moldillness

Mold in campus dorms

2023-09-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

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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

2019-06-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2019-06-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

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

2019-05-19T05:08:00.003-07:00

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

2018-07-24T09:42:00.001-07:00

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.

2018-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

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

2018-06-03T13:06:00.003-07:00

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.

Carolina Hurricanes player allergic to his hockey equipment.

2017-06-28T12:14:00.003-07:00

It's not a laughing matter. It's only funny if it isn't happening to you, the Carolina Hurricanes player stated. He is allergic to the anti-mildew chemical that is put into the hockey equipment. He will be sitting out this season but hopes to make it back for the next season. He is working with his doctor and trying to resolve some of the skin problems associated with his allergy.

I feel so sorry for him because people without allergies just don't understand how devastating it can be. Apparently he is allergic to the anti-mildew chemical that is put into the hockey equipment. I can totally relate. Sometimes even dyes in regular clothing make me so sick I want to throw up. Pajamas that have them chemical in them called fire retardant can be a trouble for some people. I have bought socks with antimicrobial properties to them only to throw them in the trash because they stunk so bad and made my feet itch. I totally get the pain this guy is going through.

I hope he can find some relief for his allergies, or maybe they could even make his equipment and clothing with cotton or natural fibers that would not cause the allergy in the first place. I hope he gets better and comes back and helps the hurricanes with the Stanley cup! Wouldn't that be awesome.

Chemical Sensitivities and Food Sensitivities

2016-09-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Many people that have been exposed to moldy buildings will also be sensitive to many chemicals and even foods. Some of the foods that can cause severe allergies are wheat, soy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, and fish. Some women are even sensitive to the chemicals in maxipads, they put chlorine, plastic, deodorants, and adhesives in many maxi pads.

There is a great feminine product out there for chemically sensitive women that I just learned about. It is called glad rags. You do have to do more work by cleaning and reusing your pads, but they are made of soft cotton. Just think of all those chemicals right up next to your body especially near your reproductive organs. I only wish I had known about these products long ago.

Schools and Mold are Smart Boards more important than clean air?

2014-11-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Schools are notorious for mold. The reason? We are not putting enough emphasis on the health of our staff and students. The most important thing to a county school: awards, attendance, grants, money, status and smart boards. The things that are least important to a county school are the health and well being of the staff and students, the hvac system, the mold growth, regular maintenance and cleanliness.

The elementary school I am familiar with in my area has an abundance of awards, they are pros at getting grants and new smart boards, but when it comes to regular maintenance in the building they are quite lacking. The duct work has visible dust bunnies hanging as well as a coating about 2 inches thick all around the duct work. Have you ever wondered why kids are generally healthy in the summer, but as soon as school starts ear infections, strep, stomach viruses, sinus infections and the like run rampant! No its not just that kids are germ magnets, it has a lot to do with the environment that they are in. Clean air and water is important and vital for your health.

The water fountain at the elementary school in our area is being held together with duct tape, while there are shiny new smart boards in nearly every room. How smart is that?

I don't know about you, but a little less mold in our schools would be great. If we had to go back to the old way of doing things it may be smarter than goals upon goals for smart boards while ignoring basic needs for our schools. Clean air and water! Simple, simple simple. How hard is that?

Mold Illness and severe allergies

2013-10-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

Being exposed to mold can mean a lot of different problems for individuals. For instance some people have severe allergies as a result of their exposure. I know some people are hyper sensitive and can react to minute amounts of allergens. Mold is an allergen and produces toxins in my body that I can not eliminate. One time I told a co-worker that his plant smelled horrendously strong of mold. I was already having a lump in my throat and getting a migraine from it, so I figured, what the heck I will go look at it and find the dang mold in it. Do you know how small the little dot of mold was that I found? Well, let's just say, that's what it was, a small dot.

Something that would be nothing to some people are a big big deal to others. I felt like I was gonna die when I entered the room with the house plant that had a speck of mold in it. I mean literally die right then and there. My co-worker showed me the rash he had on his leg, and I told him, his rash was comming from the mold in his plant. OMG!!! I thought HE was gonna die! He love, love, loved this plant, after all it was probably 10 years old and had never ever been outdoors except to move it from office to office. So I told him to put it in the sun for a bit, stop overwatering it, and to remove the speck of mold in the pot. I am not sure whatever happened to his poor plant. I thought it was like a member of his family he was so attached to it. But to me, it was the enemy. I thought I was gonna just die from a little speck of mold. It was making me crazy. I had to leave the office, as soon as I could get out to get some fresh air I did just that.

