Mold Questions Archives - Elliot Environment

Understanding Mold Allergies

Like any allergy, mold allergy symptoms are triggered by an overly sensitive immune system response. When you inhale tiny, airborne mold spores, your body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops allergy-causing antibodies to fight them. After the exposure has passed, you still produce antibodies that "remember" this invader, so that any later contact with the mold causes your immune system to react. This reaction triggers the release of substances such as histamine, which cause itchy, watery eyes, runny nose,...

Q. Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Clients often ask us “what are the symptoms of mold exposure”? Below are some of the common symptoms: Respiratory problems; including difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath; Sinus and nasal congestion and irritation; Irritation of the eyes — watery, burning, red; Coughing; Sore and/or dry throat; Skin rashes and irritations; Problems with sense of smell; Typical symptoms normally associated with a cold or allergies; and Memory problems, odd mood swings, nose bleeds, body aches and pains, and fevers are occasionally...

5 Critical Questions You Should Ask

Before Hiring a Mold Inspector [caption id="attachment_496" align="aligncenter" width="300"] mold inspector[/caption] Choosing a mold consulting company can be a difficult process; especially when you have health concerns regarding your indoor environment. You may be thinking to yourself…can I trust this company? Will they follow through with what they promise on their website or over the phone? Are they qualified to determine if I have a mold problem in my home or business? Are they going to use scare tactics to...

Q. Attic Mold in Michigan

Common Causes and Cures [caption id="attachment_488" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Attic – ventilation and air movement[/caption] Mold in attic areas can be challenging at times in regards to determining the exact cause and source of mold growth. However, there are some common conditions that we routinely find during our Mold Investigations that contribute to mold growth in attics. Inadequate Roof Ventilation: The lack of proper roof ventilation is a conducive condition to mold growth in attics. Without adequate ventilation, moisture laden air remains...

Q. Buying a Home with Potential Mold and Moisture Problems

I know a lot of people have heard horror stories out there to the effect of a mold contaminated home will always be contaminated, or that a home that had previous mold will be “red flagged” in some way and it will affect the value or resale of a home. But, in reality most mold and moisture issues within a home can be fixed, and the sale of the home can move forward without affecting the integrity and/or value of...

Diagnosis of Mold Allergies and Treatments

Ask the right questions Most doctors don’t even know, believe or understand that mold is or even could be the source of these problems. They don’t test for mold in your blood or urine, even though those tests are available. Blood serum testing is extremely expensive, however, the urine testing is much less costly. But most doctors don’t even know to do those tests. We have had numerous people tell us that they asked their doctor to test them for...

What Types Of Mold Are Considered Toxic Mold

"Toxic mold" is a term that is used to describe types of mold that are considered deadly to humans. Most people believe that the name refers to one particular species of mold; however, it encompasses hundreds of species, a small fraction of which are not very harmful to the human body. Black mold is commonly used as a name for the most harmful mold species, which happen to be black in appearance. However, even molds of a different color can...

Mold Allergy Tests

Your doctor will want to know your signs and symptoms and may want to conduct a physical examination to identify or exclude other medical problems. Your doctor may also recommend one or more skin or blood tests to see if you have an allergy that can be identified. These include: Skin prick test. This test uses diluted amounts of common or suspected allergens, such as molds found in the local area. During the test, these substances are applied to the skin...

Avoiding MOLD

While there are medications and shots which you can take to treat mold allergies, the best response is to avoid exposure to mold and mold spores as much as possible. If you have mold in your home your first priority should be to get rid of it. By removing mold and its spores from your environment you will no longer be breathing in mold allergens, the cause of your allergic reactions, and you will quickly get better.

Good Mold – Bad Mold

Good Mold Mold gets a bad rap of late, but good mold does exist. Penicillium is the typical “blue” mold found on food. Bread that sat too long in the pantry typically develops penicillium. In fact, as the name implies, the very tasty blue cheese is derived from this particular strain of mold. In this day and age, cheese makers now add a commercially reproduced and freeze-dried culture, but originally, penicillium was procured from dark, damp caves and adding to...

Category: Mold Questions