array_files=new Array(); array_files[0]=new Array(0,1,"./WhoTheyAReWhereFind.htm","2007-06-28","23K","Who They Are and Where You Find em","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Who They Are and Where You Find em Dust Mites Who They Are and Where You Find em Dust mites are bugs that live in warm, humid environments such as bedding, carpeting and upholstered furniture. The most common place is bedding and the carpeting next to the bed and sofa. If you sweat a lot in bed at night and the pillows and sheets don’t dry out during the day, they become a breeding ground for mites. They are microscopic. You can’t see them with the naked eye. If you live in a dry climate where bedding dries out quickly, mites can’t survive. In dry climates (e.g., Colorado) fewer homes contain dust mites, and dust mite densities in buildings that have them are low1. If you live someplace humid like Florida, bedding can’t dry out easily and dust mites may be a significant allergen to you. Dust mites live off skin cells. About eighty percent of house dust is skin cells from people. Each person produces about one gram of skin cells per day. Mites have an abundant food supply.It has been estimated that the skin one person sheds each day could feed several thousand dust mites for up to three months2. Like mold, dust mites can not live on food alone. They require two other things to flourish: moisture and time. If you get up in the morning and make the bed right away you are sealing in moisture, tucking the bed bugs in for the day. Health Issues Dust mite allergies are not caused by the mites themselves, but by the fecal matter produced by mites and dead mite body parts.Allergic response occurs when the dust on the floor and bedding is disturbed and the allergens become air-borne and are inhaled. Vacuuming with a cheap vacuum cleaner can aggravate the condition, as can fans and high levels of activity. Dust mite allergens hav "); array_files[1]=new Array(0,1,"./VacuumCleaners.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Vacuum Cleaners","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Vacuum Cleaners Vacuum Cleaners If you want to make someone sick, just vacuum around them several times a day with a poor vacuum cleaner! If you don’t have a good HEPA vacuum, the small, unseen particles are being blown back out of the bag into the air. Sometimes you can smell them. Nowadays, you can find HEPA vacuums in just about every department store. Most of these are not HEPA. Some are junk. There are no regulations or consumer protection laws regarding what can be labeled a HEPA vacuum. The only way to know is to ask the manufacture if it has been tested using a particle counter, and if possible to witness a demonstration the testing. HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Aresstance) was invented by the military. It means 99.97% removal of particles greater 0.3 microns in size. That’s about the size of the smallest mold and pollen spores. The most accurate method of testing a vacuum cleaner is to measure the amount of dust particles coming out of the exhaust using a laser particle counter. Most manufacturers don’t test their equipment this way because they are either not familiar with the technology or know their product will not perform well. Most manufacturers have not tested the filters. There are also design issues with the vacuum itself. Many allow air to leak around the filter. Many vacuum cleaners do not achieve as much as 50% particle removal at 0.3 microns. Contrary to popular belief, water and bag-less filters do not usually test true HEPA. What to look for in a Vacuum Cleaner Look for one with the filter after the motor. There should be gaskets that prevent air from by-passing the filter. The ultimate test: go into a store and ask for a demonstration with a laser particle counter test. Have the sales person hold the particle counter up to the exhaust of the vacuum while "); array_files[2]=new Array(0,1,"./TipsHealthierCrawlspace.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Tips for a Healthier Crawlspace","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Tips for a Healthier Crawlspace Tips for a Healthier Crawlspace The ultimate way to keep odors and nastiest out of living space is to treat crawl spaces as mini-basements. This would mean pouring a concrete slab and finishing the crawlspace as if it were a living space. In this case, it would be part of the conditioned space that includes heating and cooling. Most homes do not have crawlspaces that are finished. Usually they have a dirt floor. In that case follow the recommendations below since even if you don’t smell anything, chances are some of the air in the crawlspace is making its way into your living space. Ventilate the crawlspace. If there is not enough passive ventilation provided unless the wind blows, install fans in the vent openings that exhaust air. Seal up the remaining vents so that there is no leakage and a vacuum effect is created when the fans are running. Often the soil may look dry but it’s not. Install a plastic vapor barrier in the crawlspace that includes covering the walls of the foundation. The completed project would in essence be like a swimming pool liner that includes all of the foundation walls and the ground in the crawlspace. Use 6 mil polyethylene plastic from the garden department. Vapor barriers must be air-tight to be effective. All of the seams should be lapped twelve inches and sealed with mastic. Do not use duct tape. Lap the plastic from the ground vapor barrier on top of the plastic of the wall vapor barriers. The vapor barrier should be secured to the foundation by furling strips, placed three inches below the top of the masonry wall and with mastic. This will allow for termite inspections of the sill plate. Secure furling strips to masonry walls with nails or galvanized spikes. In additional to a plastic vapor barrier, a ventilation syst "); array_files[3]=new Array(0,1,"./TipsHealthierBasement.htm","2007-06-28","16K","Tips for a Healthier Basement","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Tips for a Healthier Basement Tips for a Healthier Basement No one should live in the basement. No matter what you do to the basement it’s not going to be a healthy place to live in. No one should have a bedroom, office or living space in a basement. The ultimate scenario if you have to make the basement a livable space is to have a radon mitigation system installed under he slab and pressurize the air in the basement with fresh air from the outdoors that is HEPA filtered and if necessary de-humidified. This is assuming that there is not already mold growth on the walls or surfaces in the basements. The resulting air in the basement had better be good because by pressurizing the basement you keep the soil gases and odors out, but the cause air in the basement to flow upstairs. You could try to engineer the home or office such that the upstairs is also pressurized with fresh air at a slightly higher pressure than the basement but this gets tricky. Easier not to live in basements and to keep the door to the basement closed. Healthy Basements Essentials Monitor the relative humidity and use a dehumidifier to keep it less than 50%. Heat the basement in the wintertime to 65º F using an electric space heater or electric baseboard heat. Avoid the use of gas. Ideally the furnace to heat the house should not be in the basement. Furnaces and duct work leak. Air from the basement will get sucked into the furnace and distributed throughout the house. If there are ducts have them leak tested and sealed with mastic. Store as little contents as possible in the basement. Don’t store items especially cardboard boxes in direct contact with the floor. Don’t put carpeting in basements. Tile or paint the floor. Don’t finish the basement walls with fiberglass insulation. Use rigid foam. Insulate the pipes "); array_files[4]=new Array(0,1,"./SuggestionsforCleaning.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Suggestions for Cleaning","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Suggestions for Cleaning Suggestions for Cleaning First, give the home or office a thorough vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum. Open the windows if possible while dusting and vacuuming. If you have an air-purifier with a HEPA filter, turn it on during dusting to aid in cleaning the air and protecting you from breathing all the microscopic particles that are being put in the air when you dust. If you don’t have a good vacuum cleaner the level of fine particles in the air will increase when you’re vacuuming. Next, clean surfaces using natural and non-toxic cleaning supplies. Do not use a feather duster. That will put a lot of dust into the air. Dust with a damp cloth that minimizes aerosolizing fine particles. Use as little cleaning product as possible. There are many surfaces for which a simple dusting with a damp cloth is sufficient and a cleaning agent is not necessary. Use plain soap and water. Don’t bother with anti-microbial soaps, chemicals or bleach. Read product labels carefully. Beware of the word “natural”. Natural is not a regulated word. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[5]=new Array(0,1,"./StrayElectricity.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Stray Electricity","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Stray Electricity Stray Electricity Stray electricity is a term used for electricity that’s somewhere it’s not supposed to be. Electrical current should obviously not be traveling on anything but wiring, especially metal pipes. Yet because of the grounding errors this is common. It doesn’t mean you will get electrocuted. But you may be biologically affected. It is building code to connect the ground to metal pipe at the fuse box. There is a false perception that this is for safety and to prevent electrical shock. Actually the grounding system is for keeping the power distribution system stabilized and to disperse energy from a lighting strike – not to prevent shock2. Out of this false perception of safety, some electricians and handyman think that if it’s good to ground to metal pipes in one location, it must be better to ground to metal in other locations. Unfortunately this causes electricity to go where it shouldn’t be. Stray electricity may not be enough to electrocute you but some people and animals are bothered by it3. There are cases of animals suffering and even dying from stray electricity4. The most reported cases are with dairy cows that did not produce milk or got mastitis, an inflammation of the udder which costs farmers about 1.8 billion per year5. These animals are highly sensitive to small levels of current on the concrete pad and metallic surfaces in the barn. Dairy farms are not the only place stay electricity causes problems. Shock hazard is common when working on water mains. Data complied by 20 participating water utility companies indicates that workers are shocked on average once per day.6 In some municipalities there is so much stray electricity traveling on water mains that workers need to place jumper cables between sections of pipe they are working on to "); array_files[6]=new Array(0,1,"./ShouldYouCleanDucts.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned?","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned? Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned? Some ducts are filthy. Sometimes you will find dead mice and other dried up critters in them especially where the vents are on the floor. You should consider having the ducts cleaned if they have never been cleaned or if they look dirty. When choosing a duct cleaning company make sure they are certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) or comply with or NADCA’s air duct cleaning standards. Do not allow the duct cleaning company to use chemical sanitizers. A sanitizer is not necessary if things are effectively cleaned. There should be nothing left to sanitize. If the duct company recommends a sanitizer tell them to finish cleaning the ducts properly. Sanatizers will not kill or prevent mold growth anyhow. Once ducts are clean they should not need to be re-cleaned for about 5 years unless they leak and are sucking in dust from attics and crawlspaces. Many people think that cleaning ducts will reduce dust. In fact, while dirty ducts can cause health problems, cleaning them may not lower dust levels indoors. This is because much of the dirt adheres to the surface of the ducts and does not enter the living space. Lowering the amount of dust indoors is better accomplished by installing a good HEPA filter onto the furnace. This does not mean you won’t have to dust anymore but probably not as often. The reason you will still have to dust is that HEPA filters remove the very small particles. The larger particles settle out of the air quickly and show up as house dust. You don’t breathe the larger particles. They are more of a nuisance than a health threat. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 20 "); array_files[7]=new Array(0,1,"./RoomAirPurifiers.htm","2007-06-28","16K","Room Air Purifiers","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Room Air Purifiers Room Air Purifiers Even if you generally have good air quality indoors and don’t think you need an air purifier it can be beneficial to have one around. What do you do if there is a bad air quality day outdoors, perhaps because of a distant forest fire that has blown smoke your way? You may not be able to leave town. There are two primary considerations in finding a good room air purifier. First, whatever technology is used should not introduce anything new into the environment. It should follow the doctor’s credo, “Do no harm”. Second, it should clean the air. The second criteria may seem common sense but many air purifiers do not clean the air at all. These include machines that generate ozone and negative ions. Ozone and negative ions generators introduce new agents into the air. Even if they were effective at cleaning the air, which they are not, the agents they introduce should not be trusted. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Ozone has been found to scar lung tissue in lab rats. That leaves us with HEPA air purifiers, those that use a paper filter to capture dust particles. Some complain about the time and expense of having to change filters. If there was an easier way that was effective at cleaning the air, the government, hospitals and computer chip manufactures would be using it. If other cleaning devices such as ultra-violet light and ozone are used in these facilities, they are only to supplement HEPA filters. HEPA filters are the primary and most effective way to clean the air of the smallest particles, the ones that have the most potential to affect your health. How do you find a good HEPA filter? Manufactures are competing with each other and making claims and citing specifications of being better in various ways. Consumer review pub "); array_files[8]=new Array(0,1,"./ReducingPesticedUse.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Reducing Pesticide Use","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Reducing Pesticide Use Reducing Pesticide Use What is the weed or pest you are trying to kill? When was the last time you saw these weeds or pests and where? Consider if you really need to use pesticides. Do you have a bug problem? Don’t just have the exterminator come once a month. If you do have a bug problem is it a threat to your health and the structural integrity of the building or just a nuisance? Spiders, for example, except for Black-widows and the brown recluse, do not pose a threat to humans. Chemicals are not effective in combating spiders anyhow. Five simple steps to reduce or eliminate pesticide use18 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Think about what conditions encourage pests in your yard, lawn, or garden. Change those conditions so pests don’t thrive. Plant varieties that grow well in your area. Encourage beneficial insects and birds that can naturally control your pests. Decide how much damage from insects, diseases, or weeds you can tolerate. Don’t take control measures until that level has been reached. When controls are necessary consider pesticide-free solutions first. Consider that 24 of 25 common pests are only a problem because their natural predators have been killed by pesticides19. If you have bugs, formulate a strategy to combat the bug for which you have the problem. Don’t apply a blanket pesticide to kill everything. You don’t want to start new bug infestation problem by killing natural predators. If you have a bug problem, start with the least toxic method. This may be some sort of trap or bait. Sticky bait traps have pheromones to attract particular pests. Monitor the effectiveness of these and only proceed to something more toxic, including pesticides, if other methods don’t work. If you need to use pesticides, try the least- "); array_files[9]=new Array(0,1,"./ReducingExposureEMF.htm","2007-06-28","16K","Reducing Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Reducing Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Reducing Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) We don’t have to go back to living in a cave to have healthy, less-EMF environment indoors. Caves are not actually healthy to live in. While it is impossible or impractical to avoid electricity, it is desirable to have an electrically clean sleeping area and to minimize electric and magnetic fields in rooms where a lot of time is spent. During sleep, the body is repairing itself and you are supposed to wake up rejuvenated. This cannot happen if the body continues to be stressed through out the night by fields or by the changes in the levels of hormone caused by them. Exposure can be minimized with simple steps that do not cause a great inconvenience: Use a battery operated alarm clock. Many sleeping disorders have been solved by replacing electric powered alarm clocks with battery powered ones. Avoid placing the head of the bed against a wall on the other side of which is a major appliance; fuse box, TV or computer work station. Remove as many electrical cords and devices from around the bed as possible. This includes the clock radio, lamps, stereo and phone. It is reported that many troubling conditions such as children wetting the bed at night, babies and children who wake frequently, adults who are insomniacs and people who wake up in the morning tired, are relieved of these symptoms when this is done12. Try moving the location of the bed. Most walls have wiring in them which coincidentally happens to be at the height of your head when you are lying in bed. Some walls will more electric fields near them than others. You can’t see electricity and without a meter you can’t measure the level of electricity preset. If you have sleeping problems, just move the bed to another location or s "); array_files[10]=new Array(0,1,"./ReducingExposureCommChemical.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Reducing Exposure to Common chemicals","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Reducing Exposure to Common chemicals Reducing Exposure to Common Chemicals Fresh paint is a significant source of chemicals. Consider selecting water-based, zero-VOC or natural paints. Don’t use moth balls. They contain nearly 100% 1, 4-Dichlorobenzene and naphthalene. Don’t’ use plug-in type air-fresheners. They emit xylene, toluene and formaldehyde. Use non-toxic cleaning supplies. Avoid new carpet or choose wool carpet that has not been treated with pesticides. At a minimum avoid carpet padding with formaldehyde. Jute is an alternative. Don’t use pesticides. First identify if you have a big problem and what the bug is. Then use the appropriate, non-toxic way to prevent it. Read material safety data sheets (MSDS) to find out what the ingredients are in products. Minimize exposure to perchloroethylene from newly dry-cleaned cloths. Air them out before bringing them inside. Do not store chemicals, paint, lawn care products or gas powered tools in attached garages. Air from the garage circulates into the home. Warm air raises sucking air from the garage into the living space. Air Purifiers can remove chemicals and formaldehyde if equipped with a charcoal filter. Most charcoal filters have a short life time, and must be replaced regularly to be effective. The size or number of filters present in a room must be such that at least one air change per hour occurs. Air purifiers may help but if the source is not addressed the air purifier may not be able to keep up. Control Humidity. Chemicals and formaldehyde outgas more readily with increasing temperature and humidity. That’s why you smell things more when it’s more humid. Generally speaking, levels of chemicals in the air are higher when humidity is high and lower when humidity is low. Dehumidifying during periods of high humidity can "); array_files[11]=new Array(0,1,"./ReducingDustNeedCleaning.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Reducing Dust and the Need for Cleaning","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Reducing Dust and the Need for Cleaning Reducing Dust and the Need for Cleaning Studies indicate the cleanliness is an important factor in sick building syndrome and complaints from occupants10. There are things you can do as part of your defense against dust and to make it easier to clean and use less cleaning supplies are: Take shoes off at the front door. Use a door mat. Put a sticky mat at the front door of the office. Carpet attracts and holds dust and can be difficult to clean. Furnish floors with wood, tile or another hard surface type of flooring. Use rugs if a soft surface is desired. Rugs are easier to wash than carpet on a regular basis. If you have carpet, steam clean it and upholstered furniture annually. Get rid of clutter. Clutter collects dust. Limit the amount of fuzzy, fabric type materials and paper that hold dust and are difficult to clean. The dust of “fleecy” materials and exposed paper has been related to complaint rates in commercial buildings11. Maximize ventilation by keeping the doors between rooms open. Install a whole-house HEPA air filter system on the furnace. See the appendix “Furnace Air Filter Information” for suggestions. Ban smoking. Tobacco smoke is a complex mix of over 4,000 chemicals more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer. The EPA reports that tobacco smoke is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year in non-smoking adults. Avoid using wood burning fire places. It generates high levels of small dust particles. Wood smoke is actually more toxic than tobacco smoke. The chemicals produced by burning tobacco and wood attach to the dust. When you breathe the dust you breathe the chemicals. The heating and air-conditioning system can be a source of dust, especially if the duct work is in the attic or crawlspace or buri "); array_files[12]=new Array(0,1,"./RedFlagMoldProblem.