Create Your Healthy Home Blog

Check out my new website

2007-07-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

Friends, I am happy to announce that my new website for self-help information on mold control is now up. I took a brief sabbatical from the blog to finish the website. Do check it out. I'll be putting up a new section on the site in a few days. The new section is entitled "Dream House," describing construction that is low risk for mold and energy efficient. Do check back soon.

Tea Tree Oil, Lavender, and Abnormal Breast Development (Gynecomastia) in Males

2007-05-13T09:26:00.000-05:00

A new study has found an estrogen-like effect on the breasts of pre-pubescent boys from personal care products containing tea tree oil and lavender. These ingredients may be found in some shampoos, lotions, soaps, and other products.

When the skin- and hair-care products were stopped, concerns with abnormal breast development issues evaporated.

This information was published in ScoutNews, 6/28/06, and reported in Our Toxic Times, Volume 18, Number 5, May 2007, by Amanda Gardner, "Personal-Care Products Can Spur Breast Development in Boys."

Lime Used as an Encapsulant at a Woodmere Mold Testing Investigation Inspection

2007-05-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

An "encapsulant" is basically something that serves as a mold-resistant coating. Since mold puts down "roots," into a substrate (the material it grows on), you can clean off the surface but unless you apply an encapsulant, the roots may grow back.

There are several choices for encapsulants. You could apply a conventional mold remediation product with a pesticide (mildewcide). You could apply a "green" product that kills mold on contact. Or you could apply a "green" product that may not be effective in the long-term.

Since I don't want to substitute one toxin for another (chemical pesticide for mold), my choice is a lime-based product. The Alistagen company offers one such product, Caliwel, which is made of lime plus a binder which extends the effective lifetime of the lime. I have seen Caliwel kills mold on contact, under the microscope. Alistagen offers a contractors' discount to mold remediators and other contractors. I have no financial interest in Caliwel/Alistagen.

For the person on a strict budget, an alternative might be whitewash, which likely wouldn't last as long. Do a search for "whitewash + recipe," and wear goggles if mixing hydrated lime. I have no experience in working with whitewash.

Other "green" products, such as comprised of enzymes, herbs, spices, etc., may be fine for cleaning surfaces, but I have yet to find one that serves as an effective encapsulant.

What is a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner?

2007-05-13T08:51:00.000-05:00

"HEPA" stands for "high efficiency particulate arrestor." "Arrestor" means that the filter stops, or "arrests," debris from passing through the filter back into room air.

A HEPA filter catches dust and doesn't let tiny particulates pass through it back into room air. Many vacuum cleaner manufacturers now offer HEPA models. Generally, canister styles are seen as preferred over uprights. The chassis must be sealed, so that air doesn't leak out through cracks.

A HEPA filter removes 99.97% of dust and other particulates from the airstream. Vacuum cleaners that are not HEPA vacuum cleaners typically recycle many tiny particulates back into room air. One client said her cough was 80% better just by upgrading to a HEPA vacuum cleaner.

I test vacuum cleaner exhausts with a laser particle counter. That is, my instrument counts the dust particles in exhaust air. With a HEPA vacuum cleaner, the count is close to zero. With other vacuum cleaners, it can range up very high, to the tens of thousands or more.

"What's Best for Cleaning Off Mold?" asks a Client at a Lawrence Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-13T08:32:00.000-05:00

Many people believe that chlorinated bleach is the best product for killing mold. Is this so?

In my experience, a 10% chlorinated bleach solution is a mediocre product for cleaning off mold. It ranks with hydrogen peroxide and soap and water. A 100% bleach solution can be effective (as long as you also wipe off the surface) but the health concerns from breathing in strong chlorine are probably more significant than the mold. I would NOT advise working with a strong bleach solution.

There's an easy, much healthier way to remove mold from a surface. First, HEPA vacuum to remove loose mold material. Then, scrub the surface (in 1-2 square foot segments) with a Borax solution (1 cup per gallon of water), followed immediately by wiping off residual moisture and debris with a clean rag. The abrasive nature of Borax cleans the surface like a charm. You don't have to kill the mold. Just get rid of it.

Depending on the surface, other issues may be involved. Maybe the contaminated material should be removed, not scrubbed. Or, maybe mold "roots" are present in the contaminated material. You can clean off the surface, but the roots have to be encapsulated. For a primer on mold, order a pre-publishing copy of Mold Control on a Budget, by May Dooley. Send an email to may@createyourhealthyhome.com to be notified when the manual is ready.

