also known as black toxic mold is not common in homes, but it produces some of the worst toxins known to mankind. Other countries have isolated the toxins from this particular mold and used them as a biological weapon. If you find mold, know how to clean it up so that you contain the spread and contamination. Of beneficial information on the internet, you may want to visit the Environmental Protection Agency website and search for “Strategies to Control Indoor Air Pollution.” You will find this information very helpful.
But because mold is everywhere and sometimes it goes undetected, establishing colonies, you should also do your part to prevent health affects by ensuring your immune system is equipped to deal with any environmental aggressors it comes in contact with. Stay on top of your health as it does determine how susceptible you might be to other hazards in your environment including viruses, bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and the flu. Feed your immune system to keep it strong and healthy! Together, this can prove essential to naturally healthy living no matter what your body fights.