What Is Indoor Air Quality?“Through the years, man has built increasingly elaborate boxes to protecthimself from the elements. Designed to keep out the rain and snow, warmhim in the winter and cool him in the summer, he now lives and worksinside these boxes up to 90 percent of the time. Rather than holdenvironmental hazards at bay, however, he has trapped himself in achemical stew of contaminants that might make him sick, or even kill him.Buildings don’t always protect their occupants from pollution. Just theopposite, the molds, fungi, dust and toxic gases on the inside may wellexceed those outdoors. By shielding ourselves from the outsideenvironment, we have created an inside environment with a whole new setof problems.”

A healthy indoor environment for a home is one in which the occupants ofthe home feel a sense of health and well being attributable to the air thatthey breath while in the home. The qualities of good indoor air include:

1. Introduction of fresh air and distribution of adequate ventilation air.2. Control of indoor contaminants such as Mold Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).3. Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity in an acceptable manner for occupants. Polluted indoor air can cause problems and have serious consequences such as:

A. Repetitious health problems such as coughs, eye irritation, head-aches, and allergic reactions.

B. Unacceptable lethargy and feelings of malaise due to discomfort, stress and increased absenteeism.

C. Accelerated deterioration of furnishings and equipment.

About This Report

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This report was prepared by CALTEX. The purpose of the report is to provide the reader with information that would be of value to them in their desire for understanding of mold and its affect on homes and their occupants.

SUMMARY

Toxic mold is labeled as being the asbestos and lead -paint issue of the21st century – and for good reason. The health effects of exposure toconcentrations of the mycotoxins produced from some molds are justbeginning to be documented , and the results are startling.Toxic mold exposure has been linked to many dangerous health issues,including:

Allergies Asthma Memory Loss Bleeding Lung Disease And Death, among others

This report has been prepared and is delivered to you by CALTEXto be a primer for you as you begin to investigate toxic mold, and make decisions about this issue and how it relates to your business and We hope you find the information contained in these pages helpful.

TOXIC MOLD

Historical Perspective

In biblical times, the awareness of people on this matter appears to havebeen superior to today.

Leviticus, Chapter 14: 39 – 47

On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. Ifthe mildew has spread on the walls, he is to order that thecontaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean placeoutside the town. If the mildew reappears in the house after thestones have been torn out and the house is scraped and plastered,it is a destructive mildew and the house is unclean. It must be torn

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down - its stones, timbers and all the plaster - and taken out oftown.

Leviticus 14:45

A house desecrated by mildew, mold, or fungus would be a defiledplace to live in, so drastic measures had to be taken.

Leviticus 13:47-50

If any clothing is contaminated with mildew ---any woolen or linenclothing, any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leatheror anything made of leather ---if the contamination in the clothing orleather, or woven or knitted material, or any leather article, isgreenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew and must be shown tothe priest. The priest is to examine the mildew and isolate theaffected article for seven days…

Leviticus 11:47

You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean…The Learning Channel recently aired a program on the Ten Plagues (4/98)that discussed the theory that the plagues weren't ten separate events, butone long series of connected events.

The first thing the scholars determined was the time frame. They agreedon 1260 BC, about a thousand years after the pyramids were built.Supposedly around that time, the Egyptian life centered around Memphis,just south of present-day Cairo, and the Israelites were living 50 -80 milesnortheast of there.

The first plague turned the waters to blood, the fish died and the riverstank. The show's contention is that this constituted a local outbreak ofpfiesteria. This is the organism that killed many fish off the coast of NorthCarolina recently. The phenomena produces sores on the fish that leakblood and this, with the red pigment that occurs with some strains of theorganism, would account for the first plague.Once the fish had died and polluted the water, the next plague --frogs--appeared. Seeing all the fish were dead, there was nothing feeding on thespawn and huge groups of frogs would hatch and look to leave the

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stinking river. Toads of the specific genus Bufo are supposedly verycommon throughout the world and they have large clutches of eggs, sothat the numbers can go up drastically within a short period of time if theconditions are right. Why the frogs died, however, was not discussed.Nevertheless, with all the frogs dead, the insect population would explode.

The next plague was of lice. The explanation for this plague was put off asexactly which insect was meant by the word "lice" was difficult to pindown. Seeing the classification of insects didn't come about until 1,000years later, the experts believed that there were too many unansweredquestions to make a definite choice.

They moved on to plague #4, the swarm of flies. They whittled the fielddown to 5 possibilities with just one fitting all the criteria --the stable fly.These types of flies bite and they lay up to 500 eggs at a time.

Next came the murrain on animals, an epidemic of sickness amonglivestock. Anthrax was discounted because no humans were infected.Hoof and mouth disease also was shot down because the tell -tale signs were not mentioned in the Bible narrative. To get this info they went to aUSDA agency located on Plum Island off of the coast of CT where theywere doing animal research for the Department of Agriculture. The expertthere stated he thought this plague was caused by two different diseases --African horse sickness which strikes quickly and affects horses, mules andasses, and blue tongue, which is another closely related virus of the samefamily, which would attack the cattle, sheep and goats.

Once they had decided on what the murrain was, they discovered thatthose two viruses were transmitted by Culicoides, the midge or no-see-umand this gave them the missing plague of the lice. Elusive plague numberthree was identified as the midge which would attack humans and animals, but would also transmit a disease to the animals, but not to man.

On to plague #6, boils, blains or ulcers. They were looking for somethingthat would affect both man and humans and found it in an obscurebacterial infection called "glanders" that could possibly be transmitted bythe stable fly. Apparently this disease was described by ancient Greek andRoman historians and was even used as a biological warfare agent inWWI. This disease affects horses, camels, oxen, sheep, pigs and humansand causes lymph nodes to expand and oftentimes leads to death.

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The Egyptians would have been having a very hard time of it by now (withthe Israelites being spared these local occurrences because they weresituated too far away to have been affected). The food supply wasdwindling as the fish were dead, the cattle were dying and the Egyptian'slast hope was about to be wiped out by the next plague --the hail. This isnot uncommon in the area, but for the Egyptians it was very untimely.The eighth plague, locusts, would finish off whatever the hail had nottotally destroyed. And to add to their woes, the ninth plague, three days ofdarkness which the experts believe to have been a sandstorm, hits thearea. The land is now covered with a layer of sand.