Missing Boys + Endocrine Disrupters

2007-05-12T07:21:00.000-05:00

The proportion of boys to girls is getting less. Fewer boys were born over the past three decades in the United States and in Japan. The "shortfall" in boys now stands at more than a quarter of a million boys.

What is happening to create this loss? One strong suspicion is that fetuses are being exposed to endocrine disrupter chemicals. For example, the area with the most skewed ratio, where almost twice as many girls as boys are being born, is Sarnia, Canada, in a community downwind of petrochemical plants. The suspicion is that "males during fetal development may be more sensitive to pollutants that mimic hormones, leading to increased fetal deaths and reproductive problems later for the surviving males." These findings could also "be linked to the increasing number of other male reproductive problems, such as falling sperm counts and rising testicular cancer rates."

Other factors may be rising obesity rates, older parental age, growing stress levels, and the increasing number of children being conceived using fertility aides.

This study was led by Devra Lee Davis, a prominent epidemiologist and director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Information for this blog came from an article, "Endocrine Disrupters May be Answer to the Mystery of the Missing Boys," by Martin Mittelstaedt, CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc, April 11, 2007, reprinted in Our Toxic Times, Volume 18, Number 5. The study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer reviewed journal of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Borax Cleans Mold in Great Neck Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-12T07:14:00.000-05:00

Borax is the best least-toxic substance I have found to clean mold off a surface. Compared to Borax, hydrogen peroxide and chlorinated bleach are mediocre at best.

What makes Borax so good? There is an abrasive action which easily rubs off mold and other debris from the surface.

Borax is available from the laundry aisle of a supermarket, for about $2.50/box. Mix 1 cup of Borax with 1 gallon of water (or 1/4 cup of Borax with 1 quart of water).

I like to use an old-fashioned-type yellow scrub brush, followed by wiping off excess moisture and debris with a clean rag.

Lose 5000 Pounds of Carbon in 30 Days + Climate Change

2007-05-12T06:58:00.000-05:00

Many people are concerned about Climate Change and want to do something about it but don't know what to do. The slim book, Low Carbon Diet, by David Gershon, is a self-empowering tool to help you and your family, or a group of friends and neighbors, to work together implementing easy steps to reduce energy usage. In thirty days, you can reduce your carbon footprint 25%.

This type of support group is spreading through communities around the globe. Why? Because people like working together on this project. It makes them feel good and know that they have accomplished something worthwhile. The ripple effects spread to their friends and neighbors.

Check out Low Carbon Diet at www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd.

Remediation of a Sink Cabinet + Garden City Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-12T06:24:00.000-05:00

The first question to be addressed is whether water went below the deck (base) of the sink cabinet. If you think it might have, then the deck should be removed so you can clean underneath. Here are the remediation steps:

Empty out the sink cabinet.
Examine the interior with a strong flashlight. Look for signs of water staining or anything that looks like it might be mold.
Take samples for submitting to a screening service if you want to confirm the presence or absence of mold. See the May 11, 2007, posting for instructions on tape-sampling.
Feel around the water pipes, especially at connections and at the bottom. If there is leakage, have the leak fixed.
HEPA vacuum inside the cabinet to pick up loose debris and possibly mold spores.
Wear an N95 respirator, available from $5 on up at a local home supply store.
Remove the deck of the cabinet.
Again with a flashlight, examine the bottom of the deck and the now-exposed cavity below where the deck had been. Look for signs of water-staining and mold.
If the area looks basically clean, HEPA vacuum the bottom of the deck and inside the cavity.
If the area looks bad, further demolition may be required.
Wipe off all surfaces using a Borax solution (1 cup per gallon of water) and scrub brush.
The best type of scrub brush to use is an old-fashioned yellow straw-like brush. Check for one at KMart or other local stores. You don't want a brush that is too stiff or too soft.
Immediately wipe semi-dry with a clean rag.
Allow to dry.
When dry, encapsulate wood surfaces with either two coats of Caliwel (www.alistagen.com). If Caliwel is out of the budget, encapsulate with two coats of whitewash. Both of these substances are lime-based, and lime kills mold on contact. For whitewash recipes, do a search ("whitewash + recipe"). Mix outdoors, wearing goggles and gloves. Caliwel has a binder that gives it a longer lifetime.
Also encapsulate the deck piece, if you plan to re-use it. If not, install new material for decking. If the material is wood, encapsulate the bottom with Caliwel prior to installation.
Lastly, put a waterproof shelf liner on the top of the deck. This liner is not necessary if the deck is laminated.

