ReportWire

Tag: mold

  • Is Aflatoxin a Concern? | NutritionFacts.org

    Is “toxic mold syndrome” a real thing? What do we do about toxic mold contamination of food?

    In recent years, mold has been blamed for all sorts of “vague and subjective” symptoms, but we have little scientific evidence that mold should be implicated. However, this “concept of toxic mold syndrome has permeated the public consciousness,” perpetuated by disreputable predatory practices of those making money testing homes for mold spores or testing people’s urine or blood. But all these tests are said to “further propagate misinformation and inflict unnecessary and often exorbitant costs on patients desperate for a clinical diagnosis, right or wrong, for their constellation of maladies…The continued belief in this myth is perpetuated by those charlatans who believe that measles vaccines cause autism, that homeopathy works, that fluoride in the water should be removed….”

    Mold toxin contamination of food, however, has emerged as a legitimate issue of serious concern, and mycotoxins are perhaps even more important than other contaminants that might make their way into the food supply. Hundreds of different types have been identified, but only one has been classified as a known human carcinogen, and that’s aflatoxin. The ochratoxin I’ve previously discussed is a possible human carcinogen, but we know aflatoxin causes cancer in human beings. In fact, aflatoxins are amongst the most powerful known carcinogens.

    It has been estimated that about a fifth of all liver cancer cases may be attributable to aflatoxins. “Since liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and mortality rapidly follows diagnosis, the contribution of aflatoxins to this deadly cancer is significant.” And once aflatoxin makes it into the food, there is almost nothing we can do to remove it. Cooking, for example, doesn’t help. Indeed, as shown below and at 1:50 in my video Should We Be Concerned About Aflatoxin?, once it makes it into crops or into the meat, dairy, and eggs from animals consuming those crops, it’s too late. So, we have to prevent contamination in the first place, which is what we’ve been doing for decades in the United States. Because of government regulations, “companies in developed countries…are ‘always sampling’ for aflatoxin,” resulting in nearly $1 billion in losses every year. That may get even worse if climate change exacerbates aflatoxin contamination in the Midwest Corn Belt.

    So, on a consumer level, it is more of a public health problem in the less industrialized world, such as in African countries, where conditions are ripe and farmers can’t afford to throw away $1 billion in contaminated crops. Aflatoxin remains a public health threat in Africa, Southeast Asia, and rural China, affecting more than half of humanity. This explains why the prevalence of liver cancer in those areas may be 30 times higher, yet it is not a major problem in the United States or Europe.

    Only about 1% of Americans have detectable levels of aflatoxins in their bloodstream. Why not 0%? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration works to ensure that levels of exposure to these toxins are kept as low as practical, not as low as possible. In California, for instance, there has been an increase in “unacceptable aflatoxin levels” in pistachios, almonds, and figs. Unacceptable in Europe, that is, so it affects our ability to export, but not necessarily unacceptable for U.S. consumers, as we allow twice as much aflatoxin contamination.

    Figs are unique since they’re “allowed to fully ripen and semidry on the tree.” This makes them “particularly susceptible to aflatoxin production.” It would be interesting to know about the fig-consuming habits of the 1% of Americans who were positive for the toxin. If figs were to blame, I’d encourage people to diversify their dried fruit consumption, but nuts are so good for us that we really want to keep them in our diets. The cardiovascular health benefits we get from nuts outweigh their carcinogenic effects; nut consumption prevents thousands of strokes and heart attacks for every one case of liver cancer. “Thus, the population health benefits provided by increased nut consumption clearly outweigh the risks associated with increased aflatoxin B1 exposure.”

    So, we’re left with aflatoxin being mostly a problem in the developing world, and, because of that, it “remains a largely and rather shamefully ignored global health issue….” Where attention has been paid, it has been largely driven by the need to meet stringent import regulations on mycotoxin contamination in the richer nations of the world, rather than to protect the billions of people exposed on a daily basis.

    Doctor’s Note

    This is the last video in a four-part series on mold toxins. If you missed the others, check the related posts below. 