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Red Flags there is a Mold Probem","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Red Flags there is a Mold Probem Red Flags there is a Mold Problem Musty odors and visible water damage stains are probably the best indicators there may be a mold problem indoors. Mold may also be present without a musty odor if things dried up some time ago. Studies show that mold is hiding about 50% of the time3. Your home or office may not have any visible sings of moisture damage or a known history of moisture problems yet there may be hidden mold. How do you feel? Only about 10% of people may be allergic to mold4. Due to variances in personal sensitivities, on average only about 10% of the occupants in a building may experience health symptoms when there is a mold problem present. Following this logic, if only one or two people complain, there may potentially be a mold or another type of air quality problem indoors. This is especially true if symptoms get worse while the occupants are in the building and get better when they are away.If everyone in the building is complaining it may not be mold. Not everyone is allergic to mold. When you cant see mold but have health symptoms that are associated with mold or there are musty odors present, it is prudent to have a professional do an investigation for mold and other factors that may affect indoor air quality. Red Flags of Mold Problem Musty odors. Trust your nose! There is a damp feeling to a room Stains on walls or ceilings A history of plumbing leaks, sewer backups, roof leaks or flooding Rusty carpet tack strips under carpeting. Pull back the edge of carpeting and look. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other pro "); array_files[13]=new Array(0,1,"./RecommendedHeatingSystems.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Recommended Types of Heating Systems","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Recommended Types of Heating Systems Recommended Types of Heating Systems Forced air heating and air-conditioning systems are not automatically bad for your health and don’t need to be uncomfortable. On the contrary, in humid climates the air conditioning acts as de-humidifier, helping to prevent mold growth. Air-conditioning systems can also be designed to pressurize the building with outdoor air that has been dehumidified, preventing humid outdoor air from the outdoors condensing inside wall cavities and causing mold growth. Some people with forced air systems may complain about drafts or the air being too cold. These problems can be corrected by a competent contractor. For comfort sake, the heating system preferred by many is radiant floor or baseboard heat. This uses hot water that flows through wall heaters or plastic tubes in the floor. Radiant is comfortable because there is no air movement. There are no furnace filters to change or ducts to clean. The downside of radiant heat is that the air indoors may become stagnant if fresh air is not brought in. Ducting is required to bring in and distribute fresh outdoor air. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[14]=new Array(0,1,"./RecommendedCleanProducts.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Recommended Cleaning Products","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Recommended Cleaning Products Recommended Cleaning Products It is wise to read the label. Don’t, however, make a decision based solely on reading the label. The label will not list all of the ingredients, some of which may be hazardous. Most labels don’t’ list any ingredients. A study done by the New York Poison Control Center found that 85% of the product warning labels were inadequate12. Reading the label on a cleaning product is similar to reading one on a bottle of pesticides. There may be one or two “active” ingredients. The rest are listed as “other ingredients”. Inert does not mean safe. Cleaning products have been regulated by the Consumer Produts Safety Commission since the introduction of the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act in 196013. There are so many loopholes in this regulation that manufactures can often put a single, general warning statement on a label that suffices instead of listing specific toxic ingredients. Most chemicals have never been adequately tested for toxicity. Reading labels would be humorous if these products didn’t have significant potential to seriously affect your health. You simply won’t find anything meaningful on the labels. For example, the following was recently found on a label of general purpose cleaner: “Ingredients: cleaning agents, quality control agents, perfume, colorant and water”. The words “cleaning agents” is obviously quite vague. It would be expected to find cleaning agents in a multi-purpose cleaner. Ammonium is typically in general purpose cleaners. Why isn’t ammonium listed? Often the label will say “surfactant” but not state what the surfactant is. You can’t trust the word “Natural” or “bio-degradable. These are not a regulated terms. Lawyers can argue that just about everything is natural. Bio-degradable may mean h "); array_files[15]=new Array(0,1,"./PreventMoldGrowth.htm","2007-06-28","14K","What Wont Prevent Mold Growth - Ozone","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string What Wont Prevent Mold Groth - Ozone What Wont Prevent Mold Growth - Ozone Ozone is useless for preventing mold and is harmful to your health. Studies have shown that ozone cannot be generated in sufficient concentrations to kill or even suppress microbials on most surfaces and that ozone is not an effective biocide4. A lot of people have ozone generating air purifiers, some without knowing it. These people are not just getting ripped off because the units don’t remove mold – they may be physically harming themselves. Ozone is a respiratory irritant and has been found to cause lung scarring in laboratory rats. Repeated exposure can permanently scar lung tissue5. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Exposure to ozone may make one as much as three times more susceptible to other allergens6. Some people still swear they feel better with an ozone type air purifier running in their home. As these machines do little to remove small particles such as molds and pollens, it is likely that the ozone is reacting with their body. Ozone diminishes the sense of smell. There are applications where ozone is effective. Ozone has been shown to be effective in smoke damage to alleviate odors. The amount of ozone required is hazardous and the building must be vacated while the ozone machines are running. It is not always completely effective. Ozone only reacts with what is at the surface. Odors may migrate to the surface at a later date causing the smoke odors to come back. Ozone may adversely react with and cause damage to many types of artifacts in a home including rubber and synthetic furniture.7 You should remove as many of these from the home as possible before attempting to use ozone. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Liv "); array_files[16]=new Array(0,1,"./Plastics.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Plastics","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Plastics Plastics Plastics like PVC (vinyl) out-gas chemicals including chlorine and contain plasticizers called phthalates. Remember when the windshields in new cars used to get foggy? This was from the new vinyl (PVC) in the trim, paneling and seats. NASA banned the use of vinyl because the chemicals in it fogged the optical equipment. Normal plastics are made mostly from petrol-chemicals whereas vinyl may be containing as much as 50% plasticizers, heavy metals, flame retardants and fillers18. Ever notice how stiff the extension cord used to trim your bushes is if it’s left out in the cold. PVC would be hard and brittle if plasticizers weren’t added. The heavy metals in plasticizers include lead and cadmium. Phthalates have been implicated in causing asthma. They have also been known to cause kidney and liver problems, nervous system disorders and cancer. Plasticizers and heavy metals from PVC are found in house dust. In 1996, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission attempted to negotiate a warning label for PVC mini-blinds due to lead dust that was found in locations where blinds were installed. Children can ingest lead and cadmium from chewing or handling backpacks, toys, raincoats, and video game components made of PVC. If you have something new in your home that’s plastic, sniff it. If it smells it’s emitting chemicals. Vinyl is usually the worst culprit. Common products inside the home that are PVC are vinyl flooring in kitchen and bathrooms, mini-blinds, wall paper, imitation leather, water beds, window frames, vinyl table cloths and shower curtains. This is a partial list. If it’s plastic, smell it. Safe Solutions All plastics aren’t bad but it’s generally a good idea to limit the amount of plastic in the home and to avoid PVC (vinyl). Choose furniture, tables and bo "); array_files[17]=new Array(0,1,"./Pesticides2.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Pesticides - The Many Ways We are Exposed to Pesticides","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Pesticides - The Many Ways We are Exposed to Pesticides Pesticides The Many Ways We are Exposed to Pesticides Contrary to popular belief, the major way that pesticides get into your body is not from breathing vapors while spraying pesticides but through your skin from contact with contaminated dust13. You do inhale pesticides but in lesser amounts than what goes through the skin. Pesticides attach to dust. Touching contaminated dust is the major pathway. This may not sound too bad until you consider that EPA studies have show that urban soils have higher levels of pesticides than agricultural areas14. Pesticides in dust attach to the bottom of shoes and are tracked into the house. Since pets and children spend more time in contact with floors, carpets and other dusty surfaces, they are potentially exposed more often. When your kids hug the dog they are exposed to pesticides from the yard. Pesticides can remain active in the air for days or weeks. Some last up to twenty years.15 As much as 85-90% of pesticides that are sprayed drift off target. In commercial agriculture, as little as one-tenth of 1% of pesticides may reach target. In one study, a pesticide in a 1% formulation was detected four rooms away from the site of application and the active ingredient remained present for more than 21 days16. Furnace duct work may be a major source of contaminated dust and vapors from areas where pesticides are sprayed such as crawlspaces. Furnace ductwork leaks 30% on average. This means that at least some portion of the air inside in a home with duct work in the crawlspace comes from the crawlspace where pesticides were likely applied. If you’re a golfer it may be in your best interest to get your course to reduce the use of pesticides. Golfers are coming down with some unusual "); array_files[18]=new Array(0,1,"./Pesticides1.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Pesticides - Kill Em All!","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Pesticides - Kill Em All! Pesticides Kill ‘Em All! It might seem that pesticides aren’t that harmful. After all, once the spray dries and there isn’t a smell anymore it’s ok, right? Nope. If the chemicals applied didn’t work after drying they wouldn’t work to kill the weed or pest. You’d be calling the exterminator back the next day. Although you don’t smell anything, the chemicals and solvents used in pesticides can be detected long after application1. Most of the chemicals are called “inert” ingredients and not listed on the label. Do not be confused by the terms insecticides or herbicides, fungicides and antimicrobials. These are also pesticides. Pesticides can be very bad for your health and affect your quality of your life. Besides causing cancer, they can make your life miserable. Pesticides have been reported as a leading cause of sinusitis, bronchitis, migraines, allergies, and immune system disorders such as chronic fatigue, even at low levels. Using pesticides might seem worth the risk except for the fact that they do not solve the pest problem. Pesticides kill pests but you have to continuing apply them, otherwise pests come back. If pesticides worked we would see a decrease in the amount of pesticides sold each year. Instead the amount sold seems to be increasing. Perhaps this is in part because pesticides kill beneficial bugs too, making it more difficult to control any pest problem you might have. Health Effects Children and pets are extremely vulnerable to pesticides, more so than adults. Children have more skin surface for their size than adults and have less mature immune and enzyme systems to detoxify chemicals.7 The following study was published in 1998 in the Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environment "); array_files[19]=new Array(0,1,"./Paint.htm","2007-06-28","28K","Paint","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Paint Paint Paint is a significant source of chemicals that continue to effect air quality long after application. A John Hopkins University study found that more than 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens may be present in paint12. They include acetone, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, lead, pentachlorophenol and xylene. A study has found the prevalence of asthma to be related to emissions from newly painted indoor surfaces13. Fresh paint will continue to outgas chemicals for as long as one year. Paint also may contain ingredients know to permanently lower sperm counts. Ethylene glycol, a common ingredient in paints, including many low-VOC paints, is one of these. You don’t need to breathe paint fumes to be effected. The chemicals in paint are absorbed through skin on contact. Safer Solutions Read the label. Typically it says “Known to the State of California to cause cancer.” Most people don’t take this seriously. As one comedian said, “You mean if I’m not in California, it doesn’t hurt me?” Consider selecting zero-VOC, low-VOC water-based or natural paints. These are available at most hardware and paint stores now. Ask the store for an MSDS. It won’t list all the ingredients but it’s a starting point. Call the paint manufacture and ask for full disclosure of all the ingredients. Don’t settle for “it’s a trade secret”. Modern analytical tests have allowed everyone to find out what’s in their competitors paint. There are no trade secrets. The best paint companies will tell you everything that’s in their paint. Selecting a Paint *Low & Zero VOC Trade Brands Low & Zero VOC Alternative Brands Natural Paints2 Milk Paint Benjamin Moore Pristine Eco Spec Chem Safe (866)-287-6892 ecoclean-az.com Bio Shield (800) 621-2591 BioShieldPaint.com Old-Fashioned "); array_files[20]=new Array(0,1,"./NewCarpet.htm","2007-06-28","17K","New Carpet","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string New Carpet New Carpet Carpet can have hundreds of different chemicals including formaldehyde, 4-phenylcylohexene, styrene, toluene, benzene, xylene, pesticides and anti-fungicides. According to Dr. Anderson of Anderson Laboratories, a laboratory that uses mice to test carpet for toxicity, carpet may contain up to 200 different chemicals and produce toxic effects including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, headaches memory loss and difficulty concentrating up to 16 weeks after exposure14. Carpet was in the media spotlight in 1988 when approximately 125 employees at the EPA’s headquarters became ill after new carpet was installed. The chemical 4-PC, found in the latex backing, was thought to be responsible. The EPA replaced the carpeting with carpet that did not contain 4-PC but some employees continued to experience health problems. As a result, in 1992 the Carpet and Rug Institute, a trade association that represents about 95% of the carpet industry, formed the Green-Tag Program15. You will find Green-Tag stickers on new carpet today. When the Green-Tag program was created, it was criticized because it does not test for all of the toxic chemicals in carpet. According to the 1992 initiative, only one sample from an entire product line needed to be tested once per year. The attorney generals in several states investigated and reported that “there is insufficient scientific basis to set standards for carpet emission or make safety claims about carpets.” In 2004, the Green-Tag program was modified. The Green Label Plus, as it is now called, includes testing for thirteen chemicals. It does not ban the use of these chemicals, it merely puts limits on the levels of emissions.16,17 These include formaldehyde, Benzene, Styrene, and 4-PC. The ultimate test, that performed using mice, is not part o "); array_files[21]=new Array(0,1,"./NaturalGasPropane2.htm","2007-06-28","21K","Natural Gas and Propane - Part II","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Natural Gas and Propane - Part II Natural Gas and Propane - Part II Reducing Exposure Vent appliances Why it is that building codes require an exhaust flue on gas hot water heaters yet there are no venting requirements for the gas range or ovens in the kitchen? Actually, gas ovens were installed with flues up until the 1950s. Now gas ovens and ranges are allowed to produce up to 800 ppm carbon monoxide without flues.2 There are no limits on the carbon monoxide emissions allowed from gas dryers or gas fireplaces. Depending on what fireplaces are burning, they may release 1000s of ppm carbon monoxide and other chemicals. In a study of 47,000 chemically sensitive patients, the most important sources of indoor air pollution responsible for generating illness were the gas stove, the improperly vented water heater, and the furnace.1 Proper ventilation for hot water heaters, furnaces and fireplaces means replacing them with sealed combustion type units. A forced-exhaust option is also desired. This has a fan that forces exhaust to the outdoors. You may not be able to find sealed-combustion type systems at the local hardware store. They are usually special order. The gas fireplaces that are made to look like real fire places appear to be sealed combustion but are not. They have been found to leak. Placing a special order for a sealed combustion type hot water heater presents an opportunity to order on-demand type water heaters. They are common in European countries. They take up less space (literally fit into a small closet) and heat water instantly. You can take a shower forever. On demand water heaters can be ordered either gas or electric. Maintain Gas Stoves The flame on stove burners should be blue. Yellow indicates a problem. A persistent yellow-tipped flame means there "); array_files[22]=new Array(0,1,"./NaturalGasPropane1.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Natural Gas and Propane - Part I","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Natural Gas and Propane - Part I Natural Gas and Propane - Part I When we think of natural gas being dangerous (or propane which is derived from natural gas) usually the first thought that comes to mind is an explosion. If you smell gas you might be worried about the house blowing up. If you don’t smell gas you probably think there’s nothing to worry about. This is a bad assumption. Often there are toxic chemicals in homes with natural gas at levels below what you can smell. Pure natural gas does not have an odor. The gas company puts a smelly chemical called mercaptin in it so you can smell large gas leaks. Mercaptin itself is toxic. They only put enough in the gas supply so you can smell the big gas leaks. The main component of natural gas is 98% methane. According to material safety data sheets, breathing methane is not harmful. The only officially documented hazard from breathing methane is asphyxiation. You suffocate. This really doesn’t seem common sense. Does this mean breathing natural gas is harmless as long as I don’t suffocate? According to the gas company it is. But that’s not taking into consideration the remaining 2% of the ingredients. Gas as delivered to your home or office contains many toxic ingredients and pollutants. Toxic Ingredients Gas comes from the ground. Like un-filtered tap water, it contaminates from the ground and from the gas supply lines. These include: Heavy metals Radon PCBs Dioxin VOCs, benzene, toluene There is a network of gas supply lines distributed across the country and shared by different gas companies. You literally don’t know where the gas you use comes from and what might be in it. Toxic chemicals are either intentionally added or picked up in the gas supply lines. This includes PCBs, dioxins, benzene, toluene, tars, oils, waxes and o "); array_files[23]=new Array(0,1,"./NaturalGas.htm","2007-06-28","20K","Natural Gas","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Natural Gas Natural Gas Natural gas in the home contributes a number of different pollutants. These include products that exist in the gas itself (odorants, gas hydrocarbons, heavy metals and radon), products of incomplete combustion (nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine organic particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a small amount of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde) and contaminates due to the supply line (PCBs, dioxin, tars, oils, and waxes). The individual pollutants in natural gas have health implications as individual substances. In addition they may act in combination with each other and with other indoor pollutants. The toxic effects of which may be additive and compounding. Although the conventional human health toxicity of natural gas has been assumed to be low, many people with chemical sensitivities react extremely adversely in the presence of even minute traces of natural gas. Natural gas pollutants can induce or worsen allergy, asthma and chemical sensitivity. Exposure compromises the immune system and increases the risk for asthma attacks, waking with shortness of breath and tingling sensations in the extremities. Clinical studies show that the use of natural gas in the homes, schools, work places or even in the neighborhoods of environmentally sensitive individuals can exacerbate illness and inhibit recovery. Natural gas has been found to be one of the most important sources of indoor air pollution. In Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporations (CMHC) Clean Air Guide (1993), natural gas appliances (gas water heaters, furnaces, unvented space heaters and cook stoves) are identified as significant contributors of chemical contamination in the home. CMCH recommends replacement of these with electrical appliances (CMHC 1993:12). Ingredients "); array_files[24]=new Array(0,1,"./MyHomeOfficeUnhealthy.htm","2007-06-28","25K","My Home or Office Unhealthy?","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string My Home or Office Unhealthy? My Home or Office Unhealthy? We tend to think of our homes as safe havens, places that protect and nurture us. And while we may not like going to the office, we typically do not think of them as toxic. Unfortunately, the great indoors may be slowing killing us. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that pollution indoors can be six to ten times higher than outside and is responsible for serious health effects. It is widely recognized as the most serious potential environmental risk to human health. A Scientific American article stated that nearly all cancers appear to be caused by exposures to factors in the environment”.2 because we spend 90% of our time indoors, we are potentially exposed to 90% of the factors that cause cancer and illness while we are indoors. Just because there is not an immediate and observable heath effect below a certain concentration of a chemical or hazard does not mean you are not being affected. Consider carbon monoxide. It is a colorless, odorless gas caused by leaky gas appliances. You may not know you’re being poisoned until it’s too late. Many people die in their sleep each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. There are other environmental pollutants that may be affecting your health without you being aware of them. How Bad is It? How many friends and co-workers do you know that start to sneezing, have their eyes water and allergies take over after they get to work? According to a United States Senator and author of the Indoor Air Quality Act, “we now have evidence that the health effects of indoor air pollutants result in reduced productivity, sick time and heath costs estimated to be in the tens-of-billions of dollars3” Eight-million school and work days are lost annually to allergies. We spend 600 million every "); array_files[25]=new Array(0,1,"./MustyOdors.htm","2007-06-28","24K","Musty Odors","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Musty Odors Musty Odors Odors are red flags that something is wrong. Musty odors mean there is either a mold or moisture problem that has caused bacteria and possibly mold and other microorganisms to flourish. Often this is from a plumbing leak, excess moisture in the crawlspace, or water that has penetrated into the walls or ceiling. The problem may be new or old. It may be simply an odor at the present time but grow into something bigger if there is an active water problem not taken care of. An odor may persist long after things have dried out. A pair of well-worn socks may still smell from bacteria after they seem to be dry. Humidity plays a factor. Odors increase with increasing levels of humidity. Nuisance or Health Threat? Some of the chemicals produced by mold include acetone, ethanol, hexane, and isopropanol1. These are irritants and can affect the central nervous system causing headache, attention deficit, inability to concentrate, dizziness, respiratory problems, allergies and asthma. Mold is not the only organism that produces musty odors. All sorts of microorganisms produce chemicals as part of their normal metabolic processes that cause odors, including bacteria and soil microorganisms. Like many hazards, the dose may determine the poison. Is the odor overwhelming or is it barely noticeable and only after the building has been closed up for some time? Either way, you don’t have to live with an odor problem. It is a nuisance and your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong that needs to be corrected. Where Odors Come From The first thing to consider if there is a musty odor is that there is the potential for mold growth. You should have a mold inspection done that includes the crawlspace and basemen "); array_files[26]=new Array(0,1,"./Mothballs.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Mothballs","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mothballs Mothballs As much as 95 to 100 percent of a typical mothball consists of the chemicals 1,4-Dichlorobenzene and naphthalene. Upon breathing vapors from mothballs for a few hours, as much as 20% of these chemicals will get into the bloodstream9. Clothing stored with mothballs may continue to emit para dichlorobenzene long after they are removed from storage exposing those who wear the clothing or spend time near clothing. Para dichlorobenzene is considered a carcinogen and a neurotoxin that can harm the brain and central nervous system and cause depression10. Other effects include eye, nose, skin and respiratory tract irritation, headache, weakness, and loss of appetite. Mothballs are often responsible for health complaints during indoor environmental assessments. Safe Solutions11 The moths that eat cloths should not be confused with moths you see flying around near the light at night. You may not even notice clothing moths. They are quite small, not more than one-half inch long, and when disturbed will run or fly to conceal themselves. Storing clothes in airtight containers such as cedar chests or in bags that have been sealed with tape is effective at keeping moth larvae out. It is important to clean your clothes before you store them. If clothes are packed with even one egg the moth larvae will eventually have a feast. Dry-cleaning is very effective at killing moths in all stages of development and so is any type of hand washing. If shrinkage is not a problem, running clothes through the dryer kills moths. Naphthalene, the main ingredient in mothballs, is not very soluble in water and is difficult to remove by washing. It would probably be wise to dry-clean any articles that have been stored with mothballs before using them. A cedar chest is the time-honored place to "); array_files[27]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldWhytheConcernNow.htm","2007-06-28","21K","Mold - Why the Concern Now?","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - Why the Concern Now? Mold - Why the Concern Now? Mold has been around since the beginning of time and it has been known that mold is unhealthy. The bible talks about mold and what to do if a house has mold: And the Lord spoke unto Moses… And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish…then the priest shall shut up the house seven days. And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house. Then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which the plague is, and cast them into an unclean place without the city.2 Since mold has been around forever, why does it appear that mold has only recently become a concern? Media Frenzy Stachybotrys, or “black mold”, became front page news in 1994 when a number of babies in Cleveland, Ohio mysteriously died from bleeding in the lungs. Forty-five babies under six months old were affected; sixteen died. The majority of the babies lived in homes that were water damaged as the result of a recent flood. Since Stachybotrys was identified growing in the homes the infants lived, the Center for Disease Control blamed Stachybotrys for the infant deaths. According to many experts however, the link between Stachybotrys and the infant deaths has not been conclusively proved3. Modern Building Materials A significant reason for more mold problems today may be that modern building materials are easier for mold to digest. Stachybotrys, black mold, loves the paper backing of drywall (also known as gypsum board or sheetrock). The interior walls in modern homes and offices are constructed out of drywall. Sometimes "); array_files[28]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldsPurpose.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Molds Purpose","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Molds Purpose Molds Purpose Mold, outside the context of it being present in your home is large amounts, serves a very useful purpose. Mold are the garbage men of the universe. Without mold garbage and debris would be piled up high. Molds are essential decomposers. Mold spores are present in nature and in indoor air in seasonal quantities. While sensitive individuals can have allergies at any time, mold indoors only becomes a problem when there is sufficient moisture present for spores to thrive and multiply. Mold is used in making medicines. Penicillium is used to fight bacteria. Cyclosporin, a metabolite of mold is used to treat leukemia. Aspergillus Niger is used to make citric acid that gives soft drinks a fizz. Bread, wine and cheese are made using yeast and molds. Mold has a history of being used as biological weapons. Aspergillus flavus produces the mycotoxin, aflatoxin B, a potent carcinogen. This seems like more of a scare tactic than a viable weapon though. There is a lag time between exposure and death and difficulty in delivering spores that survive impact. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[29]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldHealthEffectsOdors.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Mold Health Effects - Odors","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Health Effects - Odors Mold Health Effects - Odors The musty odors produced by mold and bacteria and are referred to as volatile organic compounds. You may have heard the term before. The EPA has guidelines for low VOC paint. Paint with high VOCs contribute to the smog in California. Molds produce chemicals similar to the chemicals found in paint. They are normal metabolic by-products of mold growth. Two of the most common chemicals produced by mold are acetone and isopropanol4 which are also found nail polish, alcohols, and cleaning supplies. Furan and butanol compounds are also produced by mold growth5. These are irritants and toxic to the nervous system. They affect the central nervous system producing symptoms such as headache, attention deficit, inability to concentrate, dizziness, respiratory problems, allergies and asthma. Some are carcinogenic. New research suggests that Napoleon died of poisoning from gas produced by mold6. Testing of his hair indicates high levels of arsenic that are thought to be due to a species of mold in his home. His bedroom had curtains with arsenic in the green dyes. In the damp climate mold growth was common. A particular species of mold, found on these materials, produce arsenic gas when it consumes arsenic containing materials. When testing for mold it is not uncommon for the results to indicate that there are no mold spores in the air even though an odor is present. The mold may be hidden in a wall and spores may not be in the air at the time of testing. Or the odor may be from other microbes such as bacteria. Examples of this are bad breath and body odor. How dangerous is that? From a health perspective who knows. There hasn’t been a lot of research done on it. It’s common sense that a strong mold odor can’t be healthy. "); array_files[30]=new Array(0,1,"./MeettheMoldsAspandPen.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Meet the Molds - Aspergillus and Penicillium","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Meet the Molds - Aspergillus and Penicillium Meet the Molds - Aspergillus and Penicillium Often when mold is discovered indoors the first questions people ask are “what kind of mold is it?” and “Is it toxic?” Their thinking is that there are only a few species of mold that are toxic, if you have one your are in big trouble and if you don’t there’s nothing to worry about. People are referring to Stachybotrys when they say “toxic, black mold”. Stachybotrys is commonly found in mold infested buildings. It is not the only toxic mold. Experts have estimated that there are about 70,000-200,000 different species of mold, all of them allergenic and capable of producing toxins. Other “toxic” Species of Molds While there are certain molds that may be more risky to ones health than others, all molds are potentially allergenic and capable of producing toxins. Therefore the presence of any species of mold indoors in higher amounts than outdoors suggest there may be a hidden mold problem indoors and is cause for concern. Aspergillus and Penicillium Aspergillus and Penicillium are two of the most common molds found when there is a mold problem. Aspergillus is usually green or black. Penicillium is usually bluish-green. Both of these molds may be other colors. The spores of these are smaller and lighter than other molds and tend to stay air borne for long periods of time. They are not easily filtered by most air filters and are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs. The species Aspergillus flavus produce aflatoxins, one of the most potent and carcinogenic toxins known to man. Aflatoxin is used in biological weapons. The use as a weapon may be more of a scare tactic than a viable weapon since the lag time for cancer can be several years. "); array_files[31]=new Array(0,1,"./MaterialSafetyDataSheets.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Material Safety Data Sheets","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Material Safety Data Sheets Material Safety Data Sheets There does not appear to be a legal or regulatory definition of toxic. So a product can contain toxic ingredients that are not listed on the label. A Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) can be used to check for some toxic ingredients that are not listed on the label. MSDS sheets can be obtained by asking the store clerk, calling the manufacturer, or checking on-line. The limitation of an MSDS sheet is that the manufacturer only needs to report hazardous ingredient in a product if that ingredient is in the product in an amount greater than 1% of the total ingredients or 0.10% of the total ingredients if it is a know carcinogen. One way around this is to use many different ingredients, each less than one-percent of the total. Most ingredients that are not listed on the product label are not listed on the MSDS sheet either. Nonetheless, an MSDS is worth investigating and may be revealing. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[32]=new Array(0,1,"./LeakyFurnaceDuckwork.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Leaky Furnance Duckwork","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Leaky Furnance Duckwork Leaky Furnace Duckwork All ducts leak. This means that if the ducts are in the attic or crawlspace, some of the air you breathe will contain contaminates from the attic or crawlspace. This includes insulation, mold, bugs and pesticides. Most ducts leak between 10-15% and 25-30% is not uncommon6. The places where there are leaks are not obvious and easily visible. Ducts may be tested for leakage using a blower-door test that is used to test homes for energy efficiency. Using this test, the ducts are pressurized and filled with a theatrical smoke that makes it easier to see the leaks. Duct tape should not be used to seal ducts. Duct tape dries up, falls off or rots within a few years. Mastic applied with a paint brush should be used to seal ducts. When building a new home or office, do not allow ducts to be in the attic or crawlspace. Keep them inside the main living space. This also saves energy. The ducts won’t have to be insulated. If you must put duct work in a crawlspace or attic make sure they are sealed with mastic and tested for leaks. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[33]=new Array(0,1,"./LeadPaintAndAsbestos.htm","2007-06-28","30K","Lead Paint and Asbestos","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Lead Paint and Asbestos Lead Paint and Asbestos When you buy a home, if it’s old enough you are notified that there is potential for lead paint and asbestos. Most people just sign the notice and think nothing else of it. Like most things, they assume that if there is a significant danger present the seller would disclose it. The seller doesn’t know. There is no way of telling if something contains lead or asbestos other than to have it tested. The presence of asbestos or lead in a building does not automatically mean it’s a hazardous place. The materials must be deteriorating such that asbestos fibers are getting into the air or paint chips in the dust. If you suspect lead paint or asbestos consult your local health department for a list of companies that perform assessments. The self test kits that indicate a color change for lead paint may not be accurate. Sending a paint chip in for analysis is accurate for the layers of paint on the chip submitted. Health Issues Both lead and asbestos can be are serious health hazards. Asbestos caused a cancer of the chest or irreversible lung scaring that can be fatal. Symptoms do not show up for as long as 20-30 years after exposure. Lead can have more immediate, poisoning effects, particularly in children. In 1991, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services called lead paint “the number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States1”. Lead exposure can delay physical and mental development, result in lowered IQ, shortened attention spans, and nervous system development disorders. Lead can cause impotence and sterility in adults. Unfortunately, low-income families in urban areas are most at risk because they often live in older housing with deterior "); array_files[34]=new Array(0,1,"./Lawn Care.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Alternative to Pesticides","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Alternative to Pesticides Lawn Care Alternative to Pesticides Of the 34 most commonly used lawn chemicals, 11 cause cancer, 20 nervous system poisoning, nine birth defects; and 30 skin irritation25. Roundup, a commonly used lawn-care product and weed killer is a pesticide. Despite claims that Roundup is safe, it is know to cause a variety of serious health problems.26 Exposure to Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup has been linked with an increased incidence of attention deficit disorder in children27. Most of the toxicity problems associated with Roundup, however, is not thought to stem from the active ingredient, Glyphosate, but from the unlabeled “inert” ingredients. Roundup consists of 99.04% “inert” ingredients. The EPA recently announced that it encourages manufactures to use the words “other ingredients” instead of inert because the work inert gave people a false sense of safety. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup remains active in soils long after application. Residuals of glyphoste have been found in lettuce, carrots and barley one year after treatment. It has been found to kill beneficial insects such as ladybugs28. Tips for a Healthier, non-toxic Lawn Don’t give your lawn junk food” in the form of commercial fertilizers. While making it greener, it stresses the lawn and makes it more vulnerable to pests. Round-Up is a pesticide. Don’t use it. Use organic compost for food. Make your own compost pile with kitchen scraps. It’s fun for the kids. Do not over-water. Give your lawn plenty of slow, deep watering. Do not cut grass too short. Longer, thicker grass has more surface area to take in sunlight and a deeper root system. 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches is best. Healthier grass will resist pests on its own, without the use of pesticides. Plants such "); array_files[35]=new Array(0,1,"./LackFreshAir.htm","2007-06-28","20K","Lack of Fresh Air","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Lack of Fresh Air Lack of Fresh Air Just breath (some fresh air that is) Even a healthy home or office can become an unhealthy place to be if it is closed up without any fresh air and ventilation. In older, leakier homes, indoor air would be naturally be exchanged with fresh outdoor air on average of once per hour. In modern, energy-efficient homes and offices this has dropped to about once every five to six hours2. There can be a buildup of chemicals in air-tight buildings and a reduction in the amount of oxygen to breathe. No building is perfect. All buildings have indoor air pollution from various sources. This may be from office equipment (computers, printers, and copiers), plastics, carpeting, paint, furniture, cleaners and disinfectants, fragrance, room deodorizers, mothballs, cloths that are dry cleaned, etc. Small amounts of chemicals such as acetone, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol are typically detected in homes, even where the owners are health conscious and strive to avoid using chemicals and fragrance. In addition to chemicals, the amount of carbon dioxide and humidity produced from people breathing and can make it uncomfortable and cause drowsiness and fatigue. Depending on how air-tight a building is, there is a limited amount of oxygen to breath. With every breath there is less oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the air. The more people there are in a room and the longer they are in inside, the higher the concentration of carbon dioxide will be. Carbon dioxide is not harmful. But high levels of carbon monoxide mean there are less oxygen and not enough ventilation. Health Issues As levels of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen increase, people start to loose concentration and get sleepy. Chemicals and other pollutants may cause eye and respiratory irritatio "); array_files[36]=new Array(0,1,"./KitchenCabinetsParticleFurniture.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Kitchen Cabinets and Particle Board Furniture","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Kitchen Cabinets and Particle Board Furniture Kitchen Cabinets and Particle Board Furniture One of the biggest sources of the chemical formaldehyde indoors is kitchen cabinets. It is also prevalent in plywood, paneling, particle board, fiberglass insulation, particle board shelving and carpet padding. Evidence from several studies show formaldehyde causes headache, fatigue, depression and has the potential for causing asthma or inducing asthma attacks19. As much as 10% to 20% of people may be susceptible to formaldehyde at low concentrations20. Levels of formaldehyde that present a significant cancer risk have been measured in most homes21. It has been shown that once individual becomes sensitive to formaldehyde they can become sensitive to other chemicals that were previously not problamatic22. Mobile homes are particularly notorious for causing health problems related to extremely high levels of formaldehyde emitted from the plywood and particleboard used in construction. The release of most formaldehyde may be within 6 months. However, after about a 50% decline in emission levels, it may continue to out-gas for an indefinite period, taking as long as 10 years to outgas to ambient outdoor levels. It becomes evident when most of the formaldehyde has evaporated from particle board – it will fall apart as if it were rotten. Safe Solutions Don’t live in a new mobile home that comes with a warning label for formaldehyde. You won’t find it posted in an obvious place. If you are buying a mobile home or RV ask the manufacturer to see the label. Choose kitchen cabinets and furniture made from solid wood, metal or at minimum, exterior grade plywood. When ever possible, removing the source is always to best way to reduce levels of chemicals indoors. If that is not practical to remove them, "); array_files[37]=new Array(0,1,"./InertIngredientsinPesticides.