The Ultimate Mold Education Resource (50 Articles)
The Ultimate Mold Education Resource (50 Articles)
The goal of Mold B Gone is to educate our customers about mold. We strongly believe that an educated and informed consumer can make better decisions when they have concerns about mold.
Included in this article are 50 links to articles that will help you learn about mold.
Please bookmark this page because we will update it with new articles as they are researched and published.
This article explains what you should and should not do if you find mold in your home, church, school, day care center, store, office building, restaurant, or hotel!
Top 3 Reasons Your Crawlspace Has High Humidity. This article explains why your crawlspace is humid, why this leads to mold and how you can fix the problem!
This article provides you with information to help you determine if you have a mold problem and explains what you should and should not do if you do find mold.
The purpose of this article is to answer the most common questions asked about crawl spaces and explain why your crawl space needs a vapor barrier. Learn more!
Recently a news article featured a woman who believes that she was poisoned by toxic black stachybotrys mold. This article explores this topic further!
The purpose of this article is to help you determine if mold and the indoor air quality of your child’s school is making them sick and what you can do. Learn more!
Wondering if you are sensitive to mold? This article explains how to determine if you are mold sensitized, seeking treatment, and the next two steps to health!
Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants! Questions answered about SIDS, asthma, miscarriage, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
25% of people are genetically pre-disposed to mold illness. This article explains why, citing scientific research and 37 symptoms associated with CIRS.
This article explains why many suffering from CIRS are diagnosed with depression caused by mold. Both scientific and anectodal data are cited. Learn more!
Top 3 Reasons Mold Sickness Is A Hidden Epidemic! You could be sick from mold and not even know it. This article explains why mold is a hidden epidemic!
37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis. Cause? This article lists the top 10 stats and facts citing MAYO clinic research that believes mold is the cause!
According to the CDC, rates of asthma among children in Georgia is 3% above the national average. Is mold a factor? This article cites stats and research!
Flood and water damage not only disrupts your life but can also be hazardous to your health! This article explains the top 3 hazards and prevention measures!
A flooded home or business is always a stressful situation. This blog provides you with the 3 steps required to reduce flood damage and most importantly, mold!
Home improvement is an American tradition. But, did you know that 6 out of 10 homes could have mold? Renovating can cause serious problems. Learn more!
Basements are susceptible to mold growth. The first clue of mold is a musty smell. This article provides you with 10 tips to prevent basement mold. Learn more!
If you or someone in your family suffers more frequently from colds or flus and you are not sure why, the cause could be poor indoor air quality. Learn more!
Have a mold concern, wondering what it will cost to remove? This article provides you with a detailed explanation of how mold removal cost is determined!
Mold sprays, bleach, biocides, and fungicides are an ineffective “short cut” to mold removal. Killing mold is not the answer! This article explains why.
Mold Removal Is Referred To As Mold Remediation Because Professionals Follow These 8 Steps. This article explains the steps and why you need to hire a pro!
The goal of Mold B Gone is to educate our customers about mold. We strongly believe that an educated and informed consumer can make better decisions when they have concerns about mold.
Included in this article are 36 links to articles that will help you learn about mold.
Please bookmark this page because we will update it with new articles as they are researched and published.
Top 3 Reasons Your Crawlspace Has High Humidity. This article explains why your crawlspace is humid, why this leads to mold and how you can fix the problem!
This article provides you with information to help you determine if you have a mold problem and explains what you should and should not do if you do find mold.
Recently a news article featured a woman who believes that she was poisoned by toxic black stachybotrys mold. This article explores this topic further!
Wondering if you are sensitive to mold? This article explains how to determine if you are mold sensitized, seeking treatment, and the next two steps to health!
Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants! Questions answered about SIDS, asthma, miscarriage, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
This article explains why many suffering from CIRS are diagnosed with depression caused by mold. Both scientific and anectodal data are cited. Learn more!
Top 3 Reasons Mold Sickness Is A Hidden Epidemic! You could be sick from mold and not even know it. This article explains why mold is a hidden epidemic!
37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis. Cause? This article lists the top 10 stats and facts citing MAYO clinic research that believes mold is the cause!
According to the CDC, rates of asthma among children in Georgia is 3% above the national average. Is mold a factor? This article cites stats and research!
Flood and water damage not only disrupts your life but can also be hazardous to your health! This article explains the top 3 hazards and prevention measures!
A flooded home or business is always a stressful situation. This blog provides you with the 3 steps required to reduce flood damage and most importantly, mold!
Home improvement is an American tradition. But, did you know that 6 out of 10 homes could have mold? Renovating can cause serious problems. Learn more!
If you or someone in your family suffers more frequently from colds or flus and you are not sure why, the cause could be poor indoor air quality. Learn more!
The purpose of this article is to explain how you air conditioner could be a source of mold contamination making you sick and what you can do to fix it.
Have a mold concern, wondering what it will cost to remove? This article provides you with a detailed explanation of how mold removal cost is determined!
