Toxic Mildew Symptoms: How To Recognize the Signs

from: http://afkcafe.com/?p=2031

Detecting toxic mold symptoms is extremely important as mold is certainly resulting in severe health worries in human creatures. These toxic sorts of mold can exist in moist conditions in your house or workplace without us even being aware of it. In a final 10 years, you can find numerous accounts of toxic molds resulting in serious and many times fatal outcomes with regard to babies and delicate individuals.

The issues of health of toxic mold include rashes to breathing difficulties. Mold can be extremely dangerous and will impact your your overall health. Urgent steps should be considered any time the hint of toxic mold is available. So accurately determining in case a dangerous form of mold is present in your house is critical. If indicators can be there, possibilities are good that this residence is contaminated and requires prompt purifying.

One of several indications of mould infestation is that when you or anyone require the residence is usually hyper sensitive to swap in encompassing environment circumstances and encounter some kind of allergic response and respiratory problems when contained in the residence, then you will find a chance of excessive mold presence.

Odors like a mildew smell and musky odor are a portion of the first signs that mold is growing somewhere in the market. Look for rainy areas or yellowing in walls or approximately wall switches. Black mold is a leading suspect for nearly all toxic mould health associated factors. After the mould forms, it requires nourishment to expand, and it will become it by having a mechanical failure the surface it’s growing on.

Throughout practise of tearing down the surface for nourishment, the mold leads to development of Erratic Organic Compounds (VOCs). The VOCs are dangerous for our nervous and breathing systems. A few signs and symptoms of black mould poisoning and long term mold symptoms are breathing difficulties, cough, head aches, nausea, red frustrated eyes, memory the loss, dizziness and rashes to call a few.

You can find ways to help control mold as well as keep it out of developing. The first step can be to take control of the moisture in the market so you must consider purchasing a dehumidifier for any area. Check for any leakage in the market and fix the problems.

Bathrooms are about the most mold filled rooms in an office or house. Be sure to wash the area including the curtains and fixtures often to avoid mould growth. Also consider using home air cleaners which can help eliminate airborne mold spores.

If you feel you have black mold or even aren’t sure, learn the symptoms of mold exposure and you’ll wish to consider hiring a highly skilled mold remediation provider to efficiently thoroughly clean it up, ridding your office or house of it thoroughly. It is always preferable to be safe as opposed to sorry.

Toxic Mold May Have Killed Star

from: http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/brittany-murphy-death-mold-275478

The actress' mother, Sharon Murphy, has filed a lawsuit against the attorneys that represented her in a suit against the builders of the home where Murphy died.

The mother of Brittany Murphy has filed a lawsuit against the attorneys that represented her in a suit against the builders of the home where the actress died, claiming the lawyers never told her about a possible wrongful death suit due to mold in the house.

The suit by Sharon Murphy in Los Angeles Superior Court comes nearly two years after the Dec. 20, 2009 death of Brittany Murphy, which was followed by the May 2010 death of Brittany's husband Simon Monjack.

Sharon Murphy apparently did not become convinced that toxic mold was a cause in the death of her daughter and son-in-law until this past summer, when she was in the process of selling the house in the Hollywood Hills.

In fact, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that while the issue of toxic mold had come up previously, Sharon Murphy did not believe at the time her 32-year-old daughter or 39-year-old son-in-law died that mold was a cause of death.

According to Ed Winter, assistant chief coroner of Los Angeles County, the coroner's office specifically looked for evidence of mold during the autopsies of both Murphy and Monjack and did not find any.

Winter told THR on Monday that at the time of Monjack’s death, Sharon Murphy told him she did not believe mold was the cause and she would not permit an inspection of the house by the L.A. health department as the coroner had requested.

This all took place during a period when Sharon Murphy was understandably upset about what had happened to her daughter and son-in-law. In a complaint filed Monday, Sharon Murphy charges the firm of Steiner & Libo with legal malpractice, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty for not properly informing her that in January 2011 -- when she accepted the final settlement of that earlier lawsuit -- she was giving up her right to sue for the wrongful death of her daughter due to the presence of mold in the 13-year-old, 8,000-square-foot-home.

