Allergy - Moms, Be Concerned About Mold

Children, the elderly, and people with depressed immune systems due to cancer, organ transplants, or AIDS, can become very sick when exposed to higher than normal levels of mold. Even some healthy individuals happen to be very sensitive to mold and are unable to tolerate a slight elevation of mold spores. Mold, scientifically known as fungi (singular: fungus), is not new - it's been around since the beginning of time and is a normal occurrence. Mold spores are found everywhere, even in Antarctica. The amount of spores in the air fluctuates day to day according to geographical locations, temperature, and the weather. Mold is abundant - there are between 1.3 to 3 millions species of mold, and they come in all kinds of colors. Some are common, and some are rare. Some are known to be toxic. Mold can be classified into three broad categories as far as health effects are concerned. The first category is allergenic molds, which cause allergic or asthmatic reactions, but do not usually cause permanent health effects in most healthy, active people. There are pathogenic molds, which can cause serious health problems in those who are more susceptible. And finally, there are toxic molds that can cause serious health problems in everybody. The severity of these problems differs depending on age, immune system, and sensitivity. Mold becomes a problem when it is growing inside our homes. A mold problem is, above all, a water or humidity problem. Without moisture mold spores cannot grow. Thus it behooves homeowners to practice mold prevention through regular maintenance and being vigilant in making prompt repairs when leaks occur. One must remember that within 24 to 48 hours following leaks, mold can start growing. Mold serves a good purpose in life by breaking down dead organic material, because without it, we would be living in a trash heap. To reproduce itself mold ejects microscopic spores (seeds) into the air. When a spore lands in a good environment with food (dead organic material such as wood or drywall) and water, it starts to grow. It then sends hyphae (tree-root like system) into the material and these hyphae emit enzymes that rot and digest the material it is sitting on. If anyone has tried to "clean up" mold and has seen it coming back, it is due to those hyphae that stay embedded in the material. A few weeks following the cleaning, mold reappears because the root system is still in the material, and similar to a plant, it grows back if moisture continues to be present. Certain types of mold do not even need a leak in order to grow. If the relative humidity of the air (RH) is above 60% some mold can take the humidity from the air and start growing on walls, furniture, and personal effects. Sometimes people have no idea that a problem has taken place until they get sick. Plumbing leaks in showers are notorious for being unnoticed for a long period of time before being discovered. If mold is suspected, call a mold inspector who will be able to detect whether a mold problem exists and if so where it is coming from. Before hiring a professional, it is important to obtain credentials and references. Mold detection is not an exact science, thus experience often equals expertise. If your child seems to have constant allergies, it might be due to mold. Collecting air samples with a corresponding outside control is the only way to assess the air quality, with respect to mold spores, inside the home. In 2005 researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that fungi play a large role in chronic rhinosinusitis. In fact, the findings indicates that chronic rhinosinusitis is a result of a fungal driven inflammation rather than a bacterial infection. Indoor air quality problems in schools affect both students and teachers. The following statistics were published on February 2, 2005 by the IEQ Review: One in five schools in America has indoor air quality problems. Asthma accounts for 14 million missed school days each year. The rate of asthma in young children has risen by 160 percent in the past 15 years. 1 out of every 13 school-age children has asthma. The Center for Indoor Environments and Health at the University of Connecticut states "the most common types of illnesses directly related to mold are type I responses of allergic rhinitis and asthma." They go on to say "... allergic inflammation can trigger bronchospasm, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, leading to either new onset of asthma or asthma exacerbation in sensitized individuals." Poor maintenance in schools and lack of money are often cited as excuses for mold problems, but little is done about it. This does not only pertain to public schools; some private schools are just as bad. Many university dorms, regardless of school prestige, are in poor condition and some harbor mold. Students accept these conditions as status quo and fail to complain. This situation does not have to be. If money can be found to modernize a gym and re-sod the school lawn, money can be found to maintain buildings properly. Air quality should be a priority of any institution, and parents and teachers should demand it. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Danielle and Charles Dobbs are principals of Dobbs Enterprises, Inc., a mold inspection and sampling company based in Maitland, Florida. They are authors of Mold Matters - Solutions and Prevention, and have written many articles. They also founded the International Institute of Professional Mold Inspectors, http://www.iipmi.com where they offer online courses. They give on site or online classes to engineers and maintenance crew to teach water intrusion and mold management. A unique telephone consulting service, a first in the nation, provides homeowners and building owners with an unbiased expert opinion or guidance about their particular mold problem. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Dobbs Allergy - Make Allergy Triggers Disappear Part -1 One effective way of providing relief for a child or anyone with allergies or asthma is to control the triggers that could cause an allergic episode. When many people speak of allergies it's done in the context of being allergic to a certain thing like the lawn or a certain food. While it's true that someone can be allergic to a specific food or environmental aspect, it's important to remember that most people with allergies have a compromised respiratory system. Many people have allergies and asthma, that are aggravated by things generally found in the environment. By controlling the potential allergy and asthma triggers at home, you're making a better living environment for anyone with a respiratory disorder. One of the most common problems that can cause an asthma or allergy attack is dust. The first place to check for this problem is in your furnace. Take the time to replace the small particulate filters in your furnace and air-conditioning unit at least once a month. Don't buy the under a dollar filters, as they will only trap the largest of dirt and dust particles. Spend the extra money and get a high quality filter for your furnace. These can be easily identified by sight as they look more like fabric than the cheap filters. Consider getting a whole house humidifier. A humidifier senses the amount of water in the air and adds moisture as necessary. Air that is too dry and irritate airways and bronchial passages making them more susceptible and likely to cause an allergic event. Or look of humidity, somewhere between 30 to 50% is ideal. If you don't have a forced their furnace or can't afford the expense of a whole house humidifier, consider several portable room type humidifiers for your home. By placing them at strategic locations you can make the living areas an allergy or asthma sufferer uses much more comfortable for them. You will probably find that everyone will benefit from taking the extra time to control the humidity in your home. In areas of high humidity, you may actually need a dehumidifier. While not having enough moisture in the air is a problem, having too much moisture results in a sticky or muggy feeling that can also cause problems. The most common problem is the development of mold. Mold is found in damp areas like the bathrooms but also grows on walls and under kitchen sink cabinets. Mold is a very common household problem. Unfortunately, the spores also can cause serious breathing difficulties for anyone with respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. To control mold in your house, it's necessary to remove some of the moisture in the air. This is where a dehumidifier can really come in handy. To remove mold that's already growing, a simple chlorine bleach solution is great on colorfast materials. Simply use a spray bottle and dilute common laundry chlorine bleach to a 1 to 5% solution and you're ready to go. Ceramic tile grout seems to be an almost perfect place for more could grow. You can tell there's mold, if you're grout lines are starting to turn black. That black is normally mold. Simply use a spray bottle with the chlorine bleach solution and sprayed directly on the ceramic tile and grout line's. You may need to use a stiff bristle brush to remove the mold. If you have colored grout, be sure to check in a small inconspicuous area to make certain the bleach solution won't discolor you're grout. The same chlorine bleach solution can be used under the kitchen cabinets, on walls and almost anywhere mold grows. By removing mold, wherever it grows in controlling the quality of the air in your home, you are well on your way to helping your family control causes of allergy and asthma attack events. Visit the site below and pick up a free report on eliminating allergy and asthma attack triggers in your home.