What made me so sensitive to mold? Who knows, maybe it was all the bug spray and chemicals around me at work, maybe it was the hydrogen sulfide in the circuit boards that were being created in the labs at my work. Maybe it was because they couldn't clean an air filter for 3 years. Maybe I was genetically prone to it. Maybe my body had chemical overload from the mercury fillings in my mouth that the dentist poisioned me with years ago. Maybe my immune system was down after having a baby. Maybe, I was just allergic all my life until I had such a buildup I just couldn't take it anymore.

Mold isn't good for anyone, try to avoid it if you can, as much as you can. Good luck!

Are newspapers toxic?

2013-10-14T17:05:00.002-07:00

I have often thought that some Newspaper Ink must be made from soy, by the smell of it. Monsanto, made soy evil, by spraying roundup directly on the crops, it allows a micro-fungus to grow. If you are allergic to fungus, then you are probably allergic to soy, therefore, probably allergic to newspapers as well. This is an interesting article in the oxford journal about the ah receptor and newspapers.

http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/102/2/278.abstract

Is Technology Killing our Children? Are Smart Boards killing our Kids?

2013-09-24T18:23:00.001-07:00

Funny thing happened today. Our county school system here in NC just told us they are trying to get federal grants for technology. Don't get me wrong, technology can be a wonderful thing, but if the school system can obtain federal funds to fund smart boards and new computers, laptops, internet service, etc. then it can fund a clean school that is mold free can't it? Just wondering what is more important, new computers or clean floors and air? When children are suffering with asthma, pneumonia, strep throat infections, plagued with severe allergies we have to ask ourselves, can anything be causing these problems? The answer is... (yes I know the answer) Mold in our schools is a big big big problem!!! There is a website called schoolmoldhelp and some of the stories are unbelievable. Dr. Shoemaker writes in his Mold Warriors book about the unbelievable stories of mold and sickness and illness. I was basically told to hush up about the mold in a popular NC University that packed the punches of red and white. Blood guilty is all I can say, no wonder people bleed red over there. Only more attention is probably spent on athletics at that university than technology, although they could run a close contest, and several of the athletic directors coaches died from cancer. You know there is a connection between mold and cancer don't you? Well, you do now. Hopefully you will get some insight by reading this article. Hopefully you will think twice before you send your sons and daughters to a mold infested dorm room. Knowledge is power. Power up, and learn about the dangers of mold. Power up and say something. Do something about it. Don't be silent. I wasn't. I was lucky, I got out before it killed me. Let me tell you about a cutting edge classroom with technology before its time, and let me tell you that the air filter in the rooms hadn't been changed in 3 years. Let me tell you about how the building leaked when it rained and how people had to work in the building while asbestos was flying through the air. Yes technology could be killing our children. Yes smart boards could be killing our children from elementary school on up to college. Somebody needs to emphasize the importance of cleanliness next to godliness, instead of how many smart boards can we get for our school. How can we make this happen? Post your suggestions. Please.

Are smart boards killing our children?

2013-09-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

They could be. If your child's school is more concerned with how many smart boards they can obtain for the school, than keeping up with the maintenance issues, then yes, Smart boards could be killing our children. Technology is a wonderful thing, but how far do we go to get the A+ Five star rating in our schools. Do we skimp on the small things? I recently visited a school that had goals upon goals of obtaining smart boards by fundraisers, book sales, races, etc, etc. Not one time did I see, that they were raising money to keep the school free of mold and dust. They dust bunnies were hanging from the ceiling, the air filters, well lets just say who knows how long they had been there before they were changed. Ceiling tiles dripping with water stains. What was growing behind those soaked ceiling tiles? Toxic mold? Was that the reason your child had pneumonia, or strep throat that lasted for the entire winter? Hmmmmm. Kinda makes you wonder. If it is so important to obtain smart boards, then why isn't the same importance put on keeping our schools healthy. Why don't they have clean air? Ok, let's do the math. Air filter $3 each times 30 air filters equal $90. If changed once a month for a year, and yes a whole year because the building is occupied all year then we are talking $1080 for a year. It wouldn't take too long to save up for an extra smart board. But at whose expense? Our children's that's who. Thank you.

Are smart boards killing our children?

