Toxic mold a growing problem

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Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Toxic mold a growing problem

CHARLES HUGGINS Staff Writer charlesh@...

Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006

http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/News/588/

Village residents may remember the story of Chuck and Charlotte

Reiman. The couple was awe-struck when in 2004 they realized their

dream retirement home on Harlow Drive was infested with toxic mold,

causing a host of health problems, and could not be saved.

Toxic mold hidden from sight in a house or building is a continuing

and ever-changing problem, said , president and CEO of

EGIS, Inc., an environmental consulting company in Bentonville.

and his team of environmental specialists know the

seriousness of these contaminants and the effect they can have on

the body, especially to those with compromised immune systems.

Certain species of mold, such as Aspergillus-Penicillium, can

illicit headaches, nose bleeds, respiratory problems, malaise, eye

irritation or fever. Each person's response is different, depending

on their immune systems. " One shoe doesn't always fit on another, "

said. " You should always pay attention to what is going on in

your home environment. "

Mold flourishes in moist, dark conditions where any organic material

is found. The biggest factor in mold forming is the intrusion of

water into the home.

More problems are found in newer houses, said, because homes

are built so tightly to conserve energy that air is not allowed to

properly flow. Homes that are built on a slope can receive more

water buildup on the high side, creating greater mold conditions.

Another way to tell if there is a mold problem is if a person leaves

the home for an extended period of time and sees the symptoms of

mold contamination disappear from the body. If the symptoms return

back at home, then mold could be the reason.

points to certain precautions that can help prevent

conditions suitable for mold growth in the home. Keep humidity

levels below 50 percent and use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier

during the humid months. Be sure a house has adequate ventilation,

including exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Check window

sills for seep during cold months and replace dirty air filters. All

leaky pipes should be repaired promptly and any flooded carpets

should be removed. " Many Bella Vista residents moved here from the

North and are used to keeping their windows and vents closed, but

fresh air helps, " said Donna Mansell, the company's director of

technical services and a certified microbial investigator.

EGIS has worked with numerous clients from Bella Vista. said

that village residents, because of the many houses built on a slope,

should be mindful of drainage and ventilation issues.

There are still no federal or state standards for human exposure to

mold. EGIS uses a Particulate Laser Counter to measure the number of

mold spores and compare indoor air samples with outdoor ones. If the

proportion of spores is higher indoors than outdoors, there could be

a problem.

Mold isn't a bad thing in nature, said. Without mold, organic

material such as leaf matter would never decompose. The idea is to

keep it where it belongs, at normal levels.

Each mold remediation is different, depending on the

situation. " It's kind of like scuba diving, you plan the dive and

you dive the plan, " said.

The investigation process includes locating the moisture source and

examining the extent of mold contamination via sampling. A borescope

is used to burrow into a wall and inspect for possible mold. It has

an articulating fiber optic arm with a light on its end. A small

hole is drilled in the wall and investigators feed the fiber optic

arm into the wall where they can look inside.

Once a problem area is found, it is contained with heavy mill sheet

plastic using a double-air lock system that purports negative air

pressure, which curbs the ability of spores to become airborne. Air

purifiers are used to " scrub " the air. Personal protective equipment

and safety precautions are used to either remove the contaminated

area from the structure or eradicate the mold.

A dry ice blasting machine is used to remove the mold and an

application of a fungicide is used on all the surfaces. Vacuuming

with a Hepa filter removes 99.97 percent of any microscopic material

in the carpet. Finally, a post-remediation sampling will tell

investigators if the problem has been removed.

is a certified asbestos inspector and a professional wetland

scientist. EGIS is certified by the American Indoor Air Quality

Council and is a licensed contractor.

For more information on EGIS and its services, visit the Web at www.

egis-env. com, or call by phone at 271-9252 or 1-800-718-2492.

As for the Reimans, they have since sold their home at a greatly

reduced price and still live in the village in a rental property.