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Inert Ingredients in Pesticides","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Inert Ingredients in Pesticides Inert Ingredients in Pesticides NOT on the Label You may think you can determine how hazardous a product is by reading the label. Forget about reading the label on a bottle of pesticides and making judgment calls. Only “active” ingredients are listed on the label. There are over 1,700 “inert”, ingredients which are not listed on the label. Inert does not mean harmless. Inert simply means an ingredient is not the primary chemical used to kill the bugs. The manufacturer, not the government or EPA, decides which chemicals to consider inert. By law, inert ingredients are considered trade secrets2. Almost 99% of the ingredients may be listed as “inert”. Many of these are more harmful than the active ingredients. Most have not even been tested for potential health effects. Inert ingredients may be used for delivery, emulsifying and for quick, knock-down effects. Common inert ingredients include toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene. These are central nervous system depressants and carcinogens. In a freedom of information Act lawsuit, the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) obtained from the EPA a list of 1,400 of the 2,000 substances currently being used as inert ingredients in pesticides. These included Chicago sludge, hazardous waste, asbestos, and some banned chemicals such as DDT3. Remember Vietnam? A component of Agent Orange, 2, 4-D, is used in about 1,500 lawn care products4. Because many people have a misleading impression of the term inert ingredient, believing it to indicate harmless ingredients, the EPA permits and encourages manufacturers to substitute the more neutral term Other ingredients on their pesticide labels5. How many pesticide manufacturers have chosen to do this? Sometimes pesticides are mixed in the tan "); array_files[38]=new Array(0,1,"./HomeWiringErrors.htm","2007-06-28","21K","A Problem Bigger than Power Lines","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string A Problem Bigger than Power Lines Home Wiring Errors A Problem Bigger than Power Lines Imagine that you just purchased a gauss-meter to check the level of electromagnetic fields inside your home or office. There are no visible power lines outside; they’re buried underground. Therefore, you don’t expect any significant readings but the readings are high. You turn off the TV. But the reading is still high. You think the meter is broken. You go outside and the readings are almost zero. You go back indoors and high readings return. What’s going on? It is safe to say there are probably errors in the installation of electrical wiring in your building, a common problem. In some cases the wiring errors can cause a higher level indoors than standing under power lines outdoors. According to Karl Riley, author of Tracing EMFs in Building Wiring and Grounding, almost 70% of elevated magnetic fields in homes, offices, and schools are due to wiring errors and grounding problems – not power lines. Only about 20% of the time is power lines responsible10. These wiring errors are simple mistakes that electricians routinely make without knowing it. How do these errors happen? If you look at a piece of electrical wiring you will see a black wire and a white wire. The black wire carries electrical current to where it is needed and the white wire completes the circuit, taking the current back to the fuse box. The black wire is called “hot” because it will shock you if you touch it. The white wire is referred to as neutral. Technically the neutral wire is not neutral. It carries current, just at a lower voltage that will not shock you. When current flows on the black wire to where it’s needed, a magnetic field is created. This is a beautiful phenomenon of the universe, a law of physics that s "); array_files[39]=new Array(0,1,"./HomemadeCleanersDisinfectants.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Home-made Cleaners and Disinfectants","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Home-made Cleaners and Disinfectants Home-made Cleaners and Disinfectants Vinegar & water. Vinegar removes dirt and cuts grease. Excellent to clean windows. An effective floor cleaner can be made by mixing liquid soap with one-quarter cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. Vinegar is a powerful, natural anti-microbial that effectively kills bacteria and viruses. It is probably more effective than any “anti-microbial” chemical you can buy. Make a mixture in a plastic spray bottle consisting of few a tablespoons of vinegar to a few cups of water. Use it to spray cutting boards in the kitchen after use. Vinegar might be labeled as an anti-microbial except then it would need to be registered with the EPA as a pesticide. How many people would buy something labeled “anti-microbial” to put on their salads? Baking soda. It is a natural deodorizer. Sprinkle on carpets and vacuum up. Lemon juice. Like citrus oil, lemon juice can it can be helpful in removing grease and sludge. Borax (1 cup to a gallon of hot water). Borax has effective mold inhibiting properties and is in some paints to prevent mold growth. A paste can be made and applied to wood as part of preventing termites and wood rot. It can be added to laundry. Mule-Team laundry detergent is mostly borax. Baking soda. Mixed with hot water, it’s good for scrubbing and deodorizes. A mixture of olive oil and beeswax makes a good furniture polish. Clean the dust off the furniture first using a damp cloth. Then apply the oil and wax to protect the wood. Alternative anti-microbials include tea-tree oil and hydrogen peroxide (3%). These are not really necessary though. Your approach to cleaning shouldn’t be to kill germs. In general, always try and use as little detergent as possible. Often all that is needed for cleaning is a damp "); array_files[40]=new Array(0,1,"./HeatingDuctwork.htm","2007-06-28","15K","The Heating and Air-Conditioning System","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string The Heating and Air-Conditioning System The Heating and Air-Conditioning System The Lungs of the Building The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) is the lungs of a building. What’s in the furnace cabinet, air-conditioner and ductwork end up in the air you breathe and in your lungs. This includes dust, fiberglass, bacteria, yeast, rodent fecal matter, pet dander and mold. Various studies have shown that the HVAC system is responsible for 50 to 60% of all building generated air quality problems1. If there is a complaint related to the indoor environment, the HVAC system should be investigated first. Studies have shown that the HVAC system is capable of resolving 80% of problems2. If you have a forced-air heating system or air-conditioning system, there are some basic things you should investigate. Wall Cavities and Ceilings Used as Duct Work The air that is being supplied to furnace duct work has to come from somewhere. Air is sucked into to the system from what are called the return ducts. There are typically only one or a few return ducts in a building. In an office building there is often no return ducting. Instead, the cavity above the suspended ceiling tiles is used as an air plenum. A similar thing often happens in homes. Instead of running duct work, it is common practice in homes to use a hollow wall cavity as the return air duct. The furnace or air conditioner sucks air directly from the wall cavity. Using wall cavities and ceiling plenums is done to save the expense and inconvenience of installing duct work. This saves a few dollars but can be very bad for your health. Wall cavities and ceiling plenums are dirty and may contain fiberglass, rodent droppings, asbestos and other things you don’t want to breathe. Joseph Lstiburek, a well resp "); array_files[41]=new Array(0,1,"./GreenBuildings.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Green Buildings","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Green Buildings Green Buildings Green Building a term applied to buildings that are built with the environment in mind. The word “environment” is supposed to include both the environment of the planet and the health of the people indoors. Most green builders incorporate some aspects of healthy building into their design but there are wide variations in green building construction. Building green does not automatically mean building for health. Some Green builder’s main claim to fame is energy efficiency. The goal of the contractors is to make these buildings as air-tight and energy efficient as possible. They think they can save the planet by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat a home. Realizing that building an air-tight building might be unhealthy, some of them will then install mechanical ventilation to bring in fresh outdoor air. Bringing in fresh outdoor air is always a good idea. But some of these air-tight buildings may still not be healthy. They do not breathe without the mechanical ventilation system installed. If the building is not also built using least toxic building materials, low-voc paint and with minimal use of chemical laden finishing such as flooring and cabinets, there can be a build up of toxins in the air which the ventilation system can’t keep up with. Fortunately there are a lot of green builders out there who also build with the health of the occupants in mind. They know how to furnish a building with materials that minimize the emission of toxic chemicals. There is even a certification process for green buildings called LEED that considers all the various factors and rates a building bronze, silver or gold based on a point system. It is expensive to have a building LEED certified. Ask your architect and builder what they plan to do to incorporate go "); array_files[42]=new Array(0,1,"./Fragrance.htm","2007-06-28","20K","Fragrance","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Fragrance Fragrance What you don’t know may be harming your health Fragrance is big business. The market value of fragrance blends is estimated to be worth over 1.5 billion dollars1. Artificial fragrances are in household cleaners, detergents, fabric softener, air fresheners, and personal care products such as hair, body and skin products. Fragrance may also big business for the health care industry. The chemicals in fragrance are neurotoxins and suppress the immune system. In one laboratory experiment in which mice were exposed to fragranced air, 5 out of 186 mice died2. Toxic Ingredients in Fragrance According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 4,000chemicals are used in fragrance. The most common of these include toluene, formaldehyde, acetone, benzene, and methyl chloride. Toluene was detected in every fragrance sample collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991. A 1988 study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that in a particular list of 2,983 chemicals being used in the fragrance industry, 844 toxic substances were identified. Many of these cause cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders3. There is no way for a consumer to know which chemicals are in a particular brand of fragrance. If you read the label on a product with fragrance you won’t find them. You may see the word “fragrance”. As many as 600 separate chemicals may be used in a single fragrance formula and most are protected as trade secrets. Fragrance Free does not mean no added fragrance. There is no government definition for “fragrance-free”. There is no agency directly regulating the fragrance industry. When the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was passed it was decided that the cosmetics industry could regulat "); array_files[43]=new Array(0,1,"./Fiberglass.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Fiberglass","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Fiberglass Fiberglass Sometimes wall cavities being used as furnace air ducts and some furnace ducts have fiberglass in them. This is done to minimize noise created by air movement through them. This is bad for your health because fiberglass gets sucked into the air. Fiberglass can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, throat irritation, eye irritation, and aggravation of asthma and hives. Fiberglass is similar to asbestos and a potential carcinogen. The concentration of fibers in house dust maybe very low but people can experience symptoms from them. Remove fiberglass insulation inside wall cavities being used as return air plenums. There is also a fibrous lining inside the furnace unit itself. Often it is burnt or deteriorating. It should be covered with aluminum foil (heating contractors have large rolls of it) and foil tape should be used to tape the edges down. Fiberboard material is commonly used to construct duct work in parts of the country. It contains fiberglass. Don’t use it. It grows mold quickly if it gets wet. The potential for mold growth is more dangerous than the fibers becoming air-borne. If fiber-board dusting gets wet it should be replaced, not cleaned. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[44]=new Array(0,1,"./Eliminating Crawlspace Odor.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Eliminating Odor from Crawlspaces","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Eliminating Odor from Crawlspaces Eliminating Odor from Crawlspaces Eliminating odors in crawlspaces can be very difficult. The ultimate way to eliminate odors in crawlspaces is to treat crawl spaces as mini-basements. This would mean pouring a concrete slab and finishing the crawlspace as if it were a living space. In this case, crawlspaces should not be vented. They should be part of the conditioned space. That means they should have a heating/cooling supply vent. A return HVAC system vent is not typically recommended, as the leakiness of the floor assembly will provide a return air path. However, a return duct, dampened to prevent crawlspace depressurization is acceptable. Alternately, a “transfer” grill can be installed if code allows for it (Builder’s Guide, Energy Efficient Building Association, 1998). Most homes do not have crawlspaces that are finished as mentioned above. Usually they are dirt. In this case the following is recommended: 1. Identify and eliminate any sources of moisture that may be infiltrating into the crawlspace soil. It may be necessary to install French drains next to foundation. These are perforated pipes drained to a lower elevation or to a sump below grade. Backfill with French drains with coarse gravel to grade level and place filter fabric midway to prevent the drain pipes from getting clogged with dirt. Damp proof or install a moisture barrier membrane on the foundation wall from grade level to footer. Note that waterproof coatings are NOT a substitute for a proper drainage system since concrete and block are known to crack. 2. Install a vapor/odor barrier on top of the soil. The suggested material is 6 mil polyethylene plastic available at local hardware stores in the garden department. When covering the soil with plastic it is imperative to seal t "); array_files[45]=new Array(0,1,"./Electrical Wiring.htm","2007-06-28","19K","Bring in the Ghost Busters","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Bring in the Ghost Busters Electrical Wiring Bring in the Ghost Busters The presence of electrical wiring in homes and offices produce what are called electro-magnetic fields, EMF. Electromagnetic fields are present near power lines, electrical wiring, electrical outlets, lights, appliances and anything that is plugged in to an electrical outlet. Just the simple fact that the power is on at the fuse box energizes wiring and creates electric fields near anything that is plugged in, even if it is turned off. This can affect you biologically. Some people’s biggest concern is about power lines. While power lines may have large electromagnetic fields near them, results of a recent study at K-12 schools indicates that wiring errors may be a more important source of exposure than power lines1. Magnetic Fields When something is turned on, current flows and a magnetic field is created. Magnetic fields can be very high close to power lines. Magnetic fields are not shielded by trees, landscaping or the walls of a building. It seems common sense that living to close to power lines may not be healthy. Unfortunately, schools are often built next to right-of-ways for large power lines. Links have been made between children diagnosed with leukemia and power lines next to their schools. But before you panic because you see large power lines close to your home consider that not all power lines are as bad as they look. The strength magnetic fields decrease quickly with distance from power lines. It’s not a simple as looking at the power lines and assessing how big the field might be in your home from the power line out at the street. Smaller power lines may have larger current flows and pose a bigger health hazard than big, high-voltage lines. The only way to know what level of field is "); array_files[46]=new Array(0,1,"./Dust and Cleaning Supplies.htm","2007-06-28","20K","How Cleaning can make us sicker","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string How Cleaning can make us sicker Dust and Cleaning Supplies How cleaning can make us sicker than before we started Sometimes the biggest health hazard indoors is the amount of fine dust in the air. While it is nice to have a clean home or office, the dust that you can see is not as much as a health hazard as the small particles that are invisible. Smaller particles easily bypass the body’s defense mechanisms and penetrate deep into the lungs, reeking havoc with the heart and cells. Dust also contains a variety of allergens and irritants that can trigger health symptoms or asthma attacks. The amount of activity indoors and stuff like carpeting, furniture and old clutter that hold dust are factors. Regardless of what the allergens may be (mold, pet dander, dust mites, pollen or cockroaches) the remediation strategy is the same – clean. A good old-fashioned style, floor to ceiling cleaning can go a long way to reducing the symptoms people have from dust and allergens. Often the response to a dusty environment is to clean it using a barrage of toxic cleaning supplies which are both ineffective and create new problems. The typical cleaning supplies contain toxic chemicals that are respiratory irritants. According the National Institute of Health, detergents and cleaning products are among the most common cause of the 2.5 million annual calls to the U.S. poison control centers1. People have a tendency to think they need to use bleach or an anti-microbials to kill germs. These too add toxic chemicals to the air and are ineffective in killing all the microorganisms present, most off which are not harmful. There are better ways to reduce the amount of dust indoors and to clean effectively. What’s in the Dust? A six-room house in the city may accumulate as much as 40 pounds of dus "); array_files[47]=new Array(0,1,"./DryRotLumberYardMold.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Dry Rot and Lumber Yard Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Dry Rot and Lumber Yard Mold Dry Rot and Lumber Yard Mold Contrary to popular belief, dry rot is mold growth and is caused by dampness. Dry rot molds have vines which transport moisture to dry places. The vines may affect wood a large distance away from where the moisture is present. Dry rot is slow growing and often found in damp crawlspaces and under porches and steps. The best prevention is to avoid wood-to-earth contact. Dry rot is often mistake of termite damage. When trying to assess if something is dry rot or termite damage look for evidence of insects and mud tubes. If you go into any crawlspace or attic you can usually find some spots of mold growth either on the plywood roof sheeting in an attic or the sub floor in a crawlspace. There is a great deal of debate regarding the idea that this is normal and due to what is called lumber yard mold. Technically there is a type of mold that is naturally present of lumber. It is transmitted by inspects, consumes the tree sap and is called “blue stain”. It is slow growing and does not increase in size over a number of years. It only consumes the sap, not the wood cellulose so it’s not structurally a problem. It’s only superficial and cosmetic on the surface. This should not be confused with black mold and other types of mold. Cladosporium is often isolated on plywood in attics and crawlspaces from lumber that may now be dry but was damp during construction. Cladosporium is not lumber yard mold. While the amount of Cladosporium on the wood in these places may not present a hazard in terms of contaminating the air in the living space, it doesn’t belong there. If lumber arrives on site and does not get wet during construction there should be no mold growth. Back to Top "); array_files[48]=new Array(0,1,"./Crawlspaces and Basements.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Dirty Air Filters","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Dirty Air Filters Crawlspaces and Basements Dirty Air Filters One of the most common problems associated with health complaints is dirty air filters. It is very common to find filters that have never been changed and are moldy. Commercial buildings may have a maintenance staff that takes care of this. However, even in large office buildings when you ask “who takes care of changing the filters?” the reply is often “we don’t call someone unless there is a problem”. The air filters may be on the roof or someplace nobody looks. If the maintenance staff does change the filters, it may not be changed frequently enough. In commercial buildings, the cheapest filter available may be used. That’s what has always has been done and an upgrade to allergy-reduction type filters was not made when they became available. Filters should be changed a minimum of every two months and frequenter if they look dirty when they are changed. Sometimes filters are changed every month and are dirty at the end of a month. The building may be located in a dusty location near a highway, gravel road or vacant lot. The duct work may be leaking and sucking in dust from the attic or crawlspace. If you’re not feeling good in your office it’s possible that for some reason the filter that serves your part of the office is getting dirty faster than the others. Have building maintenance upgrade them to an allergy-reduction type filter and change them more often. Air takes the path of least resistance. Air will go around a filter when it becomes dirty. Make sure the filter fits properly in the unit and there are not air gaps around it. Use metal foil tape to seal these gaps. The typical throw-away filter is not intended to clean the air. It is designed to protect the moving parts in the furnace. Forget about th "); array_files[49]=new Array(0,1,"./ConductingMoistureInvestigation.htm","2007-06-28","31K","Conducting a Moisture Investigation","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Conducting a Moisture Investigation Conducting a Moisture Investigation A moisture investigation is an inspection for water damage, moisture and potential mold problems. It is useful to have a moisture meter for parts of this investigation INTERIOR WALLS. Arbitrarily check wall surfaces for moisture using the moisture meter, especially those with stains or in places where there is a history of water leaks. Check near baseboards, especially around exterior walls. Check around windows and exterior doors. Compare readings from various locations to see if one wall is higher than others. Other suspect areas are those with water stains, loose wall paper or peeling paint. CEILINGS. Stains on ceiling or celing tiles are suspect areas. Check them with the moisture meter. In office buildings with suspended celing tiles, do not remove or lift them. There may be mold on the backside of ceiling tiles with water damage which when disturbed may aerosolize spores. If management desires to inspect for mold, have them remove a neighboring celing tile that does not have a stain and use that as a way to inspect adjacent, suspect areas of the ceiling cavity. CARPET. In bathrooms or under window sills in rooms with carpet, pull up carpet enough to check the backside for mold and to inspect the carpet taking. Rusty or discolored nails on the carpet tack are indications of a past or present moisture problem. Carpet should be avoided at the entrance to the building and where high moisture content is probable such as kitchens and bathrooms. Damp carpet is a breeding ground and reservoir for mold spores, dust mites and other microorganisms. CONDENSATION. Check for condensation around windows and skylights. PLANTS. Check under pots for mold growth from over watering or spillage. AQUARIUMS "); array_files[50]=new Array(0,1,"./CommonOutdoorMolds.