A NewsChannel 3 investigation into moldy military housing first brought the dangers to light.

If mold is not cleaned up right the first time, families can get sick in their own homes.

But now, a new Virginia law that took effect over the weekend is making it harder for homeowners to find the right experts to help them.

A leaky roof, water damaged windows and wet drywall canalllead to mold problems.

And for the past year, mold inspectors and mold remediators, the professionals you turn to for help, have all been licensed by the state of Virginia.

The law was passed in 2009 to make sure that everyone who called themselves an expert in the field had some sort of education and training behind them.

But over the weekend, the entire mold remediation and inspector licensing program ended at the hands of Governor McDonnell in his mission to streamline state operations.

His commission on government reform and restructuring put the recommendation forward late last year. Everyone on the 31-member board voted to stop the licensing program.

Their reasoning? They say the environmental protection agency does not see a need to regulate mold remediation nationally, so Virginia was over-regulating where the EPA did not and they wanted to get rid of what they called a barrier to business.

Both the House of Delegates and the Senate then passed their own versions of the bill during the 2012 general assembly.

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Gov. McDonnell ends mold remediation and inspector licensing program

Officials in Dumont are testing the air quality in police headquarters and determining what steps need to be taken to address issues found during an inspection conducted by the Bergen County Health Department.

The levels of carbon monoxide are very high in the police department, which require the air quality test, and mold and lead paint are additional concerns in the environment, according to officials.

"We've been dealing with this for a number of months now," Borough Administrator John Perkins said at a recent meeting.

"There are some issues that need to be addressed as the result of the inspection done by the county health," he said.

The cost of the air testing is not to exceed $9,500, according to a resolution passed by the governing body at June 18 meeting.

The testing is being conducted by Birdsall Services Group, which Dumont used several years ago when the borough hall needed testing and remediation for asbestos.

Following the inspection by the Bergen County Health Department, officials learned of the high carbon monoxide levels and presence of mold in the police department's area.

"It's not black mold," said Perkins. "It's the mold that makes you kind of sneeze and feel like you have allergies."

There are also a couple of rooms including the evidence room and a back room in the department where the paint on the outside walls is peeling.

Perkins said that, based upon the length of time the paint has been there, it is likely it is lead-based and thus requires testing.

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Dumont officials authorize air testing in police department

PRINCETON N.J., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Vacation home owners and people buying homes that have been vacant for any period of time need to be alert to the possibility of an indoor mold problem, advised Jason Earle, founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD? .

Preventing mold problems in a home you're closing up, for any reason, is not difficult to do, Earle says. In an article on the company's website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle offers instructions and advice on how to prepare a house for closure without inviting mold in as a guest.

"Nearly everyone can recall the distinctly musty odor of a vacation home left empty during the off season," Earle writes. "Few people give it much thought, but that specific odor is a surefire indicator of indoor mold growth, an unpleasant and unhealthy thing to have happening in a place where you intend to kick back and relax for a few days, weeks, or perhaps months.

"This is especially important if you or any of your fellow vacationers have asthma, allergies or sinus problems. While most people seem to think this simply comes with the territory, in reality it is completely avoidable."

Foreclosures

Adding to the importance of this issue is the current real estate market, which is flooded with foreclosures. A foreclosed home is highly likely to have been vacant for a long time before you as a bargain hunter find it. If you're lucky, the house won't have been gutted or vandalized and you can usually tell if this is the case by peeking in the windows.

However, you can't get a whiff of a mold problem from the outside. This requires at least a physical inspection and a good nose. It might also require a professional mold inspection and mold testing. Mold remediation is often a costly undertaking, and a house that's been closed up for a significant time can be so infested that it's cheaper to tear it down and build new than to remediate and repair it. This has a huge impact on your decision whether to risk buying it.

If you are seeking to buy a foreclosed home, find a way to get a thorough look at it, inside and out, before you make a deal.

It's important to know that it doesn't take much for a vacant house to develop a mold problem, Earle says. It doesn't require a roof or siding leak, a broken window or a plumbing failure. All it takes is humidity and condensation. So, a home that's left inadequately heated in winter or is not air-conditioned or dehumidified during warm weather can develop enough moisture to start the mold-growth cycle without any other defect.