What crops the Egyptians had been able to harvest would have beenhastily stored away in small pits under the desert sand, then thesandstorm would have created a "blanket" that bakes the stored crops andincreases rotting. This rotting would have produced mold which in certainconditions can produce mycotoxins. Stachybotrys atra, a mycotoxinreleased by black mold in damp areas has been implicated in the deathsof many children recently in Cleveland. Many homes of the infectedchildren showed evidence of this mold in the basement caused by waterdamage. If this toxin had been present in the grain that was left after theother nine plagues, it could account for the tenth plague --the death of thefirstborn. Apparently this mycotoxin grows best on cellulose --grains andcereals --and can kill within hours.

According to the Bible, the eldest customarily receives a double portion.This may be the reason why the firstborn alone died --he was the only onewho ingested enough of the mycotoxin for it to be lethal. This, however,does not account for why the firstborn of the animals died. The Jews atthis time, Passover, would have been eating lamb, herbs and unleavenedbread which the experts consider to be safe from contamination.

The show ended by saying: "For Jews, the ten plagues were directed bythe hand of God, but we can begin to see now how that hand may havemoved." It's an interesting hypothesis.

What Is Mold?

First, one must understand how mold lives. Most mold requires simple

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things to exist and colonize. It requires some type of moist intrusion orhumidity, otherwise known as "the wicking effect." In some cases, it cantake as little as 24 hours for this process to begin.

After the source of the moisture has stopped, it does not mean that the mold has stopped growing. Some molds are cryophytes (these adapt to low temperatures), some are thermo tolerant (they adapt to a wide range of temperatures) and some are thermophiles (they adapt to high temperatures). Depending on the species, these microbes will grow just about anywhere. Mold requires a compatible temperature for each species. Environmental factors (temperature, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.) are necessary compounds for indoor molds to thrive.

Mold also needs an organic source of food. People might be confused asmold can grow on glass, tile, stainless steel, cookware, etc. but it isgenerally feeding off of some organic source deposited on this material(oils, films, dirt, skin cells, etc.). The fiberglass insulation people like to saythat mold does not grow on their product which is a fairly true statement,however, it grows on the organic debris that become trapped in theirproducts. Mold also grows on things such as wood, fabric, leather,gypsum, fiberboard, drywall, stucco, and many insulation fibrousmaterials.

All molds require some form of moisture to grow. However, liketemperature , the amount of moisture varies for different species. Someare xerophillic (colonize under very dry conditions) some are xerotolerant(colonize under a wide range of moisture levels) and some are hydrophilic(colonize at high moisture levels). It doesn't have to be a leak. Humidity ormoisture content of the substrate can often be sufficient (relative humidityover 50% start becoming problematic in many indoor cases.) It can spreadvery easily through any HVAC system.

Mold consists of long, highly branched thread -like linear groups of cellsthat intertwine to form the fungus body. These threads can penetratemany materials, but especially common building materials such as drywall,wallboard, carpeting, and insulation. Mold usually requires a water source,habitable temperatures, and ample nutrients to grow. Humidity levelsgreater than 50% are considered a water source. A temperature range of40 to 100 degrees F is prime for mold growth.

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Like all living things, molds are designed to reproduce. The "seeds ofmold" are called spores, which are very tiny (roughly one -half the width ofthe tip of a human hair), and in other than very high concentrations, odorless. Mold spores travel much the same way that dust travels, and ifyou're like most people, you have dust in your home.

Many types of mold spores have a protective substance on them calledmycotoxins. The role of mycotoxins is to protect the spore from othervegetation that might harm it. Unfortunately, mycotoxins, which are alsoneurotoxins (a toxin that is determined to cause neurological damage) areharmful to human beings.

The most common forms of harmful mold are:1) Stachybotrys 2) Aspergillus3) Penicillum

Stachybotrys is the one with the most media hype. People who areexposed to high concentrations of this mold often experience healthproblems (headaches, bloody noses, respiratory illnesses, etc.). Just asbad as this type of mold are Aspergillus and Penicillum. These too cancause immediate respiratory problems, not to mention other serious healtheffects.

Mold Exposure In The Media

Toxic mold will soon become a household phrase, similar to whatasbestos was in the latter part of the 20th century. Insurance companiesare under siege with claims from homeowners, and the problem could costbillions to clean up.

December 3, 1999 - The cover story of the USA Weekend insert toSunday newspapers across the country is entitled: "The Mold in yourHome May Be Deadly."

March 2, 2000 - Dan Rather and CBS' 48 Hours present a programentitled "Invisible Killers" - which is a story on the hazardous effects ofmold exposure in your home.

December 4, 2000 - Newsweek magazine prints an article entitled: "A

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Hidden Health Hazard. Sneezing and sniffling? Maybe the problem isn't acold but mold. It's more dangerous than you think."

June 2001 - A Texas jury awarded a family $32 million when they claimedmold in their home caused them to have neurological problems.

August 12, 2001 - The New York Times Sunday Magazine features acover story entitled: "Lurking, Choking, Toxic - Haunted By Mold."

April 2002 - ABC News reports that Ed McMahon filed a $20 millionlawsuit against his homeowner insurance company claiming the insurancecompany botched a simple repair on a broken pipe. As a result, he says, ablack toxic mold spread through his 8,000 -square-foot, six -bedroomBeverly Hills mansion causing him physical injuries and emotional duress.

August 2001 – Mealey’s Online, an online publication targeted to lawyers,states that according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, FarmersInsurance, which has 7% of the U.S. homeowners insurance market,estimates that mold claims will cost it $85 Million 2001 alone.

April 2001 – GP Solo Magazine reports on the legal aspects in Californiaand other states of property damage and personal injury claims arisingfrom microbiological agents found in structures.

November - 2001 – Risk Management Magazine reports that toxic mold isan emotionally charged issue that has created a public frenzy over itspotential health impact.

Health Effects Of Mold

We live in a veritable "mold soup", with mold spores constantly around usand in the air that we breath. Under normal circumstances, naturalcleansing mechanisms in our bodies and in the indoor and outdoorenvironments control the concentration of mold to acceptable levels.However, water leaks that occur in homes and offices that are not cleanedup promptly, or correctly, almost invariably become breeding grounds formold. This is why interstitial walls, attics, and floor underlayment arefrequently found to contain higher concentrations of mold.

All molds have the potential to cause health effects. These health effects

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generally fall into three categories:

1) Allergic2) Infectious3) Toxic

The severity of the effects experienced by human beings is based on acombination of the health of the persons immune system, the type ofmold, and the concentration of the mycotoxins produced by the mold.The following is a comprehensive list of the most common health effectsand maladies associated with exposure to toxic mold.