Arsenic and Decks/Play Sets

2007-05-11T21:40:00.000-05:00

Are you or your child being exposed to arsenic-treated lumber on your deck or at the child's play set? There are do-it-yourself test kits available on-line. Search for "arsenic + test" or go to www.leadcheck.com and order their arsenic test kit.

What do you do if the deck/play set tests positive for arsenic? If wishing to keep the deck/play set, then encapsulate it with products that would protect you from the treated lumber. How do you find products that would be satisfactory encapsulants? Check with a healthy hardware store, such as:

Green Depot, 800-238-5008, NY
Environmental Home Center, 800-281-9785, WA
Healthy Home Center, 727-823-3662, FL

Mold in a Sink Cabinet Discovered in Queens Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

Any area around plumbing may have increased risk of mold contamination. Testing inside sink cabinets is part of my routine mold inspection. Here's how I test:

First, check for leaks by feeling under pipes and at pipe joints and valves. If a leak is found, it needs to be repaired. I also use a moisture meter to check the base of the cabinet and the rear wall behind the plumbing.
Next, take a 3" piece of Scotch brand MultiTask tape. This can be found in any office supply store. (Do not use Magic Tape or any other type of Scotch tape. Other brands of clear, glossy tape would be ok.)
Hold the tape at the two ends with the first and second fingers of one hand.
Touch the center of the tape to several areas of the deck under the plumbing. Think about where water might go if there had been a past leak and touch those areas. Don't get too much debris on the tape, or the light from the microscope won't pass through it.
Bend back one end of the tape to make a tab. Then put the tape on the outside of a plastic bag, as if you were putting a bandage on the bag.
Put the bag in an envelope and mail it off to a microbiology lab or to a screening service. We offer such a screening service at EnviroHealth. The charge is $15 for one sample, $25 for 3, or $50 for 8. Send the envelope to 7104 Red Top Road, Hummelstown, PA 17036. Number the samples and provide a list of where the samples were from. We'll review them under the microscope and provide you with a report.
If you are using a microbiology lab, call them first and ask how they want you to take the samples. They may send you test kits.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs - Pros + Cons

2007-05-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

No one who saw Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth can question the energy savings from switching frequently used incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Do you remember the scene with the incandescent light bulb and the pile of coal behind it? This country would cut its carbon footprint significantly if everyone switched to CF light bulbs.

Unfortunately, there are some concerns with CF bulbs:

These bulbs give off radiofrequency radiation. Could there be any adverse health effects due to long-term exposure to electrostress?
These bulbs contain mercury. A friend told this story: Someone she knows dropped a CF bulb. Knowing that she shouldn't handle mercury, she called in an environmental clean up company to clean up the mercury. Price tag: $2000.

What's the answer? The answer is LED (light emitting diode) technology. LEDs don't have mercury, don't give off RF radiation, and use even less energy than CF bulbs. Only one problem: they are not yet available to screw into a socket. A technical problem still has to be solved before they can be used with household electricity.

So, for the time being, I'll use CF bulbs, but not where I spend a lot of time. There, I still have incandescent, but I keep the incandescent light off as much as possible. My desk is by a window, so I have natural daylight for office work. At night, I have a battery-operated LED camp light (from the camping department at KMart) to read in bed.

Faced with a choice between higher energy incandenscent light bulbs and compact fluorescents, I'll pass. I try to avoid using light bulbs at all, at least until LEDs come along. And LEDs are improving. I bought quite a wonderful 3-watt LED flashlight recently at Lowe's. There's enough light from this flashlight for me to inspect a crawlspace with it. I use rechargeable batteries from Radio Shack, and I'm fine.

Brooklyn inquiry: "Why Bring a Microscope to a Mold Investigation?"

2007-05-11T16:13:00.000-05:00

Having a microscope on-site is like having an extra set of eyes, eyes that can see invisible mold. Some other advantages are:

You get immediate answers about whether mold is present or not.
Very often, you can learn the type of mold.
As many samples as are needed can be taken, because there are no lab fees.
You learn where mold isn't, too, which is important for figuring out what needs to be cleaned and what doesn't need to be cleaned.

Don't Use Pesticides, Insect Repellents, or Mothballs

2007-05-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

Why not? Because they are designed to attack living cells. What can kill organisms composed of compounds similar to what we are composed of can harm us.

