An environmental hazard, mold is a type of microscopic fungi that thrives in moist conditions, and is very prevalent in humid climates. It grows on any organic material including wood, paper, drywall, tiles, wall paneling, paint, rugs and fibers.
Colonies of mold, like like stachybotrys, penicillium, aspergilus, paecilomyces, and fusarium, can cover a large area and are usually black, white, grey, brown, green, or gray. Some molds are powdery or shiny and can give off a musty or mildewy smell. Unfortunately, not all mold is visible and can be hidden or covered in the areas such as a vent; underneath a refrigerator, radiator, or sink; under the floor or a ceiling; or behind a wall.
Common causes of moisture include the following:
leaky pipes or radiators (including leaks that occur between the walls or floors);
broken or poorly sealed windows;
a damaged roof;
a damaged or deteriorated section of brickwork or the building’s facade;
water coming from a neighboring apartment (leaks; regular spilling or flooding);
air ducts;
poor ventilation, especially in a bathroom;
standing water (such as in a basement);
flooding
There are two key problems caused by mold. First, it damages the surfaces it grows on, which could eventually cause structural problems. Second, it can also cause serious health problems. Depending on your sensitivity to mold and the extent of the mold growth, you may be forced move out of your apartment if mold is present.
Inhalation of mold spores released into the air can cause illness. Some molds cause serious health concerns, especially for young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Illnesses related to mold growth include allergic reactions (fever, itching, rashes, eye problems, breathing difficulties, etc), chronic fatigue, chronic sinusitis, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, nose bleeds, cognitive losses, asthma, and severe respiratory problems.
Severe illnesses, including hemorrhaging lungs, is caused by mycotoxins, chemicals produced by some harmful molds–mycotoxins can induce allergies and chronic, severe health problems in previously healthy people.
Considering all the potential health problems mold can cause, here are some research tips you may want to consider when you are searching for an apartment.
Steps To Avoid Mold Problems When Renting An Apartment In Georgia
One of the biggest steps you can take to avoid mold concerns is to properly research your rental before committing to a lease with a landlord.
Consider these factors in your research:
Basement apartments tend to be more prone to damp and moisture issues, so if mold is a concern, you may want to avoid renting this type of unit.
If you are renting in a multi-story building, find out if there have been any flooding issues in the basement. If so, best to avoid renting because if the building had a wet basement, there could be mold growing and since the HVAC system is located in the basement, mold spores will circulate in all units.
Check the unit for bathroom and kitchen fans. If there are none, then do not rent the unit because the building will likely have moisture issues and mold.
Ideally, rent a unit without carpet. However, if you are considering renting a unit with carpet, find out how old it is and if possible, get the landlord to change it before you move in.
Try to find out as much about the building history, specifically, does the building have a history of roof or plumbing leaks. If so, avoid renting because there will undoubtedly be mold.
Bottom line, as the tenant you are the customer of the landlord, so you have the right to choose who you rent from and should do your due diligence before you rent.
The infographic below, courtesy of Rocket Lawyer, emphasizes the need to do your due diligence before signing a lease and the necessity of creating a paper trail in the event of a future dispute.
Steps To Avoid Mold Problems When Renting An Apartment
Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities In Georgia
Generally speaking, as a tenant you have the right to live in a clean and habitable environment. Your landlord is responsible for offering you a safe environment to live in and must repair issues such as leaky pipes, roofs, and windows, which could create moisture issues that lead to mold.
Regardless of where you live, you should expect the following from your landlord:
Follow all health and safety laws so the building, apartments, and common areas are safe. (Common areas include the driveway, yard, halls, and laundry rooms.)
Make all repairs needed to keep your apartment fit and livable.
Keep all electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, appliances, and other landlord supplied features, such as elevators and appliances working and safe.
Provide containers for trash and arrange for its removal.
Supply heating, running water, and hot water.
Repair cracked, chipped, or peeling paint.
Remove paint that contains dangerous and illegal amounts of lead. Lead is very dangerous for small children and pregnant women.
