mold

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Part 4 - Indoor Air/Environmental Quality

Where does indoor air quality fit into all of this and how does this pertain to me?

The one reoccurring theme throughout any of the previously stated guidelines, or pertaining to green building in general; is the importance of good indoor air and environmental quality. When one delves into the health statistics stemming from environmental exposure, it’s easy to see why the need for awareness is so much greater. Take for instance:

- Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities. (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission)

- Cancer rates have increased since 1901 from only 1 in 8,000 Americans, to 1 in 3 today. By the year 2010, this disease will afflict 1 of every 2 individuals. (Source: American Cancer Society)

- In the past 50 years more than 75,000 chemicals have been introduced into the environment. Today 300 synthetic chemicals are found in the bodies of humans. Even newborn babies have synthetic chemicals passed on from their mothers. (Source: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals, a European Union program)

- At any given time, there is 3.36 million tons of household hazardous waste to contend with in our country. Source: Chec's Health House, the resource for Environmental Health Risks Affecting Your Children)

Prevention of poor indoor air and environmental quality plays a large role in the green building movement. Occupant comfort is also addressed in this category which would include thermal comfort and daylighting.

Whether the goal is general health benefits, employee productivity, less absenteeism for students or employees, or a combination of all of the above; many of the studies which have been conducted are showing amazing results.

- A study by Carnegie Mellon University measuring the relationship between increased lighting control and productivity showed an average increase of 7.1% in productivity. (Source: eBIDS.)

- Sales in stores with skylights were up to 40% higher compared to similar stores without skylights (Source: California Board for Energy Efficiency Third Party Program).

- Students with the most daylighting in their classrooms progressed 20% faster on math tests and 26% faster on reading tests in one year than those with the least day lighting. (According to a Heschong Mahone Group study, “Day lighting in Schools,” conducted on behalf of the CA Board for Energy Efficiency).

Common and possible sources of indoor pollutants would include: biological contaminants (including mold, bacteria, etc.), radon, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and of course asbestos and lead in older homes.

Careful planning and implementation of viewing the project as a “whole building system,” is done from the beginning of the design phase, through the selection of interior products, HVAC design, and use planning.

Where do IAQ Professionals fit in to the green building industry?

According to U.S. Green Building Council statistics, the annual market for green building in products and services is $7 billion, representing 37% growth over the prior year (based on 2004 figures). This figure is expected to climb – and climb quickly. While cost will always be part of the equation; just like eating organic foods can be more expensive, the same may be expected when it comes to safer, alternative building materials for your client’s home or building, as well as the products and furnishings that go into it. For many people, the slightly higher cost is worth it for any number of reasons including: occupant comfort and improved health, energy and water savings, and of course adds value to their investment.

Many building teams (which would include the architect, builder, interior designer, etc.) understand the value and need for an IAQ/IEQ Professional. Who can better explain the importance of a healthy home!

Along those same lines, many builders are often willing to employ a consultant to teach them about preventative measures which can be utilized within the building process.

Interior designers can also benefit from the assistance of an IAQ/IEQ professional. With so many new products out there, many people can become quickly confused, and with green going “mainstream” we are bound to see an increase in “greenwashing.” Greenwashing is a term used to describe the “green” benefits of a product, that can often times only be sorted out by researching the particular product and delving into the MSDS. Again, teamwork comes into play with both the aesthetics coupled with occupant comfort and safety.

As IAQ/IEQ professionals, we have the opportunity on a daily basis to help make a difference. Simple things like recommending the use of no or low VOC paint, sealers, and other products can play a part in improving the indoor environment. Recommending clients upgrade their air intake filters to HEPA and installing carbon monoxide detectors is another good example. Asking your clients about their choice and use of cleaning products and giving them safer alternatives has the ability to potentially save a child’s life. You can perform preventative healthy home assessments with unlimited possibilities to make a positive impact.

Where do we go from here?

If interested in green building, I would encourage you to attend a green building conference such as West Coast Green or Greenbuild to learn more.
Green building is a definite win-win situation for all of those involved in the process. We have come a long way and still have a much longer way to go…

The question is, will you walk, or ride a bike???

As Mahatma Gandhi once said; “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Think green!

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Well here's a day brightener for me! Unlike chemicals which have TLV's (Threshold Limit Value) guidelines for exposure, mold, being a biological contaminant and something not readily understood at that - regarding mycotoxins, etc. will never be able to be regulated in the same manner as something not "alive". Because we all have unique immune systems, regulating mold from a "numbers" stand-point has simply not been plausible, nor should it be...

Taking the approach seen in the article below, it would seem to be just good old common sense. The majority of the projects I'm personally involved in that have substantial mold issues generally fall into one of three categories: building/design/construction defects, maintenance issues (or lack there of), or catastrophic water events (the minority).

Stop the moisture - stop the mold. It makes sense and cents all around - from a liability standpoint, from a health standpoint, from an investment standpoint.

