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What
is mold?
Mold is a generic term for the thousands of fungal species (typically
inedible) that grow in filamentous sheets and break down organic matter
as an energy source. The basic requirements for mold growth are
organic matter, proper temperature (our room temperature is one of mold’s
favorites too), and most importantly, water.
What
are mold spores?
Spores
are the means by which mold reproduces and spreads to new areas – similar
the seeds of a plant.
Where
does mold come from?
As mold is part of the natural environment, mold
spores are always present in the outdoor air, much like pollen or
dust. Therefore, they are almost
certainly present in indoor air as well.
This means that once the conditions for mold growth are met (i.e.
an organic food source, an appropriate temperature, and a water source),
then mold will start to grow. The
same warm ‘room temperature’ and the abundance of organic products like
paper and wood that make indoor environments ideal for humans also makes
them ideal for mold growth, given any source of moisture intrusion.
What
is the most effective way of preventing mold?
By far, the simplest way to prevent mold growth is to prevent water
from coming into prolonged contact with organic matter.
What
is mold dispersal?
Molds reproduce by releasing spores into the air, through which they
can travel until they find another suitable place for growth.
Therefore, “secondary” contamination of any surface upon which dust may
settle is possible once a source of spores (i.e. mold growth) is
established within a structure.
Can
mold spores be carried in clothing?
Will washing remove them?
Yes, mold spores can typically be washed off in a machine or by
dry-cleaning. However, clothing that has become wet and has
actually begun to foster mold growth is very difficult to fully clean;
generally disposal of such affected articles is a more cost-effective
solution.
Why do I need to close my windows and doors before an
investigation? Can I open them
after the sampling?
Prior to and during our mold investigation, the windows and doors are
closed to ensure an accurate depiction of the mold spore levels in the
ambient air of a structure. We compare those indoor levels to
outdoor (control) samples that we take that same day. After the
indoor samples are collected, the windows and doors can be opened.
Which molds should I look out for?
Which molds may present a hazard to any given individual depends upon
that individuals personal sensitivities and medical history. Therefore a mold that might cause
illness in one person might not affect another person. A medical doctor’s review of the
laboratory identification of the mold types found during our
investigation is necessary to assess any potential threat to your health.
What kind of background do your employees have?
All microbial consulting services that we provide are performed by
highly trained, experienced, and qualified industrial hygienists with
academic backgrounds in biology.
We utilize extensive training and quality control programs to maintain
our high performance standards.
What is a Certified Industrial Hygienist? Do you have any on staff?
A Certified Industrial Hygienist (C.I.H.) is an industrial
hygienist that has literally been certified by the American Board of Industrial
Hygiene to have demonstrated consummate knowledge and
experience with all aspects of the field, including (though not limited
to) microbial, asbestos, and lead hazards and occupational safety. All of our investigations are performed under the specific
direction of a C.I.H. who scrutinizes all services rendered.
How long have you been in business?
Pacific has been in business for six years, serving the southern
California region. However, collectively our staff has over one
hundred years of experience in the field of environmental health and
safety.
Do you work in my area?
Our company has multiple locations in California, including
Irvine, Riverside, San Diego, and Sacramento, and an additional branch in
Tampa, Florida. From the location
nearest you, we are willing to travel to your destination to provide you
with superior microbial consultation services.
Does any agency mandate mold levels in residences?
Currently there are no federal, state, or municipal mandates about
“safe” or “acceptable” levels of mold in homes or commercial/industrial
settings. Consequently, we use
outdoor control samples taken during our investigation and a vast
database of data from previous investigations to evaluate ambient air
samples (which assess personal exposure).
Is
there a state agency I can call to report mold if I am a tenant?
Yes,
but first report all plumbing leaks and moisture problems to the building
management. If the problem persists then you may want to contact your
local, state, or federal health or housing authorities.
Can mold be eliminated?
Given mold's ubiquity in the outdoor environment, it is unreasonable
to expect it's complete elimination from an indoor environment.
However, by repairing the source(s) of moisture intrusion that caused the
mold problem, removing severely affected materials, and cleaning lightly
affected materials, it is possible to return a structure to a state where
exposure to mold is no greater than it was before the moisture intrusion
ever started.
What will the report tell me?
Our reports compile all the information found at the time of the
preliminary investigation, including the background information, defined
scope of services, observations, sampling strategy, sample results and
conclusions, and recommended remediation.
What is a scope of work?
The area covered and/or defined in our preliminary investigation,
which is associated with the moisture problem.
What is remediation?
The process of correcting the area impacted from the moisture
problem. Pacific Health & Safety, Inc. does not perform
remediation work, however, we can provide you with a list of remediation
contractors known to us.
Do I need to hire a remediation contractor or can any contractor do
the cleanup and repairs?
The choice is yours, but it is recommended that a qualified
remediation contractor do the cleanup and repairs because they are
familiar with the removal protocols and procedures.
Do I need to stay there the whole time? How long will it take to do
the survey?
No, the most critical part is at the beginning of the
investigation so as to aid in the background information leading to the
moisture problem, but after that you are free to leave at any time. The
survey may take on a minimum of four hours depending on the nature of the
moisture problem because our company performs a comprehensive
investigation in the affected and adjacent areas to narrow down the areas
impacted from the moisture problem.
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