Charlotte Reiman is still agitated at the cruel impact that this

toxic mold has had on their home and health. " I wish we would have

never moved there in the first place, " Charlotte Reiman said

FEEDBACK:

Village residents may remember the story of Chuck and Charlotte

Reiman. The couple was awe-struck when in 2004 they realized their

dream retirement home on Harlow Drive was infested with toxic mold,

causing a host of health problems, and could not be saved.

Toxic mold hidden from sight in a house or building is a continuing

and ever-changing problem, said , president and CEO of

EGIS, Inc., an environmental consulting company in Bentonville.

and his team of environmental specialists know the

seriousness of these contaminants and the effect they can have on

the body, especially to those with compromised immune systems.

Certain species of mold, such as Aspergillus-Penicillium, can

illicit headaches, nose bleeds, respiratory problems, malaise, eye

irritation or fever. Each person's response is different, depending

on their immune systems. " One shoe doesn't always fit on another, "

said. " You should always pay attention to what is going on in

your home environment. "

Mold flourishes in moist, dark conditions where any organic material

is found. The biggest factor in mold forming is the intrusion of

water into the home.

More problems are found in newer houses, said, because homes

are built so tightly to conserve energy that air is not allowed to

properly flow. Homes that are built on a slope can receive more

water buildup on the high side, creating greater mold conditions.

Another way to tell if there is a mold problem is if a person leaves

the home for an extended period of time and sees the symptoms of

mold contamination disappear from the body. If the symptoms return

back at home, then mold could be the reason.

points to certain precautions that can help prevent

conditions suitable for mold growth in the home. Keep humidity

levels below 50 percent and use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier

during the humid months. Be sure a house has adequate ventilation,

including exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Check window

sills for seep during cold months and replace dirty air filters. All

leaky pipes should be repaired promptly and any flooded carpets

should be removed. " Many Bella Vista residents moved here from the

North and are used to keeping their windows and vents closed, but

fresh air helps, " said Donna Mansell, the company's director of

technical services and a certified microbial investigator.

EGIS has worked with numerous clients from Bella Vista. said

that village residents, because of the many houses built on a slope,

should be mindful of drainage and ventilation issues.

There are still no federal or state standards for human exposure to

mold. EGIS uses a Particulate Laser Counter to measure the number of

mold spores and compare indoor air samples with outdoor ones. If the

proportion of spores is higher indoors than outdoors, there could be

a problem.

Mold isn't a bad thing in nature, said. Without mold, organic

material such as leaf matter would never decompose. The idea is to

keep it where it belongs, at normal levels.

Each mold remediation is different, depending on the

situation. " It's kind of like scuba diving, you plan the dive and

you dive the plan, " said.

The investigation process includes locating the moisture source and

examining the extent of mold contamination via sampling. A borescope

is used to burrow into a wall and inspect for possible mold. It has

an articulating fiber optic arm with a light on its end. A small

hole is drilled in the wall and investigators feed the fiber optic

arm into the wall where they can look inside.

Once a problem area is found, it is contained with heavy mill sheet

plastic using a double-air lock system that purports negative air

pressure, which curbs the ability of spores to become airborne. Air

purifiers are used to " scrub " the air. Personal protective equipment

and safety precautions are used to either remove the contaminated

area from the structure or eradicate the mold.

A dry ice blasting machine is used to remove the mold and an

application of a fungicide is used on all the surfaces. Vacuuming

with a Hepa filter removes 99.97 percent of any microscopic material

in the carpet. Finally, a post-remediation sampling will tell

investigators if the problem has been removed.

is a certified asbestos inspector and a professional wetland

scientist. EGIS is certified by the American Indoor Air Quality

Council and is a licensed contractor.

For more information on EGIS and its services, visit the Web at www.

egis-env. com, or call by phone at 271-9252 or 1-800-718-2492.

As for the Reimans, they have since sold their home at a greatly

reduced price and still live in the village in a rental property.

Charlotte Reiman is still agitated at the cruel impact that this

toxic mold has had on their home and health. " I wish we would have

never moved there in the first place, " Charlotte Reiman said

FEEDBACK: