DIY Toxic Mold Testing Kits - Home & Office
| You might have need of a mold test kit for
your home or office. Many people have toxic mold problems of this type in their
living areas and don't even know it until it becomes a health problem.
Below is some information you may find helpful. |
Purchase a Mold Testing
Kit & For More Information |
Controlling indoor molds and toxic molds
According to the American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), taking the following steps to rid your home
or business of molds can lead to a decrease in allergy symptoms and lessen
the potential burden on your pocketbook:
- Use a
solution of water and dish detergent to clean the moldy area.. Then wipe
off the molds and water. Remember to wear rubber gloves and use a
protective mask if your symptoms are severe.
Remove the source- If molds
or mildew is visible in carpeting or on wallpaper, remove them from your
home. Also, if you have a leaky pipe or roof, quickly repair and seal
these moisture sources.
Dry it out- Use exhaust
fans in the bathroom and wipe down the shower after use. Periodically
clean the bathroom and other mold-promoting places with a product that
kills molds and mildew, and throw away shower curtains at the first
sight of molds.
Lower humidity- Try to
maintain a humidity level of 30 to 40 percent in your house.
Stay above ground- In
general, it’s not a good idea for people with allergies to have a
bedroom or a family/work room in the basement.
Air it out- Ventilate damp
rooms, attics and even crawl spaces under the house to try to keep them
dry. If you use a dehumidifier, empty and clean it regularly to prevent
mildew from forming. Also, air filters may help control airborne mold
spores throughout your house.
All rooms, especially basements,
bathrooms and kitchens, require ventilation and consistent cleaning to
control spore growth.
Asthma and Molds - Another reason for
needing a mold test kit.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Asthmatics may want to steer
clear of molds according to French researchers who say they found a link
between asthma severity and two types of molds.
The same association to illness severity was not seen
for cat dander or grass pollen, report lead author Dr. Mahmoud Zureik and
colleagues from the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in
Paris, France.
Asthma experts have long known that the respiratory
disorder is triggered by various allergens such as cockroaches, animal
dander, house dust mites, pollen and moldy spores. However, little is known
about factors associated with severe asthma, which is characterized by
permanently impaired lung function and frequent asthma attacks.
In their multi-centered investigation, Zureik and
colleagues evaluated the severity of asthmatic reactions to various
allergens--measured by skin reactions to allergens during a skin test--in
1,132 people between the ages of 20 and 44 years from all over the world.
Asthma was categorized as mild, moderate or severe based
on answers to a questionnaire. Of the group, 73% were sensitive to at
least one allergen and 65% were sensitive to two or more.
The researchers found that people with severe asthma
were much more likely to have sensitization to two molds--Alternaria
alternata and Cladosporium
herbarum--compared to those with mild or moderate asthma.
Severe asthmatics were more than twice as likely to be
sensitive to either molds, while other asthmatics had a 1.5 times or lower
increased chance of being sensitive to the molds.
"There was no association between asthma severity
and sensitization to pollens or cats," the authors write in the
August 24th issue of the British Medical Journal.
Having sensitivity to a type of house dust mite was also
associated with increased asthma severity, according to the report.
Until now, there has been scant evidence that
sensitization to molds is associated with severity of asthma, the
researchers note. The findings have implications for prevention and
treatment of the illness.
"Those people with asthma who are sensitized to
airborne molds should be educated to pay careful attention to symptoms and
comply with treatment, particularly during the seasonal increase in mold
spore counts," Zureik and colleagues write.
"Patients should be encouraged to decrease exposure
by avoiding indoor conditions that facilitate the growth of molds--for
example, by better ventilation and by decreasing dampness," they
conclude.
Adapted from: British Medical Journal 2002;325:411-414.
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