Mold sprays, bleach, biocides, and fungicides are an ineffective “short cut” to mold removal. Killing mold is not the answer! This article explains why.
Mold Removal Is Referred To As Mold Remediation Because Professionals Follow These 8 Steps. This article explains the steps and why you need to hire a pro!
Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants!
Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants!
There has been much talk in the news about mold being found in sippy cups, which can have an impact on your child’s health.
The purpose of this article is to explore the issue of mold further by examining it’s health impact on infants and pregnancy, specifically looking at the potential issues that black mold can have.
Is There A Link Between Pulmonary Hemorrhage and Black Mold With Infants?
According to the Centers for Disease Control pulmonary hemorrhage, bleeding in the lungs, is quite common amongst premature infants.
Researchers speculate that toxic effects from the black mold, stachybotrys chartarum, also known as stachybotrys atra, can also contribute to this condition, often accompanied by pulmonary edema, which is the swelling of the lungs.
Researchers believe that the bleeding in the lungs is caused by mold because it produces airborne toxins that weaken tiny blood vessels in infants just as their lungs begin growing at a rapid pace.
Other health problems linked to mold include croup, pneumonia and bronchitis in infants.
Can Asthma Begin In The Womb?
In an earlier article, we explained the link between mold and asthma and it was stated that mold is particularly harmful to children who are exposed to asthma at an early age. Asthma, in short, is linked to the environment and may not be dominated by genetic factors.
Some researchers are now concluding that asthma and other allergies actually begin during pregnancy, in the womb. They believe that asthma may be caused by triggers in the environment, such as black mold because it attacks the respiratory system.
What Is The Link Between Mold and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
There is some speculation that SIDS may be caused by the mold, scopulariopsis brevicaulis. The effects of this mold were documented in a New Zealand study that speculated that environmental poisoning may be the cause of SIDS.
The theory and research is based on the fact that mattresses made for infants contain three chemicals. Phosphorous is used in the mattress cover; arsenic and antimony are added as preservatives and fire retardants. The problem occurs when the mattresses get wet.
Researchers theorize that when the mattress gets wet from moisture caused by sweat, spitting on, etc. then the common household fungus, scopulariopsis brevicaulis, begins to grow in the mattress. When this occurs, the mold begins to consume these three chemicals, resulting in the production of three nerve gasses: phosphine, arsine, and stibine, which can be very deadly, especially to infants.
To prevent this from happening, the researchers recommend the following:
Cover the top, all sides and most of the underside of the mattress with a polyethylene sheeting that is at least 5 mil thick and free of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony. Leave several venting holes on the underside of the mattress cover so that the gas can escape.
Use fleecy pure cotton mattress cover over the polyethylene sheeting and tuck it in securely.
Make the bed using pure cotton sheets and blankets.
Do not use any of the following as baby bedding: sheepskin, moisture-resistant mattress protector, acrylic under blanket, sleeping bag or duvet.
Clean mattress covers by wiping with pure soap and water. Do not use chemical bleaches or sterilizers.
What Is The Link Between Mold and Miscarriage?
To date, the evidence linking mold with miscarriage or birth defects is primarily anecdotal, ie. there are stories of women being exposed to mold during pregnancy and suffering. According to MBL Laboratories, there is no conclusive evidence that exposure to molds such as Stachybotrys or Aspergillus can cause pregnancy loss. The number one reason that there is no conclusive evidence is that it is very difficult to do clinical trials on a pregnant woman. In short, it would be highly unethical to purposely expose a pregnant woman to high levels of mold spores.
Of the three types of mold–allergenic, pathogenic, and toxic–it is believed that toxic mold, like stachybotrys, could harm the pregnant woman and possibly the baby growing inside. This conclusion is reasonable considering the growing evidence that black mold causes significant health problems.
Despite the lack of research studies on pregnant women, there have been some studies on animals. Animal studies using mice indicate that mold toxins can disrupt fetal development. For instance, oral ingestion of contaminated feed or partially purified toxin of stachybotrys chartarum was shown to cause a decrease in the number of pregnant mice; an increased frequency in dead, resorbed or stunted fetuses; and decreased average litter size. This evidence is not conclusive, but it does show that mold could be harmful.
Mold Exposure Is Not Safe For Pregnant Women and Infants!
Despite the fact that much of the evidence related to the harm that mold can have on pregnant women, the unborn child, and newly born infants is anecdotal, it does not mean that exposure to mold is safe.
Inhaled in large quantities, toxic molds like stachybotrys will cause health problems. The people at greatest risk of health effects associated with mold exposure are those with respiratory conditions, allergies, asthma, and sinusitis, as well as infants and children, elderly people, individuals with a weakened immune system and pregnant women.
If you have just found out that you are pregnant, or begin worrying about mold, you should get your home or workplace tested for mold. Do not as a pregnant woman, attempt to remove the mold yourself, the less exposure you have, the better. Start off your pregnancy in a mold-free environment, it’s better to be safe than sorry. For your baby’s health, it is also important to keep your house mold-free after birth.
