Mold in campus dorms

S

Sending your child to college should be a joyous time, unfortunately you have to be mindful of mold in college dorms! Mold can happen anywhere but it happens sometimes in dorms, buildings, potted plants, the outdoors...etc... educate your children about mold and the health consequences that can come about from a moldy ac unit or a leak in a wall or ceiling. Encourage them to call maintenance if they suspect a problem. They may even have to call more than once ;) Hope they have a lot of success.

Holmes on Homes and Mold in homes

I just love watching Holmes on Homes, he is super smart about mold and the presence in homes, it is amazing what this guy can do, all builders whether residential or commercial could learn a thing or two from this guy!  He can fix almost anything.  I wish more builders were like he is, he aims to build thing right the first time.  He is based out of Canada but we could sure use him all over the world!

https://www.diynetwork.com/shows/holmes-and-holmes/episodes/100

Mold in newer buildings!

I am alarmed at the amount of time it takes for water leaks to develop in new buildings! It really doesn't take long at all!  And where there are water leaks, mold is sure to follow!

I get excited when I see a new building, a shopping area, or restaurant, or entertainment spot for my kids.  I am so happy that maybe I can shop there without having a reaction, but then I am very quickly disappointed.  I am already seeing leaks in buildings just a few years old.  Often times it is the hvac system that is causing the leak, either through condensation or pipe leaks.  Then there is also the buildup of dust in the ventilation system that nobody seems to care about or correct. This causes the air handler to work harder and often times leak as well.

It is amazing to me that we can spend millions of dollars building buildings and just one or two years later they start leaking.  Engineers can solve this problem, but we have to have the right ones to solve it. Not too many people are interested in mold illness since it doesn't affect everyone.  I hope more people get into engineering hvac systems for buildings that are moisture controlled with dehumidifiers in place.   

Hurricanes can bring mold aftermath

THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, residents of the Carolinas are facing a new health threat: mold.

Mold-related illnesses are a serious concern following severe flooding in North and South Carolina, say experts from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

"Where there's dampness and water, there's mold," said Paula Schenck, of the division of occupational and environmental medicine.

"Mold is an indicator of a whole soup of biological material. Unhealthy exposure to these bioaerosols is very possible after a flood from a hurricane and especially during cleanup efforts 24 to 48 hours after the storm," she said in a university news release.

Exposure to mold primarily affects the lungs and the skin, Schenck said. How you react to mold depends on the severity of your exposure. Some people may be more susceptible to mold-related illnesses than others, including children and those with a weakened immune system, asthma or another chronic illness.

Warning signs of mold-related health issues include:

Nasal congestion and sneezing.

Hoarse voice and throat irritation.

Cough, wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness.

Flareup of asthma symptoms.

Respiratory symptoms.

Extreme tiredness.

These symptoms may not develop right away, Schenck noted. She advised doctors to be extra vigilant about educating their patients about mold risk following a storm or natural disaster.

During a post-storm cleanup, the UConn experts advised the following:

Assume any areas exposed to water or flooding for more than 24 hours have mold even if it's not apparent.

While cleaning mold, use an "N95" respirator that has bands to hold the mask close to the face. Dust and surgical masks will not protect against mold and mold spores. People at high risk for mold-related illnesses should not attempt to personally clean up following a flood. If water damage covers more than 100-square-feet, seek professional help with the cleanup.

Wear protective clothing. Cover the skin on the arms, hands, legs and feet while cleaning mold. Use long rubber gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm.

Wear unvented goggles during mold cleanup to protect the eyes.

Clean hard surfaces with soapy water. Avoid using bleach or other "fungicides" unless there is contamination from other flooded materials such as sewage. These harsh chemicals aren't more effective than soapy water and could cause or worsen lung irritation.

Don't attempt to clean soft materials and porous surfaces like fabrics and wall board. Throw away these items.

More information

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers more on hurricane safety and preparedness.

SOURCE: University of Connecticut, news release, Sept. 14, 2018

https://www.pollen.com/allergy/news/737805

https://www.pollen.com/allergy/news/737805

28 Signs you Grew up with an Autoimmune disease article

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/voices/28-signs-you-grew-up-with-an-autoimmune-disease/ar-BBIVsgR?ocid=spartanntp

Here is an article I ran across on MSN.  It is so validating.  When I had strep for 2.5 months and took 4 antibiotics and couldn't get well I know now is because I have issues with my immune system.  Add to that fact that I had been working in moldy buildings.   If you are allergic to mold you could have autoimmune issues as well.  I have the best doctor.  We ran over $2000 worth of blood work to find some things out, but it was worth it.  Checking your genetics, HLA genes, IGG levels IGE levels and IGM levels are part of the puzzle. Then allergy testing.  Allergy test can help you know the things to avoid to trigger asthma attacks, and life threatening allergic reactions to things like peanuts, wheat, milk, eggs, shellfish etc.    Just knowing helps you understand why you feel so crummy all the time.  Mold Illness isn't fun and autoimmune disorders aren't either but you have to keep on going. Keep on keeping on and managing.  I thought this was a great article.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/voices/28-signs-you-grew-up-with-an-autoimmune-disease/ar-BBIVsgR?ocid=spartanntp

Mold in stores, restaurants, buildings.

Have you ever walked into a building and looked at the ceiling.  I do every time.  I can't tell you the amount of ceilings with water damage from HVAC systems and condensation in the stores I have been to.  Look up, if you see water damage on the ceiling tell the store manager.  I have been do Dollar Stores, and discount stores to find that they do not take care of their stores, they must not care about their people even enough to change out the moldy ceiling tiles. Its disgusting.  If you go to a restaurant and the ceiling is black, RUN!  That means they could be hiding the black mold when they have water leaks on their ceilings, after all its all about the bottom line and nobody owning a business wants any extra expenses.   A little maintenance and a lot of problems could be avoided, for example, changing air filters regularly, cleaning the HVAC coils regularly.  Checking for water leaks regularly, and not just painting over the problem.  I have seen that done so many times.  Be aware, be smart and do some research.  Nothing is perfect, but if you can avoid mold exposure do it whenever you can.

Mold in our schools

Mold can be anywhere. It can be in the hvac system, it can be between the walls, in the attic, on the ceilings, in the crawl space, anywhere there has been a water leak, it can be in the air, etc. It can be visible and it can be invisible, but if you have a good nose, it will tell you that it is there.  Mold can be very dangerous.  I encourage anyone that sees or smells mold in their children's schools to contact the school board, do mold testing, tell the principal, tell the county and the state health department.  Call the environmental people.  Do not let up.  The sickness that goes around in our schools could partially due to mold.  True, many viruses just go around.  But mold, if it is there will cause problems all the time.

The exposure builds over time, and one day your body just can't handle all of the toxins it is exposed to.  Hives, allergic reactions, stomach problems, headaches, sensitivities to foods, and the like will occur.  Try to avoid mold at all costs and if you see it or smell it tell someone, tell everyone, raise heck about it if you have to.  Just don't be silent.  It could be costing your children's and teachers and staff's health.  Its a shame it is so prevalent in our schools and nobody says anything!  Be an advocate today!  It will help our teachers it will help our students it will help the administration in the schools.