In my perfect world, I'd also like to see regulation requiring builders to obtain continuing education units as well. One thing at a time... This would definitely be moving in the right direction though.

-Ms. Champion

Science Daily — Amid growing public concern about mold contamination of homes and its associated health effects, a new study is recommending policy approaches for controlling mold in homes that could be used on local and nationwide bases. It is scheduled for publication in the July 15 issue of ACS’ Environmental Science and Technology, a semi-monthly journal.

The study, done by Felicia Wu, Tom Biksey, and Meryl H. Karol compares policies for regulation of mold with those previously developed to regulate two other contaminants in the indoor environment, radon and lead. While federal, state, and local agencies have policies and regulations concerning radon and lead, few state or local policies have been developed for mold and no federal agency has Congressional authority to regulate or develop indoor mold policy, the study points out.

Based on lessons from radon and lead, the researchers recommend policy approaches for controlling indoor mold that rely on building and housing codes, maintenance and rehabilitation regulations, home marketing incentives, and public education on moisture and mold control.

“While it is not yet feasible to develop standards and regulations for acceptable mold levels in the home, guidelines and policies can be developed at the federal, state, and local levels to control moisture and mold in homes,” the report states.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Chemical Society.

http://tinyurl.com/29hw86

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

EHP has been one of my favorite online research resources for a number of years now.

"Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content is free online. Print issues are available by paid subscription."

Check it out: http://www.ehponline.org

* Last month's issue covered the inhalational health effects of mold.

Cross posted from my site. Enjoy.

I've had several potential clients call my company in the past week requesting "mold testing." When I don't automatically respond with "Yes, it will be (insert dollar amount here) and we'll tell you in a couple of days if you have mold..." they seem to get frustrated.

So here are some things about mold that are important to understand. In no particular order...

1. Mold is everywhere. (I refuse to use the word "ubiquitous" because it has been so overly used in context to mold and simply means everywhere anyways.)
2. If we didn't have mold we'd be surrounded by dead stuff - literally. Its job in our eco-system is to decompose organic matter.
3. It is for this simple reason that you don't want it growing in your house. IT WILL EAT IT. Not out of spite, just because that's its job.
4. Unfortunately one of mold's favorite foods is cellulose, which is mainly what our houses are made of.
5. There is no silver bullet - sorry. Dead mold spores are still as allergenic as live spores. The goal should be removal, not killing. (Plus it's just not nice to kill things.)
6. Mold "testing" should never be done without a thorough visual assessment, an understanding of the occupant's risk, knowledge of the buildings use and history and a hypothesis on which to base one's sampling methodology.
7. If a company uses the phrase "toxic mold" they are baiting you with scare tactics.
8. All molds have the potential to be allergenic. There are certain types of mold that produce secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. There is still much research that needs to be done in this area with regard to health effects, etc. This is difficult to determine in part because everyone's individual susceptibility is different. From the research that has been done, we know that it is not healthy for anyone to live or work in a moldy situation.
9. Its not always mold. I once had a client who thought she had a mold problem because of her severe headaches while at home. I took no mold samples, but instead took a garbage bag and proceeded to fill it up with a large number of plug-in type air fresheners. Her headaches were gone within the week.
10. Indoor Air/Environmental Quality (IAQ/IEQ) is comprised of many different facets. Don't think inside of a box, your head may become weirdly shaped.
11. To test or remediate mold without understanding the origin of the root cause (moisture) is a waste of money. If the root cause is not properly addressed (no band-aids please) the mold will just grow back.
12. All leaks should be repaired and dried out within 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
13. I have yet to see something that can't be fixed, but HOW it's fixed is crucial.
14. Most states have no regulation; therefore it's the wild wild west. You may call me or you may call Bubba who bought a mold certification online for $195. I am soo not kidding. Do your homework, ask questions, and ask more questions.
15. Don't think you can become a millionaire by suing someone over mold. Please think of this as a last resort. Litigation sucks, I charge way more money, and it's not about the "principal," it's about the money. If it IS about the principal, let me know and you can follow the path I did.
16. Beware of the companies who perform consulting and remediation on the same project (unless it is a small $ amount & you know where they live.) This is viewed as a major conflict of interest and is like the fox "guarding" the hen house.
17. If you have a small amount of "mildew" or mold on a hard surface like tile, soap and water will suffice. Skip the bleach - it's bad for you to breathe.

This concludes Tales of a Consultant - Part 1.

To be continued...

Yesterday Leonard Lopate did a show on "toxic mold."

Dr. Straus does an excellent job in this talkshow. It is especially informative for those that don't have a good understanding of mold and those who've been frightened by all of the "toxic black mold" stories in the media.

Show blurb:

An upstate New York librarian claims that her MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) was caused by exposure to mold at the library where she worked. She's now so ill she can barely leave her house. Today industrial hygienist Monona Rossol and Dr. David C. Straus explain why some mold can be so toxic, and whether you should be concerned about your workplace. Ms. Rossol is also founder and president of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc., and Dr. Straus is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Texas Tech University.