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Guidelines For Mold, Mildew Removal At Home

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EPA Offers Apartment Owners Guidelines
on Mold & Mildew Removal
Andrew LePage

Apartment and commercial building landlords, as well as their tenants, now have an official U.S. government resource to turn to for advice on cleaning up mold contamination.

"All molds have the potential to cause health effects," the EPA's new publication states. "They can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants."

The Environmental Protection Agency has released a publication titled "Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings." The booklet guides building owners and managers through identifying, remediating and preventing problems, though it does not discuss specific exposure limits for health purposes.

The publication can be accessed and downloaded from the Internet.  The EPA reports that it probably won't have printed copies of the report available for several months. You must put your name on a back order list.

Among the topics covered are mold, mildew removal, containment, duct cleaning and potential health effects.

Executives with the California Apartment Association say that landlords who follow the new guidelines reduce their liability if sued by tenants over alleged health problems caused by this problem.

The apartment association said it will post its own set of mold, mildew removal guidelines for landlords on its Web site by the end of the month.

First...
Learn what is in your Home

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Basic Cleanup

  The key to control is moisture control.

  It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

  If you are having is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and mildew and get rid of the excess water or moisture.

  Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.

  Wash off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.

    Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced.

What Can You Do Now?

Relief from Black Mold & Mildew. 

Our ozone generators and ionizers provide the necessary environment to reduce the effects of black mold and Stachybotrys.

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There are no federal or state regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants

In the past, landlords seeking the advice of state health officials were urged to follow, or find an industrial hygienist who follows, the New York City Department of Health's mold remediation guidelines. Some consider the EPA's new guidelines to be more demanding, particularly with respect to addressing hidden mold, such as mold growing behind walls.

Tenants can also use the EPA's new guidelines to show landlords that there are EPA-approved methods to properly remediate mold contamination.

"It works both ways," says state apartment association executive Debra Carlton, noting the publication's potential use by tenants to instigate a proper cleanup.

Tenants claiming mold-related illnesses have spurred thousands of lawsuits across California and the nation in recent years. Tenants often charge that the landlord did little or nothing to remove the mold while it was making them sick or that remediation wasn't handled properly.

There are no federal or state regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants, though several proposed laws dealing with mold have been introduced in the state Legislature this year.

Barbara Spark, indoor air program coordinator for the EPA's Western region, stressed that the agency's new mold publication includes only recommended guidelines.

"It's not like a regulation that's in place and if you (the landlord) do differently, someone is going to go after you," she said.

Effective use of the EPA's guidelines requires landlords to exercise common sense, she said.

"It's a general piece of guidance and people still need to use their heads," she said.

Many public health experts stress that while certain adverse health impacts claimed by tenants have been proven to be caused by mold, others haven't. However, all agree that mold does not belong indoors and should be properly removed as soon as possible.

"All molds have the potential to cause health effects," the EPA's new publication states. "Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants."

The publication also states that, "When mold growth occurs in buildings, adverse health problems may be reported by some building occupants, particularly those with allergies or respiratory problems."

If you are having mold, mildew removal problems, consider one of our air purifier products.