    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

    Source link

  • Are the Effects of Ochratoxin Concerning? | NutritionFacts.org

    The overall cost-benefit ratio for mycotoxins depends on which food is contaminated.

    Ochratoxin has been described as toxic to the immune system, developing fetus, kidneys, and nervous system, as well as being carcinogenic, but that is in animal studies. Ochratoxin “causes kidney toxicity in certain animal species, but there is little documented evidence of adverse effects in humans.” That’s why it’s only considered a possible human carcinogen.

    Big Ag assures that current ochratoxin levels are safe, even among those who eat a lot of contaminated foods. The worst-case scenario may be young children eating a lot of oat-based cereals, but, even then, “their lifetime cancer risk is negligible.” Individuals arguing against regulatory standards suggest we can eat more than 42 cups of oatmeal a day and not worry about it. Where do they get these kinds of estimates?

    They determine the so-called benchmark dose in animals—the dose of the toxin that gives a 10% increase in pathology—then, because one would want to err on the side of caution, divide that dose by 500 as a kind of safety fudge factor to develop the tolerable daily intake. For cancer risk, you can find the tumor dose—the dose that increases tumor incidence in lab animals by 5%—and extrapolate down to the ”negligible cancer risk intake,” effectively incorporating a 5,000-fold safety factor, as seen below and at 1:28 in my video Should We Be Concerned About the Effects of Ochratoxin?.

    It seems kind of arbitrary, right? But what else are you going to do? You can’t just intentionally feed people the stuff and see what happens—but people eat it regularly. Can we just follow people and their diets over time and see if those who eat more whole grains, like oats, for example, are more likely to have cancer or live shorter lives?

    What is the association between whole grain intake and all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality? Every additional ounce of whole grains eaten a day is associated with not only a lower risk for cancer mortality but also a lower risk of dying from all causes put together. Below and at 2:05 in my video are findings from all the big cancer studies. Every single one trended towards lower cancer risk.

    The bottom line is that you don’t find adverse effects confirmed in these population studies. This is not to say ochratoxin is necessarily harmless, but “any such risk does not outweigh the known benefits of wholegrain consumption.” In fact, healthy constituents of the whole grains themselves, like their antioxidants, may directly reduce the impacts of mycotoxins by protecting cells from damage. So, eating lots of fruits and vegetables may also help. Either way, “an overall healthy diet can play a significant role in mitigating the risk of contaminants in grain.”

    In summary, healthy foods like whole grains are good, but just not as good as they could be because of ochratoxin, whereas less healthful foods, like wine and pork, are worse because of the mycotoxin, as shown below and at 2:52 in my video. Ochratoxin was detected, for example, in 44% of tested pork.

    Doctor’s Note

    This is the third video in a four-part series on mold toxins. If you missed the first two, see Ochratoxin in Breakfast Cereals and Friday Favorites: Ochratoxin and Breakfast Cereals, Herbs, Spices, and Wine.

    Should We Be Concerned About Aflatoxin? is coming up next.

    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

    Source link

  • Mold Toxins in Cereals, Herbs, Spices, and Wine | NutritionFacts.org

    Most crops are contaminated with fungal mycotoxins, but some foods are worse than others.

    Oats can be thought of as “uniquely nutritious.” One route by which they improve human health is by providing prebiotics that “increase the growth of beneficial gut microbiota.” There are all manner of oats, ranging from steel-cut oats to, even better, intact oat groats (their form before being cut), all the way down to highly processed cereals, like Honey Nut Cheerios.

    “Rolling crushes the grain, which may disrupt cell walls and damage starch granules, making them more available for digestion.” This is bad because we want the starch to make it all the way down to our colon to feed our good gut bacteria. Grinding oats into oat flour to make breakfast cereals is even worse. When you compare blood sugar and insulin responses, you can see significantly lower spikes with the more intact steel-cut oats, as shown below and at 0:54 in my video Ochratoxin in Certain Herbs, Spices, and Wine.