Allergies Flu-like Symptoms Epileptic -like Seizures Upper Respiratory Distress Asthma Trouble Breathing Bloody Noses Irritation Of The Eyes, Nose or Throat Skin Rashes Coughing Loss of Eyesight Restlessness Fatigue Sinus Congestion Loss of Hearing "Crawly" Feeling Skin Depression Nausea Loss of Memory Chronic Headaches Unexplained Irritability Sneezing Runny Nose Arthritic-like Aches Equilibrium Or Balance Loss Organ Infestation Dizziness Or

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Stuffiness Death

Stachybotrys

Stachybotrys Chartarum is a greenish to blackishfungus that is found throughout the world, and is mostabundant in habitats where the humidity exceeds 50%.This fungus needs only three things to thrive:

1. Moisture2. Oxygen3. Materials High In Cellulose (like wallboard,carpet, wood, paper, insulation)

Stachybotrys can be dangerous to humans because it creates toxicchemicals called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can cause non -specific healthproblems in humans and pets. Some of these are:

1. Eye Irritation,2. Headaches3. Skin Irritations4. Allergies5. Asthma6. Nasal Stuffiness7. Sore Throats

Some severe reactions that some professionals have linked toStachybotrys include:

1. Memory Loss2. Nosebleeds3. Aches4. FeverAlso, people with chronic illness or damaged immune symptoms coulddevelop mold infections in their lungs. Individuals with persistent problemsshould see their physician.

If you suspect that you have mold in your home or business, or, if youhave any of the symptoms listed, you should have your habitat

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professionally inspected.

Professional inspection and laboratory testing is the most certain way toknow what type, where , and in what concentrations you have mold in yourenvironment. The professional inspection will include:

1. A Visual Inspection2. Moisture Content Testing of Suspect Areas3. Photos of Visible Mold4. Air Sample Testing For Airborne Spores5. Interstital Wall Testing For Mold Growing In Wall Cavities6. Carpet And Furniture Testing7. Accredited Laboratory Identification Of Mold Type andConcentration8. Professional Report

Home Toxicity

The only way to find out if your home or office is toxic due to mold is to have it tested. The most definitive way to do this is to have a Caltex technician take mold samples and to have an accredited laboratory analyze the samples to see what type of mold you have and in what concentrations. The technician will then review the results, and prepare a thorough assessment of the mold influences. Additionally, and if this is warranted, the technician will also create a remediation plan that describes how to clean up the mold and make your home healthier.

Mold Scams

Because the mold industry is so new, it is currently unregulated andunlicensed. Because the demand for mold testing and mold remediation isso high, there do exist, unfortunately, mold scammers who want toseparate property owners from their money rather than from their moldproblems.To avoid being a victim of a mold scam, if you have a possible moldproblem, please hire a Certified Indoor Air Quality Technician, CertifiedMold Inspector , Certified Mold Contractor , or Certified Mold Remediator .You’ll be happy to know that every technician working fo r The MoldConsultants has at least one of these certifications.Here are several of the leading mold scams . . .

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Insurance Companies and Insurance Adjusters as Scammers

Here are several mold frauds perpetrated by insurance companies andinsurance adjusters---

1. Hiring incompetent, low -paid, company -stooge testing personnel to dothe least possible mold testing in the least likely mold -locations in aninsured's property so that any actual mold is NOT likely to bediscovered.2. Utilizing ineffective Air -O-Cell mold testing media so that little or nomold will be discovered. Air -O-Cell cassettes test too small of an airsample to give a truly accurate insight into a property's real moldinfestation problems. Direct sampling of visible molds and mold cultureplates are vastly superior to Air -O-Cell technology in determining theextent of mold problems in a property and in identification of the moldspresent.3. If the testing stooges uncover any mold problems, the serious moldtest results are not to be shared with the insured’s and are to be kept acomplete secret forever from the insured’s [this common insurancecompany fraud is one of the causes of actions in the $20 million EdMcMahon lawsuit against his homeowner's insurance company.Two insurance stooge testing and remediation companies. TheMcMahon defendants kept secret mold test results showing a seriousmold infestation in the McMahon residence of the deadly moldStachybotrys.4. Telling insured’s that there is no mold insurance coverage even thoughthere is evidence that insurance -covered water damage is the directcause of the resulting mold infestation.

House Cooking

House cooking is when the mold scammers introduce large numbers ofmold spores into the home or other building, and then increase thetemperature and humidity [e.g., shut off air conditioning, close windowsand run humidifiers full blast] to cause high levels of detectable mold tojustify expensive mold remediation work

Fraudulent Mold Testing

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The mold scammers will bring back mold test results showing big -time mold problems in the property. Unfortunately the mold samples are NOT actually from the home but are, in fact, samples that had been intentionally infected [inoculated] with large amounts of mold species from other locations or from mold collections maintained bythe scammers.

Mold Remediation Shortcuts

Many fraudulent mold remediation jobs end with the mold problems asgreat or greater than before the remediation work was done because ofshortcuts taken by the mold scammers and because of flawed remediationtechniques, procedures, and techniques utilized by the mold scammerswho only care about getting the money, rather than solving a customersmold crisis. One big shortcut is that many mold remediators often rely onineffective but cheap chlorine bleach as an alleged mold killer. See thediscussion on chlorine bleach below.

TESTING YOUR HOME

How To Test Your Home

Mold spores are found everywhere in our environment, and we areconstantly exposed to them. High concentrations of any mold in living orwork environments must be considered unacceptable because of possiblehealth problems and structural damage. If mold is present, it is importantto find out what kind and how much.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SAMPLE AND TEST FOR MOLD?

When a building is tested for mold, the purpose is to find out what type ofmold is in the building and if the mold is being amplified (growing).Environmental testing for mold is a three part process: Caltex dealercollects samples (sampling), the laboratory analyzes the samples(testing), and the Caltex Dealer interprets the laboratory results and developsan appropriate remediation plan, if necessary.

PHYSICAL FACTORS: Modern construction methods that tightlyseal homes and hold in moisture can encourage mold growth.Many commonly used construction materials are good media for

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mold to grow on (wood, drywall, insulation, etc.). Growing mold canthreaten the structural integrity and finished surfaces of a home.Mold can literally "eat" the house. About 35% of all properties sufferwater infiltration each year.

HEALTH FACTORS: Many of the thousands of common moldscause people to experience allergy symptoms such as runny noseor wheezing. Some molds may cause more severe problems suchas irritation of the lungs and fugal infections in persons withimmune problems. A few highly toxic species can affect anyone,causing severe nerve and skin reactions, and even death.

ECONOMIC FACTORS: The value of a home can be decreasedenormously by the threat of disease and structural damage bymold. Clean up in severe cases can be very expensive, up to andincluding the value of the home. These factors, combined with new public awareness along with demands by insurance and mortgage companies, have created a need for mold sampling and remediation.

