Improving the Environment for Sensitized Individuals
By Michael Pinto, CSP, SMS, CMP, CFO
(Originally published in The Journal IICRC – August 2014)

Looking for mold-related health answers in all the wrong places

There is a growing awareness that when certain individuals become ill from the contaminants in a water-damaged building (WDB), their bodies develop sensitivity to those specific pollutants, as well as to other compounds. In such cases “normal” remediation or cleaning does not result in an environment that is helpful or acceptable to the client. With new studies showing that up to 25 percent of the population could be genetically susceptible to this type of exposure ailment,1 it is crucial for both restoration contractors and the impacted people to know how to approach such problems so that any remediation or ancillary cleaning has the best chance of success.

People who have been sickened by mold or who have been assisting in the restoration and repair of water-damaged buildings have seen it over and over again. The musty odor or visible fungal growth often produced by water damage can cause greatly varying problems from person to person, despite similar occupancy patterns. Some individuals become debilitated, and somehow know that it is the structure that is causing their problems. In contrast, a much greater number of similarly exposed people experience minor symptoms or none at all.

Click here to read the complete article, including very practical steps for remediation and restoration of contaminated environments.