How Do You Get The Molds Out Of Buildings Including Homes Schools And Places Of Employment
Mold growing in homes and buildings indicates that there is a problem with water or moisture. This is the first problem to address.
Remove moldy items from living areas. Once mold starts to grow in carpet, insulation, ceiling tiles, drywall, or wallboard, the only way to deal with the problem is by removal and replacement.
It is important to properly clean and dry the area as you can still have an allergic reaction to parts of the dead mold and mold contamination may recur if there is still a source of moisture.
Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly.
Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly after any flooding. Dig out mud and dirt . Use a wet vacuum to remove remaining dirt. Scrub cleanable surfaces with soapy water and a bristle brush. Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with water and dish detergent. Dry surfaces quickly and thoroughly after cleaning. If you have a fan, air conditioner or dehumidifier that wasnt affected by flooding use it to help the surfaces dry after you finish cleaning
Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water to kill mold on surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners.
If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
Support Your Energy Oxygen And Thyroid
Mycotoxins can wreak havoc with your mitochondria. Dysfunctional mitochondria result in less cellular energy. And that decreases your ability to fight mold illness. Support your mitochondria to restore mitochondrial function.
Mold can also squelch your oxygen levels. Your mitochondria need oxygen to generate energy efficiently, so supporting your mitochondria will help.
Additionally, mold exposure can hamper thyroid gland function. Supporting it may also be helpful.
What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
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How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure
If you have molds in your home and youre not paying any heed to your surroundings, you are putting your health in jeopardy. Molds are fungal species known to create havoc in your life. It is the moisture to be blamed for insidious mold growth in your homes. Having molds in homes and buildings is a pressing problem that should not be overlooked.
Wherever there is high humidity, these spores grow abundantly. Not only humidity feeds molds but also the puddles and the damp materials in your homes give these molds a safe and favorable place to live. Therefore, living in a water-damaged home or building can lead to serious health issues. This allows the tiny bubble of fear to expand in the heads of landowners and business owners.
If you have a hunch that molds are thriving at your place, take it seriously. The best way to get to these molds is by noticing water stains on walls, discoloration of paint, surface deterioration, flaky wallpaper, musty odor, etc.
Before we let you know how doctors test for mold exposure, it is of supreme importance to first get you acquainted with the mold-centered health problems for which youll turn to your doctor.
Molds are capable of producing many substances that can be detrimental. Allergens, irritants, and biotoxins are a threat to human health.
Your Personal Health Coaching Call
During your one-on-one call, your health coach will assess your symptoms and reasons for doing this lab test. Your coach will explain your lab results, answer any questions you may have, and you walk away with personalized recommendations according to your test results. These can include:
- A supplement plan
- Lifestyle changes
No More GuessworkRather than other at-home tests that make you guess at the results, our health coaches take the time to assess your results and go over them with you step by step. And you can feel confident that the supplements, diet and lifestyle changes we recommend are the right ones for your body and your health goals.
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Toxic Mold Syndrome Diagnosis
To make a toxic mold syndrome diagnosis, there is no way to actually measure mycotoxins in the blood but there is a test for mold toxins in the urine which is called the urine mycotoxin test and there are blood tests that test different blood parameters that suggest mold toxicity.This blood test is offered as a panel at Life Extension called the Biotoxin Mold Illness Panel. There is also an eye exam that can indicate mold exposure called the Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test. These are the main tests to help make a toxic mold syndrome diagnosis.
In addition, there is a genetic test called HLA DR Mold genetic test which is a blood test that will determine if you have a genotype that is prone to being sensitive to mold. There is also a blood test to test for allergies to molds which is called the Allergen Profile Mold test and it will tell you if you also have an allergy to mold in addition to mold toxicity.
SUMMARY OF TOXIC MOLD SYNDROME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
BIOTOXIN MOLD ILLNESS PANEL
318.75
HLA DR MOLD GENETIC TESTING
261.00
ALLERGEN PROFILE MOLD BLOOD TEST
108.00
PAGE DOWN TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH TEST
How To Test Your Home For Mold
Along with symptoms, one of the best ways to know if you are being poisoned by biotoxic mold, is to test your home . The average mold testing company does not properly test for mold. Many companies test the ambient air for mold, which generally yield negative results. The mold is not in the air, it lurks behind the walls and floorboards. The air is infested with mycotoxins, the airbound molecules that wreak havoc on our health, but they are not detectable by conventional mold testing.