    What about ochratoxin? As seen here and at 1:01 in my video, oats are the leading source of dietary exposure to this mold contaminant, but they aren’t the only source.

    There is a global contamination of food crops with mycotoxins, with some experts estimating as much as 25% of the world’s crops being affected. That statistic is attributed to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, but it turns out the stat is bogus. It isn’t 25%. Instead, it may be more like 60% to 80%. “The high occurrence is likely explained by a combination of the improved sensitivity of analytical [testing] methods and the impact of climate change.”

    Spices have been found to have some of the highest concentrations of mycotoxins, but because they are ingested in such small quantities, they aren’t considered to be a significant source. We can certainly do our part to minimize our risk, though. For instance, we should keep spices dry after opening sealed containers or packages.

    What about dried herbs? In “Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Dietary Supplements: Hidden Health Risk for Consumers,” researchers found that milk thistle–based supplements had the highest mycotoxin concentrations. It turns out that humid, wet weather is needed during milk thistle harvest, which is evidently why they get so moldy. “Considering the fact that milk thistle preparations are mainly used by people who suffer from liver disease,” such a high intake of compounds toxic to the liver may present some concern.

    Wine sourced from the United States also appears to have particularly high levels. In fact, the single highest level found to date around the world is in a U.S. wine, but there’s contamination in wine in general. In fact, some suggest that’s why we see such consistent levels in people’s blood—perhaps because a lot of people are regular wine drinkers.

    Ochratoxin is said to be a kidney toxin with immunosuppressive, birth defect–causing, and carcinogenic properties. So, what about ochratoxin decontamination in wine? That is, removing the toxin? Ideally, we’d try to prevent the contamination in the first place, but since this isn’t always practical, there is increased focus on finding effective methods of detoxification of mycotoxins already present in foods. This is where yeast enters as “a promising and friendly solution,” because the mycotoxins bind to the yeast cell wall. The thought is that we could strain out the yeast. Another approach is to eat something like nutritional yeast to prevent the absorption.

    It works in chickens. Give yeast along with aflatoxin (another mycotoxin), and the severity of the resulting disease is diminished. However, using something like nutritional yeast as a binder “depends on stability of the yeast-mycotoxin complex through the passage of the gastrointestinal tract.” We know yeasts can remove ochratoxin in foods, but we didn’t have a clue if it would work in the gut until 2016. Yeast was found to bind up to 44% of the ochratoxin, but, in actuality, it was probably closer to only about a third, since some of the bindings weren’t stable. So, if you’re trying to stay under the maximum daily intake and you drink a single glass of wine, even if your bar snack is popcorn seasoned with nutritional yeast, you’d still probably exceed the tolerable intake. But what does that mean? How bad is this ochratoxin? We’ll find out next.

    Doctor’s Note

    This is the second video in a four-part series on mold toxins. The first one was Ochratoxin in Breakfast Cereals.

    Stay tuned for Should We Be Concerned About the Effects of Ochratoxin? and Should We Be Concerned About Aflatoxin?. You can also check: Friday Favorites: Should We Be Concerned About Ochratoxin and Aflatoxin?.

    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

    Source link

  • Fungal Toxins for Breakfast? | NutritionFacts.org

    One of the few food contaminants found at higher levels in those eating plant-based diets are mycotoxins, fungal toxins in moldy food ingredients, such as oats.

    In France, exposure to dietary contaminants was compared between vegetarians and meat-eaters, and the results showed that exposures to persistent organic pollutants like PCBs and dioxins were dramatically lower among those eating more plant-based foods. This was due to their avoidance of foods of animal origin, though they did have higher estimated exposure to some mycotoxins, fungal toxins present in moldy food.

    There are many types of mold on the planet, possibly millions, and the vast majority are harmless. However, over the last several years, certain mold toxins, such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin, have been popping up in breakfast cereals. Hundreds of samples were taken off store shelves, and about half were found to be contaminated with ochratoxin, but those store shelves were in Pakistan, which has a sub-tropical climate with monsoons and flash floods, leading to fungal propagation. Similar results have since popped up in Europe, in Serbia, for instance. They’ve also been found in Spain and seen in Portugal. Then, mycotoxins were discovered in breakfast cereals in Canada. What about breakfast cereals sold in the United States?

