Within hours of exposure to water, mold can appear. Besides the risk mold poses to health, it can cause serious property damage. Any property or possessions that have been exposed to moisture may become colonized by mold. This means that when there is heavy rain, melting snow, flooding, leaking pipes, clogged pipes, poor drainage, damp crawl spaces, attics, or basements, mold will probably be present. Likewise, mold can be found in air conditioners, air filtration devices, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, certain kinds of medical equipment, potted plants, greenhouses, refrigerators, washing machines, automobiles, hotels, restaurants, libraries, concert halls, in short, just about anywhere. At best, mold will cause deterioration and loss of value to real property and belongings. At worst, it will eventually claim the lives of pets, loved ones, and oneself. The purpose of this series is to promote vigilance surrounding mold and to define the correct procedures for removing mold.
Everything starts with either vacating the moldy property or remediating the damage, a task that is usually best performed by experts. However, throughout, care must be taken not to become exposed to mold. The usual modes of infection are inhalation, ingestion, and contact with skin lesions. Allergies are, unfortunately, not a clue to risks. One may or may not be allergic to mold. Only 25% of humans show allergic reactions, but mold is dangerous because it feeds on organic materials, including human tissues. As it does so, it seems to grow. The technical description of this process is that the mold becomes vegetative; and as it colonizes the host, a mycelium is formed. This is a mass that can be seen with the eyes or x-rays whereas the individual structures are microscopic.
Mold can make people very sick. Some people are so allergic that they go into anaphylactic shock. Others become fatigued, disoriented, and fuzzy in the head, Most people gain weight, have difficulty functioning, and are misdiagnosed as hypochondriacs or sometimes as patients with multiple chemical sensitivities or even cancer.
The current educational effort covers the disasters, remediation, and health measures people can take to regain their vitality. Having gone through a horrible ordeal with mold after the improper installation of a washing machine . . . and years of study and discipline, I recovered completely and have since helped countless people who have faced similar crises in life.
Please become our online guest for this hugely important series devoted to raising awareness of mold and eliminating the risks associated with mold exposure.
Copyright by Dr. Ingrid Naiman 2023 || All Rights Reserved
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Image Credits:
Highway 412 - West of Tulsa, Oklahoma: Susan Vineyard | Dreamstime.com
Mycelium Network: Brett Critchley | Dreamstime.com