Tag: mold

Mold has long been a major problem for homeowners.  When black mold was discovered, it became a huge news story that prompted millions of people nationwide to be on the lookout for this sometimes deadly strain of mold.  Since today’s homeowner is much more aware than ever about the hidden dangers that can be lurking in their homes, the mold business has taken off.  Usually those working in the mold business are experienced in knowing not only what to look for when it comes to mold, but also knowing how to remove it once it’s found.  This can be a very tricky thing since many types of household molds can be toxic.  It often requires wearing a wide variety of safety equipment, and sometimes asking the homeowners to leave the house for a day or even more, depending on the severity of the mold.

Some in the mold business also do other things such as extermination of pests like mice and roaches, while others just specialize in mold.  If you’re a homeowner and suspect you may have mold, it’s probably best to contact a mold business that focuses solely on this and not a lot of other common household problems.  This way, you know the company you choose is aware of what exactly needs to be done when it comes to finding and removing the mold.  Any kind of moisture that sits long enough in a cool, dark area can be a breeding ground for mold.  Unfortunately, we don’t always smell or see this mold, but it can grow very rapidly and eventually have a negative effect on our overall health.  A mold business can help you discover where the mold is coming from, and help remove it from your home so you can breathe safely without worrying about harmful mold lurking in your home any longer.

Toxic mold, or black mold, is a term used to describe a variety of fungi that can grow in your home. Despite the names, the mold is not itself toxic; rather, it releases substances called mycotoxins that can cause toxic reactions, including flu symptoms, respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation and cognitive problems. Toxic mold can live on drywall, wood and carpets and is intensified by darkness and poor ventilation. Toxic mold is most common in buildings constructed after the 1970s, which are more airtight, and is more likely to occur in buildings with persistent water leaks or flooding.  With the sudden insurgence of health warnings about the dangers of toxic mold, mold law suits have been rampant.  Millions of dollars in mold law litigation monies have been dispersed to victims of toxic mold contamination in schools, offices, and homes.

The recent upheavals in the United Stats courtrooms surrounding mold law litigations are reminiscent of the asbestos scares over 30 years ago in which legal actions were taken against anyone who had owned a building containing asbestos and countless schools, office buildings and residences were rebuilt or completely torn down for asbestos removal.  Meanwhile, builders, insurance industry groups and other businesses blame overzealous lawyers and increased media attention for an exponential increase in mold law litigations the past three years with over ten thousand cases pending at this time.  Due to the damages being awarded in mold law litigation cases insurance premiums have increased as well as the cost of contractor materials and construction costs.

On the other hand, mold law litigations have helped consulting firms and home inspector businesses grow exponentially as well as consumers are now much more cautious of their purchases and now will routinely have their current homes and potential future homes tested for mold and mycotoxins.

If a person recently bought a new home and suddenly finds illnesses plaguing members of the family, they may want to have the home inspected for mold. While individual mold spores are not visible to the naked eye, if the mold has grown into a colony of spores, they will become visible without any aids. Depending on the type of mold, a mold attorney may be called to determine the previous owner has any legal obligations to help in eradicating the problem as well as any costs associated with its presence.

Although determining how long a mold colony has been allowed to grow may be difficult to prove, especially if it was not revealed during a home inspection prior to the property’s sale. Law firms specializing in mold litigation will have the resources available to make the determination and place the responsibility on the responsible party. While a mold attorney can find the culprit responsible for allowing the existence of the mold, until any claims are litigated and paid, the homeowner will want to eradicate the mold for the benefit of their health.

It is possible for mold to grow undetected for many years and survive extreme temperature variations. Moreover, while there is good mold as well as bad, once it is detected it must be removed. Many mold spores can remain airborne for a long time, and such mycotoxins they harbor can cause serious illness in humans. The white fuzzy stuff seen on fruit left on the kitchen counter too long is a form of mold.

In many cases involving what is called sick building syndrome, a mold attorney may be able to use their resources to find the source of the problem and point to the responsible party. This can be especially important if the specific type of mold, Stachyhotrys chartarum is found in the building. This particularly nasty strain of mold can get into a person’s lungs through breathing, attach itself to the lining and continue to grow.

If you feel that you’ve been exposed to mold due to negligence of another party, you may want to get a mold lawyer and take them to court over it.  Often mold just causes symptoms similar to an allergic reaction how there are more toxic molds that can make you extremely ill and can even cause death.

If you work indoors, you’ll probably be exposed to the same air for long periods at a time.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing however if your air is polluted by mold spores it could be a very serious problem.  Mold can begin growing in the ventilation system or near an air intake and poison the air of an entire building.  This is one of the many causes of ‘sick building syndrome’ in which occupants of entire buildings all fall ill at once with similar symptoms.  If the mold was caused by negligence of your company you may want to see a mold lawyer to see if your entitled to lost pay or health care.