"RED FLAGS" WHICH SUGGEST MOLD SAMPLING AND TESTING IS NEEDED

About 70% of all buildings will exhibit "red flags". "Red flags" areconditions that lend suspect to the presence of mold. These "red flag"condition s are generally:

VISIBLE MOLD: Visible mold comes in many colors (red, orange,black, white, etc.). Mold of any kind should not be growing in any homeor work area.

1. Discolored spots in areas2. "Hairy" covering on surfaces similar to white or green on fruit or bread3. Slimy surfaces

MOISTURE: Mold grows where there is a moist environment. Moldmay be growing within or behind wet materials in the building. The firstindication that you need to sample and test for mold is the discovery ofany water related structural or design problem such as:

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1. Evidence of water penetrating the home (stains, moist areas,etc.)2. Evidence of any area that might allow water penetration3. Actual construction defect or deterioration allowing water penetration4. Plumbing defects (leaky drains , pipes or toilet seats, bad caulking, etc.)5. HVAC problems (dirty, moist filters, poor condensation drainage)6. Dryer vented indoors7. Inadequate ventilation for bathrooms, laundry, spas, hot tubs, etc.

SENSITIVITY: Human senses are a valuable tool in discovering mold.1. If you think there is a musty odor, there may be mold present.2. If you think a room has a damp atmosphere, there may be mold growth3. If occupants complain of allergy -type symptoms which seem to increase while in the home, this may be caused by mold.

Home Test Kits

Stated as briefly as possible - Avoid Them.There are many reasons why the mold test kits that you can purchase at ahome supply store or on the Internet should be avoided.

Over-The-Counter/Web And Into The Trash: Over-the-counter/Webmold test kits produce highly inconsistent results. When testing for mold inyour home or office, precision and accuracy are very important tocomprehensively assess the type, location, and concentration of mold.Store and web purchased mold test kits are neither as accurate, nor asprecise, as the testing that is done by highly skilled technicians usingexpensive sampling equipment. Don't let the claims of some merchantsdeceive you -- No skilled mold technician would ever rely on the testresults from a sample taken by an over -the-counter/Web product tocomprehensively assess the indoor air quality of a residence or office.

False Readings The Advertisers Don't Tell You About: Advertisers ofover -the-counter/Web products won't tell you this, but they have a veryhigh rate of false readings -- meaning that samples sent in to the lab foranalysis cannot be processed for one of a number of reasons.

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Limited Number Of Molds Tested: Most over -the-counter/Web mold testkits only test for a limited number of species of mold -- in some cases, onlyfour. There are hundreds of different molds in existence, and more arebeing discovered every day.

Incomplete: Over-the-counter/Web mold test kits employ one of a numberof different mold sampling techniques. One. A skilled technician will useseveral different types of sampling techniques in the course of aninvestigation, with the decision about which to use in any givencircumstance being based on the technician expert knowledge. Havingavailable these different techniques allows the technician to applyaccuracy, precision, skill, and technique to the process of sampling.

Imprecise: Over-the-counter/Web mold test kits produce results that areincomprehensive at best, and clearly fail to provide results comparable tothose developed when a certified professional technician uses precisionequipment. One style has you lay a petri dish in the middle of the room fora certain period of time and hope that airborne mold spores land in thedish. Another style has you hook up a device to the end of your householdvacuum cleaner to act as a pump to pull air through a filter. And stillanother style has you place a piece of sticky -tape on the visible mold, andthen stick the piece of tape on to a microscope slide. Each of thesemethods is incomprehensive at best, and possibly dangerous to providingthe laboratory with a full set of samples by which they can accuratelydetermine the type, location, and concentration of mold.

Sampling Definitions

When sampling, the following definitions are significant:

Fumes – Solid particles generated by condensation from the gaseousstate, generally volatilization from molten metals.Mists – Suspended liquid droplets generated by condensation from thegaseous to the liquid state or by breaking up a liquid into a dispersedstate, such as by splashing, foaming, or atomizing.

Gases – Normally formless fluids which occupy the space or enclosureand which can be changed to the liquid or solid state only by the combinedeffects of increased pressure and decreased temperature.

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Dusts – Solid particles that are capable of temporary suspension in the airor other gases. Usually produced from larger masses through theapplication of physical force.

Vapors – Gaseous form of substances that are normally in the solid orliquid state (at room temperature and pressures).

Sampling Background and Types

There are a number of different types of sampling techniques, each isuseful in specific situations. The types of sampling techniques are:

Bulk – This involves removing a sample of the mold -infected material (i.e.coating paper from drywall, carpet, etc.)

Swab – This involves dabbing a swab onto the area of suspected moldcontamination and testing the material adhering to the swab tip.

Tape – This involves placing a piece of clear tape on the area ofsuspected infestation of mold and extracting some of the suspect materialwith the sticky side of the tape.

Andersen N-6 – This involves extracting suspected mold spores from theair with an air extraction device and isolating and identifying the capturedspores.

Spore Trap – This involves laying a petri dish containing a supply of lab -quality food in an air space for a sufficient period of time so that airbornemold spores can fall into the dish and begin to concentrate and multiply onthe food source.

Wall Check – This involves drilling a small hole through wallboard,inserting a tube connected to a pump that has a filter, and extracting aprecise amount of air from the wall cavity over the filter, with the filtercapturing the material extracted from the air.

The purpose of sampling is to:

1. Provide information regarding the type and relative quantity

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of “hazards” present2. Document airborne concentrations3. Document a settled containment4. Assist in finding the source of containment

Comparing Sampling Types

Sampling Type Pros Cons

Bulk Inexpensive Rapid Spore Identification Can Speciate Destructive Doesn’t Relate To Airborne Exposure Can Be Difficult To Sample

Swab Inexpensive Non-destructive Rapid Spore Identification Doesn’t Relate To Airborne Exposure May Not Be Quantitative May Miss Organisms

Tape Inexpensive Rapid Spore Identification Convenient To Hold/Ship Cannot Be Cultured Is Not Quantitative Tape Pressure Can Deform Spores

Andersen N-6 Can Sample For Fungi And Bacteria Related Directly To Airborne Exposure Can Speciate Equipment Is Expensive Sampling Is Time Consuming Sampling Is Cumbersome And Noisy

Spore Trap Cassettes Are Easy To Store Cassettes Have A Long Shelf Life

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Provides Semi – Quantitative Results Gives Rapid Results More Expensive Than Other Methods Sampling Is Time Consuming Sampling Is Cumbersome Can Not Do Bacteria

Wall Check Cassettes Are Easy To Store Cassettes Have A Long Shelf Life Provides Semi –Quantitative Results Gives Rapid Results Can Identify Molds Hidden In Wall Cavities More Expensive Than Other Methods Sampling Is Time Consuming Sampling Is Cumbersome Can Not Do Bacteria Requires A Small Hole Be Drilled In The Wall

CLEANING YOUR HOME OF MOLD

How To Remove Mold And Mildew

When the weather is damp, you may find items in your home that havemusty odors and mildew stains. Once you find mold and mildew spots,remove them as soon as you can. Old stains are very hard to remove.

