Mold and radon –a serious threat to your health and building

At present, two major issues with regards to our health and our buildings are mold remediation and radon removal. Many departments of environment protection have taken serious steps to guide the public in creating a safe and healthy environment.

Mold, a type of fungi, are ubiquitous in nature and reproduce with spores which are easily carried in air and grow where moisture is present. All molds can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems in humans and animals. Among all the molds those producing the mycotoxins are referred as “toxic molds”. These toxin producing molds can pose serious health hazards to human beings and animals. In addition, mold can cause serious damage to buildings.

On the other hand, radon gas affects people rather than buildings. Formed from the decay of uranium 238, it is colorless, tasteless and odorless. As a carcinogenic gas, radon can lead to lung cancer and has the tendency to seep into the houses through cracks in the foundation, thus contaminating the air and posing health risks inside buildings.

The main source of growth for mold is moisture. Mold can easily spread on any moist surface in both indoor and outdoor environments. In our daily life we find these molds in common building materials such as drywall, carpets, furring strips, plywood and many more. Mold growth is typically caused by issues that bring moisture into a home, including improper or incomplete drying of floors, leaky roofs, plumbing defects and building maintenance problems. As such, mold removal is often required.

The process of mold assessment involves the identification of the location and determining the extent of the hazard, especially where moisture is suspected. A visual inspection of the mold-prone areas is a non-intrusive method for locating visible mold or odors. Tools such as hygrometers, temperature guns, and moisture meters are further used to inspect the growth of mold.

The mold assessment is usually followed by mold testing after the mold situation is identified. A trained professional, with specific experience in designing mold-sampling protocols, is often recommended for getting the correct sampling locations as well as sampling interpretation of the mold testing. The three main modes of mold testing are air sampling (for the assessment of non-visible molds), surface sampling (for the determination of mold spores on indoor surfaces) and bulk sampling (for identifying and determining the concentration of mold in the sample).

The mold colonies are finally terminated by eliminating moisture, which is one of the three requirements for mold growth along with oxygen and food. Since we cannot live without oxygen and our buildings need wood, sheetrock and other food sources for mold, we can only eliminate the moisture/water concerns in a structure. If we eliminate the moisture, we can effectively remediate the mold. Air scrubbing, setting a containment area, damp wiping with an anti-microbial solution, HEPA vacuuming of all surfaces, and application of anti-microbial sealant are some of the common tasks for mold remediation.

For radon testing many service providers make use of the latest technology, such as electronic continuous radon monitors which record the radon levels every hour. These monitors allow us to determine if radon levels in the home are above the US EPA threshold level of 4.0 pCi/l. If levels are elevated, radon mitigation is recommended for radon removal. Active sub-slab depressurization is considered as the best method for radon mitigation to create a safe and healthy living environment. Another radon mitigation technique is to use an HRV or air-exchange system that removes the harmful air to the exterior and exchanges it with safe air from the exterior.

With the help of many environmentally-conscious departments, many online service providers have come to the frontline, working with the government to bring awareness on radon and mold-related issues.

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

Bill Wright is the author of this article on Mold Remediation. Find more information about Mold Removal here.

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