For all these conventional products, there are healthier alternatives. You can learn about healthier alternatives in many places on the Internet, such as at www.grassrootsinfo.org. Or, do a search for what you are looking for, adding on search words that might bring you to your goal. For example, you might search for the following:

"pesticides + organic"
"pesticides + least toxic"
"natural insect repellent"
"DEET + alternative"

My friend's little dog will soon get a drop of some pesticide on the back of her neck for protection against fleas and ticks. Though I tried to tell my friend about an alternative, my friend believes the vet, that this pesticide is the best way to go. I feel badly for the little dog.

Fresh Paint Appears the Culprit in a Rockville Centre Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-09T07:32:00.000-05:00

"George" and "Anna" had recently moved into their new home. In fact, they were still in the midst of painting. George, who never got headaches, started getting headaches. He and Anna began to wonder if their 22 year old home was moldy, and they called EnviroHealth.

I conducted an in-depth test for mold, including taking numerous tape lift samples for on-site examination with my microscope. I also did culture plate air testing throughout the house, including the attic and basement. The net result was that the house appeared to be low-risk for mold. There was a moderate level of mold in a small crawlspace, but that would be easy to deal with, and the crawlspace was not near where George spent his time.

My hunch was that George was reacting to fumes from the new paint, not to mold. In fact, while I was at the house, I suggested that no more painting be done for now, but this couple winced at that. They wanted to finish two more rooms, and then they'd be done. The next suggestion was to change to low-VOC paint. Many people can tolerate paint that has no VOCs or low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) where they have trouble with conventional paint.

I also told George and Anna that if my guess is correct, that George is reacting to paint and not to mold, that he needs to be careful not to overload his system with more gasous toxins. They needed to avoid all synthetic fragrances and go to hypoallergenic home care, laundry, and personal care products. Call the town for information about proper disposal of paint cans. Avoid pesticides, perfumes and colognes, air fresheners, and so on.

Tips for Healthier Dry Cleaning

2007-05-09T07:22:00.000-05:00

In some areas, you can find healthier dry cleaning establishments. These are not available everywhere, and depending on the technology, the service can be more costly.

When you bring your clothes home from a conventional dry cleaners, try to air them out and don't store them in your bedroom closet. Harmful dry cleaning colvents can be released into your air.

The better plan, of course, is to minimize the number of clothes that require dry cleaning.

Multiple Sclerosis + Manhasset Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-09T06:56:00.000-05:00

The client I met in this New York mold inspection taught me something. Her story about MS was amazing. (You can learn more about the EnviroHealth mold inspections by going to the Home page of my blog and also at my website, www.createyourhealthyhome.com, but here I want to share this story.)

"Berta" said that she had been diagnosed in the late '80s and had researched treatments. She decided not to go on MS prescription medications. Instead, the only three supplements she consistently took were borage seed oil and oil of primrose (both from Life Extension Foundation) and grape seed extract plus pine bark (from CountryLife). Berta knew someone in the vitamin industry and was able to have various brands tested to make sure their strengths were what was advertised on the bottles. She chose products carried by LEF and CountryLife because they came out good in the tests.

Berta continued with medical monitoring, however. She told me that she'd see plaque in the brain on one brain scan, and then, at the next scan appointment, she'd see new plaque but the old plaque had dissolved. In other words, her brain appeared to be self-healing.

Now, twenty years later, she is still taking these three supplements and still functioning in a professional capacity. Yes, she's suffered some effects from MS (such as poor vision), but she's light years ahead of those she knew who went on the MS meds. She told me everyone she knew from the early years of diagnosis is either dead or in a wheelchair.

What Is Stored in Your Garage and Basement?

2007-05-08T08:22:00.000-05:00

Chemical solvents, gasoline, paints, turpentine, and pesticides should not be stored in your living space. Once a container is opened, it is not possible to totally re-seal it. Vapors from inside the container can pass into room air.

A law of physics is that gaseous molecules spread from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration until there is equalization. Thus, if you have multiple re-sealed cans of paint in your basement, paint molecules will be found throughout the basement, as well as potentially upstairs in lower concentrations.

If you absolutely need to retain a few cans of paint for touch-up, try this: Take the lid off a can of paint. Place a layer of plastic wrap over the top of the can. Replace the lid and tamp it down. Store the can of paint upsidedown.