To remove mold and mildew stains from fabric:

1. Brush off the entire mold. If you can, take the item outside to dothis.2. If you cannot take the item outside, use a stiff brush or broom andbrush the item over a piece of newspaper. Then, roll up the paperand throw it away.3. If the mildew is on a carpet, vacuum to remove as much as youcan. Throw the vacuum cleaner bag away after vacuuming themold.4. Dry-clean materials that can not be washed. Be sure to point outspots to the cleaners.Wash clothing at once with laundry soap and water. Rinse well, butdry in the sun, not the clothes dryer. Heat from the dryer may make

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spots harder to remove.

If a stain remains, try to:

1. Soak in a laundry pre-soak product.

Use:Bath tubs, shower stalls, tiled floors and bathroom walls often havemildew. Use a brush. Scrub with a mixture of 2 to 4 cup of Calbrite1 gallon of water. Wear water -proof gloves to protect your hands.An old toothbrush works well on grout. Soak plastic shower curtains in asolution of Calbrite solution and water. Then wash.

Upholstery, mattresses and rugs should be cleaned using as little wateras possible.

1. Brush off mold. Shampoo lightly with an upholstery shampoo, oruse a rug shampoo on carpets. Calbrite can be added to the solution.2. Wipe with a damp cloth. Dry in the sun, if possible, or use a fan.Spray with a fungicide spray.

Luggage and leather shoes should be aired and dried after brushing offmold. Make a mixture of 1 cup denatured alcohol and 1 cup water. Dip acloth in this mixture and wring it out. Rub mildew spots gently. Dry well.You can also use saddle soap. Dry and air well before storing.

Remove the odor of mildew as soon as you can. Brush the area. Thenwash and dry well. The odor often goes away when the area is dry. Youmay wish to spray with Calbrite.

Prevent Mildew In Your Home

You may first notice mildew by its musty odor. It leaves an ugly black stainwhich can rot fabric, leather and paper. And it can cause problems forthose with allergies.

Mold and mildew are often found in basements, crawl spaces, closets,showers and under beds. They will grow wherever it is damp and warm,and there is little air movement.

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Mold and mildew are hard to remove, but not hard to prevent. Since theyare tiny plants, you must make it hard for them to grow. To keep yourhome free from mold and mildew:

Keep things and places clean. Even small amounts of dirt or dried foodwill help mildew grow. Keeping closets, drawers, walls and clothing cleanwill prevent many mildew problems.

Keep things dry. At the first sign of mildew, find the source of moisture. Isit from a leak in the basement or roof or a spill? To keep your home dry:

1. Wipe down shower walls after taking a shower.2. Cover pots while cooking.3. Use air conditioning to remove moisture from the air.4. Vent the clothes dryer to the outside of the house.5. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen, utility room and bathroom.6. Waterproof the basement. Seal any cracks in the foundation.7. Spread heavy plastic or roofing paper over 80 percent of your crawlspace to control dampness.

Be sure you have air movement in all areas.

1. Open windows to let outside air in, if the weather is nice.2. Use a fan, even in the winter, to move the air.3. Leave closet doors and dresser drawers open sometimes.4. Be sure clothing is dry when stored. Hang it loosely in the closet.5. Store items where they will not get damp.6. Don't put furniture tightly against the wall.

Dry the air.

1. Heat the air in closets by keeping a light bulb burning, if there is one in the closet.2. Use a heater, or turn on the furnace if the house is damp.3. Use a dehumidifier.4. Use chemicals such as Silica gel to absorb moisture. Place on a closet shelf or hang in a cloth bag to absorb moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

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Keep fabrics clean and dry.1. Dirty clothing should be dry before putting it into the hamper.2. Wash or dry clean clothing or household items before storing them.3. Store clothing in a warm, dry place.4. Stretch shower curtains out to dry after taking a shower.5. Don't put damp clothing on the floor, especially a cement floor.6. Air tents and sleeping bags before storing.

Protect with a mildew-resistant finish. Cotton items like awnings and tents can be treated with Calbrite (chemicals to make them resistant to mildew) before using them.

Protect leather goods by applying a paste -wax shoe polish or saddle soap.

1. Store shoes, purses and suitcases in closets, not in basements.2. Never put shoes or leather items away damp.

How To Prevent And Remove Mildew – Home Methods

Mildew can be found on many different surfaces. It is a thin, black, orsometimes white, growth produced by mold. Molds are simple plantsbelonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always presentin the air, those that cause mildew need moisture and certaintemperatures to grow. They commonly develop in humid summer weather,especially in closed houses.

These molds grow on anything from which they can get enough food. Inhomes they develop most often on cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, leather,wood and paper. Many synthetic fibers resist mildew.

Molds that cause mildew flourish wherever it is damp, warm, poorly lightedand/or where air is not circulated — in cellars, crawl spaces of houseswithout basements and clothing closets. It can also be found on draperiesand rugs in basement recreation rooms, on shower curtains and on dampclothes rolled up for ironing. These molds are also likely to grow in a newhouse because of moisture in the building materials.

As the molds grow, they cause considerable damage. They leave a musty

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odor; they discolor fabrics; and sometimes they eat into them until thefabrics rot and fall to pieces. They also discolor leather and paper.

Preventing Mildew

Keep things clean

Keep closets, dresser drawers, basements — any place where mildew islikely to grow — as clean as possible. Soil on dirty articles can supplyenough food for mildew to start growing when moisture and temperatureare right. Greasy films, such as those that form on kitchen walls, alsocontain many nutrients for mildew -causing molds.

Clean clothing is less likely to mildew than soiled clothing. Because mostsynthetic fibers, such as acetate, acrylic, polyester and nylon, are resistantto mildew, clean fabrics of these fibers will not support mold growth. Buteven on these fabrics, soil may supply food to start mildew. Clean allsoiled fabrics thoroughly, regardless of fiber type to help prevent themfrom mildewing.