As a renter, you should:
Follow all housing and fire codes that apply to you.
Keep your apartment as clean and safe as possible, including sinks, toilets, tubs, and appliances.
Put all trash in the containers supplied by the landlord.
Use all services and facilities, such as the elevator, laundry room, and heating, reasonably.
Not destroy, damage, or take any property or allow anyone else to do so. You may have to pay the landlord if you or your family or guests cause damage that is more than normal wear and tear.
Not disturb your neighbors or allow any of your guests to do so.
Obey all of your landlord’s rules if they are reasonable, clear, apply to all tenants, and you were told about the rule(s).
Pay the rent, even if your apartment needs repairs, unless the court says otherwise.
Let the landlord into your apartment, if the request to go in is reasonable.
Landlord / Tenant Mold Dispute Resolution Steps In Georgia
“If there’s one thing a renter should do, it is properly documenting the condition of the unit during the pre-move-in inspection. Tenants may be quick to check all the boxes saying everything is fine, and landlords will use that against a tenant later or when a request for repair is made. Renters need to keep in mind that they have basic rights to have their unit maintained in good condition. A landlord can’t force you to “give up having a working heater” or take the unit “as-is” when there are known problems. Tenants can demand repairs even if they signed provisions to that effect. Tenants often worry about rocking the boat and getting asked to leave if they complain. It is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant simply because a tenant is requesting repairs.” (San Francisco landlord-tenant attorney Michael Bracamontes)
There would not be a need for lawyers, if all disputes between landlords and tenants could be settled amicably. Unfortunately, there are no federal laws that set permissible exposure limits or building tolerance standards for mold in residential buildings in the United States, so the legal recourse you may have depends largely on where you live.
Some states like California, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas have passed laws aimed at developing guidelines and regulations for mold in indoor air. In addition, some municipalities, like New York City have have enacted ordinances related to mold.
If you live outside of Georgia and are seeking information on mold rules and regulations in your state, check with your state department of environmental protection or your state department of public health. For local mold-related rules, contact your city manager or mayor’s office or local health department. Click here for a useful website to find state and local governments online.
There is no federal or Georgia law establishing permissible levels of mold indoors. There may be local laws, but state environmental officials say these codes generally do not contain or enforce mold standards.
So, as a renter it becomes vital to read your lease, and know your general rights as a tenant. When you lease a home, landlords normally provide tenants with a mold addendum.
It goes into how to avoid mold, what to do if you see mold, who to report it to, etc. Sometimes landlords are responsive, and sometimes they’re not.
Considering the above information, the guidelines below will help you resolve any dispute you may have with your landlord, particularly if you have a mold concern.
Mold is caused by moisture, so the most important action you can take is to report any potential sources of moisture, including water leaks from the ceiling, under the sink, in your bathroom, etc. It is also very important that you report any water stains on walls or ceilings that could be indicative of a leak.
Once you report the concern, document it with written records and pictures. Keeping proper records is essential. Hopefully, the moisture concerns will be addressed in a timely and professional manner by your landlord.
If mold begins to grow, report this to your landlord and properly document the mold complaint with pictures and a written letter documenting your concerns. A paper trail is essential.
Also, if you think the mold is making you sick, begin to document your health issues. When did your health begin to deteriorate? When did you start seeking medical attention? How much have you spent on prescriptions, doctor visits, etc.? How many days have you been off work? Document your medical condition from when you began getting sick and track all costs, time off from work, etc. to build your case, in the event you need to seek legal remedies.
Once your complaints are filed with the landlord, it is up to the landlord to fix the problems and if there is mold have it professionally removed.
If your landlord ignores your request, delays too long or doesn’t take adequate action to solve the problem, you may have legal remedies.
Your next step is to contact your local and state governments, contact your health department, and find out if there is a local tenants’ union or other consumer rights organization dealing with landlord tenant issues in your area. Before you contact an attorney, do your due diligence and try to use all existing dispute resolution systems in place in your city and state.