    Researchers collected 144 samples and, similar to other countries, found that about half contained ochratoxin, but only about 7% exceeded the maximum limit established by the European Commission. What is the significance of finding ochratoxin in U.S. breakfast cereals? In the largest study to date, which included nearly 500 samples of cereal off store shelves across the United States, overall detection rates were about 40%, though only 16 of the samples violated the European standards. All the cereals with ochratoxin were oat-based; however, about 1 in 13 of the oat-based cereal samples tested were contaminated.

    Ochratoxin has become increasingly regulated by many countries to minimize chronic exposure. Shown below and at 2:23 in my video Ochratoxin in Breakfast Cereals are the current regulations for mycotoxins in cereal-based baby foods, for example, worldwide.

    Some countries are very strict, like in the European Union; other countries are less so, and one country in particular has no standards at all. Ochratoxin is not currently regulated at all in the United States.

    What about sticking to organic products? One might expect them to be worse due to the fact that fungicides are not allowed in organic production. However, “mycotoxin concentrations are usually similar or reduced in organic compared with conventional products.” For example, in one of the breakfast cereal studies, researchers found similar contamination, and the same was found for infant foods. It cannot be concluded that organic is better than conventional from a mycotoxin perspective. “Despite no use of fungicides, an organic system appears generally able to maintain mycotoxin contamination at low levels.” But how much is that saying, given how widespread it is? How concerned should we be about the public health effects from “long-term exposure to this potent mycotoxin”?

    If you look at blood samples taken from populations going back decades, sometimes 100% of people turn up positive for ochratoxin circulating in their bloodstream. In some sense, mycotoxins “are unavoidable contaminants of food,” since they are not easy to detect and many of them can remain hidden. And, once foods have become contaminated, mycotoxins aren’t destroyed by cooking. So, are there some foods we should simply try to avoid due to a higher risk of contamination? That’s exactly the question I’m going to address next.

    Doctor’s Note

    This is the first video in a four-part series on mold toxins. Check related posts below for the other three.

    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

    Source link

  • ‘This is actually insane’: Los Angeles woman buys cake from Ralph’s for brother’s birthday. Then she cuts into it and is shocked–for the second time

    There’s nothing like slicing into a fluffy, vanilla birthday cake only to become emotionally scarred by what’s inside. One woman had the unfortunate experience of being greeted by mold when she cut the cake she got from Ralph’s, ruining her brother’s birthday celebration. 

    In a viral TikTok, Los Angeles-based Kass (@kassthe.esq) shared her disappointment with over 31,000 viewers. She explains how she bought a vanilla cake for her late brother’s birthday. However, after lighting the “30” candle and cutting into it, Kass saw that the cake was plagued by mold. 

    The clip shows the cake riddled with the black, fluffy spores. 

    “You guys, be super careful before buying any cake from Ralph’s,” Kass begins. She says she bought this cake for her brother’s birthday as he would have been 30. “As you can see, this is supposed to be a vanilla cake.” 

    “This is mold,” Kass says, pointing it out with a butter knife. “I just bought this today.” 

    It’s not the first time Ralph’s messed up birthday cake

    Kass reveals that this isn’t the first time Ralph’s has disappointed her with a cake for her brother. 

    “I bought a cake for my brother last year too,” Kass shares, “and the second layer of the cake from Ralph’s–same location–had a whole entire layer of plastic on it.”

    She warns viewers once again to be careful, “especially if you’re giving your kids this cake.”

    “Imagine if I would’ve ate this?” Kass says. “That’s crazy.

    Viewers were disgusted

    Several users couldn’t believe the state of Kass’s cake.

    “Baskin Robbin’s ain’t never failed me,” one wrote, while another added, “Oh yea they had that in the back of the fridge for a whileeeee.”