Get rid of dampness

Mold spores are present in the air and may settle onto surfaces if there issufficient moisture. A damp basement, or any other structure, is often caused by moisture condensation from humid air onto cooler surfaces. Excessive moisture may indicate that repairs or additional insulation are needed. Replace cracked or defective mortar. Some basements are continually wet from water leaking through crevices in the wall. Make sure outside drainage is adequate. For waterproofing concrete and other masonry walls above ground, apply two coats of cement paint, tinted with mineral coloring if desired. Waterproofed coatings to seal absorbent brick and other outside surfaces may be needed. Spread a layer of moisture -barrier material over the soil in crawl spaces under houses. You can use heavy roofing paper or polyethylene plastic film. Good ventilation is important. If possible, do not enclose the crawl space. In extreme cases, a fan or blower may be needed to move the humid air from under the building.

If your clothes dryer is equipped with a vent, have it exhausted to theoutside to remove moist air.

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Dry the air

Air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Cool air holds less moisture than warmair. Properly installed air -conditioning systems remove moisture from theair by taking up warm air, cooling it (which removes the moisture) andcirculating the cool, dry air back into the room. In rooms that are not air -conditioned — especially the basement — mechanical dehumidifiers areuseful. A humidistat can be attached to the unit to control the humidity.Mechanical dehumidifiers, however, can add heat to a room.

When using air -conditioners or dehumidifiers, keep windows and doorsclosed.

Heat

Get rid of dampness by heating the house for a short time. Then opendoors and windows to let out the moisture -laden air. An exhaust fan maybe used to force it out. Air in closets and other small areas can be dried byusing an electric light continuously (60 - to 100 -watt bulb). The heat willprevent mildew if the space is not too large.

Circulate the air

Air movement is excellent at removing moisture. When the air outside isdrier than that inside, ventilation allows the dry air to enter, take up excessmoisture and then be carried outside. When natural breezes are notsufficient, you can use electric fans placed in a window, set in a wall orvented to the attic to move air from the house.

Poorly ventilated closets get damp and musty during continued wetweather, and articles stored in them are apt to mildew. Try to improve theair circulation by opening the closet doors or by installing a fan.

In addition, hang the clothes loosely so that air can circulate around them.Dry all wet clothing (including clothes wet from rain or perspiration) beforeputting it in the closet.

Cooking, laundering, and bathing may add 2 gallons (7.6 liters) or more ofwater a day to the house, un less circulation is adequate. It is oftennecessary to use some type of exhaust fan.

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Get rid of musty odors

Musty odors, which indicate mold growth, are sometimes noticeable inbasements and shower stalls. Take special precautions to get rid of mustyodors as soon as possible to prevent further objectionable and damagingmold growth. Usually musty odors disappear if the area is well heated anddried. If the odors remain, the following treatments may be necessary:In basements, use Calbrite to remove musty odors. Spray the calbrite floor and let it stay until all mustiness disappears. Then wipe or wash it up.On cement floors and on tiled walls and floors in bathrooms, get rid ofmustiness by washing with calbrite. Rinse with clear water

Keep windows open until walls and floors are thoroughly dry.

Preventing Mildew On Clothing And Household Fabrics

Keep fabrics dry. Never let clothing or other fabric articles lie around dampor wet. Dry soiled clothes before putting them into the hamper. Wash outdishcloths and hang them to dry. Spread out washcloths and damp towels.Stretch out wet shower curtains. It is the wet curtain left bunched togetheror sticking to the wall or tub that is most likely to mildew. Sprinkle only asmany articles as can be ironed in a day. Shake out and dry those not ironed.Dry washed garments and fabrics thoroughly and quickly. Fabrics driedslowly may get sour and musty smelling — a sign of mold growth..Preventing mildew on unpainted wood

In damp, warm, poorly ventilated areas, surface mold often develops onwooden parts of buildings. The new, unseasoned lumber is particularlysusceptible to mildewPreventing mildew on painted wood

Indoor wood surfaces covered with softer coatings and paints mildew very easily. Molds feeds on the oil and minerals in the paint and cause a dirty -looking discoloration. It may penetrate the paint film deeply, even to the underlying wood. Clean with 100 percent Calbrite and use Ion mold in the paints or sealers..Preventing mildew on paper and books

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In damp summer weather, keep papers and books as dry as possible tohelp control mold growth. If you have an enclosed bookcase , keep a smallelectric light lit continuously in the bookcase or use a chemicaldehumidifier. To clean books with mold take them outside and dry.

Removing Mildew

Clothing and household fabrics

Remove mildew spots as soon as you discover them. Do not give themold growth a chance to weaken or rot the material. Brush off any surfacegrowth outdoors to prevent scattering the mildew spores in the house. Sunand air fabrics thoroughly . Dry clean non washable articles.

Wash mildew-stained articles at once with soap or detergent and water.Rinse well and dry in the sun.

Upholstered articles, mattresses and rugs

First, remove loose mold from outer coverings of upholstered articles,mattresses, rugs and carpets by brushing with a broom. Do this outdoorsto prevent scattering mildew spores in the house.

Run a vacuum cleaner attachment over the surface of the article to drawout more of the mold. Remember that the mold spores are being drawninto the bag of the vacuum cleaner. If the appliance has a disposable bag,remove and dispose of it immediately. If not, empty the bag carefully(preferably outdoors) to avoid scattering mold spores in the house.

Do everything conveniently possible to dry the article — use an electricheater and a fan to carry away moist air. Sun and air the article to stop themold growth.

If mildew remains on upholstered articles or mattresses, sponge lightlywith thick suds of soap or detergent and wipe with a clean, damp cloth. Indoing this, get as little water on the fabric as possible so the filling doesnot get wet .

Another way to remove mildew on upholstered furniture is to wipe it with a

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cloth moistened with diluted alcohol (1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to1 cup water). Dry the article thoroughly.

Sponge mildewed rugs and carpets with thick suds or a rug shampoo and 25 percent calbrite. Then remove the suds by wiping with a cloth dampened with clear water.

Dry in the sun if possible.

Leather goods

To remove mildew from leather goods, wipe with a cloth moistened withdiluted alcohol (1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to 1 cup wate r). Dry ina current of air. If mildew remains, wash with thick suds made from a mildsoap or detergent, saddle soap.

Shoes contaminated with fungus growth on the inside often developunpleasant odors, and colored mildew shows up on the inner sole andlinings and up into the toe. You can remove this kind of mildew with low -pressure sprays especial y intended for freshening shoes; these spraysare available at shoe and department stores. Use these products asdirected.

