BCS HAS TIPS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Mold does not affect everyone, but there are those that are particularly sensitive to it, including infants, pregnant women, the elderly or others who have compromised immune systems. Mold can even result in health issues for pets!
Health professionals have been telling us for years that there are negative health implications to both short-term and long-term exposure to mold. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was enough evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with numerous respiratory conditions. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the “WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould,” which suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children.
Building Cleaning Services (BCS) would like to give you tips on what health issues to look for that mold exposure may cause or exacerbate. There are over 100,000 different types of mold, but not all are a health threat. The most feared are toxic black molds, but these are rare, usually occurring only in indoor environments that have been damaged, flooded, or closed for long periods of time.
First you should realize that we are surrounded by mold because the spores are in the air, both indoors and outdoors. It only becomes a problem when it reaches excessive levels where you reside or work. Given the combination of moisture and a food source, mold will grow like mad! It will grow in places such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Common food sources for mold are ceiling tiles, wallpaper or other paper products, cardboard, and wood products, but it can also grow in insulation, drywall, paints, carpet, fabric and upholstery. It can enter the home through open doorways, windows, vents, heating and air conditioning systems, through the crawl space under the building or even by attaching itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets.
HEALTH CLUES THAT INDICATE YOU MAY HAVE EXCESSIVE MOLD
Individuals who are sensitive can have an allergic reaction to mold that can occur immediately or appear after weeks or even months of exposure. Common symptoms may include the following:
- Nasal Congestion & Stuffiness.
- Throat Irritation.
- Coughing, Sneezing and Wheezing.
- Asthma Attacks.
- Upper Respiratory Infections.
- Skin Irritation.
- Eye Irritation.
- Fever, headaches or nose bleeds.
Obviously, the above symptoms can have other causes, but if those have been looked into and you are at a loss for what is causing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time to see if you have mold in the home or office.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT MOLD
If you suspect you have a mold issue on your property, either through any of the above symptoms or through sight, smell or the presence of water in your home, you should contact a professional mold inspection company to take air samples to determine if mold is present. They will provide you with a report about what, if any, types and amounts of mold are found. Typically, elevated mold counts only occur in a certain area, not throughout the entire home, so there’s usually limited areas that need to be addressed.
The severity of a problem depends on the comparative air quality of the indoor space compared to the surrounding area, and the severity of a leak or other source of moisture that could be causing the mold. BCS can provide you with the names of several professional mold inspectors who are very dependable, and if you need any mold removed, BCS provides professional remediation. Just give BCS a call at (818) 953-7100.
SOME RECENT 5-STAR YELP! REVIEWS ON BCS’S MOLD REMEDIATION
9/26/2018 – “Our company has worked with BCS for the past few years. Kathy, Garrison, and the rest of the team have always been very knowledgeable, attentive and responsive. AND you get very personal service.
“BCS is one of the top companies in their field and we’re able to see based on the quality of their work and the quality of their customer service.
“We mainly deal with BCS as it relates to mold remediation (we do the initial inspections for mold, asbestos, and lead paint – along with the clearances), but I know they provide other services as well. Give them a call and I’m sure they’ll take care of you!” – Tim M., San Clemente
5/28/2019 – “We are a real estate management company. This is the 3rd time we’ve used Building Cleaning Services. Each time the mold remediation job was done thoroughly and promptly. I highly recommend them.” – Frieda A., Los Angeles
9/9/2019 – “I work with a real estate team and we needed mold remediation done in a timely manner. We were super happy with the team and the work they did and got this huge job done in a timely manner. I would definitely use them again if needed and highly recommend! Thanks Again!” – Sam D., Los Angeles