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Common Outdoor Molds","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Common Outdoor Molds Common Outdoor Molds Cladosporium and Alternaria are two of the most common outdoor molds. Cladosporium is the most common outdoor mold, world-wide. Where ever you live, the dominant species of mold in outdoor air is likely Cladosporium. The exceptions may be Hawaii and Florida where Aspergillus and Penicillium types may predominate. Generally, there are always a few spores of Cladosporium floating around in the air in your home. This doesn’t mean it’s ok to have Cladosporium mold growth indoors. Cladosporium, as it is isolated outside is probably not toxic. If Cladosporium is growing indoors there are likely other potentially toxic molds growing indoors as well and the Cladosporium itself may produce toxins. Cladosporium is allergenic and is capable of producing toxins. It is commonly found in attics, in crawl spaces on sub flooring, and around skylights and windows where condensation has occurred. Cladosporium is usually black with age but can other colors. Alternaria may be found growing on the dust around window sills and skylights due to condensation. It is usually black in color. Cladosporium and Alternaria are some one of the biggest mold spores in size relative to other molds, settle quickly in the dust, and may not always be airborne. They are common allergens. Because Alternaria, Cladosporium, Stachybotrys, and many other molds can be black, you can’t tell just by the color what type of mold is present. You may be able to make an educated guess that black mold on drywall is Stachybotrys and there is a high probability that Cladosporium or Alternaria are what is growing on the dust under the window sill. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights "); array_files[51]=new Array(0,1,"./Cockroaches and Termites.htm","2007-06-28","16K","Alternative Pest Control Methods","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Alternative Pest Control Methods Cockroaches and Termites Alternative Pest Control Methods Cockroaches Cockroach droppings may be a primary trigger of asthma symptoms, especially for children living in densely populated, urban neighborhoods24. To reduce asthma symptoms, it is important to eliminate cockroaches. Cockroaches love damp and dirty places, especially those where there’s a source of food. Cleanliness and eliminating damp conditions is crucial. Preventing Cock Roaches Fix dripping faucets and leaky plumbing. Take out the trash, wash the dishes, and clean up in the kitchen around the stove. Keep garbage, wood piles and other debris away from the house. Let the cockroaches go thirsty and hungry- they will find someone else’s house to live in. Getting Rid of Cockroaches If you still have a roach problem try the boric acid recipe listed above for ants but keep it away from areas children play and pets may eat it. It is particularly useful under the stove and refrigerator. You can also buy roach traps. Most of these are toxic and should not be used as a substitute for eliminating conditions that attract roaches. Termites Termites eat wood and cause structural damage. New homes can be designed so that pesticide application for termites is not necessary. Methods for preventing termite infestation include the use of metal and sand barriers. For treating existing termite infestations consider freezing, heating and other new treatments. The Bio-integral Resource Center in Berkeley, California has an entire publication dedicated to this subject, Least-Toxic Pest Management for Termites. They can be reached at (505) 524-2567. Resources The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) has a large on-line library of fact sheets on non-toxic & natu "); array_files[52]=new Array(0,1,"./CleaningUpMold.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Cleaning Up Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Cleaning Up Mold Cleaning Up Mold How Bad Is It? The first thing to consider when cleaning up mold is the size of the mold contamination. There is going to be a different approach to cleaning mildew off your bathroom shower than removing mold growing inside walls. Several years ago the New York City Health Department came out with guidelines for quantifying levels of mold and what level of training was required to clean up mold. According to these guidelines, if there is less than ten square feet of visible mold regular maintenance staff can do the clean up. If there is greater than ten square feet of mold then a professional is required. The EPA has since adopted this guideline as well. The health department had good intentions. It’s not practical to spend thousands of dollars hiring a professional to clean up small amounts of mold. A little mildew on a window sill from condensation may just be wiped off. Unfortunately, these guidelines do not address the potential for large amounts of hidden mold. When you see a few square inches of mold on a wall there may be several square feet or more hidden inside the wall. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[53]=new Array(0,1,"./CleaningSmallMoldProb.htm","2007-06-28","38K","Cleaning Up a Small Mold Problem","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Cleaning Up a Small Mold Problem Cleaning Up a Small Mold Problem It is outside the scope of this document to plan for all the potential variables that may be encountered during mold remediation work. The procedures outlines here are only guidelines. No warranty or guarantee is expressed or implied regarding effective remediation of mold and protection of workers and prevention of cross-contamination. Training Courses The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). (301) 231-8388. www.iaqa.org. Certification The American Indoor Air Quality Association (AmIAQ). (800) 942-0832, www.iaqcouncil.org. Suggested Reading – 3 key references Standard for Professional Mold Remediation S520. Order on-line www.IICRC.org or from the Indoor Air Quality Association, www.IAQA.ORG (301) 231-8388. Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1999. Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples. American Industrial Hygiene Association, 1996. Other Recommended Reading Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (EPA Document 402-K-01-001), www.epa.gov. Personal Protective Equipment Protect yourself. Do not clean up mold if you have allergies or sensitivities. People cleaning up mold may be at risk for developing Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome or Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. This can occur after a single heavy exposure to dust contaminated with mold and produces flu-like symptoms. Eyes and lungs should be protected. At a minimum, this includes: an N-95 or better half-face or full-face respirator (a def "); array_files[54]=new Array(0,1,"./Chemicals.htm","2007-06-28","30K","But I dont smell anything...","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string But I dont smell anything... Chemicals “But I Don’t Smell Anything…” Just because you don’t smell anything doesn’t mean chemicals are not affecting your heath. Acetone, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are commonly found in the air in most homes1. These are referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. Commonly, these are from cleaning supplies, personal care products, pesticides and paint. Chemicals persist long after the bug man sprays and after you put that fresh coat of paint on the wall. They come from plastics, furniture, computers, carpet, mothballs, glues, dry-cleaning and magic markers to name a few other sources. There is a long list of chemicals found in indoor air. There are currently 75,000 chemicals licensed for use. Even in homes where less-toxic cleaning supplies are used and the use of fragrance is minimized, there can be some residual levels of chemicals in the air from sources you least expect it. We have literally thousands of chemicals and toxins stored in the fat cells of our body that our liver is unable to break down into a form that can be eliminated. We begin to be exposed to chemicals before we are even born. The milk a baby is breast-fed is contaminated with pesticides and chemical residuals in the mothers body that she may have been exposed to when she was a child. The following table, complied by the National Adipose Tissue Survey of the National Public Health Service2 demonstrates the toxic chemicals we have in our bodies. Table: 1 Chemicals Detected in People’s Bodies Courtesy of Debra Lynn Dadd, from her book Home Safe Home Compound Possible Source of Exposure Frequency in Test Subjects Styrene Disposable plastic foam cups Carpet backing 100% of the people tested had this in their fat 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Mothballs, house "); array_files[55]=new Array(0,1,"./CanMoldbeLeftSafelyinWalls.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Can Mold be Left Safely in Walls?","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Can Mold be Left Safely in Walls? Can Mold be Left Safely in Walls? Purpose, Techniques, Why not related to air borne exposure Suppose you know you have mold inside a wall but you have the air tested and the results indicate that there is not a mold problem indoors. Does the mold in the wall need to be removed or can it be left alone? Since it’s not affecting the air quality it may not seem to pose a health hazard. This may be a difficult question to answer. Conditions can change over time. The mold may not be in the air at the time of testing but might be at a later time. Unless the mold is removed its presence needs to be forever monitored. Therefore, ideally the mold should be removed so that there is closure to the issue. According to Dr. Harriet Burge, mold expert and author of Bio-Aerosols and Control Handbook, under some circumstances there may be “little risk associated with dry mold in walls, and significant financial and emotional risk associated with its removal”1. She gives a hypothetical example of how a school in which all the visible mold has been removed, still has mold that remains inside some walls. Testing indicates there is not toxic mold in the classroom air. But because of the perception of dangerous mold, the parents and teachers want the mold removed. This means the school will need to be closed for six months and teachers possibly laid off. Might it be better to leave the mold in place, periodically test the air and postpone remediation until financial and student logics allow for it? Another example is hospitals. Hospitals and commercial buildings that have vinyl baseboard coving in areas where there are sinks, bathrooms and sources of water may all have mold growth behind them. There is mold behind the base coving in most of "); array_files[56]=new Array(0,1,"./BuildingAMoldFreeHome.htm","2007-06-28","20K","Building a Mold-Free Home","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Building a Mold-Free Home Building a Mold-Free Home Want to build a home that doesn’t grow mold? Build one that does not allow for water to get in and construct the walls so that if water does get in, it can dry out. This includes avoiding vapor barriers or using them correctly. It is becoming common practice to cover the exterior of houses with “house wrap”. This is done to save money on heating and cooling bills by making the building air-tight. This should not be confused with a vapor barrier. House wraps are made of a Gore-Tex™-like material called Tyvek™. House wrap is air-tight but allows moisture to get out. Plastic vapor barriers do not breathe and do not let moisture escape. Plastic is typically used in installing a vapor barrier. Vapor barriers should only be used in either hot and humid or very cold climates. They are used in the south to prevent humid air from reaching the interior, cool, side of air-conditioned spaces where moisture condensates inside the walls causing mold to grow. In very cold climates like Alaska, the reverse is true. Vapor barriers are placed on the inside of the walls to prevent humid air indoors from reaching cold surfaces inside exterior walls and causing mold growth. So what do you do if you live in a climate that has both humid summers and cold winters? Unfortunately, the building codes in some regions mandate the installation of a vapor barrier and specify which side of the wall it should go on. This may prevent mold half of the year and promote it during the other. Nowadays it seems everywhere you look contractors is wrapping houses to save energy by building an air-tight building. The potential for mold and moisture problems may not be worth the money saved in utility bills. The danger here is that un "); array_files[57]=new Array(0,1,"./Ants and Spiders.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Alternative Pest Control Methods","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Alternative Pest Control Methods Ants and Spiders Alternative Pest Control Methods Ants If you have ants, don’t panic. Ants in the house are pests, but ants in other settings should not be systematically destroyed. Most ants are predators of other insects. Ants rival earthworms in their capacity to modify and transform soil. Ants move organic mater downward, which helps conversion into humus. Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Most of their food is insects and honeydew, although they will eat household items like candy, honey, soda pop and pet food23. Carpenter ants are big relative to the small, sugar ants that come after your pick-nick scraps. If you are not sure what type of ants you have consult a professional. Keeping Ants out Caulk common entry points such as window sills, thresholds, baseboards, etc. Keep things clean. Don’t leave leftovers and garbage around. Sprinkle powdered chili pepper, paprika, dried peppermint, damp coffee grounds, or borax where ants are coming in. You can make a concoction of all of these. Squeeze lemon juice at their entry point and leave the peel there. Small grains of rice is good for inside ants, roaches, etc. as once eaten it swells in the stomach and pop goes the bug. Getting Rid of Ants Vacuum up the ants with a vacuum cleaner or wipe them up with a wet sponge. Ants forge in trails controlled by a pheromone scent and rely on one another for direction. They get lost without a trail. After vacuuming ants up, spray the sent trail with hydrogen peroxide to oxidize the trail pheromone. Follow the trail and pour boiling water into the nest (ouch!). A handy solution to outside ant nests is a cup of Cola. It contains acid. Use bait traps. These should contain boric acid, a less-toxic alternative to harshe "); array_files[58]=new Array(0,1,"./AlternativestoBleach.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Alternatives to Bleach","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Alternatives to Bleach Alternatives to Bleach To clean up mold, use what ever you would normally use to clean a dirty surface. Bleach is actually the worst at cleaning. Bleach is not a good surfactant. Use plain soap and water. Clean rags should be folded in quarters. Ring the rag out after dipping it in the soapy water. Make only one pass over a surface the flip the rage over and use a clean side. Used rags should not go back into the bucket of soap and water. If you feel the need to use an antimicrobial, even though there shouldn’t be any mold spores left to kill after you are done cleaning, here are some alternatives: Alternatives to bleach - Antimicrobials Dr Bronner’s Peppermint soap Vinegar (1/4 cup vinegar per 1 gallon of water) Hydrogen peroxide (3%) Baking soda. Make a paste with water to scrub with. Borates - 1 cup 20 Mule Team borax to 1 gallon water Natural Disinfectants Vinegar is perhaps the world’s most effective, natural ant-microbial and would be labeled as such except then it would need to be registered with the EPA as a pesticide. How many of us would make a salad dressing using a product with an EPA registration? As with most anti-microbials, vinegar is most effective at killing bacteria and is limited at sterilizing mold spores. The contact time is very important. If you read the label on a can of disinfectant or any cleaning agent that contains an anti-microbial, you will notice that it says the surface must be clean prior to application and you must wait several minutes before wiping the surface after application. While the IICRC S500 states that the use of biocides, including bleach, is not effective for mold remediation, sometimes people still want to use a disinfectant. Another natural disi "); array_files[59]=new Array(0,1,"./WoodBurningSmoke.htm","2007-06-28","64K","Wood Burning Smoke","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Wood Burning Smoke Wood Burning Smoke Excerpted from: the Burning Issue, Box 1045, Point Arena CA 95468 Tel: 707-882-3601,URL:http://burningissues.org Backyard burning is what were talking about. It can be as bad for your health as cigarettes. Smoke from burning vegetation is now considered one of the most serious kinds of air pollution. The smoke from your fire can seriously pollute your neighbor hoods air for several hours. In fact, during periods when the wind is still, the hazardous particles and gases in smoke can accumulate to harmful levels for days. Ironically, backyard burning often occurs during calm weather, when the smoke cant be dispersed — and on the weekend, when many people are out for a breath of fresh air. Running inside and closing the doors and windows wont protect you, since smoke easily seeps through small cracks and holes. Fine particulates are small enough to be breathed into the deepest reaches of our lungs. They are associated with all sorts of health problems — from a runny nose and coughing, to bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and even death. Senior citizens, infants and people who already have lung or heart problems are most at risk, but healthy younger adults and children can also be affected. Particulate pollution is the most important contaminant in our air. ...we know that when particle levels go up, people die. A number of studies also show changes in inflammatory markers in the blood, which are risk factors for heart attack. Joel Schwartz, Ph.D., Harvard School of Public Health, E Magazine, Sept. /Oct. 2002. An 86 page research list is available on the web An Annotated Bibliography on Acute Respiratory Infections and Indoor Air Pollution with Emphasis on Children Under 5 in Dev "); array_files[60]=new Array(0,1,"./TobaccoWoodBerningSmoke.htm","2007-06-28","29K","Tobacco and Wood Burning Smoke","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Tobacco and Wood Burning Smoke Tobacco and Wood Burning Smoke One would think it’s a no-brainer that smoking is bad for you. Smoking should never be allowed indoors, especially if children are present. Less known is that the smoke from a wood burning fire place is just as toxic. Tobacco Smoke Health Effects The EPA reports that tobacco smoke is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in non-smoking adults and impairs the health of hundreds of thousands of children. Infants and young children whose parents smoke in their presence are at increased risk of respiratory tract infections and cough, excess phlegm and wheezing. The EPA estimates that passive smoking annually causes between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year. Older children who have been exposed to secondhand smoke may have reduced lung function. Asthmatic children are especially at risk. The EPA estimates that exposure to secondhand smoke increase the number of episodes and severity of asthma and may cause thousands of non-asthmatic children to develop the disease each year. Each year between 200,000 and 1,000,000 asthmatic children have their condition worsened by exposure to second hand smoke. Ingredients Environmental tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer. The Government of Canadas Tobacco Products Information Regulation requires emission levels of six toxic chemicals released when smoking to be printed on the side of tobacco product packages. These six chemicals are: Tar Nicotine Carbon Monoxide Formaldehyde Hydrogen Cyanide Benzene R "); array_files[61]=new Array(0,1,"./CreatingSleepingPlace.htm","2007-06-28","25K","Tips for Creating a Healthier Sleeping Place","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Tips for Creating a Healthier Sleeping Place Tips for Creating a Healthier Sleeping Place You spend a third of your life in the bedroom. The bedroom is a place to rest, heal and grow. Sleeping is the time when the body tries to rejuvenate itself from the daily exposure to pollutants and stress. Continued exposure to pollutants and electromagnetic radiation interrupt this process. Children are particularly affected. The following are a few suggestions to make your bedroom a healthier place: Minimize the presence of electricity. Electricity is very useful and we cannot live with out it, but we shouldn’t be unnecessarily exposed to it during our sleep. Fatigue, insomnia, bedwetting and allergy aggravation have all been associated with electromagnetic fields1. Simply turning things off is not sufficient, as electric field is present if something is plugged in, even if it is turned off. Electrical wiring inside the wall behind the bed is therefore a concern. This may sound extreme but it can affect your heath and there are some very practical and easy things you can do to improve you sleeping spot. Use a battery operated alarm clock. Besides removing a source of EMF, it takes up less space and looks better. Remove as many electrical devices as possible from the bedroom, especially near the bed. These include radios, TV, answer machine, phone, lamps, VCR, etc. If you must have these in the bedroom keep them at least six feet from your bed. It is not sufficient to turn something off, it must be unplugged, and otherwise there will still be an electric field that you can measure on your body with a simple ohm meter from Radio Shack. Do not use electric blankets or water bed heaters or put them on timers to go off after you fall asleep. Do not place the head of bed agains "); array_files[62]=new