Wood

Use heat and increase the air circulation to get mildewed wood as dry aspossible. We all know how to clean various types of wood with 50 to 100 percent Calbrite. Dry well before refinishing.

Paper and books Fan out" pages of books to increase air circulation. If the books are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder between the leaves to absorb the moisture. Leave starch or powder on for several hours, then brush off. Remove any dry, loose mold from paper with a clean, soft cloth. If mildewed paper is damp, dry it first in an airy place.

To dry wallpaper, heat the room for several hours or even days to dry the plaster as well as the paper. Plaster should be dried slowly to prevent cracking. If mildewed paper is washable, wipe it gently with a cloth wrung out of Calbrite then with clear water and White vinegar. Take care not to

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wet the paper more than necessary. Do not scrub it. Finally wipe with a soft, dry cloth.

Mold Cleanup

If you already have a mold problem - ACT QUICKLY. Mold damages whatit grows on. The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.

Bathroom Tip: Places that are often or always damp can be hard tomaintain completely free of mold. If there's some mold in the shower orelsewhere in the bathroom that seems to reappear, increasing theventilation (running a fan or opening a window) and cleaning morefrequently will usually prevent mold from recurring, or at least keep themold to a minimum.

Who should do the cleanup?

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. Oneconsideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is lessthan about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in mostcases, the customer can handle the job.

However: If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types. It is available free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438 -4318, or on the Internet at epa.gov/iaq/molds . If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask thecontractor to follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation inSchools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the AmericanConference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or otherguidelines from professional or government organizations.

Mold Cleanup Guidelines

The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean upyour mold problem. Please note that mold may cause

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staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item sothat its original appearance is restored.

1. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with Calbrite and water, and drycompletely.2. Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible.Dry all items completely.3. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet,do not have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can growon or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials. Calbrite can pull the mold that may be difficult or impossible to remove by other methods.4. Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.

When Cleaning Moldy Areas and Hidden Mold

1. Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces.2. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces with Calbrite before painting.3. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas

It is important to take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and moldspores.

Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. In order to limit your exposureto airborne mold, you may want to wear an N -95 respirator, available atmany hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet.(They cost about $12 to $25.) Some N -95 respirators resemble a paperdust mask with a nozzle on the front, others are made primarily of plasticor rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold sporesfrom entering. In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fitproperly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator.We even recommend N-100.

Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm arerecommended. When working with water and Calbrite, select gloves made, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.

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Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes arerecommended. Avoid get ting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

How Do I Know When the Remediation or Cleanup is Finished?

1. You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problembefore the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished.2. You should have completed mold removal. Visible mold and moldyodors should not be present. Please note that mold may causestaining and cosmetic damage.3. You should have revisited the site(s) shortly after cleanup and itshould show no signs of water damage or mold growth.4. People should have been able to occupy or re -occupy the areawithout health complaints or physical symptoms.Ultimately, this is a judgment call; there is no easy answer.

Moisture Control is the Key to Mold Control!

Moisture control is the key to mold control, so when water leaks or spillsoccur indoors - ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried24-48 hours after a leak or spill happen s, in most cases mold will notgrow.1. Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.2. Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.3. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.4. Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity.Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humiditymeter, a small, inexpensive ($50) instrument available at many stores.

Actions that will help to reduce humidity:

Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves,and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustionappliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor andwill increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)

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Use air conditioners and/or de -humidifiers when needed. Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.

If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipesACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/watersource. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.

Actions that will help prevent condensation:

1. Reduce the humidity (see above).2. Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.3. Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.4. Increase air temperature.

Testing or Sampling for Mold

Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has beenadequately cleaned or remediated.

Hidden Mold

You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannotsee the source, or if you know there has been water damage andresidents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in placessuch as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side ofceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possiblelocations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (withleaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (wherecondensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceilingtiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation). Investigating hidden moldproblems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigationinvolves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal ofwallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growingon the underside of the paper.

Cleanup and Biocides

Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a

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chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, forexample) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup.There may be instances, however, when professional judgment mayindicate its use (for example, when immune -compromised individuals arepresent). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area;a background level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not growif the moisture problem has been resolved.

Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people,so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.

Toxic Mold: Moisture Control And Moisture Control Tips

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter yourhome by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or evencooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisturethat the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air.As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. Thisis why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (forexample, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisturecan encourage biological pollutants to grow.

There are many ways to control moisture in a home:

1. Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from theoutside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensiveexcavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away fromthe house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack ofgutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes oraround tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutantsto grow.2. Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisturefrom coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well -ventilated.3. Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture tothe outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to theoutside.4. Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or keroseneheaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.5. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid

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climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that theappliances themselves don't become sources of biologicalpollutants.6. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on theinside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doorsbetween rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colderthan the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat tothe cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and bymoving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heatcirculation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air andcan expel excessive moisture from the home.7. Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet canabsorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants togrow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. Incertain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, itmay be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over theconcrete and cover that with sub -flooring (insulation covered withplywood) to prevent a moisture problem.Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another.The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South ishot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All ofthese regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporativecoolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biologicalpollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool theair too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enoughto remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction andweatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems andsolutions.

Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

You should consider having the air ducts in the home cleaned if:1. There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g.,sheet metal) ducts or on other components of the heating andcooling system.2. There are several important points to understand concerning molddetection in heating and cooling systems:3. Many sections of the heating and cooling system may not beaccessible for a visible inspection,.

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You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, apositive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by anexpert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation.If there are insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy itcannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.

If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are notcorrected, mold growth will recur.

Humidifiers And Toxic Mold

As has been discussed, mold needs moisture to live. Without moisture,mold cannot thrive. Some homes, and the people that live in those homes, need humidifiers to create a comfortable indoor air environment. Unfortunately, improperly used or maintained humidifiers can create environments where mold can settle and concentrate.

Excess Moisture: Prevent excessive moisture levels in the air inthe house by using the exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchenswhere moisture is often generate d. Make sure the air from yourclothes dryer exhausts from the house. Be careful when using ahumidifier. If you think that you need a humidifier, first measure therelative humidity inside your home. A device called a hygrometercan measure the relative humidity. Try to keep the relative humidity(RH) below 60%. There is rarely a reason to use a humidifier if theRH is above 25%. If you feel you must use a humidifier, measurethe relative humidity in the area receiving the humidified air. Neverlet the humidifier raise the relative humidity above 35%.

