News / Health & Wellness
Household Mold Screening a Must for Homes with Infants
The journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology doctors and researchers have concluded that exposure to household mold in infancy greatly increases a child's risk of developing asthma,
Researchers analyzed seven years of data collected from 176 children who were followed from infancy as part of the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study. The children were considered at high risk of developing asthma because of family medical history. By the young age of 7 18% of the children had already developed asthma.
Children who lived in homes with mold during infancy were three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7 than those who weren't exposed to mold when they were infants.
As reported by HealthDay News "Early life exposure to mold seems to play a critical role in childhood asthma development," lead author Tiina Reponen, a professor of environmental health at the University of Cincinnati, said in a university news release. "This study should motivate expectant parents, especially if they have a family history of allergy or asthma, to correct water damage and reduce the mold burden in their homes to protect the respiratory health of their children," Reponen added. Greater than 9 percent of school-aged children in the United States develop asthma.
Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Moisture inside buildings may arise from water penetrating compromised areas of the building envelope or skin, from plumbing leaks, lack of humidity control, from condensation due to improper ventilation, or from ground moisture penetrating a building base.
Indoor environmental screening of the home or work environment is important for individuals with allergies, chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, emphysema, asthma, atopic dermatitis, immune deficiencies, etc. In keeping with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 1997 recommendations, it is desirable to identify and remove common allergens (e.g. molds) and modify the home or office to reduce the level of ubiquitous (common) allergens. Before one can remove allergens and/or pollutants effectively, it is essential to understand if they exist and in what quantity. Available to homeowners and consumers is the inexpensive (as low as than $52.) and accurate do-it-yourself (DIY) IAQ Screen Check products and evalu-aire test equipment located at www.IndoorAirTest.com.
An industry leader in indoor air quality, Building Health Check, LLC, manufactures a full quality line of Do-It-Yourself (DIY), easy, inexpensive and accurate indoor air quality testing products allowing you the opportunity to monitor the quality of air in your home or workplace, giving you peace of mind. These are the same kits used by industrial hygienist professionals across the country.
Today, Building Health Check manufactures and sells over 20 IAQ test kits through distributors, on-line dealers and to consumers at places such as Grainger, Sears, Carrier, Johnstone’s, Ferguson Supply among many others. Building Health Check’s personal touch involvement and dedication means a higher level of commitment to every customer.
The DIY IAQ Screen testing products can test for Mold, Allergens, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), Radon, Bacteria, Mycotoxins, Formaldehyde, etc…and many other pollutants and contaminants. You can visit us on line at www.indoorairtest.com, one of the many on-line dealers or call us at 800-422-7873 ext 404.
About Building Health Check, LLC
Building Health Check sets the industry standard for IAQ DIY kits, testing equipment, and laboratory analysis. For more information on Building Health Check, LLC contact us at (800) 422-7873 ext. 404 or 804 or visit http://www.indoorairtest.com. For an online catalog visit: http://www.indoorairtest.com/bhc%20llc%20catalog.html
About our Affiliate Laboratory, EDLab
The Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) (established in 1992) at Pure Air Control Services (PACS) is an AIHA accredited environmental lab offering complete and comprehensive indoor environmental microbiology laboratory services. They include: microbiology, aerobiology, chemistry, allergen assays and microscopy designed to meet all your indoor air needs. EDLab supports IAQ investigations by assisting with strategic sampling plan development and supplying media collection equipment while performing a wide range of environmental analyses. Call toll free 1-800-422-7873 for additional information.
###