If you rent a part of a building to work in or to live in, you often don’t have access to other areas of the building like the attic or the basement.  These are two prime locations where mold likes to grow due to the damp atmosphere.  If left unnoticed, mold can grow to the point of consuming entire walls.  Even if the mold is only a non toxic species you will most likely be forced out of the building while a specialized crew is brought in to remove the mold.  This may entitle you to part of your rent back or money from your landlord due to lost productivity.  By contacting a mold lawyer you can find out just what your options are.

If you’re experiencing a severe mold issue in your house, you might be inclined to turn to a mold lawsuit to solve your problems. You could consider claiming damages from a builder or housing parts manufacturer, or against a landlord if you live in an apartment. However, a lawsuit can be a very expensive and time-consuming undertaking, so it is important to get the facts first.
First, document any health problems you may be experiencing, and be sure that your doctor has checked you for health problems that are not related to mold.   Symptoms of mold health issues can include symptoms that are similar to allergic reactions and other diseases.  Also, some types of molds are harmless, so if you are experiencing respiratory problems or skin irritation, it could be from another illness.  Moreover, different people may react differently even to the less-harmful mold varieties.

In addition to checking your symptoms with your doctor, it’s a good idea to have the mold tested to determine if it is, in fact, a harmful  mold variety.  Once you have determined that the mold is a harmful variety, you can get an inspector to advise you on whether or not your housing construction or materials may be to blame.  If this is the case, it may a good idea to consider a mold lawsuit to reimburse you for your health costs and costs of mold remediation and prevention of further mold.

If you decide to engage in a mold lawsuit, it is still a good idea to get the mold hazard removed immediately to prevent further health complications if at all possible.  A mold lawsuit can take a while to resolve, and even obtaining a large settlement won’t help if the health problems are severe.  Research your lawyer to be sure that he or she has a good track record in mold lawsuit cases.

Got black mold? Well, if you’re coughing and wheezing and you have a severe skin rash, you may have a good case for considering options for mold lawsuits.  However, if your problems are not mold-related, you’re wasting time and money.

The first step, if you’re thinking about mold lawsuits, is to determine that your health and house problems are definitely mold related. You’ll want to make a doctor visit and have the doctor rule out non-mold related illnesses. Next, get a mold inspection professional’s opinion on the severity and type of mold present.  A mold test should be performed to determine the severity and type of mold that exists. There are different types of mold tests; it’s best to measure both surface and air mold.  Mold collection varies, but a good mold inspection professional should be able to take both surface and air samples, as well as know how different mold types appear under a microscope.  (There are wide disparities in experience among mold inspectors, since mold inspection certification programs vary.)  Be sure that your mold inspector is experienced as well as certified; check with others to see if they’ve had any good experience with mold inspectors.  This may also give you a chance to see if other people in your development have had mold issues. If mold problems are widespread in your neighborhood, this may also indicate that  mold lawsuits have great potential to get the builder or developer to pay for damages.

If the evidence points to serious mold problems (definite presence of mold, health problems, problems in similar houses built by the same builder) then it may be worthwhile to consider mold lawsuits.  In order to avoid risking money unnecessarily, it may be a good idea to hire a lawyer who only gets paid if she wins (assuming your settlement would be big enough to cover your legal costs and your repairs).  You avoid upfront legal costs, but will lose a large chunk of the settlement money to your lawyer.  But if mold has caused you and your family serious problems, a good case for mold lawsuits can be made. Talk to a good lawyer (or more than one) to really get a good idea of the likelihood of winning mold lawsuits.

The prevalence of mold Atlanta, Georgia has been proliferated with has been astounding as in many southern and southwestern states in the United States.  Experts studying the mold Atlanta has been dealing with for more than a few years now are saying that moisture management should take precedence over energy cost savings.  The reason is because the mold Atlanta is dealing with is thriving because of the high relative humidity levels.  Mold, especially toxic or black mold is a fungal organism that can spread and grow very quickly when given favorable conditions needed t thrive such as poorly lit, damp surfaces with high humidity.  When conditions for growth are not favorable however, the mold becomes a fine powder and is usually airborne until it can stick to a surface where conditions can be met for growth. 

Airborne molds can cause many health risks both minor and severe.  This is the number one cause for alarm in Atlanta.  Because of the elevated publicity about the dangers of toxic mold Atlanta has joined many other states in increased mold lawsuits and vast cleanup efforts with energy conservation taking the backseat for the moment. 

In order to reduce moisture residents should seek out any leaky windows, doors, cracks in the basement, holes in attic spaces and seal them as soon as possible so that the warm air rising from the draft areas does not cool and condense on walls and surfaces.  When mold is found, it should be cleaned immediately with a chlorine bleach solution and scraped off of wooden surfaces if necessary.  Residents may also want to have their plumbing checked for leaks, rust, and loose fitting pipes to prevent mold buildup.  If residents suspect that the have black mold, they may wish to call a certified mold inspector to sample and clean the mold professionally.