Two better options for effective testing include:
- An ERMI Test, which tests bits of dust that have been vacuumed out of key places . This test is much more accurate in locating the spores.
- Hiring mold dogs. These dogs have been trained to sniff out the mold, and they are an incredible tool to locate mold in your home or other living space.
Apart from exhibiting symptoms of mold exposure, the biggest clue that your home may have mold is any sustained moisture, either as a result of the humid weather or a leak. If your home or office has wallpaper on drywall, this is also a major red flag- because the cellulose feeds mold. Moisture combined with cellulose is a guaranteed mold infestation.
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How Does Mold Enter Your Body
There are several ways in which mycotoxins can enter your body:
- Breathing When inhaling, spores, and mycotoxins come in contact with our respiratory system.
- Eating Ingestion is another common way of pathogens entering our body, especially if the food has been sitting on your counter for some time.
- Skin contact Mycotoxins can enter our bodies even through dermal absorption, especially if there are cuts and wounds on the surface.
Mycotoxins mostly enter our body when inhaling, and the mucous membrane in our nose is there to stop it. However, when the air concentration of these molecules is high, like in mold-infested rooms or a wet sauna, they can get past our mucus membrane and invade our upper respiratory tract and lungs, causing infections and irritations. And once mycotoxins come in contact with your blood, they can travel anywhere. They have been detected in many tissues and organs, urine, cancerous breast tissue, breast milk, spinal fluid, lymph nodes, kidneys, and it looks like the sinuses are the primary mold harboring places. Molds can also be found in brain tissue, and the effects are infections of the central nervous system.
How Long Does It Take For Mold To Get Out Of Your System
Again, the answer to this question is highly dependent on several factors: your level of exposure, health history, environment, type of mold, and degree of sensitivity.
Some individuals get better just weeks after removing the source of mold and immersing themselves in clean, mold-free environments.
Other people have reported it took over a year to fully recover.
A good way to gauge how long you will be battling mold in your system is how much mold has built up. The more mold that is in your body, the longer it will take to remove.
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What Is A Mycotoxin Test
Have you been suffering from new allergies, headaches, or other health problems? If so, you may have been exposed to mold. Fortunately, theres an easy, safe way to determine whether youre suffering from the harmful effects of toxic mold. At The Metabolic Institute in Spokane, WA, we offer a specialized mycotoxin test that may determine whether you have mold toxicity in your body. Read on to learn more about how this powerful testing method can help you address the damaging effects of toxic mold exposure.
Who Should Consider Mold Or Mycotoxin Testing
First, lets distinguish between mold and mycotoxin testing.
Mold testing generally refers to environmental testing , while mycotoxin testing refers to tests that look at the presence or effects of mycotoxins in the body.
You might want to consider mycotoxin testing if:
- You have already taken care of foundational health steps, including modifying diet and lifestyle and healing your gut, but you are still not feeling well
- You are experiencing symptoms or health effects consistent with mold toxicity, and
- You have access to an experienced, trusted, and rational practitioner who can help to interpret your results.
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How Can I Check For Mold
Its best to hire a professional to help you identify and remove mold, especially if youre allergic or vulnerable to it.
You should also consider hiring help if the mold covers more than 10 square feet, or if its hidden behind wallpaper, ceiling tiles, or other areas.
Here are some steps for identifying and removing mold.
The Dangers Of Constant Exposure To Mold
There are many dangers associated with constant exposure to mold.
For one, prolonged mold exposure can cause respiratory problems, including asthma and other respiratory infections.
Additionally, constant mold exposure is likely to increase mold sensitivity and allergic reactions.
Lastly, if the mold exposure comes from toxic molds, more serious illnesses may result.
More recent studies are showing that children who have prolonged mold exposure are more likely to develop asthma, especially if they are already genetically susceptible to it.
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How Do These Chemicals Harm My Health
Entering the Body
The harm begins when a person is exposed to an environment that contains a large amount of mold. During this time, damaging enzymes in the mold may enter a persons lungs. After going into the lungs, the enzymes may bypass the persons gut barrier and go into their bloodstream.
Harming the Neurons
Once they are in the bloodstream, these harmful mold antigens may change the persons blood-brain barrier function. This alteration allows the antigens to go into the nervous system. From there, the antigens may harm the persons neurons and interrupt their production of needed antibodies.
The Negative Effects
The disruption of the persons immune system can cause a variety of negative health issues. People may suffer from immune suppression, eczema, allergies, and sinusitis. They may also experience headaches, hyperthyroidism, vomiting, and other negative effects. Mold exposure can also cause people to suffer from myalgic encephalitis, rheumatic disorders, and painful lymph nodes.
Prevention And Patient Resources
After major flooding or other exposure to water damage and mold, talk with your immunocompromised patients about how to protect themselves from mold:
- Mold grows where there is moisture, usually within 24-48 hours of flooding. Even if it is not visible, it is often present.
- Immunocompromised people should not enter moldy buildings or help clean up mold.
- If it is impossible for people with weakened immune systems to avoid a moldy building, they should talk with their doctor and consider wearing an N-95 respirator inside the building. Remind patients that this will still not fully protect them from becoming exposed to mold, but may reduce their risk.
For more information on mold cleanup, refer patients to the following CDC resources, or provide them with a printed copy:
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What To Do If Your Home Is Mold
First, you need to identify the source of water intrusion and fix it. A leaky roof or pipe will only create more issues after mold remediation.
Fixing an extensive mold problem is best left to professionals. When you disturb-mold infested materials, the spores and toxins spread like dandelion seeds in the wind. Attempting to tackle it yourself could make a bad problem much worse.
When looking for a professional mold remediator, some of the questions you should ask are:
- Are you certified in mold remediation? Examples of major certifying groups are the American Council for Accredited Certification and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification .
- How do you document your work? This should include photos of damaged areas. The company should also provide an itemized cost estimate before starting.
- How do you contain mold-contaminated areas? This generally includes using thick plastic sheeting to seal off the moldy area. Remediators also use indoor air scrubbers with high-efficiency particulate air filters. These should be vented to the outdoors.
- How do you clean your equipment? Besides air scrubbers, remediators also use HEPA vacuums. Ask what measures they take to avoid contaminating your house with their equipment. Do they change HEPA filters between jobs and sanitize their equipment?
- How do you dispose of moldy material? The moldy debris should be double-bagged before removing it from the building.
A Qualified Environmental Lab Took Samples Of The Mold In My Home And Gave Me The Results Can Cdc Interpret These Results
Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the buildings characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
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Mycotoxins Damage Your Health
Mycotoxins are sneaky. While mold itself cant enter your bloodstream though it can hang around and colonize in spots like your nostrils and lungs mycotoxins can get into your bloodstream and circulate throughout your body.
These opportunistic toxins can hijack your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. If your immune system is already compromised , mycotoxins take advantage. If youre healthy, they can make you very sick.
Studies show that mycotoxins can:
- Cause lung inflammation that can make it harder to breathe
- Worsen allergy and asthma symptoms
Unfortunately, mold toxicity is frequently misdiagnosed. Because of its wide-ranging effects, its typically mistaken for other conditions including depression, multiple sclerosis, or autoimmune conditions. Plus, because mycotoxins are opportunistic, theyre often connected with debilitating diseases such as Lyme disease, IBS and fibromyalgia.
Your Genes Can Make You More Vulnerable
Around 25% of people are genetically predisposed to get sick from mold exposure. A simple test, called the HLA-DR, can tell you if youre in that more susceptible population.
If you are, it means your immune system cant easily identify and get rid of mycotoxins. That can allow them to build up in the body, causing harm wherever they end up. On top of that, because of that genetic twist, even relatively small exposures to mycotoxins can affect you.
How Do You Test For Toxic Mold Exposure
All in all, there is no simple way to diagnose mycotoxin illness, says McElroy. But testing is typically the first step. She prefers to start patients with at-home tests and also recommends a home inspection by a certified mold inspector. should only be ordered, in my opinion, once the environment is evaluated for the source of mold, explains McElroy. The most direct way to test for mold toxicity is a urine test that measures for metabolites of mold and mycotoxins as well as glutathione levels . That said, as McElroy explains, I never place the entire diagnosis of mycotoxin illness on tests alone. Why? Because mold tests have some major drawbacks, including:
- False negatives and false positives are common
- They are not covered by insurance
- You cant test all toxins there are hundreds
- The levels found on tests dont necessarily correlate with the severity of symptoms
These tests clearly arent perfect. In fact, McElroy says she has seen patients who were really sick have almost nothing show up on the test while the healthy spouses of those same patients register values off the charts, so having a clinician thats willing and able to do some extra investigation into symptoms of mold and toxic mold exposure is key.
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