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Mold exposure can cause a variety of health symptoms.
Landlords, co-op and condo boards in New York are preparing for an onslaught of mold lawsuits after a court decision determined that scientific literature showed that exposure to mold can cause illness.
Before this decision, mold lawsuits were blocked by a court decision that said scientific evidence was in dispute.
Now, residents of mold-infested apartments and condos have a way to fight for some changes or justice if they can prove that the exposure to mold made them sick.
The case that caused the court to overturn the previous decision involved a woman who lived in a ground-floor apartment above a moldy basement, who claimed she got severe health problems from mold dust and spores entering her living space.
Industrial hygienists also expect more mold lawsuits to be filed in the future. Some New York lawyers are specializing on mold cases and mold-related insurance claims have been soaring.
Mold can become a problem in buildings with high humidity and lack of ventilation, or after there has been a water infiltration problem such as a roof leak or flooding. Mold can grow on drywall, wallpaper glue, wood, carpets and many other substances.
According to doctors 20-30 percent of the population are sensitive to mold and could experience health effects such as breathing problems, coughing and wheezing and some people can develop allergic reactions.
Building owners are supposed to act quickly when there are water leaks, structural problems or mold, but New York City officials have been giving out a growing number of violations over the past few years.
It is often difficult to identify mold as the cause of health issues, but after ruling out other possible causes for people’s conditions, doctors are more likely to now make that diagnosis.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Air cleaners for mold remediation and better indoor air quality
When it comes to mold, less exposure is always more. The best way to treat mold is to prevent it, but if mold is present in a building it needs to be removed properly.
An air cleaner with the right air filters can help keep the air clean and reduce exposure to mold.
Electrocorp works with environmental consultants and industrial hygienists, mold remediation experts and others to help treat mold problems.
Electrocorp’s portable air cleaners feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter and a UV lamp (optional) to remove the widest range of indoor air contaminants, including mold spores, odors, mycotoxins, chemicals, particles, dust, and more.
Contact Electrocorp for more information and personalized recommendations.
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Poor indoor air quality in schools can lead to a wide range of health symptoms.
Poor air quality at the Middle School of the Kennebunks is getting too much for some teachers there, who spoke out at a recent meeting to demand changes.
About 16 teachers said they were experiencing symptoms like runny noses, cardiac problems, breathing issues, fatigue, recurring sinus infections, itching and burning eyes, headaches and rashes.
They (and many of their doctors) are blaming the health effects on the school facility’s poor indoor air quality due to mold.
Students, too, have complained of nose bleeds, headaches and nausea, they say.
The school only opened in the year 2002, but problems started soon after.
Poor construction techniques may be to blame for regular water infiltration. The school district has already invested more than $2 million in the building.
The work included a new roof, new external insulation, a rebuilt corridor, new carpet, reset windows and regular air testing.
Recent probes into the walls have uncovered no hidden mold.
However, staff said water can be seen running down the walls of the guidance office when it rains.
The teachers were hoping to feel better after the renovations at the school, but it comes as no surprise to us that this has not been the case.
If there is a mold problem in the building, then the water infiltration problems need to be fixed and the mold itself needs to be found and removed first.
Source: Seacoast Online
Air cleaners for mold and other indoor pollutants
Electrocorp makes industrial-strength air cleaners for schools and universities that can address a wide range of indoor air quality concerns, including mold, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust and allergens.
The air cleaners are equipped with powerful activated carbon filters, HEPA filters and optional UV germicidal filtration.
For specific mold and asbestos remediation concerns, Electrocorp also offers special air cleaners that help remove harmful mold spores, mold mycotoxins, odors, fibers and other contaminants.
Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
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Labor Department workers blame poor indoor air quality and black mold for health issues
Indoor air pollution in the office can lead to a range of health effects.
Sometimes, the realization of how important indoor air quality is only dawns when people start feeling sick.
Over the last five years, workers at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development building have submitted multiple health complaints and brought indoor air quality to the forefront of priorities.
The building, which was nicknamed Plywood Palace (plywood emits VOCs such as formaldehyde and other chemicals), has been subject of mold mitigation efforts, renovations to fix leaks and re-wrapping with an aluminum façade, but many employees are still reeling from the health effects.
Some employees have developed allergies or experienced severe allergic reactions to pollutants in the building. Others have reported irritated eyes and throats, difficulty breathing, headaches, confusion, memory loss, swollen glands, sinus infection, chest pressure and other symptoms.
Not only are these symptoms distracting and affecting morale, they have also led to an increase to the absenteeism rate due to sick leaves, for example. Employees are moved around in the building as mold is found and covered up with plastic to prevent the release of spores.