The coroner had found that pneumonia was one of the causes of their deaths. The suit says that the law firm that was first hired in early 2009 “should have known that Brittany and Simon had died and that their deaths were the result of complications from conditions associated with the subject property,“ the suit alleges. The law firm “had a duty to advise and/or inform (Sharon Murphy) that she may have had a wrongful death claim.” Sharon and Brittany Murphy had purchased the five-bedroom home from singer Britney Spears in June 2003 for $3.85 million.

Spears for a time lived there with Justin Timberlake until their relationship ended. On Monday, attorneys Bob M. Cohen and Michael Marzban, who represent Sharon Murphy, declined to comment on the litigation. A call to David Libo of the Steiner & Libo firm was not returned. Sharon Murphy had been very close with her daughter, who became a TV and movie star as a teenager, and starred in such movies as Clueless, 8 Mile and Just Married. After Brittany married Monjack in 2007, the three resided in the big house together. Monjack remained in the house with Sharon Murphy after his wife’s sudden death from what the coroner ruled was pneumonia, anemia and an excess of prescription drugs.

Mojack’s death five months later was ruled to have been caused by pneumonia and anemia. The suit against the builder and others involved in the construction and later re-construction of the house had been filed in 2006 in the name of Brittany Murphy’s corporation, The Nina Bow Trust. In early 2009, apparently at the suggestion of Monjack, they had changed lawyers, hiring the firm of Steiner & Libo.

The attorney who primarily represented them was David Libo. Sometime shortly before Monjack’s sudden death, an out of court settlement was reached in the suit with the builder and various construction entities. That suit was finalized and a check for $600,000 was delivered to Sharon Murphy in January 2010, according to attorney Michael T. Montgomery, who represented Elliott Horitch, the original builder of the house. Also in January 2010, TMZ reported that Sharon Murphy was facing a possible foreclosure on the property.

After negotiations, there was no foreclosure action. In July, the property was sold for $2.7 million, according to a report filed with Los Angeles County. In the final weeks she owned the house, Sharon Murphy moved to a hotel because of her concern about the mold problem. She has since moved to another residence.

Email: Alex.Benblock@thr.com Twitter: @ABBlock

Toxic Mold: The Effects On Your Cat

from: http://www.catchannel.com/news/toxic-mold-can-affect-pets.aspx

After two Himalayan cats died from toxic mold poisoning, a veterinarian urges pet owners in humid and flood-damaged areas to check their homes for toxic black mold.

Toxic mold may be a new health concern for pet owners, according to a report published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, which outlines what is believed to be the first documented case of toxic black mold poisoning in pets.

Douglas Mader, DVM, of Marathon Veterinary Hospital in Marathon, Fla., and co-author of the study, was performing routine dental procedures on two healthy, indoor Himalayan cats—examinations conducted prior to the dental cleanings showed no indications of illness—when he noticed frothy blood within the endotracheal tubes used to supply anesthesia to the two cat siblings.

Dr. Mader immediately stopped the procedures. However, one cat died the following day and the other about two weeks later. “The circumstances of these cases are just not heard of,” Mader said. “Anesthesia doesn’t cause pulmonary hemorrhage.”

Blood collected prior to the cats’ death was tested and showed the presence of the toxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as toxic black mold, which can cause respiratory-related health problems, pulmonary hemorrhage and death in people, Mader said.

Mader suspected the mold because the cats lived in an area that had been devastated by hurricane and flooding. After questioning the pet owners, Mader found out that their home had sustained water damage during a hurricane in October 2005, seven months prior to the development of pulmonary hemorrhage. Mader asked the pet owners to check their home for mold.

“Sure enough, they had very severe mold contamination in their walls,” he said. The walls have since been gutted and replaced. The pet owners’ other two pets, another cat and a dog, appeared fine, but Mader says that if they had undergone the same procedure it is possible that they may have experienced the same thing as the two cats that died.

Although toxic black mold poisoning in pets has never been documented before, Mader said he suspects that this is not the first case. It’s possible that the symptoms have been there, which can range from mild respiratory disease to pulmonary trauma, but were attributed to other things, he said.