If you are unsure if you have mold, hire Mold B Gone to do a mold inspection and air quality tests to measure the spore count inside of the home. If you do have mold, then first fix the source of moisture which is causing the mold, then have it removed.
Questions? Call us, 678-697-6267, or send us an e-mail. We look forward to serving you! 🙂
Is Mold Dangerous To Pregnant Women and Infants Infographic
Is Mold Dangerous To Pregnant Women and Infants Infographic
Does Mold Affect Pregnant Women and Infants? Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants! Questions answered about SIDS, asthma, miscarriage, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
“My friend wondered why his son was still sick so he broke open the anti-spill guard of his Tommee Tippee glass and discovered mold inside the anti-spill top that you can’t see except if you break it open….He has washed it with his hands and in the dishwasher and the mildew has stayed anyway.(Penny Powell)”
Yesterday there were many news reports about mold being found in Tommee Tippee sippy cups.
Outraged parents are using social media to share photos of moldy Tommee Tippee sippy cups and calling for the manufacturer to investigate the potential health harm.
Tommee Tippee addressed the issue on their FaceBook page:
“We are always very attentive to your feedback, comments, ideas and the way in which the parents use our products and their children the experience….We understand that the well-being of your children is of paramount importance, and we assure you that we have tested the valves of our cups, and the results have clearly confirmed that when the instructions for use and cleaning are followed, all works correctly. In addition to our instructions for use of cups, we have prepared a list of FAQ to help you to clean your cups and their valves.”
The company recommends the cups only be used with cold fluids, including water and non-pulp juices, rather than thick or warm liquids, such as milk or pulpy juices.
Regardless of the brand or origin of your child’s sippy cup, we recommend that you check to see that mold is not building up. The remainder of this article explains why mold could make your child sick, why mold grows on sippy cups, and how you should properly clean the sippy cup.
Mold can also produce Mycotoxins, which are poisonous substances produced by mold.
With respect to mold in the sippy cups, this may make your child sick, causing coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory conditions. The other major concern is that if there is mold, then the sippy cup could be contaminated with bacteria that could also cause sickness.
Why Does Mold Grow In Sippy Cups?
Mold needs four ingredients to grow:
Mold Spores.
Temperature.
Moisture.
Mold Food.
Since mold spores are everywhere and not visible to the eye, sippy cups can easily become contaminated with mold spores, meaning there is not much you can do to prevent this.
The only way to prevent mold from growing in your children’s cups is to properly clean them to reduce traces of food.
The other key is to eliminate all moisture after cleaning the cup.
Cleaning Tips To Keep Your Child’s Sippy Cup Mold Free
NuspinKids, another manufacturer of sippy cups, has some excellent cleaning tips on their website.
They recommend the following:
Wash the cup immediately after each use.
FULLY disassemble the cup. Moisture and food collects in the joints between parts, and is exactly the type of place where mold can grow. Separate all straws, valves, rubber rings, plastic sliding covers, and so on. Use a straw brush to scrub inside straws. Use a straw brush or a toothpick to scrub inside valves.
Pre-rinse straws, valves, and other parts that collect food with warm water. Most rubber valves can be opened by pinching with your fingers. Pinch the valve and run water through it to pre-rinse.
Wash by hand in warm soapy water, or by dishwasher.
Shake out remaining water from all parts. Shake out any water collected inside straws. If your cup or straw has a rubber valve, pinch it open while you shake to get the water out.
FULLY dry all parts before assembly. This is a key step, since moist parts won’t dry once assembled. Consider storing the cup disassembled, and assemble only when ready to use.
To further guarantee your child’s sippy cups are extra clean, on a weekly or monthly basis you may want to use these advance sterilization techniques:
Washing in a dishwasher will sanitize, and some hotter dishwasher cycles can even sterilize. The dishwasher is often the best solution for keeping your cups extra clean without exposing them to excessive temperatures and harsh chemicals that can deteriorate plastic, rubber, steel, and paint.
A steam sterilizer is effective for killing mold. As with all methods, you must ensure that the parts are fully dried afterwards, so use the dry cycle if available.
A diluted chlorine bleach bath (typically 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water, soak for 2 minutes) is effective. If you do this proceed with caution. Don’t mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or other household cleaners, ensure proper ventilation by opening windows, and thoroughly rinse and clean all the cup parts.
A vinegar bath can help to clean grime, but isn’t effective enough to meet the technical definition of sterilization and will only kill about 70% of the mold.
What You Should Do If You Own A Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup?
What You Should Do If You Own A Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup?
If you own a Sippee Cup with a one-piece valve, Tommee Tippee will send you a transparent valve (pictured above), which can give you the confidence that the cup is clean every time, or a new cup can be selected entirely. Consumers are asked to call 1-877-248-6922 to receive either of these free options.
In addition, Tommee Tippee has some great cleaning tips and videos on their website to keep your child’s sippy cup clean and mold free.
Questions about mold? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are mold experts that understand why and how mold grows. 🙂
This article article explains why mold grows on sippy cups, why it could make your child sick, and how you should properly clean the sippy cup!