Array(0,1,"./TenReasonsThrowMicrowave.htm","2007-06-28","21K","10 Reasons to Throw Away Your Microwave Oven","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string 10 Reasons to Throw Away Your Microwave Oven 10 Reasons to Throw Away Your Microwave Oven This chapter is more for general interest than for alerting you to a serious hazard in you home. Microwave ovens emit a magnetic field, even when they are not being used. However, the strength of the field decreases greatly with distance. While most microwave ovens leak radiation around the door seal, even those that are brand new, unless you are standing close by there is probably not much hazard. Eating food cooked in microwaves is the main concern. There was a time when it was common sense that cooking food in a microwave was suspiciously too easy. It was too good to be true. When microwaves first came out, my parents bought one for my grandparents as an anniversary present. At the time the grandparents were skeptical and cautious. Although they appreciated the thought, they didn’t use it much. Whenever mom would visit she would prod and encourage them to use it. With time they came to not be able to live without it. The microwave became such an important part of their life that my grandmother once told my grandfather, “If there is a fire, you take one end of the microwave and I’ll take the other!” Microwave ovens use electromagnetic energy that vibrates molecules in food 2.4 billion times a second. The friction from these vibrations generates heat which cooks food. The vibrations are so violent that some of the food molecules are torn apart or distorted, permanently changing the molecular makeup of the food. The food is changed into new structures that the body may not be able to assimilate nutritionally or may be harmful to your health. In 1991, Dr Hans Hertel, a retired food scientist from a Swiss food company, did a controlled study taking blood samples from "); array_files[63]=new Array(0,1,"./FurnaceAirFilters.htm","2007-06-28","30K","Furnace Air Filters","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Furnace Air Filters Furnace Air Filters Types of Filters Not Recommended2 The typical throw-away filters are not intended to clean the air. They are designed to protect moving parts in the furnace. As a rule of thumb, if you hold the filter up to the light and can see though it, dust will pass through it. Forget about the type of filters that can be washed and re-used; they are useless. They are good only for protecting the blower in the system from bolder size particles that may cause mechanical problems and do nothing to protect your health. Electronic Air Cleaners If you have an electronic air cleaner you may think you’re lucky because you don’t need to replace filters. You simply wash them periodically. Many newer homes have electronic air cleaners. Builders often install them because they are cheap and it makes it seem like a healthy home. Electronic air cleaners use wires or charged plates to attract particles. When these filters are tested using a laser particle counter we have found them to be very poor at capturing small dust particles. Dust may collect on these filters, but only the big stuff. The size of the dirt particles collected are very big and most likely not the ones that are harmful to your health. They loosen and release some particles each time they are charged, and as the wires or plates become coated with dirt. They become less effective with use. The plates are supposed to be cleaned regularly, but how many people actually do that? Even if it seems like you don’t need to dust as often, these filters are not removing the smaller particles from the air that affect your health. Electrostatic filters These are made of polyester or polypropylene and are supposed to trap particles by attracting them with s "); array_files[64]=new Array(0,1,"./DogAllergies.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Dog Allergies","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Dog Allergies Dog Allergies While a lot of people are allergic to pet dander, quite often this is not the main hazard responsible for health complaints and allergies. Often when people complain that their “house is killing them”, they have had their pets for a years and felt good in the past. There are some studies that show that having pets in the home when a child is young actually reduces the chances of them developing allergies later in life. A lot of homes that have dogs are extremely dusty. Pets make a contribution by bringing in dust. The fine size of the dust particles may be more the irritant and allergy trigger than the pet allergens. Allergies are a complex ailment. Research suggests that there may be multiple factors involved in the trigger of an allergy or asthma attack. Mold and tobacco smoke, for example, have been found to work in synergy to trigger allergies where the presence of mold or smoke alone did not. Dog Allergens It is estimated that dogs are in over 40% of American homes. Dogs are the most common pet in U.S. homes. While it may be of no consolation to those who are allergic to dogs, research suggests that fewer people have dog allergies than have cat allergies. This may be due to the fact that more cats are kept indoors and dogs are washed more frequently. In one study dog allergies occurred in 17% of the population tested. Myths about Dog Allergens There is no truth to the myth that dogs that do not shed or have short hair do not cause allergies. There are multiple types of dog allergens and the amount generated differs by breed. Dogs produce at least 28 different allergens. One major allergen has been identified that most people with dog allergies react to. Like cat allergen, dog allergen is found in "); array_files[65]=new Array(0,1,"./DieselExhaust.htm","2007-06-28","23K","Diesel Exhaust","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Diesel Exhaust Diesel Exhaust There are some who rightfully think that diesel exhaust is cleaner in terms of carbon monoxide emissions than regular fueled automobiles. They also may believe that the “big” particulates that are part of the black some diesel emit are not as big as health threat as the smaller particles you can’t see. What these are not aware of is that diesel exhaust contains a long list of toxic chemicals other than carbon monoxide. The toxic chemicals attach themselves to the smoke particles and you breathe them, transporting the toxins into your body. Diesel exhaust can become an indoor air pollutant when air from the outdoors is sucked indoors. The Toxins in Diesel Exhaust While diesel may contain less carbon monoxide than auto exhaust, diesel exhaust is highly toxic; Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of hundreds of compounds including carbon monoxide, sulfur compounds, formaldehyde, benzene, and a slew of poly aromatic hydrocarbons with names difficult to pronounce. Diesel exhaust contains 40 chemicals that are classified as “hazardous air pollutants” under the Clean Air Act, .including many known or suspected mutagens and carcinogens1.The particles in diesel exhaust are very small. Ninety-percent of them are less than 1µm, making them easily repairable. The chemicals attach to the fine smoke particles that you breathe. The particles have hundreds of chemicals adsorbed onto their surfaces. When you breathe in diesel exhaust particles, you are also breathing in the carcinogenic chemicals compounds. Health Effects There is no known safe level of exposure to diesel exhaust. Breathing diesel exhaust can produce symptoms of allergies and inflame and irritate airways. Exposure is associated with increased mortality among those "); array_files[66]=new Array(0,1,"./ChemPoolSpas.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Chemicals In Pools and Spas","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Chemicals In Pools and Spas Chemicals In Pools and Spas Nobody would deliberately swim in a river that was polluted by a factory dumping chemical waste into it. Why is it that most people aren’t concerned about swimming in chlorinated water? Perhaps they just assume that since chlorine is in drinking water there is no harm in swimming in pools or sitting in hot tubs that have chlorine added. What they might know is that as much as 70% of the chemicals in water enter the body through the skin vs. ingestion. You absorb more chlorine sitting in a pool or hot tub than by drinking tap water. Health Effects Swimming in chlorine dries out your skin, sinuses, hair and eyes, bleaches your clothes and hair, and makes your skin smell. It can also cause cancer. Studies have also shown that chlorine: Increases the risk of bladder cancer by 21%1 Increases the risk of rectal cancer by 38% Increases the chance of stroke and heart disease Chlorine reacts with organic matter to form cancer-causing compounds called trihalomethanes (THM). Researches have found links between THM and birth defects such as spinal bifida3, miscarriage and spontaneous abortion4 Chlorine can trigger asthma and allergies. As far back as 1934, chlorinated water has been cited as a cause of asthma5. Alternative Sanitizers A lot of people have switched to using bromine instead of chlorine. Bromine is NOT a safer alternative. Bromine is in the same class of highly reactive, toxic chemicals as chlorine6. You don’t need chlorine or bromine to keep your pool or hot tub clean. Non-chlorine sanitizers include ozone and mineral treatment systems. Mineral treatment systems work by putting copper and silver ions into the water. Silver kill "); array_files[67]=new Array(0,1,"./Catallergies.htm","2007-06-28","23K","Cat Allergies","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Cat Allergies Cat Allergies While a lot of people are allergic to pet dander, quite often this is not the main hazard responsible for health complaints and allergies. Often when people complain that their “house is killing them”, they have had their pets for a years and felt good in the past. There are some studies that show that having pets in the home when a child is young actually reduces the chances of them developing allergies later in life. Pets make a contribution by bringing in dust. The fine size of the dust particles may be more the irritant and allergy trigger than the pet allergens. Allergies are a complex ailment. Research suggests that there may be multiple factors involved in the trigger of an allergy or asthma attack. Mold and tobacco smoke, for example, have been found to work in synergy to trigger allergies where the presence of mold or smoke alone did not. When Cat allergens are the culprit Studies have found cat allergen in almost every office buildings tested. They are brought into the office by workers and visitors. Allen, a physiologist, sees patients in his home office. His office is on the downstairs level of the home. Allen has allergies which get better when he is away from his home and worse when he is at home working. Allen has a dog but no cats. Several months ago a pipe broke flooding the downstairs with water. Things were dried out fairly quickly. A mold inspection did not find any indication of water damage and testing for mold indicated a clean environment. Because the mold test was negative he had his office tested for other allergens. The tests showed that the only allergen present in significant levels was cat and only on the couch where he saw patients. It wasn’t practical for him "); array_files[68]=new Array(0,1,"./Asbestos.htm","2007-06-28","18K","Asbestos","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Asbestos Asbestos Before you go tearing out moldy building materials consider that they may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been commonly used in a variety of building material for insulation and as a fire retardant. Peak usage was between 1945 and 1980. Several asbestos products were banned around 1978, but asbestos is still used in building products today. Most structures built before 1977 contain asbestos. The possibility of asbestos containing material being present in structures built as late as 1983 should be considered due to grace periods allowed for contractors to use up stockpiles. Asbestos is most commonly found in older homes in pipe and furnace insulating materials, asbestos shingles, wallboard, textured paints, “pop-corn”, “cottage-cheese” ceilings, resilient flooring, vinyl tile and textured surfaces such as joint tape, plaster and patching compounds. HEALTH EFFECTS Asbestos fibers are too small to be visible. After asbestos is inhaled it remains and accumulates in the lungs. Asbestos can cause lung caner, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal lining), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scaring that can be fatal). Symptoms of these diseases do not show up until many (20-30) years after exposure. REDUCING EXPOSURE There is little danger unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs. Do not cut, rip or sand asbestos-containing material. Leave undamaged materials alone, and to the extent possible, prevent them from being touched, damaged or disturbed. Elevated concentrations of air-borne asbestos can occur after cutting, sanding or other remolding activities that disturb asbestos containing materials. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers "); array_files[69]=new Array(0,1,"./DIYKitsNotDetectBlackMold.htm","2007-06-28","19K","Why Do-It-Your-Self Kits May Not Detect Black Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Why Do-It-Your-Self Kits May Not Detect Black Mold Why Do-It-Your-Self Kits May Not Detect Black Mold Purpose, Techniques, Why not related to air borne exposure Most of the time people who test their homes for mold using self-test kits end up confused by the results. They may think they have a mold problem when they don’t or think that their home is safe when there is in fact a mold problem. Do-It-Your self test kits use petri dishes. There are some inherent limitations testing for mold with petri dishes and additional problems if you don’t have a vacuum pump to take the samples with. The typical instructions tell you to place the petri dishes out in your home for a certain amount of time and wait for mold spores to settle onto the dish. Then you send them to a lab where they count the number of colonies that grew and identify the type of mold. Some mold spores are heavier than others and will settle out of the air faster. This will skew the results by detecting predominantly heavier spore types. Your outdoor molds such as Cladosporium are heavier than the potentially toxic Aspergillus and Penicillium types. An inherent limitation with petri dishes is that less than 2% of all the mold spores will grow. Have you ever planted a seed and not had it grow? The reason Mother Nature has mold producing millions of spores and plants producing millions of pollen spores is that only a tiny percentage of them will germinate. The ones that do grow compete on the petri dish for the limited surface area with other molds and bacteria. Penicillium was discovered by a scientist who was upset that a mold spore had contaminated the petri dish he was trying to culture bacteria on. A third limitation with petri dishes is time. Some common mold spores "); array_files[70]=new Array(0,1,"./WheretoLookMold.htm","2007-06-28","21K","Where to Look for Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Where to Look for Mold Where to Look for Mold Mold likes to keep a low profile and not be disturbed. It is usually not found growing out in the open. Half of the time mold is hiding. The other half of the time you may find it but you have to know where to look. Fortunately it is not that hard to think like mold and discover its hiding place. According to data complied by Allstate Insurance Company and the Insurance Council of Texas, the three most common sources of water damage in a home are wash machine hoses, shower tile grout and water heaters1. Look for mold in the following places: Under Kitchen & bathroom sinks Around hot water heaters Behind wash machines and dishwashers Behind the toilet near the water shut off valve Under carpeting that has become wet and around bathroom showers and toilets Behind and under boxes and personal contents stored in closets Crawlspaces and attics Air conditioning drain pans The Air Conditioning System Mold, bacteria and other organisms can grow inside the air conditioning system and ductwork for a variety of reasons. A common one is the condensate pan is not draining properly. This may be because it’s not sloped down, is clogged or was never installed. When water accumulates in the pan, standing water can be lapped onto the air filters and lining inside the unit by the blower. This results in mold growth. Air filters coated with anti-microbials are not the answer. They will grow mold if they get wet. Identify why the pan is not draining properly and correct it. Inspect the air-conditioning system, drain pan and duct work at least once per year in the summer when it’s is running at maximum with the most potential for problems to occur and to be noticed. Attics and Crawlspaces "); array_files[71]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatPrevent MoldGrowth2.htm","2007-06-28","16K","What Wont Prevent Mold Growth - UV Light","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string What Wont Prevent Mold Growth - UV Light What Wont Prevent Mold Growth - UV Light Ultra-Violet (UV) Light Some companies sell ultra-violet lights to put in your furnace to prevent mold in your home. This is a waste of money. There is some evidence to suggest that light, even UV-light, may enhance mold growth1. Most mold spores are relatively unaffected by UV2. Ultra-Violet light units have a dosage of approximately 10,000 uw-sec/sqcm. It requires as much as ten times that energy to “kill” species of mold such as Aspergillius mold3. Even then, the resulting non-fertile spores are still floating around in the air and allergenic. Ultra-violet light does nothing to neutralize the allergens and toxins on the cell walls of mold spores. UV light is effective in killing bacteria and viruses. When you see claims of UV light systems being effective, they are usually referring to how well they kill bacteria. There is not, however, sufficient evidence to show that bacteria are allergenic. Bacteria are present everywhere. They are part of the body’s natural micoflora. Pathogenic bacteria are not normally present in residential living spaces. Gram-negative bacteria, bacteria that can make you sick, may be present only when there is a source of water that causes mold growth. Bacteria may grow in water reservoirs such as humidifiers and steam generators with cellulose pads, in the air-conditioning pans if they get clogged up, and in general, where there is standing water. If gram-negative bacteria are present, UV-light is not the answer. You must find and correct the source of water and mold, otherwise you will continue be exposed to toxins from bacteria called endotoxins. It’s not enough to just kill these bacteria because it’s not a disease that is causing the illnes "); array_files[72]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatMoldLikeEat.htm","2007-06-28","13K","What Mold like to Eat for Food","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string What Mold like to Eat for Food What Mold like to Eat for Food Mold prefers cellulose for food, typically paper and wood products. It can also grow on just about anywhere there are organic materials. Inside your home this includes lumber, carpet, wallpaper, vinyl, drywall, and paint. Stachybotrys, the so-called toxic, black mold, prefers the paper backing found on gypsum and drywall board. Mold does not grow directly on materials such as fiberglass insulation and concrete block. However, a thin bio-film of mold growth may grow on the dust on these surfaces when there is enough moisture present. Since just about everything gets dusty, just about anything can grow a film of mold growth if it gets wet and stays damp long enough. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[73]=new Array(0,1,"./StachybotrysBlackMold.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Stachybotrys A.K.A. Toxic, black mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Stachybotrys A.K.A. Toxic, black mold Stachybotrys Mold Often when mold is discovered indoors the first questions people ask are “what kind of mold is it?” and “Is it toxic?” Their thinking is that there are only a few species of mold that are toxic, if you have one your are in big trouble and if you don’t there’s nothing to worry about. People are referring to Stachybotrys when they say “toxic, black mold”. Stachybotrys is commonly found in mold infested buildings. It is not the only toxic mold. Experts have estimated that there are about 70,000-200,000 different species of mold, all of them allergenic and capable of producing toxins. Quick Fact: Technically Stachybotrys does not refer to a species of mold. In the classification system used to identify mold, species is a sub-class of genus. For example, Stachybotrys chatarum (S. chartarum) is a species of mold. Stachybotrys is a genus of mold. So the next time someone tells you they have Stachybotrys mold in their home ask them which species of Stachybotrys. Not that is matters - all molds should be cleaned up the same way. Stachybotrys A.K.A. “Toxic, black mold” Stachybotrys (Stacky-bot-trys) is the infamous toxic, black mold. Ironically, like all molds, Stachybotrys, may be several different colors depending on the species and its growth cycle. Fortunately, it’s still easy to identify. It is typically black. It loves the paper backing of drywall and is commonly found growing on it when there is mold associated with water damage. It is of concern because it may produce toxins that cause cancer and has been associated with respiratory problems. Stachybotrys does not grow well in petri dishes. Professional testing equipment is recommended to test for Stachybotrys in air. When it is seen growing on a wal "); array_files[74]=new Array(0,1,"./SampleMoldRemovalProtocol.htm","2007-06-28","147K","Sample Mold Removal Protocol","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Sample Mold Removal Protocol Sample Mold Removal Protocol Microbial Abatement Protocol - Guidelines for Mold Remediation © 2002 by Healthy Living Spaces LLC Notice: The procedures in this document are intended for professionals with training in mold remediation and are not intended as instructions for homeowners or the general public to facilitate the execution of the steps herein. No warranty or guarantee is expressed or implied in this plan. Clearance (that is, a satisfactory mold testing result after remediation) is not guaranteed. It is outside the scope of this document to plan for all the potential variables that may be encountered during remediation work. ©2002 by Healthy Living Spaces LLC All right reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission from Healthy Living Spaces LLC Table of Contents 1.0 Purpose and Goals 2.0 Protocol Summary 3.0 Initial Air Sampling 4.0 Contractor Bids 5.0 Preliminary Steps 5.1 Room Preparation 5.2 Contents Removal 5.3 Hazard Communication 5.4 Notices and Warnings 5.5 Containment 5.6 Negative Pressure Differential 5.7 Personal Protection 5.8 Entry & Exit Protocol 6.0 Remediation Work 6.1 Repair / Correction of Moisture Problem 6.2 Mold Remediation Actions 6.3 Disposal Protocol 6.4 HEPA Vacuuming and Cleaning of Repair Areas 6.5 Containment Clean Up 6.6 Breakdown of Containment 6.7 Use of Biocides 6.8 Use of Encapsulants 7.0 Clearance Testing 7.1 Suggestions for passing clearance testing 8.0 Secondary Remediation 8.1 HVAC Cleaning 8.2 Furnishings and Contents 9.0 Necessary Trades Required "); array_files[75]=new Array(0,1,"./RequirementsMoldGrowth.