Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island, The Bronx - Black Toxic Mold growth continues expanding!

It’s the beginning of the spring season in New York City. The weather is getting hotter and the flowers and trees are in bloom. With the new season coming in there is a growing concern for homeowners and businesses, Mold. Humidity rises to a season high, perfect for the growth of mold and other parasitic beings. Many types of mold and fungi are harmful to our bodies and are completely invisible to the naked eye. Mold can grow anywhere where there is enough humidity and organic food sources; this is why it is important to get your home or business inspected immediately.

            Mold can damage the structural support of a building or dwelling and more importantly mold can adversely affect the health of those in contact with their spores. Mold eats away at any substance it grows on; causing it to weaken it till it is completely destroyed. Some forms of mold are extremely toxic and can cause significant damage to your respiratory system. Some of these forms like Aspergillus, Fusarium, Stachybotrys can cause serious health issues. Professional inspection and remediation is the key to protecting your friends, family, co-workers, and investments.

      Not only can mold cause damage to your property but it can make you sick as well. Some of the health risks include: respiratory problems, nasal congestion, eye irritation, dry cough, throat irritation, skin rashes and even miscarriage. Furthermore, exposure to mold has also been linked to cancer. High mold counts account for the suffering of people allergic to the spores molds release when trying to reproduce. Those tiny spores enter the body through the nose, mouth and skin, causing runny noses, headaches, watery eyes and skin rashes. Some species of mold, such as Stachybotrys also referred to as toxic black mold, can cause severe problems such as memory loss, lung diseases and even brain damage.

      One way you can tell if you have mold is by two key factors sight and/or smell. If you notice discoloration on your walls and/or ceilings or if you noticed that your paint is peeling it could be a sign of mold growth. Most people consider mold having an earthy or musty smell. If you see or smell mold, you should have an inspection of your home immediately, to identify & rectify the source of the mold growth

            Mold has been an issue for homeowners since the biblical days. In Leviticus 14:33-45, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron how to rid a house of mold. First ask a priest to inspect it. Then scrape the inside walls and throw all contaminated materials in an unclean part of town. If that doesn't work, the house ''must be torn down -- its stones, timbers and all the plaster.'' Mold is a serious matter and always will be this is why it is suggested that you have your home inspected immediately by a trained professional.

            The keys to preventing mold growth within your home or business is moisture control. Water and moisture is essential for mold to have any chance of survival. In order to control moisture you must fix leaky plumbing and leaks in the home as soon as possible. Watch for condensation and wet spots. Prevent moisture due to condensation by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture level in the air (humidity). To increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in the air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if outside air is cold and dry), or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).Vent moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside where possible. Maintain low indoor humidity, below 60% relative humidity (rh), ideally 30-50%, if possible. Perform regular building HVAC inspections and maintenance as scheduled. Make sure you clean and dry wet or damp spots within 48 hours. Don't let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage and slope the ground away from the foundation. These preventative measures will help to avoid mold growth, but you should always have an annual inspection to make sure there is no mold or water damage you can not see.

At Hamilton County's Department of Environmental Services (DES), a machine captures mold spores out of the air each weekday. Those spores are then counted under a microscope - about 250,000 spores can fit on the head of a pin - to come up with the daily mold count, published on the Enquirer weather page. Harry St. Clair is in charge of DES's air quality division. He says his data show the mold count was up about 15 percent this summer (cited from Enquirer 2003). Spores are mold's means of reproduction, released into the air to land on a surface suitable for growth. “About 20 percent of the population is sensitive to the chemicals released by spores,” says Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati who also runs the Bernstein Allergy Group Inc. “Those chemicals, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced when the spores feed on flesh, plants or other organic material. That musty smell represents VOCs being released," Bernstein explains. "It's very bothersome for some people."  A 1999 Mayo Clinic study blames molds for most of the chronic sinus infections that afflict 37 million Americans each year. More recent studies associate mold with allergies, asthma attacks and an increased susceptibility to colds and flu. 
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            We at Environmental Specialist are trained in inspecting, identifying and remediating mold issues within any building. We pride ourselves on helping hundreds of families overcome their mold situations for over a decade. Our certified technicians can give you a peace of mind with their thorough evaluation in order to determine the most effective way to get rid of mold in your property. Our inspections consist of the extraction of air cassette samples from both inside and outside your property for comparison of higher or abnormal mold levels as well as swab samples from surfaces in your home. With these samples, the lab then determines the type of mold as well as the severity of the growth present. We use state of the art technology such as infrared cameras and moisture readers to detect any areas of excess moisture that may have resulted in mold growth. Our technicians will be able to provide you with a fully detailed report explaining the lab results, interpreting the moisture readings and providing a treatment process necessary to eliminate the mold in your home as well as prevent any future growth. Our staff is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in mold remediation and treats each home on a unique basis, providing you and your loved ones with a clean and healthy environment.