    Several people asked Kass whether she got her money back. “Babe u better return this, get ur money back,” one said.

    In an email to the Mary Sue, Kass says she did not get her money, though she did call Ralph’s and left a review.

    “They did not offer me a refund as I no longer had the receipt or the moldy cake as I threw it away immediately,” she said.

    What happens if you accidentally eat mold?

    We’ve all probably eaten some mold or moldy food at some point in our lives. And while gross, some experts told Today that you shouldn’t be super concerned. According to Professor of food microbiology Dr. Randy Worobo, the acids in our stomachs will simply break it down. 

    “For the general population, it’s not a big deal,” he told Today. 

    Still, those with a weakened immune system or who are allergic to mold need to be careful, experts say. 

    However, mold toxicity is very real and can occur when being exposed to mold over a period of time. 

    Many who find mold in their food may be tempted to cut around it, but is it safe to do so?

    Worobo says not quite. 

    “Cutting out or around mold on foods may not get rid of it, the experts warn,” the article stated. “In fact, slicing a knife through a moldy spot can spread the spores to other parts of the food.” 

    So while today’s grocery prices may be causing you to think twice about tossing that mold, perhaps its best to avoid munching on it altogether. 

    @kassthe.esq Ralph’s needs to up there quality control because what is going on ? #ralphs #mold #cakes #birthdaycake #bakery ♬ original sound – Kass ⚖️??‍♀️?

    The Mary Sue reached out to Kass and Kroger, Ralph’s parent company, via email. 

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Gisselle Hernandez

    Gisselle Hernandez

    Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].

    Gisselle Hernandez

    Source link

  • ‘Who waits weeks to unpack I fear this is on you’: Woman opens her luggage after 2 weeks. Now she has to throw everything away

    After returning from vacation, Kaitlin (@qu33nkaos) was left shocked after finding something unpleasant in her luggage. Her discovery even led her to discard all her vacation clothes, which were completely ruined.

    In the eight-second clip, Kaitlin opens the suitcase and shows viewers a pair of shorts that are speckled with mold. As she silently screams to the camera, on-screen text reads, “This is your reminder to NOT wait weeks to unpack your suitcase. ALL THESE CLOTHES ARE CONTAMINATED!”

    She added in the video description: “I want to fight the inventor of mold. First, you come for my delicious ripe strawberries and blueberries after just 2 days. NOW YOU ATE MY #freepeople ?? YOU’RE DONE!!! cut the cameras.”

    Two commenters recommended using vinegar to clean the mold. “You can use vinegar to clean- wash with hot water. I also used laundry sanitizer to give a second wash just in case,” one said. “You can also leave it out in the sun to kill off any potential mold spores. The UV light should also kill it.”

    A further commenter questioned, “Was there something wet in there?”

    While another shared their own story. “I left my moka pot screwed on, it didn’t even have a lot of water like just from washing it and it grew mold,” they said.

    The video has amassed 34,800 views. Kaitlin didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and email.

    Can clothes get moldy?

    Surprisingly, clothes can indeed get moldy. According to damp-proofing business Croft Preservation, it all has to do with damp. Normally, the site says this happens when wet items of clothings are kept scrunched up without drying for a prolonged period of time. It also notes that if you get moldy clothes in your wardrobe, this is likely due to a ventilation issue and damp in your wardrobe.

    Mold Busters cited further reasons why clothes can get moldy, including a 70-90 degrees temperature range, the presence of organic material, and darkness. Based on this, we can assume that Kaitlin’s suitcase got moldy because the clothes were slightly damp and stuck in a poorly-ventilated, dark suitcase.

    @qu33nkaos i want to fight the inventor of mold. first you come for my delicious ripe strawberries and blueberries after just 2 days. NOW YOU ATE MY #freepeople ?? YOURE DONE!!! cut the cameras. #why #fypage #travel #summer #vacation #travelvlog #fashiontok #ootd #fp #outfitinspo #outfitoftheday #lol ♬ original sound – kraftablegenuis

    How do I get rid of mold on clothes?