If all else fails, contact an attorney for assistance.
In addition, it is important that you do not withhold rent, move out, or take further actions until you get proper advice from your attorney.
Hopefully, the information above is a starting point. Listed below are helpful resources to seek out further information and guidance if you have mold in your apartment.
Georgia Resources To Seek Out Further Information and Guidance If You Have Mold In Your Apartment
Georgia Legal Aid: Georgia’s guide to free legal information and legal services, including answers to whether landlords are responsible for repairs.
UGA Cooperative Extension: Read what University of Georgia experts have to say about mold.
Questions? We are here to help and guarantee all of our work. If you have a mold or air quality concern that you think is adversely affecting the health of your family call us, 678-697-6267 or send us an e-mail.
Steps Residents of #Georgia Can Take If They Have #Mold In Their Apartment!
Recently, a newspaper article was published to explain the potential health concerns caused by your Christmas tree: “How CHRISTMAS TREES can cause hay fever hell: Pollen grains, dust and mould can trigger sneezing, coughing and a runny nose”
The article dubbed the illness, Christmas Tree Syndrome, because 1 in 3 (approximately 35 percent) people get sick, suffering from hay fever like symptoms, soon after the Christmas tree is set up in the home.
This article explains what causes Christmas Tree Syndrome and provides recommendations on how you can minimize the potential health issues caused by this indoor air quality issue.
What Are The Health Symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome?
Typical signs that your tree is making you ill include the following:
Asthma attacks, usually triggered by cladosporium mold
Cold like symptoms, that subside when away from the home or the room with the tree in it.
Mold Is The Cause Of Christmas Tree Syndrome!
Prior to the studies documented below, it was thought that tree pollen or even weed killer applied to Christmas trees made people ill.
However, as the studies below conclude, the core cause of Christmas Tree Syndrome is mold, which releases spores and causes allergic reactions:
“Researchers at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut, found that a room containing a fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level. Other studies have shown that levels this high can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms, says the study’s coauthor, allergist and immunologist Philip Hemmers.” (A fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level)
In another study Dr. John Santilli, compared the level of mold spores in the home before and after the tree was placed in the home. The normal level of mold spores is 800 per cubic meter, but within 14 days of the Christmas tree being in the home, the level of mold spores increased to 5,000 spores per cubic meter.
Another scientific study by allergy specialist, Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky at Upstate Medical University in New York set out to determine why respiratory illnesses peak around Christmas. The study found 53 different kinds of mold, including, aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporium and alternaria, which can trigger asthma attacks, sneezing and a runny nose. One of the key conclusions made by this study was 70 percent of the molds found triggered allergies and asthma.
What Can I Do To Minimize Mold Exposure From My Christmas Tree?
Mold spores are found naturally on Christmas trees, which will flourish once they are in a centrally heated home.
With this in mind, if you can manage Christmas with an artificial tree, that is the best solution. Please note, artificial trees can accumulate a layer of dust and even mold if not stored properly. Be sure to store your artificial tree in a dry area and preferably in plastic tubs to minimize exposure to moisture and dust.
However, if you must use a live Christmas tree, here are some tips to minimize the health impact:
Thoroughly hose down your tree and let it dry before bringing it into the house. If you bought your tree at a nursery, ask if they have tree washing services.
Clean all ornaments and lights before putting on the tree; they can harbor dust and molds. Store all decorations in plastic containers that can be easily wiped down since cardboard can potentially attract dust and mold.
Minimize exposure. If you’re sensitive to molds, keep a live Christmas tree no more than four to seven days.
Run an air purifier in the same room as the Christmas tree. This may help alleviate symptoms.
Allergy medication may also help alleviate some symptoms as well.
Since mold spores may accumulate the longer your tree is in the house, consider getting rid of it first thing on the 26th.
Happy holidays from your friends at Mold B Gone. If you have questions, we are here to help! If you think you have mold, call us, 678-697-6267 or contact us via e-mail for further assistance.