If you absolutely need to store toxins in the garage, seal off openings between the garage and the house. If there is a door from the garage to the house, add weatherseal to minimize air leakage at the door.

A better plan, of course, is to avoid storing toxins at your home. For just about every product, there are healthier choices.

The Benefit of Plaster Walls Seen in Bound Brook Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-08T08:12:00.000-05:00

My New Jersey client was experiencing respiratory symptoms and was concerned about the roof leaks at her top floor apartment. The landlord was negligent, and she was hoping my mold inspection would provide a nudge for him to fix the roof.

The results of my inspection were negative for mold growth on water-stained ceilings and plaster walls. Mold does not like plaster, as is typically found in an older apartment with original walls. Sometimes I see mold growing on the paint on plaster, but there was no sign of mold here.

However, culture plate air sample results showed a different picture. Levels of Penicillium and Aspergillus were elevated. Mold remediation would be required after the water penetration was eliminated.

I remembered an inspection at another pre-war apartment building where chronic roof leakage resulted in heavy mold growth in the building envelope (the area between brick and perimeter interior walls). Levels of airborne Aspergillus niger spores were very high in that apartment. I was able to access the wall cavity between the exterior brick and the interior wall, and air testing in that cavity revealed extremely high levels of Aspergillus niger as well. Perhaps there was sufficient dust and dirt at that wall cavity to support the growth of mold, since mold needs organic material to grow on. Whatever enabled the growth of Aspergillus niger, this area of the building was severely contaminated and needed to be gutted. My guess was that the problem was much more extensive than just what was evident at this one first floor rental unit.

Perhaps a report on the air sample results, along with the fear factor of what might happen over time due to continued negligence, would be enough to motivate her landlord to fix the leaking roof. I hoped so. If not, she might have to seek legal help.

In contrast to plaster walls, if the ceilings and walls had been drywall (also known as sheetrock, wallboard, and gypsum board), that would be an entirely different story. There would be big-time mold with drywall, because mold grows easily on the cellulosic (paper) backing.

How do you know if your walls are plaster or drywall? Knock on them. If knocking is like hitting against concrete, they are plaster. If you hear a hollow sound, they are drywall.

Children's Toys Can Be Toxic

2007-05-08T07:58:00.000-05:00

Four general concerns with children's toys are:

Plastic and other offgassing.

Gravitate to non-plastic toys as much as possible. Keep plastic toys out of the bedroom. Improve ventilation in rooms with plastic toys. Books off-gas, too, so store them out of the bedroom. Make the bedroom a simple, healthy room, easy to keep clean.
Potential for lead exposure

Lead paint can be found on some brightly colored painted toys and on embossed mugs and drinking glasses. Some antique toys, such as metal soldiers, may be made of lead. An easy do-it-yourself test kit is available from www.leadcheck.com.
Dust mites and bacteria

When purchasing stuffed animals, opt for washable ones.
Electromagnetic fields

Some electrical toys - such as some hockey games - have motors that give off elevated magnetic fields. A gaussmeter is a good investment for every household, in order to screen electric devices and ambient levels of magnetic fields. Two low-end suggestions are the Cell Sensor and the Dr. Gauss gaussmeters to measure AC magnetic fields. ("AC" stands for "alternating current," such as household current.) These gaussmeters cost about $50. Do an internet search, or check out www.lessemf.com.

A study was conducted some years back comparing about 25 electrical devices that children might commonly use (hair dryers, stereos, electronic games, computers, etc.) and risk for cancer. With EACH of the devices, a positive correlation was found with cancer incidence. The take-home lesson is to take reasonable caution in reducing exposures. For example, upgrade an older computer monitor to the flat panel type.

Magnetic Fields Found to Be a Concern in a Princeton Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-08T07:40:00.000-05:00

This New Jersey client thought her main concern was mold. Although I saw some minor areas of concern with mold, her house on the whole appeared to be low-risk for mold. However, I saw something in her bedroom that was ill-advised.

"Mary" was concerned about air quality and had a half dozen room air purifiers throughout the house. These units reduced particulate levels in the air, but they also added noise pollution and electrostress from the motors. I suggested to Mary that HEPA vacuuming and damp-dusting can pick up settled dust, reducing the need for room air purifiers (except maybe for special cases, such as those with severe allergies or asthma).