The building was constructed in the 1980s and is suffering from major construction problems, including leaks, breached vapor barriers and more.
The employees say their symptoms subside when they leave the building, which is a major sign for poor indoor air quality issues and sick building syndrome.
Source: Juneau Empire
Improve indoor air with quality air filters
The right air filters can help remove irritating and potentially harmful indoor air contaminants.
Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners for offices, mold & asbestos remediation and facility management.
The air cleaners contain a large activated carbon filter for the removal of chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, HEPA filters to trap particles and dust as well as optional UV germicidal filtration to neutralize mold, bacteria and viruses.
For more information and options, contact Electrocorp.
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Like this:
Some workplaces expose employees to a wide range of contaminants.
Sick Building Syndrome is not a catch word from two decades ago that has since been forgotten.
A growing number of employees and workers file complaints about their workplace, saying it makes them sick.
It is common for buildings to expose workers to irritants that can lead to headaches, eyes, nose and throat irritation, respiratory problems and more.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), indoor air quality (IAQ) is “a major concern” because it can impact the health, comfort, well-being and productivity of building occupants and employees.
If a building has humidity or ventilation problems, occupants may be exposed to mold, chemicals, gases, odors, particles and other contaminants.
Here are some common workplace concerns and possible solutions.
Office workers’ nemesis: Dust and mold as well as chemical emissions from office equipment, printers and other products can affect people’s health and well-being. Solutions: Better ventilation, building maintenance and mold remediation, portable air cleaners for offices, source capture air cleaner for office printers.
Salon and spa safety and health: Salon and spa products can contain or release irritating fumes and chemicals that can cause reactions in workers and clients. Solution: More natural products, source capture air cleaners for salons and spas.
Veterinarians’ client conundrum: Animals can trap dander, dust, molds and pollen that can lead to allergic reactions. Solution: Room air cleaners like the ones used for dental labs.
Construction chaos: Construction sites often feature high levels of dust, fibers and chemical fumes. Solutions: Personal protective equipment (including masks), good ventilation, portable air cleanerslike those used for mold and asbestos abatement.
The RAP Series: Air cleaners for law enforcement agencies and commercial/industrial use.
Evidence protection problems: Law Enforcement agencies often have to deal with packed evidence rooms, marijuana storage and associated aspergillus mold problems, other drugs and chemical fumes. And don’t forget the administrative side of things. Solutions: Good ventilation, proper storage techniques and room maintenance, 24-7 use of an industrial-strength air cleaner for law enforcement agencies.
Many professions and industries can expose workers to irritants and poor indoor air quality.
An effective air cleaner with activated carbon + HEPA + UV filtration can help remove the widest range of contaminants, including chemicals, gases, odors, dust, particles, pollen, bacteria, viruses and mold.
Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations based on your workplace and IAQ concerns.
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Many schools have poor indoor air quality that can affect students as well as teachers and other staff members.
Mold is a serious indoor air quality issue – so much so that an elementary school in Montreal had to send more than 400 students home.
Officials don’t know when the school might reopen, since the mold remediation process may take up to two years.
The elementary school was infested with mold spores that were blamed for an increase in respiratory ailments, runny noses, coughing and other symptoms, according to an article in today’s Montreal Gazette.
These health effects surfaced after months of exposure to mold spores, experts say.
The school board involved the public health department when it received multiple complaints of minor health problems from adults and children.
Air samples from 29 rooms in the school revealed an unhealthy level of mold spores in each one.
As is so often the case when it comes to mold, a burst water pipe incident in November 2010 may be to blame for the high mold count.
Mold spores are ubiquitous in the environment and can start to settle down and actively grow mold if there is enough water or moisture.
The mold can be hidden or visible and for this school, the spores probably became airborne after the school had some masonry work done.
The students moved to an empty school building in Montreal but have to find different accommodations soon.
Source: Montreal Gazette
Keep indoor air healthy in schools
Mold is one of the most common indoor air quality issues in schools, but students and staff are also affected by particles and dust, allergens, chemicals and odors – especially in older schools where the ventilation system is simply not enough to provide the required fresh air exchanges.
Room air purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA for individual classrooms.
Electrocorp has designed powerful stand-alone air cleaners for schools and universities that can help keep the air clean and healthy.
The air cleaners can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals and gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and allergens. They feature a multistage air filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA and UV (optional).
The easy-to-use air cleaners are designed for around-the-clock operation at minimal cost, with a long filter lifespan and easy maneuverability.
For more information and options, please contact an Electrocorp air quality expert.
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