Mold And Carpet

If carpeting was saturated with water it is most likely growing mold.Although a lot of people think that carpet cleaning kills mold, the reality isthat it doesn’t. To be sure, it is possible that too frequent carpet cleaningthat does not have a chance to thoroughly dry within a short period of timecould cause a mold problem. Additionally, many mold spores are smallenough that they are not trapped in the vacuum cleaner filtration systemand therefore exit the vacuum cleaner without being trapped.Carpet cleaning is NOT going to kill the mold, and it is highlyrecommended that any carpet that was soaked with water be ripped up

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and thrown away. If you do not remove the carpeting the mold willcontinue to grow in it and get worse and worse over time. Your carpet hasnow become a " mold farm" and your living room is now a giant petriedish!

Unless you remove the source of the mold, the carpeting, you will onlymake a minor dent in the fungi growth in the home.

When removing the carpet be sure to wear a face mask, and protectiveclothing as even dried mold spores can be toxic.

Once the carpet has been removed make sure the floor is dried thoroughly Cleaned with Calbrite before continuing. Turning up the heat can help dry the flooring. Use a dehumidifier if one is available.

Vacuum the floor with a HEPA filtered vacuum to remove any loosespores still remaining.

If you have plywood flooring under the carpeting it is highly recommendedthat the flooring be Cleaned with Calbrite then if necessary painted with two coats of oil based paint. Water based paint will not seal out bacteria that is remaining in the wood, so make sure it is oil based paint. Concrete floors should be washed with Calbrite and water to kill mold that is living on its porous surface. We strongly suggest removal of carpeting that was soaked with water.

Remediation Is An Art

Remediation -- It's not something you want to do twiceMolds needs cellulose, a non -living organic material found in drywall andceiling tiles as a nutrient source for growth and reproduction. Many mold scan colonize in water -damaged materials and through the digestionprocess fungi secrete enzymes into the nutrient source to break downcomplex compounds into simpler compounds. The digested nutrients are classified into two categories, primary and secondary metabolites. The primary metabolites are used for energy to grow and reproduce. The secondary metabolites, called mycotoxins, are produced to give fungi a competitive edge against other microorganisms. Many of these mycotoxins are harmful to humans when inhaled, ingested or when come in contact with skin.

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Research indicates significant secondary health effects may also be caused by the mycotoxins produced by the fungi. Every mycotoxins / toxin has to be treated differently. Even the same toxin has to be treated differently depending the environment, what the contaminated material are, and it could depend on what other toxin is present. While it is always present, it remains relatively harmless to most people unless it gets fed and begins to grow and multiply.

Since mold readily eats cellulose -based materials, all it takes is water leaking from the roof, plumbing, condensation, or high humidity for it to grow and spread to carpets, cloth, wood, wallboard, insulation, paper and leather to name a few. As it breaks down building materials, mold can also release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These may include irritating alcohols, aldehydes, and acidic molecules, or highly toxic gases. One fungus growing on wallpaper, for example, was found to release arsinefrom its pigments that contained arsenic.

Once mold contamination gets afoothold, it can spread through a structure via airborne microscopic spores. Mold chemical components from these and other species tend to dominate in damp indoor spaces. What you can’t see is hurting you!

Environmental Assessment

The presence of mold, water damage, or musty odors should beaddressed immediately. In all instances, any source(s) of water must bestopped and the extent of water damaged determined. Water damagedmaterials should be dried and repaired. Mold damaged materials shouldbe remediated in accordance with this document.

Visual Inspection

A visual inspection is the most important initial step in identifying apossible contamination problem. The extent of any water damage andmold growth should be visually assessed. This assessment is important indetermining remedial strategies. Ventilation systems should also bevisually checked, particularly for damp filters but also for damp conditionselsewhere in the system and overall cleanliness. Ceiling tiles, gypsum

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wallboard (sheetrock), cardboard, paper, and other cellulosic surfacesshould be given careful attention during a visual inspection.

The use of equipment such as a boroscope, to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, or a moisture meter, to detect moisture in building materials, may be helpful in identifying hidden sources of fungal growth and the extent of water damage.

Bulk / Surface

Sampling Bulk or surface sampling is not required to undertake aremediation.

Remediation of visually identified fungal contamination should proceed without further evaluation. Bulk or surface samples may need to be collected to identify specific fungal contaminants as part of a medical evaluation if occupants are experiencing symptoms which may be related to fungal exposure or to identify the presence or absence of mold if a visual inspection is equivocal (e.g., discoloration, and staining). An individual trained in appropriate sampling methodology should perform bulk or surface sampling. Bulk samples are usually collected from visibly moldy surfaces by scraping or cutting materials with a clean tool into a clean plastic bag.

Surface samples are usually collected by wiping a measured area with a sterile swab or by stripping the suspect surface with clear tape. Surface sampling is less destructive than bulk sampling. Other sampling methods may also be available.

Air Monitoring

Air monitoring may be necessary if there is evidence from a visualinspection or bulk sampling that ventilation systems may be contaminated.The purpose of such air monitoring is to assess the extent of contamination throughout a building. It is preferable to conduct samplingwhile ventilation systems are operating. Air monitoring may be necessaryif the presence of mold is suspected (e.g., musty odors) but cannot beidentified by a visual inspection or bulk sampling (e.g., mold growth behindwalls).

The purpose of such air monitoring is to determine the location

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and/or extent of contamination. If air monitoring is performed, forcomparative purposes, outdoor air samples should be collectedconcurrently at an air intake, if possible, and at a location representative ofoutdoor air proficiency testing (Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (EMPAT)). Evaluation of bulk/surface and air sampling data should be performed by an experienced professional. Thepresence of few or trace amounts of fungal spores in bulk/surfacesampling should be considered background. Amounts greater than this orthe presence of fungal fragments (e.g., hyphae, and conidiophores) maysuggest fungal colonization, growth, and/or accumulation at or near thesampled location.

Air samples should be evaluated by means of comparison (i.e., indoors to outdoors) and by fungal type (e.g., genera,and species). In general, the levels and types of fungi found should be similar indoors (in non -problem buildings) as compared to the outdoor air. Differences in the levels or types of fungi found in air samples may indicate that moisture sources and resultant fungal growth maybe problematic.

In all situations, the underlying cause of water accumulation must be rectified or fungal growth will recur. Any initial water infiltration should be stopped and cleaned immediately. An immediate response (within 24 to 48 hours) and thorough clean up, drying, and/or removal of water damaged materials will prevent or limit mold growth. If the source of wateris elevated humidity, relative humidity should be maintained at levelsbelow 60% to inhibit mold growth. Emphasis should be on ensuring properrepairs of the building infrastructure, so that water damage and moisturebuildup does not recur.

Caltex International Ltd.Manufacturers of Ecologically Responsible Products Since 1986

(315)425-0140 www.caltexinternational.com

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