However, the room air purifier that most concerned me was the one on a stand next to Mary's bed. This was an older unit and gave off more magnetic fields than the others in the house. Mary was sleeping in an unnecessarily elevated level of magnetic fields from the nearby room air purifier. I told her, "Last night was the last night that that machine will be used at night in your bedroom." She understood when I went over the potential health effects related to exposure of elevated magnetic fields. You can find a summary of the international literature on this subject at www.createyourhealthyhome.com.

Multiple Apartments Affected by Leak + Manhattan Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

A leak from the roof of a neighboring lower building penetrated an upper level floor of a Manhattan apartment. Water showed up at the floor of a closet adjacent to the bathroom, where the water entered. I was call in to perform a mold inspection and discovered that the bathroom was the source of the water.

My question to the building manager was, "Is it possible that water penetrated down through the exterior wall cavity to the apartment below?" Yes, it was possible, and the mold inspection was continued at that apartment, and then the one below that and the one below that.
This "water incident" turned into a costly mold remediation job, but the job was done properly, and tenants were satisfied that their health had been considered and protected.
Not all managements are as responsive.

Titanium Dioxide: Paint and Art Supplies

2007-05-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

I continually find useful tidbits of information in the ACTS (Arts, Crafts, and Theater Safety) newsletter. For example, two of my environmental inspection clients had a house coat containing titanium dioxide painted on their home about a week before I arrived. The coating looked lovely on the stucco of this stately old Tudor house.

Shortly after that, I read that titanium dioxide has been upgraded to a 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Would the titanium dioxide be a concern at the house? Apparently not, because breathing in titanium dioxide dust appears to be the issue, not other common uses of titanium dioxide, such as in paint (that won't be sanded) or in products used on skin.

From the May 2007 ACTS newsletter: "However, artists should be concerned because the titanium white gessoes are likely to be sanded to create a dust. And clays and glazes containing them always create dust in the studio. Airbrushing or spraying of titanium-containing materials would also be another cause for concern."

Back to the house coating: It is not likely that sanding could ever be done on this stippled stucco, but could the coating produce dust over the years? The house coat is a relatively new product, so there isn't a track record of 20-30 years. While the risk might be low, I'll pass this titanium dioxide information on to my clients.

Contact ACTS at www.artscraftstheatersafety.com, Email to NYC@cs.com, phone 212-777-0062, or write to ACTS, 181 Thompson St., #23, New York, NY 10012.

Toxic Art Supplies in the Bedroom

2007-05-07T07:41:00.000-05:00

At a recent mold inspection, I learned that symptoms are experienced in the bedroom as well as other areas. Part of the bedroom was used as a painting studio. Could the client be reacting to off-gassing from art supplies rather than mold?

Some art supplies can be toxic. For up-to-date useful information, check out the website of ACTS (Arts, Crafts, and Theater Safety), www.artscraftstheatersafety.org. Monona Rossoll is the resident expert (and expert witness) on this subject and offers a monthly newsletter for $20/year.

Contact ACTS at www.artscraftstheatersafety.com, Email to NYC@cs.com, phone 212-777-0062, or write to ACTS, 181 Thompson St., #23, New York, NY 10012.

Act! Don't Wait for Mold to Grow + New York City High Rise Mold Testing Investigation

2007-05-07T07:17:00.000-05:00

Plumbing leaks promote mold growth wherever the water reaches and where fast drying is difficult - such as behind base molding and drywall, under parquet floor tiles, and in plumbing soffits (built-out columns housing water pipes between floors).

I was called in a few months after one water incident because the tenant smelled mold. Sure enough, hidden mold was found in all of the places listed above.

A few months after that, I was called in to check another leak situation, where the leak had already been repaired and professional drying done. Again I found mold growth at the edge of base molding, inside a wall cavity (accessed at a test hole near the floor), and between cracks in parquet flooring. An extensive mold remediation job followed.

A similar scenario happened a third time.

After that, I sat down with the building manager and maintenence supervisor and reviewed some principles of mold growth. If cellulosic material (paper backing of dry wall, wood molding, and wood parquet floor tiles) gets wet, it needs to be thoroughly dry within 24-48 hours after the water incident. Professional drying can't adequately dry behind molding, under floor tiles, or inside wall cavities (some drying techniques claim to be able to do this, but so far I haven't seen success).

The cost effective approach is to assume that mold will grow, skip the drying phase, and immediately remove wet building materials before mold grows. This eliminates two, and possibly three, specialist fees: professional drying service, mold remediation, and perhaps the mold inspection as well.