Is #Mold In Your Christmas Tree Making You Sick?: One in Three people get sick from their Christmas tree. This article explains why and what you can do to feel better. Learn more.
Recently a news article featured a woman who believes that she was poisoned by black mold.
After being exposed to black mold for four years in a friend’s house in Niagra Falls, Susan Crane-Sundell stated: “It’s very close to killing me now.”
Crane-Sundell began getting sick after about 18 months of living in the house. When she got sick, she saw a dozen doctors and underwent expensive medical tests. Recently, she found out that the cause of her sickness was black mold which has poisoned her system to the point that she is bed-ridden.
The article poses this question because four SUNO professors, who died within three months of each other, all worked on the second floor of the Multipurpose Building on the SUNO campus:
Marina Dumas-Hayes official cause of death: breast cancer recurrence;
Felix James official cause of death: heart disease;
Sudipta Das official cause of death: breast cancer recurrence;
Guillarne Leary official cause of death: pulmonary embolism.
Officially, toxic mold is not linked to their deaths because the Centers for Disease Control states that there is no scientific evidence linking mold exposure to pulmonary embolisms, heart disease or breast cancer recurrence. In addition, according to the article:
No federal guidelines exist for what constitutes a safe quantity of mold, making it difficult for inspectors to know whether occupants of a building or home are at risk. Building managers say they often are forced to rely on occupant complaints to determine that a remediation was unsuccessful.
Lipinsky questions the official cause of the death for several reasons.
Background: Water Damage Lead To Significant Mold Infestation
After the levee breaches in late August, 2005, the Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO) campus was one of the hardest hit institutions. In fact, the campus was submerged under water for three weeks and the power plant was not functional, meaning the air conditioning in all 11 buildings was shut off. Power was not restored for two years.
In response, SUNO moved its faculty, students, and staff to temporary buildings that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided. Efforts to renew SUNO stalled because initial plans to rebuild the campus in another location were rejected by FEMA due to a lack of funding. Conditions inside the 11 buildings continued to worsen as mold spread throughout because the air conditioning was not yet functional.
Three years later, in 2008, work began to clean up the affected buildings.
The Multipurpose Building, a two-story concrete structure, was flooded with 4.5 feet of water after the levee failures during Hurrican Katrina. The state claims the building was deemed safe to occupy before faculty moved in because a licensed contractor, Zimmer-Eschette Services, performed a full environmental remediation during the summer of 2008 and the indoor air samples were deemed “acceptable.” The building was re-opened in August, 2008 so staff could move in for the Fall session.
Air Quality Tests Showed Stachybotrys Mold, Yet Staff Still Allowed To Work In Building!
In over 20 years of studying mold, I have never seen air samples like the ones in this report. (Dr. Richie Shoemaker, a physician and expert in the field of biotoxin-related illness and author of the book “Surviving Mold.”)
This was not a building you wanted to have people working or living in. (David Straus, a retired professor of microbiology and immunology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center who spent years doing environmental testing for a Dallas-based company focused on building-related illnesses.)
It seemed like the building hadn’t been cleaned at all. It had that moldy, wet, distinct smell of Hurricane Katrina. (Cynthia Ramirez, tenured professor at SUNO)
Soon after moving into the building, faculty began complaining about respiratory problems.
According to nationally recognized mold experts, the cause of the health complaints was mold because the remediation was not done properly and the indoor air samples were “unacceptable”. In fact, these experts do not believe the building was safe to work in because stachybotrys mold spores were still present and documented in the air quality clearance tests conducted by the AIMS Group.
Stachybotrys was present in 25 of the 62 interior air samples. According to microbiologist, David Straus:
If you find Stachybotrys in a building, let alone in 25 different places, it’s your duty as an environmental remediator to remove it before people move in.