There’s also no commercial test available, he added. Mader said that veterinarians should ask pet owners about mold, especially those in high-risk environments. “I think veterinarians living in an area where there is high humidity or previous exposure to flood or water damage need to put this on their list of what we call history questions,” he said.

“When they check an animal in and do any kind of preoperative physical examination, they need to include, ‘Are you aware of any exposure to mold in your house?’” However, pet owners also need to share this information with their veterinarians, Mader said.

“I think the most important thing is for people to be aware of things in their environment that could potentially impact the health of animals,” he said. “They need to let their veterinarian know.” Mader and co-author Dorr Dearborn, Ph.D., MD, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, plan to look into validating a test for toxic mold that can be used for commercial laboratories. --

Marissa Heflin, Associate News Editor for CatChannel

Mold... The Uninvited Visitor

from: http://massapequa.patch.com/articles/an-unwanted-visitormold

By now you hopefully have cleaned up from the path of destruction that Hurricaine Irene left behind as she swept up the eastern seaboard.

The trees and debris have been removed but if you had roof damage or water in your basement you may be harboring a hidden health hazard, mold. Mold problems are common after flooding because the humidity provides the perfect medium for mold spores to grow and multiply. It usually requires several days or weeks to fully dry out a house after a water leak or flood.

Odors may be the first or only sign of a potential mold problem since mold grows in places that it is not often visible such as behind the walls or under the carpet. The worst type of mold to grow in a home is toxic black mold which can irritate the mucus membranes and central nervous system leading to symptoms of breathing difficulties, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, decreased attention span, nosebleeds, difficulty in concentration and dizziness.

At high levels the spores of black mold can damage the internal organs of an infant with internal bleeding leading to death. This can also happen in patients who are immunocompromised. If you find black mold thoroughly clean all hard surfaces that can be reached with a solution of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Never mix the bleach with ammonia or other cleaning solutions that can create toxic fumes.

Open all windows and doors to provide fresh air. Wear non-porous gloves protective eye wear and a face mask. If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 feet, get professional help. Absorbent or porous materials like ceiling tiles, drywall, and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.

Unless the mold is completely removed the spores will continue to grow and make you sick. You can reduce mold in your home by eliminating sources of dampness in your basement such as pipe leaks or groundwater seepage. Use a dehumidifier in any area of your home that smells musty or damp and keep your humidity levels below 50%.

Clean the collection coils and bucket regularly. Change filters on your air conditioner and furnaces regularly and have your heating ducts inspected and cleaned. Make sure all bathrooms are properly vented. Promote groundwater drainage away from your house by removing leaves and vegetation from around the foundation and clean out your gutters. If you suspect mold growth in your home and you can’t locate it get professional help from a licensed mold inspector to find your hidden intruder.

Mold Is Toxic: Get It Cleaned Up Now!

from: http://mold.wordwd.com/2011/07/13/mold-its-toxic-get-it-cleaned-up-immediately/

If you are reading this article, chances are that you are looking for a mold removal service to carry out the cleanup in your home.

Mold is a universal problem that can have severe effects on the health of human beings who live in a house that is affected with this toxic substance. It is advised that the affected area be cleaned up and restored immediately after it is detected as widespread mold can result in several health risks, some of which are mentioned below.

Dangers posed by mold

Asthma attacks –
Some people are extremely allergic to mold and it can trigger bad asthma attacks or make existing cases of asthma much worse in a patient.

Other allergic reactions –
Improper mold cleanup can result in spreading of Spores across the house that can lead to allergic reactions such as runny nose, rashes, sneezing and red eyes.

Irritation –
Many patients have reported irritations in the eyes, nose and throat regions that has been directly linked to mold.

Infections –
Mold also has the ability to cause athlete’s foot and other topical infections.

Serious risks –
In extremely bad cases, mold even has the ability to cause serious health problems such as pneumonia and other diseases that will affect the lungs.

Mold is a very difficult problem to tackle as it thrives in conditions that are also perfectly suitable for humans to live. This fungus essentially thrives by feeding on organic matter such as cardboard, wood or other natural construction materials that are found in the house.

