Guest guest Posted July 28, 2007 Report Share Posted July 28, 2007 Hi everyone, remember this post from a few days ago? I wrote to the writer to thank her for doing the story and she responded, (see below). Write to her, may be she will do a follow up story as she learns more. Sue Sue, Thank you for your email! I'm sorry to hear mold has had such a negative impact on your life-- but I agree it's important for people to be aware of the harm that can be done. What surprised me was that in many cases-- people aren't pinning down the cause of their symptoms until it's too late and they're ill. Thanks also for the info! Sincerely, Eddington Reporter, WSIL-TV 3 _eeddington@..._ (mailto:eeddington@...) Preventing Summertime Mold WSIL TV - ville,WSI _http://www.wsiltv.http://www.http://www.whttp://www. & <WBR>typ_ (http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=2792 & type=top) CARBONDALE -- With the summer season upon us, some local cleaning companies are urging residents to be aware of a fungus that could be taking over your home. While mold has it's share of benefits for the environment, it could be harming your house, and your health. The Centers for Disease Control say mold grows both indoors and outdoors. It thrives in moist and humid environments, can be different colors, and may have a musty smell. With over one-thousand different types of mold, Mueller with Majestic Janitorial Supply says chances are, there's some in your home. " Mold grows at 50% humidity or above so if you can maintain a 50% or below humidity, you can control mold, " says Mueller. But that can be easier said than done since humidity and moisture are everywhere. " Something as simple as cooking, washing dishes, shower of course-- steam we get in our bathrooms. " So Mueller says it's important to keep those areas ventilated. " If you have a wet surface more than 24 hours, it has the potential to grow. If it's been wet 48 hours, you're guaranteed that mold is growing. " All it needs is moisture and a food source such as cellulose from wood. Mueller uses an infrared camera to detect heat and moisture. And once he's located mold, he says it has to be completely removed. " It has to be physically scrubbed from the surface-- treated-- scrubbed-- treated again-- and dry the surface out, " says Mueller. You've also got to figure out what caused the excess moisture to begin with, otherwise the mold may redevelop. Mueller says signals sent by might be the biggest clue for finding mold. " Probably the most common thing we hear is that people say, 'after I leave the house, after about an hour or so I feel fine', " says Mueller. Mueller says that shows that people may have developed an allergy, stemming from their home environment. " It affects everyone differently. What might give you a headache might cause me to itch or cough or sneeze. " In the long run, Mueller says mold may produce potentially toxic substances. " If you're exposed to it over a period of time, it's going to affect the healthiest person, " Mueller says. Mueller says the bottom line for controlling mold growth is controlling moisture, and though there's not a miracle cure, there are some things you can do. He recommends sealing off your crawl space to prevent condensation. Also if you're remodeling, look for a preventative chemical to apply. And don't try removing mold with bleach. Mueller says it won't penetrate the surface. Mueller says If you've got a large area to deal with, seek help from a professional to safely remove it. Visit the links below for additional information. By: Eddington _eeddington@..._ (mailto:eeddington@...) ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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