The stachybotrys was not removed because the environmental consultant claimed that it was present in the tests because it came in from the exterior air. Mold experts disagree with this assessment:
The suggestion that 25 interior findings of Stachybotrys has its source in the outdoors is unsupported by any scientific literature at all. If you don’t find Aspergillus or Penicillium in air samples, you’re not outdoors. (Dr. Richie Shoemaker, a physician and expert in the field of biotoxin-related illness and author of the book “Surviving Mold.”)
What Are The Health Effects Of Stachybotrys Mold?
“Since the modes of activity of trichothecenes differ from aflatoxins and other mycotoxins, the combinations of mycotoxins could be additive or even synergistic, which could significantly reduce the amount of either mycotoxin required to induce an immunosuppressive or toxic effect. Immunosuppressive and combinational effects of multiple mycotoxins may constitute major components in the adverse health effects reported by many of the victims of mold exposure.” (A risk assessment model for mycotoxin-producing molds on human health in indoor environments)
According to Michael Pinto, CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental, stachybotrys molds help to decay organic matter, and the species known as Stachybotrys atra (sometimes known as Stachybotrys chartarum) is prone to growth indoors. The lack of power and air conditioning in the SUNO buildings provided the best possible conditions for stachybotrys to grow because there was moisture, food (ceiling tile, drywall, paper vapor barriers, wallpaper, insulation backing, cardboard boxes, and paper files), the right temperature, and lots of time to promote growth.
Stachybotrys is a health concern because studies have demonstrated that exposure, even at low levels can suppress the immune system contributing to bacterial and viral infections, coughing, skin irritation, and other allergic reactions.
The primary reason that stachybotrys is such a major health concern is that it produces a mycotoxin (i.e., poison from a fungus) named trichothecenes. When inhaled or ingested, stachybotrys causes the following health conditions:
Sore/hoarse throat
Cold and flu symptoms (headaches, slight fever, and muscle aches)
Nosebleeds
Tingling or burning of nose, mouth, and perspiration areas (under the arms or between the legs)
Chronic fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea/vomiting
Memory loss
Attention deficit/concentration problems
Personality changes such as irritability or depression
Neurological disorders such as tremors
Hair loss
Coughing with blood
Bleeding in the lungs (hemosiderosis)
Damage to internal organs including blood, liver, kidneys, and lungs
Stachybotrys has even been linked to promoting cancer.
Staff and Faculty Had Recurring Health Issues From Mold Exposure
In the absence of federal regulations on what constitutes a safe amount of mold, humans are often forced to act as canaries in a coal mine, alerting building managers to air quality issues….According to faculty and staff who had offices in SUNO’s Multipurpose Building, the university showed a lack of concern for health complaints between 2008 and 2013.
Considering that stachybotrys was found in the clearance test, it should not surprise anyone that the management of SUNO received many complaints from staff and faculty.
Within months of the move, several faculty were diagnosed with bronchitis. For five years, between 2008 and 2013, Das, Leary, James, and Dumas-Haynes taught classes on the second floor of the Multipurpose Building. Prior to their deaths, both Leary and Dumas-Haynes suffered from severe respiratory problems. They were not the only one’s that suffered as 10 other faculty and staff on the same floor complained of similar symptoms: coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, nausea and migraines.
As complaints mounted, staff demanded that the Administrators test the air quality again. In 2009, SUNO hired the AIMS group to come in and test the air quality, but to the surprise of faculty, the air quality test did not sample the air for mold, but only measured how the air was flowing through the building. Apparently, AIMS did not test for mold because they were not asked to.
According to a former SUNO staff member, it was obvious that the building had a mold problem:
A moldy odor hit you when you walked inside the building. You didn’t need a specialist to know there was mold in there.
The burden of the lack of action rests with the administrators who many staff believe did not take the issue of mold seriously and minimized the health consequences to the point where facilities workers just painted over the mold. Obviously a band-aid solution.
Based on the recurring complaints by staff and the lack of action by administrators, is it fair to conclude that toxic mold did play a role in the deaths of the four Professors?
Did Mold Kill The Four Professors?