Moisture is also another very important ingredient for the growth of mold and a professional fire and water restoration contractor will have to address the mold cleanup in such a way that the water source creating the moisture is stopped.

It is estimated that there are over 100k varieties of mold and not every one of them will be visible to the naked eye. Some will leave an ugly brown, black or green stain on your walls or ceilings while some will spread without any visual clues.

Only a professional mold removal company will be able to assess the true damage created by mold in your house. A professional mold removal company will carry out the following steps in their mold cleanup process that will eliminate mold from your house.

Eliminate the moisture problem –
As said earlier, mold damage removal will begin with the elimination of the moisture source. Cleaning up mold without first eliminating the moisture source will result in the mold coming back in most cases.
Commercial mold damage removal companies will use dehumidifiers and blowers to eliminate the moisture source.

Cleaning in a contained area –
It is very important for one to use proper protective clothing while cleaning out mold. A professional mold removal contractor will seal off or contain the room that needs to be cleaned and one would not have to worry about the mold spreading to other parts of the house during the mold cleanup process.

Cleaning and removing the mold –
Various materials will need various types of cleaning methods. The cleaning method will also vary depending on the type of the mold that needs to be cleaned out and it is best that you leave the job to a professional mold damage removal company that will do the best job for your house.

Black Mold In Pregnancy: How Harmful Is It?

from: http://experts.merchantcircle.com/articles/Effects-of-Black-Mold-and-Pregnanc...

Black mold can be present on any surface affected by water damage, or exposed to excessive moisture. It may cause problems in healthy adults, but particularly harmful to women who are pregnant.

Black mold can produce mycotoxins that may cause health issues in the expectant mother and unborn baby. Women who are pregnant should avoid being exposed to black mold.

Stachybotrys chartarum, also referred to as black mold or toxic mold, can cause negative effects in both expectant mom and fetus. This particular mold produces harmful toxins to humans.

Mold can be found in the air and any surface. It is common in areas that have high humidity levels, condensation and water damage due to flooding or leaking pipes.

The effects of mold on the mother and unborn child will vary depending upon the length of exposure and the amount of mold spores inhaled.

Pregnant women exposed to mold may experience upper respiratory infections and wheezing. Women who have asthma may have an increase with asthma-related symptoms. Skin or eye irritation and nasal stuffiness may also occur.

In severe cases of exposure, women may experience difficulty breathing and have a fever. Studies have not conclusively proven black mold effects on a fetus, however, there is a correlation between toxic mold exposure and an increased risk of miscarriage.

Animal studies have shown a disruption of fetal development when subjected to toxic mold while in the womb.

There is also speculation that black mold exposure in a fetus or newborn can be linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and a child in the womb exposed to black mold may also develop asthma or allergies later in life.

Women who suspect they are being contaminated with toxic or black mold should contact a certified mold inspector to evaluate the conditions. If samples prove that Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, is present in the home or office she should evacuate until the house has been disinfected properly and mold is no longer a threat.

Can You Sue Your Landlord For Mold? This Family Did

from: http://www.removing-mold.com/2011/06/weston-family-sues-landlord-for-neglecti...

Weston, Florida Weston family sues landlord for neglect.

This family continues to be residing in a really nice house in a very prestigious neighborhood in Weston, Florida more than 9 months.

The child, 4 yrs . old, started getting sick, coughing a great deal and when the child was taken up to a medical facility, they identified the kid continues to be slowly intoxicating with mold.

His bedroom’s closed had a broken pipe and the parents didn’t find early enough. Mold Inspection Weston A worried parent asked the owner to care for the issue.

The landlord sent a handyman to take care of the condition, nevertheless the handyman only cleaned the walls having a bleach product. The little one never improved and when the mother and father inspected the closet, found out the mold grew back.

Amazingly, the owner will not fix the issue as well as the tenants made a decision to move out of the exact property, smashing the lease. Before they moved out, they hired a local company, Blue Star, to complete an inspection and also the findings were really bad.

The landlord refused to come back the escrow deposit and enough was enough using this people. Black Mold Removal Miami Three days later case was filed about the landlord for neglect. The landlord as well as the Florida family settled outside of court.