2013-09-21T09:16:00.002-07:00

What Being a"Moldie" means to me

2012-07-05T16:06:00.001-07:00

Being a moldie means, I am allergic to mold, I get sick from mold, I have to avoid it, I am terrified of it. It can make me very very sick. Being a moldie means my body can not process the mold toxins and eliminate it, instead it breaks out in reactions, skin reactions, stabbing pains, inflammation, blurry vision, nausea, migraines and so on..... Being a moldie, now I have food allergies as well, and food intolerances. Being a moldie means I now have multiple chemical sensitivities, and a clean window could throw me off into a migraine. That's really depressing you know. Who could know the difficulties and the trauma a little thing like mold could cause? It takes a really smart doctor to figure this one out. Not many doctors are trained in recognizing the symptoms of mold illness. They can however tell you that you are in need of a psychiatrist. You know, how they always say, write down all your symptoms for your doctor, well, I did just that, and when I handed them to the doctor, I heard her in the hall tell the nurse "That's rich". I was like yeah, and your the b itch, see ya, never!

nc state has a leaky nuclear reactor

2011-07-10T22:28:00.000-07:00

NCSU has a leaky nuclear reactor. What has that to do with mold illness? One simple fact: NCSU does not maintain their facilities plain and simple. If they can't change an air filter before it breaks the hvac system, how in the world are they going to repair a leaking nuclear reactor? Just wondering.....http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/08/1328937/ncsu-says-leak-in-reactor-not.html?tab=gallery&gallery=/2011/07/07/1328558/nc-state-reactor-leak-070811.html&gid_index=1

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

2010-12-27T19:19:00.000-08:00

http://http://arizonaadvancedmedicine.com/articles/multiple_chemical_sensitivity.html
This website has some pretty good information about multiple chemical sensitivities.

Air handler leaks on ceiling at eb2

2010-12-24T05:06:00.000-08:00

This is an air handler leaks on ceiling at eb2 above the door to room 1230. It is kind of funny how the air handlers in this building keep failing. I can count at least 4 air handlers that have leaked that I have personally seen and I am sure there is more. This building cost the taxpayers $42,000,0000 and is only 4 years old. If the air handlers have been defective from day one then how on earth did the building ever pass inspection??? Water + porus surfaces = mold growth. Something you don't want to mess with.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Mold

2010-11-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org/http://

Here is a great link to find out more information on multiple chemical sensitivity.

If you ask a person that has been exposed to mold, they will more than likely tell you that they are sensitive to things that most of society could never fathom. If a building has been water damaged, a lot of MCS (multiple chemical sensivity) patients can tell as soon as they walk in the door. With an increased sense of smell we are like the canaries in the coal mine. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, we can smell small amounts of voc's and mold behind the walls, in the ceilings, behind tiles, under the floor, etc. Call us bloodhounds if you want but if we can smell it, it's there. Unfortunately this illness limits our abilities to function normally in society.

It can really start to drive a person insane. But fortunately there is more than one of us and we can find comfort in knowing that others like us exist. Unfortunately society doesn't see us as sane, and therefore we suffer the stigma of: crazy, delusional, or psychotic. Maybe we should tell people that are allergic to strawberries and peanuts that "it's all in their head" and watch while they die from an anaphylactic reaction as we force them to be around the very thing that is poision to their bodies. I mean really why is being allergic to mold so unbelievable and being allergic to a food so accepted in our society? Its the same thing really, only we are allergic to mold and multiple chemicals and voc's.

UNC Facilities are a mess - News and Observer

2010-10-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/03/717591/unc-system-facilities-are-in-a.html#storylink=misearch
This story just scratches the surface of what is really going on with the HVAC systems on NC State's campus. Many, many buildings are spreading mold and making people very very sick. Some buildings are new, some buildings are old that are having problems. Basically there is just no excuse for the lack of maintenance and lack of budget to maintain these buildings. If you are going to build it, you must maintain it, and historically preserving a building full of mold, is just wrong, its just wrong.

Health hazards in schools

2010-10-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/30/evidence-mounts-of-school-health-hazards.html

Mold Warriors book

2010-08-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent source of reading material on the subject of mold illness. I was amazed that I actually couldn't put this book down. I have a hard time focusing after being exposed to mold at work. Once I started reading it, I realized that I wasn't alone anymore. I realized that mold illness is happening to people all over our great country the good old USA. I realized that stricter laws need to be in place when building new buildings. I realized that the hvac systems need to be maintained in all buildings for good health. I realized that buildings that leak are bad for your health. I realized that many many school teachers, students and staff get sick unnecessarily because the buildings they work in and/or go to school in are contaminated and pretty much, nobody cares, and nobody does anything about it. Well its about time we all banded together and stood up to the problems that are forcing us into having adhd children, and becomming adhd as adults. Its about time people started realizing that the girl down the hall had leukemia because the building she worked in was contaminated with mold.

Air Handlers that leak at NC STATE $41,000,000 building EB2

2010-08-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know I just fell off the turnip truck, but enviro health and safety weren't aware of any problems in this building. hmmmmm

Water damaged sprinkler head eb2

2010-08-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a water damaged sprinkler head at work, not too pretty, and it is rusting around the edges of the metal. I wonder what's behind that sheetrock?