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Requirements for Mold Growth","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Requirements for Mold Growth Requirements for Mold Growth Water it and they will grow! Mold requires only two things to flourish: food and water. It doesn’t matter if you live in Florida or Phoenix; the Pacific Northwest or the southwest. It doesn’t matter if your home is built out of conventional building materials or alternative adobe or straw bale. It doesn’t matter if your home is new or old. In fact, most mold problems seem to occur in newer buildings perhaps because of faulty construction. If the building materials inside your home get wet and don’t dry out fast enough, mold will grow. Mold growth can occur after as little as 24 hours and certainly after 72 hours1. The only way to prevent mold from growing is to prevent things from getting wet. Murphy’s Law states that no matter how hard you try to prevent moisture problems they will occur. Make sure that when things get wet they have a way to dry out quickly. When people have a mold problem in their home they often worry about mold spores floating in the air from the area that is contaminated, landing somewhere else in the home and starting to grow there. Having a lot of mold spores in the air and settled dust can cause allergies and other health problems. But a mold spore isn’t just going to fall out of the air, land on something and start growing. It needs moisture. If it lands somewhere that is also wet mold will grow there too. If it land somewhere dry it will not. Mold also needs time to grow. It must be wet a minimum of 24 to 48 hours. Sources of Moisture The best way to prevent mold problems is to prevent moisture problems and to correct them immediately when you find them. Here are some common sources of moisture, causes for mold growth, and places to check for moisture problems: "); array_files[76]=new Array(0,1,"./PreventingMoldGrowth.htm","2007-06-28","16K","Preventing Mold Growth","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Preventing Mold Growth Preventing Mold Growth If you want to prevent mold growth prevent things from getting wet. It’s that simple. Mold can’t grow without water. Do not attempt to prevent mold growth by using chemicals. There is no single pesticide, anti-microbial, or fungicide that is effective at killing or preventing all types of mold. The only way to prevent mold growth is to prevent things from getting wet and to make sure things dry out quickly if they do get wet. In addition to water, it takes time to grow mold. The clock starts ticking as soon as things get wet. You have between 24-72 hours on average to dry things out before mold can take over. Top 10 Tips for Preventing Mold Growth Check for leaks around toilets and under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Repair cracks in shower and tub grout around and missing caulk behind kitchen and bathroom sinks. Check around hot water heaters and behind wash machines for leaks. Adequately ventilate attics and crawl spaces. Maintain the roof and around doors and windows to keep water out. Identify why condensation is occurring on windows and skylights and correct it. Use exhaust fans vented to the outdoors in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Prevent sprinklers from watering the side of the building. Keep indoor humidity below 50%. When remodeling install bathroom sinks without cabinets. Because Murphy’s Law states that no matter how hard you try to waterproof something it’s going to get wet, always build with a way for things to dry out if they get wet. If there is a roof leak or sudden flood, thoroughly clean and dry carpet and building materials within 48 hours or consider replacing them. If you have a flood, do not try and dry things out yourself. You may feel a sense of accomplishment "); array_files[77]=new Array(0,1,"./ReduceConcreteVaporTrans.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Reducing Concrete Slab Vapor Transmission","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Reducing Concrete Slab Vapor Transmission Reducing Concrete Slab Vapor Transmission ÓHealthy Living Spaces Vapor transmits from the ground, through the slab and into the building envelope by a difference in vapor pressure, even in the desert. Vapor pressure depends on a variety of factors including temperature and humidity. The warmer and dryer air inside a building is relative to the ground, the greater the amount of moisture will be released by the slab. High rates of moisture emission may result in mold growth under carpet and/or musty odors under flooring and in walls. Moisture emission from the slab increases the level of humidity indoors. In the winter, higher humidity levels may cause condensation on windows. Steps should be taken during construction to minimize the potential for vapor transmission from slabs. Tips for New Construction Build slab above grade. Exterior grade should be at or below level of sub grade, sloped away from wall at 5% (6 in per 10 ft). Install a vapor barrier on top of 6 to 8 inch clean, dry, coarse gravel (no fines, no p-gravel) The suggested material is polyethylene plastic. The VB should be installed under the entire slab, lapped over the foundation/footing and sealed to the foundation wall. Monolithic pours: extend VB under grade beam to act as a capillary break. Insulating materials such as polystyrene are semi-permeable. When used under a slab without a VB, they permit water to dry to the exterior if the slab becomes wet from above. Do NOT put sand under or on top of a VB. The VB will still function with holes. If sand gets wet it will stay wet for decades. Use a good quality, low water-cement ratio concrete. Increasing the amount of water greatly increases vapor permeability and decreases concrete strength. Add "); array_files[78]=new Array(0,1,"./NaturalAntimicrobials.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Natural Antimicrobials","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Natural Antimicrobials Natural Antimicrobials Just as there are naturally toxins present in food, there are natural ways to combat mold growth. Natural Antimicrobials12 include: Grape seed extract d-lionene found in essential oils o lemon, oranges, grapefruit, caraway, dill, peppermint and spearmint Caprylic acid – derived from coconuts. Safe and effective in killing yeast. Garlic Tea Tree oil Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) used as a preservative to prevent fungal growth Antioxidant vitamins A, E and Zinc Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[79]=new Array(0,1,"./MythsHowPreventMold.htm","2007-06-28","15K","Myths on How to Prevent Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Myths on How to Prevent Mold Myths on How to Prevent Mold It’s an old wise tale that light, heat, and ventilation will prevent mold growth. Preventing moisture prevents mold growth. Light, heat and ventilation aid in reducing moisture. If the moisture problem is not corrected mold will grow regardless of how much light, warmth and ventilation are present. Mold likes to be warm. Adding heat to an existing mold problem will make mold grow faster. Using a fan to dry things out when mold growth is already present will spread mold spores around. Heat accelerates mold growth. Mold likes to be warm. Notice how much longer it takes for a piece of fruit to become moldy in the refrigerator than if left out in warmer environments. Mold can survive in extreme temperatures. Spores can germinate between 32 and 120F.You don’t prevent mold growth with heat. To prevent mold growth, you need to prevent condensation and moisture. Condensation occurs when warm, humid air, contacts a cold surface, like water condensing on a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. To prevent condensation reduce indoor humidity. You can also insulate the walls so there are no cold spots and get windows that are double or triple-paned. The gap between the glass in double paned windows is typically filled with a gas that helps insulate. Many leak and after some time and fail to prevent condensation. Mold Likes Day Light Mold just doesn’t just grow in the dark. Mold grows in day light. Look at a piece of moldy fruit on the kitchen table. Mold can survive direct sunlight. Mold spores have melatin in their pigment to protect against UV (ultra-violet) sunlight. Many fungi are stimulated to produce spores when exposed to sunlight. The reason mold is not normally found growing in direc "); array_files[80]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldSniffingDogs.htm","2007-06-28","13K","Mold Sniffing Dogs","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Sniffing Dogs Mold Sniffing Dogs Mold sniffing dogs are a useful tool. Dogs are a good way to find an active mold and moisture problem. They may not be as good as finding an old problem where conditions are dry. As part of the normal metabolic process, active mold growth produces chemicals that cause musty odors. When conditions become dry, mold stops growing, goes dormant, and stops producing the chemicals that cause the odor. The odor may persist for a while but will diminish with time. There are laboratory tests available now to check for these odors similar to what dogs are doing. The advantage of the dogs is that they show you which wall the mold is hiding. The advantage of the laboratory tests is that it they are repeatable and not subjective to training and work fatigue. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[81]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldWhatYouKnowPros.htm","2007-06-28","21K","Mold - What You Should Know for Professionals","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - What You Should Know for Professionals Mold - What You Should Know for Professionals The Biggest Myth: Bleach kills mold. Bleach is not effective (read the S520 and other suggested reading). Killing mold is not the answer anyhow. Allergens and potentially toxigenic particles are not eliminated with the death of the organisms. Cleaning is required. Porous materials such as drywall and plaster typically can not be cleaned and need to be removed. Cleaning consists of vacuuming with HEPA vacuums (not shop vacs and not your garden variety home vacuum) and damp-wiping using soap and water. This is all done in a manner that captures the dust generated during these activities and prevents it from dispersing through the building. Special negative air machines and plastic sheeting hung are required to do this. RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS Moisture Meters: Professional Equipment. (800) 334-9291 www.professionalequipment.com. Recommend is the Protimeter Survey Master (about 450) Respirators, goggles, gloves and Tyvek suits: Professional Equipment. (800) 334-9291 www.professionalequipment.com Lab Safety (800) 356-0783 www.labsafety.com Air Scrubbers (Negative air machines and accessories): Abatix. (888) 222-8499 www.abatix.com. HEPA Vacuums: Nilfisk. http://nilfisk.com (610) 647 6420 Training Courses The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). (301) 231-8388. www.iaqa.org Certification The American Indoor Air Quality Association (AmIAQ). (800) 942-0832, www.iaqcouncil.org Suggested Reading – 3 key professional references Standard for Professional Mold Remediation S520. Order on-line www.IICRC.org or from the Indoor Air Quality Association, www.IAQA.ORG (301) 231-8388 "); array_files[82]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldWhatYouShouldKnow.htm","2007-06-28","20K","Mold - What You Should Know","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - What You Should Know Mold - What You Should Know Water it and it will grow! Mold growth can occur in 48 hours. If things get wet dry them out as quickly as possible. Do not use fans if there is already mold present. Look in the yellow pages under Water Damage Restoration. Your insurance may pay for this. Don’t wait for them to call you back. Time is of the essence! If you have mold, do not disturb it. The Biggest Myth: Bleach kills mold. Bleach is not effective. Killing mold is not the answer. Allergens and potentially toxigenic particles are not eliminated with the death of organisms. Cleaning is required. Porous materials such as drywall and plaster typically can not be cleaned and will need to be removed. Cleaning consists of vacuuming with HEPA vacuums (not shop vacs and not your garden variety home vacuum) and damp-wiping using plain soap and water. This is all done in a manner that captures the dust generated during these activities and prevents it from dispersing through the building. Special negative air machines and plastic sheeting are required to do this. How to Select a Mold Inspector Three Important Questions to Ask a Mold Consulting Company BEFORE Hiring. Are you certified? By what authority? An experiences professional should hold the CMC (Certified Microbial Consultant), CIEC (Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant) or equivalent certifications from the American Indoor Air Quality Council (800) 942-0832, www.iaqcouncil.org. These board-awarded certifications are the “mold inspector” certifications accredited by the Council for Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), the same prestigious body that also accredits the Certified Industrial Hygie "); array_files[83]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldRemovalPlanning.htm","2007-06-28","30K","Mold Removal (Abatement) Planning","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Removal (Abatement) Planning Mold Removal (Abatement) Planning Prior to mold abatement do mold testing: air, Wall Checks, check the HVAC, etc. Locate and fix all sources of mold-causing water intrusion. If there was a flood: careful use of A/C to dehumidify and fans (may blow mold spores). Before beginning remediation, develop a written mold remediation protocol. Assess the extent of damage. Children, the sick and elderly and those with allergies should leave while work is being done. Prior to cleaning, have ducts pressure tested and have leaks sealed. Then clean ducts and HVAC system. Before beginning remediation, establish containment. Negative pressure with air scrubbers is recommended. Inside the mold containment area, use HEPA air filters. If applicable, use high capacity dehumidifiers (if necessary due to wet materials). Wear personal protective gear: gloves, eye-goggles, N-95 respirator at a minimum. Remove mold-contaminated building materials – use contractor-style garbage bags. Materials should be striped from the structure so as not to excessively agitate them and unnecessarily spread spores. Use razors instead of jig saw on drywall. HEPA vacuum and lightly mist with water materials that are moldy to reduce aerosolizing spores. Clean out mold-afflicted area (wire brush wood, HEPA vacuum, damp-wipe). Spry with hydrogen peroxide and let dry. Re-HEPA vacuum and damp-wipe all surfaces. Air testing for mold. Leave containment in place until results back. Re-build. Supplies Required N95 respirator Polyethylene sheeting Hydrogen peroxide Disposable gloves Duct tape or red stucco tape Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap Goggles Protective clothing Spray bottle for misting water HEPA vacuum Shoe covers Contractor grade trash bag "); array_files[84]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldQuickFacts.htm","2007-06-28","12K","Mold Quick Facts","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Quick Facts Mold Quick Facts Water it and they will grow! We dont have mold problems, we have moisture problems. Mold growth may occur within 24-72 hours of dampness. Mold can grow anywhere. There are mold problems in Phoenix, Arizona in the summer. Mold is hiding 50% of the time. 50% of water damaged ceilings may have some level of mold growth5. Plumbing leaks and sudden floods are the #1 cause for mold problems. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[85]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldFoodYouEat.htm","2007-06-28","14K","Mold in the Food You Eat","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold in the Food You Eat Mold in the Food You Eat Usually when we talk about toxic mold we think about danger of a mold problem in our home. But did you know that the food you eat can be a significant source of mold toxins? Mold toxins are universally present in food. The effects range from benign and beneficial to deliberating and deadly.10 Grains, especially wheat and corn are susceptible to mold growth and mycotoxins from mold. If the grains get damp during storage they grow mold. Some organic food may actually contain more mold than their conventional counterparts since organic foods are not sprayed with fungicides. Genetically engineered corn may be more susceptible to Fusarium species of mold than organic. Aflatoxin is produced by Aspergillus mold. The FDA has set a limit for allowable levels of aflatoxin and monitors foods, especially peanuts and milk. Mycotoxins are heat stable and are not destroyed by cooking. It’s important to inspect your produce and wash it thoroughly. Buy fresh and buy local. The safest bet may be non-starchy, organic veggies such as carrots, broccoli, and garlic which have natural anti-fungal properties. Oats, rice and beans are less susceptible to mold than corn and wheat11. Canned and frozen foods may contain fewer molds than that food found in the produce section. Just as there are naturally toxins present in food, there are natural ways to combat mold growth. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 28, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[86]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldGrowAnyClimate.htm","2007-06-28","17K","Mold Can Grow in Any Climate","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Can Grow in Any Climate Mold Can Grow in Any Climate The following letter is from a client in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a “dry” climate: What started as a simple, tiny roof leak has turned into total destruction of my home. Upon contacting my insurance agent, I was notified that my Lender and Mortgage holder had not renewed the insurance policy. I then wrote a letter making a claim with the Lender. I was notified in a response letter by the CEO the bank that the insurance lapsed, by “human error”. I was assured by him that my house would be fixed and the matter resolved to my satisfaction – but that would turn out to be untrue. 18 months later – nothing has been done to mitigate the damage to my home, my personal belongings and my health. My attorney who has expertise in Insurance matters and fraud investigated and it became apparent that I had been duped by the bank, the mortgage holder, and the insurance company. By the summer time my home had extensive water damage from a simple roof leak. The water migrated within the sub roof and drifted through approximately 5,000 square feet of the house. There is no way to stop it. There is no end in sight. Mold has been growing at an alarming rate. The sub roof became the perfect Petri dish to cultivate and grow mold. There are actual “ears” of mold growing from the carpet. The house stinks. My dogs cannot come into the home except for one small bedroom at night. There are many different kinds of mold including Stachybotrys, black mold. It is in the kitchen, which is unusable, the maid’s quarters, one of the guest bedrooms and maybe other places. It is hennas looking. It is black and grows like a spider web up the walls, on the wood and ceilings. The wet mold and heat create a stench that is similar to what I e "); array_files[87]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldHealthEffects.htm","2007-06-27","30K","Mold Health Effects","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Health Effects Mold Health Effects Mold can affect people through the allergens and toxins carried on the mold spores, by allergic reactions to the enzymes secreted by mold, and by the musty odors produced by mold. There is a wide range of health symptoms of mold exposure. This makes mold poisoning difficult to diagnose. Doctors’ often think it’s in people’s head and refer them to a psychiatrists or give them drugs to treat symptoms instead of telling patients to check for a mold problem that needs to be cleaned up. Some think the danger from mold exposure is over-rated. Yet there are many people who were perfectly healthy prior to having a mold problem in their home or office. These people are not otherwise chemically sensitive. After a mold exposure they appear to react to even low levels of mold indoors. They cannot live or work in the contaminated building until the mold is removed. Some think that all the precautions that are taken when removing mold are unnecessary. Others can’t live in homes where mold was not removed properly. They become sensitive to low levels of mold that remain in the dust, dispersed through the home or office. Allergens All fungi (molds) are allergenic1. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people3. Dead mold spores may still contain allergens and toxins. Allergens and toxins are not neutralized with bleach or other chemicals. For remediation to be effective, mold spores need to be physically removed. This means using plain soap and water and elbow grease, wearing proper protective gear and following a mold remediation protocol as necessary, covered in detail in later sections of this book. Only about 10% of the population is allergic to mold2. This means that in an office buil "); array_files[88]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldCleanUpPreliminaryStep.htm","2007-06-27","15K","Mold Clean-Up: Preliminary Steps","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Clean-Up: Preliminary Steps Mold Clean-Up: Preliminary Steps Fix the Moisture Problem The first step in the process is to find and repair the source of moisture otherwise mold will grow back. Sometimes it is necessary to cut into walls to locate where a leak is coming from. This should be done after containment is in place as will be discussed shortly. In general, the use of fans when mold growth is present is discouraged. Fans will blow mold spores around. Test for Asbestos and Lead Paint Most structures built before 1977 contain asbestos. Buildings constructed as late as 1983 may contain asbestos due to grace periods. Asbestos is commonly found in pipe and furnace insulation materials, wallboard, textured paints, pop-corn and cottage-cheese ceilings, resilient flooring and vinyl tile. The EPA claims there is little danger from asbestos unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs. This happens during demolition and remodeling. Do not cut, rip or sand asbestos-containing material. If you think a material contains asbestos contact an environmental consultant to take test samples and provide recommendations for removal. You may also want to test surfaces in older buildings for lead paint. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 27, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[89]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldCleanUpDoItYourself.htm","2007-06-27","15K","Mold Clean-Up: Can You Do It Yourself?","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Clean-Up: Can You Do It Yourself? Mold Clean-Up: Can You Do It Yourself? As with any activity there is a learning curve. You usually don’t get everything right the first time around. Removing mold from your home or office may be a job better left for a professional. There are techniques to remove mold while minimizing the spreading of mold spores and protecting yourself and workers. If these techniques are not followed it is possible to spread mold to other areas of a building. This may or may not be a huge issue depending on the amount of mold present and the sensitivities of the occupants. Sometimes all the precautions involved seem to be over-kill. At other times, careless work has resulted in the occupants forever being affected by allergies due to small levels of mold spores that were distributed throughout the house. Trillions of unseen mold spores may be aerosolized during mold removal. If methods to contain the dust are not used, mold spores may settle in the dust throughout the building. Cleaning them up afterwards might be like trying to clean up saw dust if you were to take a power sander to some wood furniture in the living room without any way to contain the dust. You might want to consider cleaning up a mold yourself only if the following are true: A small amount of visible mold growth is present. Less than one square foot. The growth is on a hard surface such as wood, block or glass You know for a fact that there is not hidden mold inside wall, ceiling or floor cavities Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 27, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein "); array_files[90]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldAlternativeBuildMat.htm","2007-06-27","17K","Mold and Alternative Building Materials","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold and Alternative Building Materials Mold and Alternative Building Materials Straw Bale Straw bale homes can be very healthy places to live. Straw bale homes are no more susceptible to mold than convention homes. Mold spores are naturally inherent inside a bale of straw. If you take a core sample of a bale of straw and place it in a petri dish, mold will grow. Straw bales in a home will not grow mold unless the straw gets wet. Since all building material that gets wet except for glass and steel has the potential to grow mold, why worry about straw? It’s usually conventional homes making the news about toxic black mold, not straw bale ones. Straw bales, like adobe walls, have a plaster finish that keep mold spores from ending up in the air as demonstrated with air quality testing. The natural plaster finishes applied to these walls breathe, allowing for moisture inside to escape and for some amount of natural ventilation. In 1997 a public library was built in Portland, Oregon using straw bale. Moisture sensors were installed in the walls. After six years of testing the sensors on the exterior walls never exceeded 12%. Wood and drywall in conventional homes may typically indicate 10-12% moisture content. As with conventionally built buildings, those involved with the project noted three design features that accounted for overall low moisture content in straw bale walls9: A rubble drain around the foundation that allows water to drain and can not wick up Breathable stuccos using earth and lime A good roof Adobe Homes Contrary to belief, mold does grow on adobe. Adobe bricks are basically dirt. If dirt gets wet mold can grow and generate odors. What prevents mold from growing on adobe and affecting the indoor air quality is the "); array_files[91]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldBacteriaAirCondSys.htm","2007-06-27","16K","Mold and Bacteria in the Air-Conditioning System","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold and Bacteria in the Air-Conditioning System Mold and Bacteria in the Air-Conditioning System The second biggest problem with heating and air conditioning systems is they are not clean3. In a sense, air-conditioners are like huge de-humidifiers. Water condenses inside the air-conditioner when it is running. This is normal and not a problem if the system is maintained. There is a drain pan to collect the water and a plastic drain pipe. Slime mold and bacteria can grow in air conditioning drain pans if not maintained or draining properly. Sometimes the drain pipe gets clogged or it was installed sloping up instead of down. When that happens, standing water collects than supports microbes to grow. The air conditioning fan can suck water onto the air filters causing mold to grow on them. Buddy is a good dog. He lives in Arizona where it can be 115 degrees in the summer. Like most dogs outside on a hot summer day he likes to dig himself a hole to lie in. One day Buddy dug a hole next to the house unknowingly covering the plastic drain pipe from the air-conditioning unit. His owner soon became sick and had to live in a tent outside, not knowing what was causing the problem. Endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria that was proliferating in the standing water of the air conditioning pan were being supplied into the air in the home. Fortunately the local allergy store put her in contact with an environmental consultant. An investigation led to digging up the drain pipe outside and she was able to move back indoors. If you have air-conditioning system make sure the water is draining properly. There should not be any standing water. If there is a sump pump make sure it’s working properly. Inspect the air conditioning system in the summer at the peak of the "); array_files[92]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldAnatomy101.htm","2007-06-27","17K","Mold Anatomy 101","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold Anatomy 101 Mold Anatomy 101 Mold, mildew and fungus all refer to the same thing - mold. Mushrooms and yeast are also mold. Since mold does not have chlorophyll or use photosynthesis to make food, mold is not considered a plant. Mold does not have a stomach to digest food so it is not considered an animal. Since molds don’t have stomachs they secret chemical enzymes onto building materials to digest them – the building materials and personal belonging that get wet in a home or office. The enzymes are responsible for the dark staining that accompanies mold growth. Molds spores average about 1/10,000 of an inch. A single mold spore floating around in the air is invisible. For comparison, pollen is about five times larger and bacteria ten times smaller. A virus is as about one hundred times smaller than a mold spore.6 Molds consist of a mass of filament-like branches called hyphae or mycelium, and mold spores. The hyphae are similar to branches on a tree. Mold spores are like acorns or seeds. Mold reproduces by spores but mold growth can spread if a piece of hyphae is transplanted to an area with adequate moisture and food. Only the spores have pigment and color. The mold mass hyphae are colorless. Thus, until spores are produced, mold is not visible to the naked eye. Contrary to common belief, the same species of mold can be several different colors including black, green, and brown, white or purple. Black mold may actually be white during the beginning of its growth cycle. Shower Mildew The black mildew on bathroom shower caulking may be toxic Stachybotrys. However typically there are not mold spores on bathroom caulking. The black coloration on shower caulking is not a health threat. Simply replace it. Mildew in the bathroom d "); array_files[93]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldWhatNottoDo.htm","2007-06-27","22K","Mold - What Not to Do","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - What Not to Do Mold - What Not to Do Do not disturb mold. Mold spores aerosolize easily. Dry ones are dispersed more easily than wet ones. Do not disturb mold until you have a plan for cleaning it up and containment in place. If you are unsure what to do, call a professional. Look in the yellow pages under Environmental or Mold Inspection and Removal. Do not use Bleach Contrary to popular belief, bleach does not kill mold2. Chlorine bleach is not registered with the EPA as a disinfectant to kill mold. A mold spore is like a seed. Have you ever planted a seed that didn’t grow? Was the seed alive or dead? Dead mold spores are still allergenic and potentially toxic3. The allergenic and potentially toxic nature of the cell wall of mold spores is not neutralized by chemicals. While bleach may kill some spores on contact, the majority of organisms are left unaffected and those that have been made non-fertile are still capable of eliciting an allergic response. To reduce potential health affects, mold must be removed. This is accomplished by cleaning. Use soap and water. Applying bleach or other biocides to mold may actually induce the mold to produce toxins as part of its last fight to survive or induce sporulation where the “dying” mold ejects spores into the air, similar to a tree that produces fruit during a drought. Do not use Ozone Studies have shown that ozone can not be generated in sufficient concentrations to kill or even suppress microbials on most structural surfaces. Ozone is an oxidizer and a respiratory irritant and has been found to cause lung scarring in lab rats. The EPA states that ozone, when inhaled, can damage the lungs and that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone h "); array_files[94]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldInterimRelief.htm","2007-06-27","13K","Mold - Interim Relief","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - Interim Relief Mold - Interim Relief If it’s going to be a while before you can clean up the mold here are some things you can do to contain the mold and protect your health: Do not run the air conditioner or forced-air heater. It may spread mold from areas of contamination to areas where there is none. If it is a small area, carefully cover the visible mold with plastic. Cut up a trash bag and secure it over the mold with duck-tape being very careful to not disturb the mold. Use a HEPA room air purifier. Filter air cleaners, even 90% efficient filters, have shown promise as a supplemental control measure.1. Ozone air purifiers and filter-less type air purifiers do not help. These are discussed in detail in other chapters. Don’t bother with these. You must use a HEPA type air purifier. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 27, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); array_files[95]=new Array(0,1,"./MoldContentsCleaning.htm","2007-06-27","17K","Mold - Contents Cleaning","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Mold - Contents Cleaning Mold - Contents Cleaning Don’t throw all your stuff away just because it was stored inside a building with mold. If your belonging did have mold growing on them but were simply in close proximity to mold, they may be effectively cleaned by HEPA vacuuming or laundering. Clean hard, non-porous contents such as wood furniture by HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping using plain soap and water. If mold grew on wood furniture it can be sanded off. Take the furniture outside to do this. Wear a respirator. Table 2: Cleaning Contents6 Condition Settled spores in the dust No active growth Active mold growth Visible mold growth Cleaning recommended HEPA vacuum, damp-wipe, hot water extraction, or dry clean Consider disposal of porous items unless of high value or irreplaceable Carpet and padding that has visible mold growth should be discarded. Carpet that only contains mold spores from settled dust may be cleaned. Carpet cleaning should be done professionally using a truck-mounted system that sucks out the water and enables the carpet to dry fast to prevent further mold. Consider throwing away porous personal belongings such as clothing, carpet and upholstered furniture that are contaminated with visible mold growth. It can be difficult to effectively remove active mold growth by cleaning. An odor may remain even after the spores are physically removed. When laundering clothing or bedding contaminated with visible mold growth, consider dry-cleaning or cleaning in hot water. An alternative to bleach is borax. Let cloths sit in wash machine with borax for 2 hours. Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 27, "); array_files[96]=new Array(0,1,"./MoistureMeters.htm","2007-06-27","16K","Moisture Meters","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Moisture Meters Moisture Meters Find the moisture and you may find the mold problem. The EPA estimates that 30% to 50% of all homes and public buildings have damp conditions that encourage mold growth2. Often surfaces may look dry but are actually damp. It’s important to identify damp areas as soon as possible – before mold growth can occur or before it becomes worse. It is useful to have a moisture meter to do this. Going around the house on a rainy day, checking around doors and windows, exterior walls and the ceilings may surprise you. You can find problems where you would never have guessed. It can also be discoursing. Just when you thought you had enough to do on a Saturday afternoon you may find out your roof is leaking or you need new windows. Moisture meters come in various models averaging 300. Units with both search and measure modes are useful. The measure mode units have pins that are stuck into materials like drywall, plaster and wood. The search mode uses radio frequencies similar to a stud finder which is useful to check behind hard surfaces such as tile, concrete and floor coverings that the pins can’t be stuck into. In search mode the instrument may give false high readings when it encounters metal such as nails or lath in plaster. Take relative readings. For example, compare the readings of exterior walls with interior walls. Take reading of floor tile or bathroom shower tile in an area of concern and compare them to other areas that are not suspected of being damp. Any increase in relative readings is cause for concern and further investigation. The normal moisture content for dry wood is below 15-17%; for plaster and drywall below 10%. When you go looking for mold, things may have been dry for quite a while. If the moisture meter ind "); array_files[97]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatLooksLikeMold_files/_vti_cnf/filelist.xml","2007-06-27","0K","./WhatLooksLikeMold_files/_vti_cnf/filelist.xml","","","vti_encoding:SR|utf8-nl vti_timelastmodified:TR|28 Jun 2007 03:46:42 -0000 vti_extenderversion:SR|6.0.2.6551 vti_thicketsupportingfile:BW|true vti_backlinkinfo:VX|Articles/WhatLooksLikeMold.htm "); array_files[98]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatLooksLikeMold_files/filelist.xml","2007-06-27","0K","./WhatLooksLikeMold_files/filelist.xml","",""," "); array_files[99]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatLooksLikeMold.htm","2007-06-27","21K","What Looks like Mold but is NOT Mold","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string What Looks like Mold but is NOT Mold What Looks like Mold but is NOT Mold While it is impossible to be certain that something is or is not mold without using a microscope, there are some common situations where with high probability what you are looking at is not mold. Efflorescence Often the concrete block or brick in crawlspaces and basements have a white, brown, sometimes orange, powdery, crystal-like substance that is mistaken for mold growth. Known as efflorescence, it occurs as water containing salt evaporates from the surface. It may only be an aesthetic concern. It may also indicate a water or moisture intrusion problem which could lead to mold growth and structural damage. mso:lock v:ext=edit aspectratio=t/ "); array_files[100]=new Array(0,1,"./HomesProneMoldGrowth.htm","2007-06-27","14K","Types of Homes Prone to Mold Growth","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Types of Homes Prone to Mold Growth Types of Homes Prone to Mold Growth Every building in existence is susceptible to mold growth. Its molds job to bio-degrade stuff. Un-maintained or faulty constructed buildings can become big compost piles growing mold if building materials get wet and don’t dry out. A big factor influencing mold growth is ventilation and construction techniques that provide a way for things to dry out when they get wet. Many buildings built today are constructed air-tight. While this may reduce heating and cooling costs it increases the chances that mold growth will occur. It’s Murphy’s Law that no matter how carefully you build, water will find its way in and things will get wet. Therefore you want to build in a way that allows the walls to dry out if they get wet from exterior moisture. The mechanics for this are different depending on the type of construction and geographic location. To think of how to build to allow for drying, look at a drawing of the exterior wall construction. Now think like you are a water molecule that has somehow ended up inside the wall cavity. How will you get out? Building a home perfectly does not ensure you will never have a mold problem. Many wonder why there are mold problems in the desert. The answer is that nearly every modern home has indoor plumbing. Your home has an abundant availability of water. No house is sterile. Add water and you get mold growth. Plumbing leaks are responsible for a large percentage of mold problems. Mold can also grow from water splashing in bathrooms and kitchens that finds its way into interior walls through cracks in tile grout and missing caulk. To prevent mold growth, simply maintain your home. Check for leaks and slow drips. Maintain grout and caulking in bathrooms and kitchen "); array_files[101]=new Array(0,1,"./SuggestionsPassingTesting.htm","2007-06-27","21K","Suggestions for Passing Post Abatement Verication Testing","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Suggestions for Passing Post Abatement Verication Testing Suggestions for Passing Post Abatement Verification Testing ©2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC Most of the following is referenced from the IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. Read it. It is very important to have negative air established in containment. This is not simply to prevent cross contamination but to capture dust generated during demolition. Where as there may only be a few Stachybotrys mold spores in the air prior to remediation, thousands of spores are aerosolized by simply removing a square inch of moldy sheet rock from a stud. An air scrubber in scrubber mode is not effective. There should be pressure drop of 0.02 inches of water in the containment with reference to outside the containment, and a minimum of four air exchanges per hour inside the containment (IICRC section 10.3.1). The number of air scrubbers required to do this should be calculated using the square footage and volume of the containment area, and expecting for some reduction in air flow as filters become loaded. The supervisor should check the integrity of the containment and measure and document the pressure differential. Draw make-up air from a clean source. The pre-filters of air scrubbers and negative air machines should be monitored for pressure drops from construction dust and replaced as necessary. Air scrubbers being used as negative air machines that are not exhausted to the outdoors should be checked with a laser particle counter. The exhaust should read nearly zero particles. Place tacky mats near entry to the containment area. Materials should be striped from the structure so as not to excessively agitate them and unnecessarily spread spores and dust (IICRC 10.8 Removal of Con "); array_files[102]=new Array(0,1,"./WhatLookForProfMoldInsp.htm","2007-06-27","20K","What to Look for in Professional Mold Inspector","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string What to Look for in Professional Mold Inspector What to Look For in Professional Mold Inspector There are only a few states with licensing requirements for mold inspectors. This is not a bad thing. Have you ever had a bad hair-cut from a licensed cosmetologist? Ever had problems with your home made by a licensed contractor? Just having a license does not make one competent. You can become an EPA certified asbestos building inspector and inspect for asbestos in public schools by taking a week long class and passing a written exam you are guaranteed to pass if you can read English. No experience is required. There is independent certification body that requires a minimum number of years experience and demonstrated competency for mold inspectors: the American Indoor Air Quality Council, www.iaqcouncil.org/Consumers/consumers.htm. The applicant must submit project sheets spanning years of experience to a board that votes to award certification. The applicant must pass an exam. The instructor is not allowed to view which is administered by an independent organization. The consultant certification is accredited by the Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) as an Engineering Related Program. Require the professional you hire to be certified by an organization such as this. Ask how long someone has been doing inspections and ask for a sample report so you can see how they will interpret results. Some inspectors merely attach a cover letter to the laboratory results and may not be able to help you interpret the lab results or make recommendations for getting rid of the mold. Make sure who you hire can consult with you to solve any mold problems that are identified as a result of testing. Training Courses The Indoor Air Quality Associatio "); array_files[103]=new Array(0,1,"./CuttingHolesinWalls.htm","2007-06-27","13K","Cutting Holes in Walls","",""," mso:CustomDocumentProperties mso:Categories msdt:dt=stringBusinessmso:Approval_x0020_Level msdt:dt=stringmso:Assigned_x0020_To msdt:dt=string Cutting Holes in Walls Cutting Holes in Walls Mold can be hidden in the walls. You can test the air for mold and not find any. That doesn’t mean there’s no mold. How do you know if mold is in the walls and if so which walls? It’s risky to cut holes in walls to look for mold. Besides making a mess, cutting holes allows mold spores to get from inside walls into the air of the living space. Cutting holes is also misleading. You may not see mold where you drilled the hole but it might be six inches or several feet to the side of the hole drilled. A better way to assess for the presence of hidden mold is with the Wall-check™. This is a way of taking an air sample of the wall cavity by drilling a small hole and inserting a tube into the wall that connects to the sampling pump Back to Top Copyright 2007 Healthy Living Spaces LLC. All rights reserved. 877-992-9904Revised: June 27, 2007.Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. "); file_count=104;