InspectAPedia ^®

A Detailed Guide to Mold Related Illness and Other Indoor Air Quality Sicknesses
InspectAPedia^®  -    

• Detailed articles aid in identifying illnesses that may be related to toxic or allergenic mold exposure
• An atlas of mold related illness symptoms and complaints
• A clinical atlas of mold toxicity
• Finding and curing odors and gases in buildings
• How to identify pollen and other allergens in buildings
• Catalog of products to reduce mold and allergy problems
• Bacterial hazards in buildings, sewer backups
• Dog, cat, and other animal allergens, sources, testing, cleanup, prevention

Here we provide key articles on mold-related illness, including lists of mold related symptoms and complaints, a clinical atlas of mold toxicity, fiberglass hazards, odors and gases, pollen and other allergens, how to recognize allergens in buildings, and suggestions about possible bacterial hazards such as due to sewage backups.

This website provides information and procedures for finding, testing, cleaning and preventing indoor mold, toxic black mold, green mold, testing building indoor air quality, and other sick house / sick building investigations. We also offer detailed advice on mold prevention and mold-resistant construction resistant to indoor problem molds such as the Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Stachybotrys chartarum groups.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

List of Articles Providing a DETAILED GUIDE TO MOLD RELATED ILLNESSES - Asthma, Allergies, Lung, Neurological, Other Complaints

• Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
• Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints - incredibly long list
• Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens
• Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases
• Fiberglass Insulation Contains Mold© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Odors, Odor Detection, Smells, & Gases how to find and identify sources of noxious or toxic odors and gases
• Other environmental risks, Our much longer list: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, etc.
• Pollen Allergens: identification,
• Products to Reduce Mold & Allergy Problems to reduce indoor mold or allergen levels: air cleaners, air purifiers, dust mite covers, vacuum cleaners, crawl space vents
• Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
• Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of Buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our Mold Action Plan page.
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in Buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources

Mold Information Center

Keywords for topics addressed in these articles include: Sick House Investigations, Indoor Air Quality, Mold, Mildew, Dampness, Leaky Basements, Indoor Air Quality, Stachybotrys, Fleas, Dust Mites, Pets, Animal Hair, Dander, Allergens, Bioaerosols, Asthma, ASHI Home Inspections, ASHI Home Inspection, ASHI Home Inspector, ASHI Home Inspectors ASHI Soot Stains Fungus Fungi American Society of Home Inspectors mold testing services by an expert mold testing lab, mold sample testing, including bulk samples, air samples, vacuum samples for mold spores, spore identification, and mold health concerns, mold report of mold test results by the mold lab include written advice, photographs, mold species identification to help spot dangerous mold species and to guide mold remediation advice. Sick House Investigations, allergy, allergies, allergens, asthma, asthmatics, dust mites, mold, mildew, fungi, indoor air quality, heating system ventilation, soot, stains, combustion air, chimney defects, moisture, water entry, wet basements, surface and roof drainage, flooding, water damage, air quality measurements ASHI American Society of Home Inspectors Air Conditioning Asbestos Construction failures contamination Cooling Electromagnetic radiation fields, environmental hazards residential properties for home buyers home owners Heating drinking water contamination contaminants lead, pesticides, organics lead paint hazard advice, testing Underground Storage UST

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Technical Reviewers & References

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• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS GUIDE
AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD
MOLD INFORMATION CENTER
ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS
ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP
DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO
HIDDEN MOLD
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold?
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MOLD DOCTOR?
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS
MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS
MOLD FAQ's
MOLD FREQUENCY in BUILDINGS
MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES
MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS
MOLD LEVEL REPORTS
MOLD LEVELS IN BUILDINGS
MOLD by MICROSCOPE
MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS
MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS
MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS
MOLD STANDARDS
MOLD TEST KITS
MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS
MOLD TEST PROCEDURES
MOLD TEST REASONS
MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY
ODORS, Smells, Gases in Buildings-Diagnosis & Cure
RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD
SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES
THERMAL TRACKING

• "Spectrum of Noninfectious Health Effects from Mold", Lynnette J. Mazur, MD, MPH, Janice Kim, MD, PhD, MPH, the Committee on Environmental Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, technical report appearing in PEDIATRICS Volume 118, Number 6, December 2006, see aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;118/6/e1909.pdf OR
  aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;118/6/e1909
  for this excellent article, or contact the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL, 847-434-4000

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Mold Field or Lab Services - - Mold Information Center

• Allergen Detection What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
• Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
• Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
• Associations: A Directory of IAQ, Sick Building, Mold Allergen Testing, Building Investigation Service Providers
• Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Bibliography of Mold Identification, Aerobiology, Forensic Microscopy - References we use in our Laboratory
• Directory of Building Air Quality and Mold Investigators: field and lab work, sick Building syndrome, air quality measurements, cleanup
• Indoor Air Pollution : Introduction for Health Professionals- IAQ Indoor Air Quality Concerns - US CPSC Book
• FAQs on Mold - Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ List & Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
• FAQs on Accuracy
- Website/Author credibility
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
• House Dust from an HVAC system frightened building occupants unnecessarily
• Lighting, using to find mold - proper use of a flashlight can help spot mold on paneling and other building surfaces
• Mold Detection - What Does Mold Look Like? Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
• Mold Detection - Lighting Proper use of lighting discloses hard to see but toxic light or white mold colonies on building surfaces - read this if you're doing your own tape sampling for mold.
• Mold Detection - How to Find and Test for Mold in Buildings - Looking for Mold - A 'how to' photo and text primer on finding and testing for mold in Buildings
• Mold Detection - Stuff that is Not Mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Not all "black mold" is toxic or harmful.
• Mold Detection - in Fiberglass Insulation Moldy fiberglass building insulation © 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Mold Detection - Investigation Tips Mold Investigation Guide for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to Building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
• Meruliporia incrassata the house eating fungus or "poria" may be mistaken for wood rot.
• Prevention of Mold Mold-Resistant Building Practices some suggestions from an expert
• Products - Mold & Allergy Products: Allergy/Asthma, Air Quality, Cleaning, Filtering, Ventilating, Dehumidification
• Standards for Mold Cleaning, Remediation, & Clearance Testing Standards list of documents
• Contact Daniel Friedman, (author of this website) for expert field and laboratory investigative services

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

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