In his blog at http://www.1800gotmold.com/blog, Earle writes: "When you close up a house, whether it's at the beach, in the mountains, or in a development, things start to happen that weren't happening when people were there. Humidity rises and falls with the weather, and when it rises it gives rise to mold growth in places you wouldn't expect in an occupied home.

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Beware of Mold Problems in Vacant Houses, Warns 1-800-GOT-MOLD? Founder

PRINCETON, N.J., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Finishing a basement is a popular way to add more living space to a home, but it's usually a mistake, says Jason Earle, CEO and founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD?.

"Many people think they have a dry basement, and that they can install carpeting and drywall and have a nice, cozy new living space," Earle said. "But it's a trap. There is no such thing as a dry basement. Concrete harbors massive amounts of moisture even when it looks dry. If you want that cozy new living space, there are some things you must know."

From his days in the basement waterproofing business to his entry into the mold inspection and mold remediation consulting business in 2003, through today, Earle has inspected thousands of homes in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and New York City. This region's homes are more likely to have basements than not.

Because a basement is below ground level, the water in the soil around the house and under the slab is exerting constant pressure on the foundation walls and the slab floor, Earle explained. And since concrete and block are porous, moisture gets through.

"A raw basement may seem dry because the incoming moisture is evaporating as it emerges. But as soon as you put anything organic and absorbent, such as carpeting, paper-backed sheetrock or wood in direct contact with the concrete, the water then transfers into that material," he said. "The result is mold growth, often leading to rot not what you had in mind for your TV lounge, recreation room or child's playroom."

In an article posted to the company website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle explains in detail how to finish a basement without creating mold problems.

Mold growth occurs when a few specific factors are present. In fact, part of the problem is that these factors are very often present indoors because mold loves the same conditions we do, with fewexceptions.

Of all of the above factors, moisture is the most easily controlled. In fact, few of the other factors are easily or cost-effectively dealt with. So, control moisture you must. Moisture control is the mold-preventionmantra.

In the article, Earle details what to do and what not to do - when finishing a basement, starting with the reduction of moisture:

"If you have a damp basement or get water sometimes, you MUST do whatever is necessary to fix it before doing anything else. A dehumidifier is NOT the silver bullet, although they are necessary. If you can, you should do whatever you have to do to prevent the water from coming into the basement in the first place. This can sometimes mean excavating outside, fixing cracks and sealing the foundation properly (Big $$$$).

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Don't Finish Your Basement Until You Read This, Advises CEO of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?

A Bettendorf home with a history of mold problems and other alleged deficiencies was torn down Thursday, only seven years after it was built.

William and Shelly Wood took out a $400,000 mortgage in June 2005 to buy the home at 6275 Eagle Ridge Road, according to property records. The 2012 assessed value for the two-story home with 5,015 square feet of living space and the 0.59 acre lot was listed at $155,070, according to the Scott County Assessors Office.

The Woods subsequently filed two lawsuits in Scott County District Court against contractor Mark McManus and McManus Development.

One lawsuit claimed several problems with the homes construction, including doors, windows and flooring that were not properly installed, heating and cooling problems, granite that was cut incorrectly and excessive moisture levels in the interior walls and window areas on the west wall.

The second lawsuit claimed that excessive moisture in the home had resulted in a mold problem that caused or aggravated allergy problems for the Woods two sons.

McManus Development subsequently brought in several subcontractors as third-party defendants.

The Woods requested that both lawsuits be dismissed in May 2011.

McManus issued a statement Thursday that read: McManus Development has a long history of building quality homes for satisfied customers. We believe the house at 6275 Eagle Ridge Road, Bettendorf, Iowa, was built by our highly qualified employees and subcontractors in a manner that exceeded industry standards and building codes. We deny that anything we or our subcontractors did or allegedly failed to do caused any problems with the house.

Calls to William Wood and the Woods attorney were not returned Thursday.

Douglas Houston, owner of the Steamatic mold remediation business in Bettendorf, said that in his 15 years in the business, he has never heard of a home being torn down because of a mold problem, but there have been homes where the mold was so pervasive he had to strip the home down to just the wooden frame.

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Bettendorf home with mold problems torn down

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 5, 2012) - Mold is a fungus that grows on food or on materials that have become damp. According to Health Canada, mold inside your home could become a health risk. Children, seniors, pregnant women and anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies are more at risk when exposed to mold.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following tips on how to find and fight mold in your home:

Be sure to take a close look for mold in areas that are damp or which suffer from frequent condensation, leaks or water damage. Some common places where mold tends to grow indoors include basements, crawl spaces and closets; around sinks and tubs; along the bottom edge of window sills; on damp carpets or furniture; on damp drywall, wood and paper products; and on walls or floors in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.

Moldy areas that are less than one square metre in size can usually be cleaned up easily. Scrub the area with unscented dish detergent mixed with warm water; then sponge with a clean, wet rag and make sure to dry it quickly. For cleaning drywall, use baking soda instead of dish detergent and do not allow the area to become too wet. Painting over a moldy surface will not take care of the problem.

When cleaning up mold, always wear a suitable mask, eye protection, and rubber gloves.

If your home has more than three small individual patches of mold, a moldy area that is larger than a square meter in size, or mold that keeps growing back after repeated cleaning, contact your Band Housing Manager for guidance. If you or any family member suffers from asthma or breathing problems or other health problems that get worse inside the house contact your Environmental Health Officer (EHO). You can also contact your local CMHC office for more information.

Once you've cleaned up the mold, find and fix any water leaks that allowed mold to grow in the first place. Make sure your clothes dryer, bathroom and kitchen fans, and any oil or propane heaters all vent to the outside. Be sure your eaves troughs and downspouts are connected, are clean and that they direct water well away from your house. Ensure all the surfaces around your house slope away from the foundation.

Lastly, encourage everyone in your family to take steps that can help keep mold away. For example, always turn on an exhaust fan or open a window when showering or cooking; clean and dry any surfaces that get wet; vacuum your carpets and furniture on a regular basis; avoid hanging laundry indoors; use a dehumidifier during humid weather if possible; avoid storing firewood inside your home; and report moisture and mold problems that you can't solve to your Housing Manager.

CMHC has workshops on mold prevention and remediation available for First Nations communities. The Mold in Housing - An Information Guide for First Nations Communities: Home Occupants' Guide helps First Nations communities determine when there is a mold problem in a house and what to do about it. The guide explains what mold is and why it is a concern, provides tips on how to find out if a house has mold, and offers advice on how to prevent mold and moisture from growing indoors. It also includes a checklist for finding and removing mold throughout the house.

For more information or to order a free copy of one of CMHC's 'Mold in Housing - An Information Guide for First Nations Communities' publications, visit http://www.cmhc.ca/mold or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

Originally posted here:
Let's Clear the Air: What You Should Know About Mold in Your Home

Rochester, NY (PRWEB) May 29, 2012

Is your home making you sick? Ordinary household mold can pose severe health risks for New York residents, according to EnviroTech, an environmental services company that specializes in professional mold remediation services.

"With the unusually mild winter and early onset of warm spring weather in upstate New York, weve seen a big increase in the number of mold-related telephone calls, says Steven Nardozzi, President of Operations for EnviroTech. Its important for homeowners to address a mold problem early, before it has a chance to spread and turn into a major health issue."

EnviroTech website says some common household molds can be particularly unsafe for young children, the elderly, people with allergies, or anyone with asthma or other difficulties breathing. Symptoms can include runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat, sneezing, and watery eyes. More severe cases of household mold can trigger asthmatic episodes or allergic reactions.

The mold removal process itself is pretty straightforward, Nardozzi explained. We dont just dry out the walls. We use Infra-Red imaging, moisture mechanics, air flow analysis, and other diagnostic tools which allow us to see deep into walls and find problems that may not be evident during a visual inspection.

EnviroTech says once the mold is removed and the source of the moisture is treated, the result is a safer, healthier living environment. Bottom line our stuffy noses are gone, says Tony, a homeowner in upstate New York who recently called EnviroTech about his mold problem. We couldnt be happier with the service we received from EnviroTech.

To learn more about EnviroTechs professional mold remediation process, visit http://www.naturallythebest.com/mold or call EnviroTech at (855) 438-3684 to schedule a free mold inspection.

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Mold Removal Expert Warns of Dangers to Public Health for Upstate New York

GREENVILLE, SC --

Greenville County School District officials said that air tests at amiddle school show that air samples conducted at the school show no elevated level of mold or other contaminate in the building.

Greenville County School District spokesman Oby Lyles said in a prepared release that Berea Middle School Principal Robin Mills sentamessage to parents and staff at the school apprising them of the situation. Last week, small levels of mold were found in the school, causing some areas to be closed.

In the phone message left by Mills, she stated that after inspection and testing of areas where smalllevels of mold were detected, school district personnel trained in the identification and remediation of mold conducted a more intrusive inspection.

"These actions Friday night involved opening of spaces not exposed to occupants and in some areas removing some building material," she said. "These actions could have released mold into the air so as an extra precaution our environmental engineering firm conducted air quality tests throughout the building including areas above the ceiling. Test results were received Sunday afternoon. Air tests revealed that there isno stachybotrys in the air."

Mills went on to add, "In fact, the air samples showno elevated level of any mold or any other contaminate in the building. The environmental engineering firm has provided written assurance to the district that Berea Middle School is "safe for student and staff occupancy."

In addition to the previously closed "wing" of the school, traces of mold behind the floor molding in the health room, guidance area and assistant principals' offices were found, Mills said.Mills said that they are relocating those rooms because sheetrock that was touching the concrete foundation was found, and it is believed to be the possible cause of the mold.

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More Mold Found At Berea Middle School, Air Tests Prove Negative

Mold infests fire station

Brown, Roxanne

CLERMONT

ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer

roxannebrown@dailycommercial.com

Eight Clermont firefighters and EMS technicians are bedding down elsewhere after mold was discovered inside Fire Station 3, which was opened two years ago, city officials said Wednesday.

"Immediately, when we became aware of the problem, the city had the firefighters moved," said Barbara Hollerand, assistant to the city manager.

Three of the station's five firefighters are sharing a $69 room at the neighboring Hampton Inn hotel, while the rest of the personnel, including three EMS techs, are sleeping at Fire Station 1, which is located at 439 W. Highway 50, Fire Chief Carle Bishop said.

"The rest of the time, they are going about their daily duties in their assigned area and essentially, nothing else has changed," Bishop said, adding that the station has been deemed safe to work out of and is still being used during the day, with the exception of the bathrooms and a sleeping area.

The mold was found when some heavy furniture was moved in order to clean some rugs. According to information obtained from the city manager's office, the company that built the firehouse hired a firm to look a into the problem.

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Mold infests fire station

Mold shuts down wing of Greenville Co. Middle School

Mold located in storage rooms and an in-school suspension room has been identified as stachybotrys, and it has forced the closure of one wing of an Upstate middle school.

The mold was first discovered Monday behind a bookcase in a book storage room at Berea Middle School.

School district maintenance workers, staff members who are certified in indoor air quality and mold remediation and an environmental engineer inspected the school, and said they found stachybotrys in three rooms.

The mold is in a book storage room, a custodial storage room and the in-school suspension room, according to school officials. The rooms are in a section of the building that also includes the band room, the strings room, the chorus room, a custodial office and one other storage room.

A release from the district said: The entire section of the building containing those rooms has been vacated, secured, and isolated from the remainder of the building. Band, strings, and chorus classes have been relocated to another part of the building for the remainder of the year.

In every case, the mold, which has been identified as stachybotrys, was contained within a wall or ceiling, or behind a piece of trim. The mold is not airborne and at no time could students or staff touch or otherwise come into contact with the mold.

The district will continue to follow approved procedures as we address this situation. Cleanup and remediation will begin after the last day of school. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth. It does not grow on concrete, linoleum or tile.

The CDC says: Mold exposure does not always present a health problem indoors. However some people are sensitive to molds. These people may experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation when exposed to molds. Some people may have more severe reactions to molds. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Immunocompromised persons and persons with chronic lung diseases like COPD are at increased risk for opportunistic infections and may develop fungal infections in their lungs.

Greenville County School officials said: The safety and welfare of students and staff is our top priority. As a precaution, students and staff will not return to spaces in and around the affected area.

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Black mold shuts down wing of school