The evidence suggests that the water-damaged building was a contributing factor to the occurrence of the four fatalities. (Dr. Michael Gray, a physician and toxicologist in Arizona who has spent more than 20 years treating patients exposed to water-damaged buildings.)
According to the CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental, Michael Pinto, there is mounting evidence that mold causes sickness:
There is now good science that documents that exposure to fungal contaminants and damp environments not only triggers standard allergenic responses, but pushes certain parts of the immune system into overdrive. In essence, the body’s defense system ends up attacking the host as well as the biological invaders. (The Answer to the Mold Illness Questions Is: All of the Above)
In 2009, the World Health Organization, produced a 228 page document entitled WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould and concluded the following:
When sufficient moisture is available, hundreds of species of bacteria and fungi – particularly mould – pollute indoor air. The most important effects of exposure to these pollutants are the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms, allergies, and asthma, as well as disturbance of the immune system. Preventing (or minimizing) persistent dampness and microbial growth on interior surfaces and building structures is the most important means of avoiding harmful effects on health.
Further, Lipinski, interviewed several experts about the specific causes of death attributed to the four professors.
With respect to Professors Dumas-Hayes and Das, whose documented cause of death was breast cancer, Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, chairwomen of environmental health at the Tulane University School of Public Health, stated the following:
Women in remission from breast cancer often have compromised immune systems, which makes fighting illness and infection more difficult. It is recommended that such women avoid indoor environments where the level of mold or dust exposure would cause public health concerns.
Many mold survivors chronically exposed to mold develop a condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), defined as:
“An accute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans, c-type lectins and possibly spirocyclic drimanes, plus volatile ogranic compounds.” (What is Mold Illness? Better yet, do people get sick after being exposed to water-damaged buildings?)
CIRS is associated with 37 health symptoms, including asthma, dizziness, migraines, and bronchitis. A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that women with chronic inflammation were twice as likely to develop a recurrence of breast cancer, which happenned with both Professors Dumas-Hayes and Das.
Dr. Shoemaker, who has studied CIRS extensively, believes that mold may also have contributed to the deaths of Professors James and Leary because more than 66 percent of those with the diagnosis develop clotting abnormalities, further stating that: “Pulmonary embolism is incredibly common in patients with chronic inflammation and can impact cardiovascular disease as well.”
Dr. Gray agrees with Shoemaker, citing studies showing that people who live or work in water-damaged buildings have a reduced number of “natural killer cells,” which defend against the expression of malignant cells and tumors: “People are much more likely to go out of remission when they are in a water-damaged environment because of the reduction of natural killer cells that environment provokes.”
Key Conclusions About Black Mold!
SUNO killed those people. We told them over and over: It’s not safe in here. But people had to die before anything was done. (Cynthia Ramirez, tenured professor at SUNO)
Some key conclusions can be arrived at based on the article written by Lipinski.
1. The lack of action to remediate the Multipurpose Building led to a large mold infestation, which experts agree was not effectively remediated because the clearance tests showed remaining evidence of stachybotrys within the building.
2. SUNO administration failed to address the health complaints of staff and faculty, at best using band-aid solutions.
3. Staff and faculty suffered from ill health because of continued exposure to stachybotrys mold.
4. The deaths of Professors Dumas-Hayes, Das, James, and Leary were likely hastened by the five years of exposure to the mold.
Staff and faculty did not have to suffer. Once it was found that the air quality tests showed that there was stachybotrys mold still in the building, administration should have taken action. Simply put:
Building owners are responsible for providing a healthy workplace or living environment free of excess moisture and mould, by ensuring proper building construction and maintenance. (WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould)
It appears that only after the deaths of the four Professors that action was taken. In February, 2014, SUNO moved staff out of the offices in the Multipurpose Building and decided to demolish it. SUNO plans to build a new building now. Perhaps, this should have been done in the first place to prevent all the needless suffering.
If you are concerned that you may have toxic black mold in your home or business that requires removal, call Mold B Gone, 678-697-6267 or send us an e-mail.