Mold growth in the home, school, or office should not be tolerated because it is unsightly in nature; it physically destroys the building structure and materials as it grows producing pungent odors and as it sensitizes causes allergic reactions and health ailments in allergic or immune weakened individuals.  Sometimes it is necessary for a person to seek compensation for damages to personal or physical property due to mold and therefore mold litigation is essential.

In a mold litigation case, the plaintiff is often a tenant in a mold infested apartment complex or possibly the parent of a child who has fallen ill due to mold found within her school.  The plaintiff will seek compensatory damages for lost time from work, medical expenses, damage to personal property, etc due to the lack of attention to the mold problem despite attempts by the plaintiff prior to the initializing of the mold litigation.  Though pictures speak a thousand words, the success of any mold litigation case will weigh heavily upon the accessibility and credibility of expert witnesses to testify in defense of the wither the plaintiff or the defendant.  Some experts to consider using in a mold litigation case may be industrial hygienists, mycologists, toxicologists, construction experts, neuropsychologists, and immunologists.

One of the most famous examples of mold litigation was the attention brought to mold litigation by the now famed Erin Brockovich.  The newly publicized health risks associated with mold have also spurred a skyrocketing response in the amount of mold litigation cases brought before the courts every year.  Some opponents believe that not only are these lawsuits frivolous but costing taxpayers millions in revamped building code legislation and court fees.  Proponents champion the once powerless tenants paying slumlords for substandard living conditions and reciprocity for time lost due to illness from mold.

Although Connecticut is a beautiful state, its temperate weather can lead to so rather serious mold problems. Summer heat and humidity causes some mold Connecticut is particularly susceptible too. This is why you should always take steps to ensure that your home isn’t vulnerable to a mold problem. Some kinds of molds cause serious health issues, ranging from asthma to bleeding lungs, and oftentimes home owners are not aware of the potential threat that mold brings. Luckily there are plenty of simple options for removing a mold threat. If you take these simple precautions you can make sure that the worst mold Connecticut is known for doesn’t affect your home.

First, be sure to check areas around the house that are prone to mold growth. The mold Connecticut is known for often grows in the basements and attics of the Colonial homes in the state. Sometimes detecting mold is as simple as looking for it around the house using the naked eye. Many types of mold are dark in color and can be detected easily. It is best to use a flashlight for the type of observation to make sure you don’t miss any mold due to poor lighting in the room your are investigating.

Second, once you have found evidence of mold it is important to remove it from the house entirely. There are ways to kill off the mold and prevent it from growing further, but to fully remove the health risks involved with mold growth you must remove all mold from the house. This can be done several ways, although the simplest way is to use a damp cloth. The dampness of the cloth makes sure that it gathers mold from the affected area without kicking up particles of mold into the air. Causing the mold spores to become airborne is the last thing you want, so be sure that the mold and the cloth are wet before removing the specimen of mold. Mold Connecticut is known for is easy to clean up if you follow these steps.

Because of toxic black mold Maryland is cautioning residents to be on the lookout and to clean house immediately.  Mold is a microscopic fungus that typically grows in large colonies that appear like fluffy or fuzzy masses, ranging in color from white to blue-green or black. Molds can be useful in many ways to both humans and the natural environment, although we usually think of it as a negative occurrence. For example, molds play a role in the growth of certain kinds of cheese as well as in penicillin, one of mankind’s most useful medicines. Most molds are filamentous, made up of living thread-like structures that grow by the division of cells. These structures also produce spores that enter the environment through surrounding air and water and are often inhaled by humans and animals. 

The mold Maryland officials are warning residents about however is not of the beneficial breed.  Toxic black mold is responsible for numerous complications including: destruction of brain tissue, abdominal pain, altered immunity, cancer, central nervous system dysfunction, hemorrhage, frequent migraines, depression, seizures, and dementia among many other lessor and more serious conditions have been linked to toxic black mold poisoning and eventually death for many victims.

When finding mold Maryland officials from the Office of Environmental Health say not to panic  if you suspect that you have toxic black mold but to cover up you skin and wear a mask before attempting to clean and remove it from the affected area.  If you are not comfortable cleaning it yourself, you could always hire a certified mold specialist to remove and test the mold at your expense.  Because of the publicity lent unto the public about he dangers of mold Maryland residents have also jumped on the mold lawsuit bandwagon in the last few years.  Maryland officials say that the best way to combat mold is to prevent it by sealing any air leaks and having regular maintenance performed on plumbing that may leak or rust and by keeping a fresh and clean living environment.