Understanding Mold and Mycotoxics with Steamatic

What is the truth about mold and mycotoxins?

 

Over 200 mycotoxins have been traced back to common household molds. Mycotoxins disrupt RNA synthesis, and have been linked to DNA damages. Even in small quantities, mycotoxins are easily absorbed by the intestinal lining, airways, and skin. In fact, some of these mycotoxins are so efficient at poisoning the human body that they have been harnessed to be used as biological weapons in war.

 

There is no doubt that molds produce powerful and potentially harmful substances that can negatively impact the health of the individual. However, many molds and mycotoxins can be beneficial, too. The world-changing innovation of penicillin antibiotics began with the growth of the mold Penicillium, after all.

 

Why do I need to seek professional help cleaning up mold and mildew?

 

Many common household molds are volatile, and saturate the indoor air with harmful spores known as “microbial volatile organic compounds,” or mVOCs. When homeowners try out abrasive amateur cleaning efforts, another harmful compound is released as the mold cell walls fragment, and these “glucans” are mobilized in the air. When inhaled, these can cause inflammatory respiratory problems, with the flu-like ailment known as Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome, or ODTS, being one of the most common. This is probably one of the most important reasons to contact Steamatic for our mold and mildew remediation service. Not only will you save yourself time, money, and finish with a much more desirable aesthetic result, but you won’t risk spreading glucans through your home.

 

How quickly do I have to act when mold growth is detected or suspected?

 

When it comes to mold and mildew remediation, it is always best to act sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more you risk exposing your family to the vascular, respiratory, digestive, neurological, and immune system affects of these harmful toxins. Trying to “wait out” your mold problem won’t work, despite the fact that mold spores will die out over time. Even “dead” spores that are unable to reproduce are as dangerous as their live counterparts, so don’t delay – call Steamatic today at 1-888-767-7616.

 

Know Thy Enemy: 3 Multifarious Molds to Watch Out For

 

For many Canadians, mold in the home is an all-too-common problem. Despite our country’s reputation as a frigid Northern frontier, there are still plenty of pockets of heat and humidity throughout the year that mold can feed off of. In fact, if you look in the right place, mold can grow on even the chilliest of Canadian winter days. If you want to fight off potentially harmful mold growth, you will need to know your enemy, so read on to learn more!

 

Fungi grow by releasing spores into the air. These reproductive cells are not visible to the naked eye, and when you consider that there can be thousands of mold spores in any given cubic foot of indoor air, it is not hard to see why mold growth prevention can be tricky. Even if growth conditions are not ideal, many spores can lie dormant for years until the environment becomes more suitable. The most common places that you will spot mold growth include the spaces beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks, the gap behind appliances where slow plumbing leaks are common, around the edges of windows, and any other humid part of the home.

 

If you are going to stand up to stubborn mold growth, then you should know that there are three main types of fungus to watch out for:

 

Allergenic mold is not typically life-threatening, but can be quite problematic if you have a prexisting respiratory condition. If you are allergic or asthmatic, allergenic mold can be an issue.
 

Pathogenic mold generally produce some kind of infection, which can be harmful to your health especially if your immune system is already compromised. Pathogenic molds can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a kind of acute response that resembles bacterial pneumonia. Individuals with compromised immune systems may be at risk of lung conditions such as Aspergillus fumigatus.
 

Toxigenic mold is probably what you have heard spoken of in the news. These “toxic molds can have serous health effects on whomever comes into contact with them. Reactions to toxigenic mold exposure range from immunosuppression and headaches to cancer. Toxic molds put you at risk of inhaling mycotoxins, which are some of the most potent carcinogens known to mankind.