    While putting them in the washer is an obvious start, Croft Preservation notes that some clothes will require pre-treatment, which involves scrubbing the mold with stain remover with something like a toothbrush.

    If you have pale clothes, you could also add a little bleach to your wash cycle. Additionally, the company recommends washing these clothes at the highest possible temperature.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

    Charlotte Colombo

    Source link

  • Miami trio Mold! return to Orlando for a night of Technicolor rock explosions

    Miami trio Mold! return to Orlando for a night of Technicolor rock explosions

    WE LOVE OUR READERS!

    Since 1990, Orlando Weekly has served as the free, independent voice of Orlando, and we want to keep it that way.

    Becoming an Orlando Weekly Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.

    Join today because you love us, too.

    Bao Le-Huu

    Source link

  • Black and white mold sicken family after HHA crew removes AC unit from Cuney Homes apartment for 3 months, tenant says

    Black and white mold sicken family after HHA crew removes AC unit from Cuney Homes apartment for 3 months, tenant says

    HOUSTON – A woman says she and her three young sons have been forced to live in hot, moldy conditions for three months now, at her Cuney Homes apartment in Third Ward.

    This, after telling KPRC 2′s Deven Clarke that crews took away her air conditioning unit and never replaced it.

    She says the Houston Housing Authority, which oversees the complex, has ignored her cries for help until now.

    SEE ALSO: Caught in the middle: Residents of Houston Heights apartment complex still without power

    She says the conditions she’s been living in have been uncomfortable, sickening and expensive. Tonight, the HHA is apologizing and working to make things right.

    When we went to the unit, the smell of sour air and mildew filled the top floor. The tenant—who asked not to be identified—is convinced the mold is causing the stench.

    “I didn’t even know that she told me to pull the blinds back and she said, ‘it’s all over his blinds.’ That’s what the inspector showed me,” she said.

    The mother of three young boys says black and white mold began growing three months ago, after a crew removed the upstairs AC unit in order to make repairs.

    She says not only did they not replace the AC, but they also failed to properly seal the window.

    “It was a whole bunch of furry stuff. It looks almost like a caterpillar,” the tenant said. “My baby is complaining.”

    She says health issues with her 3-year-old began to surface.

    “He started getting this raspy cough,” she said.

    She says her oldest son also started getting nosebleeds, and she was forced to shell out money to stay in a hotel as long as she could afford it.

    “This is unacceptable,” activist Candice Matthews said. “So, this requires a federal investigation, because those families should not be living like that. This is under the Houston Housing Authority. They have a responsibility to ensure that these people don’t live like this.”

    The HHA is promising to make things right.

    Here’s the full statement from the HHA:

    “The Houston Housing Authority provides affordable homes and services to more than 60,000 low-income Houstonians. We are committed to transparency, safety, and serving the needs of our community.

    We are reaching out to inform you of a recent development at Cuney Homes concerning a malfunctioning air conditioning unit. Our priority is always the comfort and well-being of our residents, and upon being made aware of the issue, we have taken immediate action.

    We have been diligently working alongside our property managers and management team to address the situation swiftly. As of 4:30 PM, the AC unit was replaced by property management. For the inconvenience, we will also be providing the resident with accommodations at a local hotel during the duration of the holiday weekend.

    We understand the inconvenience this may cause and assure you that we are working tirelessly to resolve the issue promptly. Our residents’ comfort and safety remain our utmost concern, and we are committed to providing updates as the situation progresses.”

    Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

    Deven Clarke

    Source link

  • Your house has water damage from the storm. Now what?

    Your house has water damage from the storm. Now what?


    For thousands across the Southland, this week’s storms brought unwanted water into their houses, condos and businesses due to flooding, leaky roofs or other causes.

    The task now for many property owners is to dry out their interior spaces and prevent further damage due to mold and mildew. Not just an unsightly and smelly nuisance, mold is a potential health hazard that can require costly additional repairs if it’s not addressed properly and relatively quickly. Once it does appear, it’s imperative that you take steps to address it before it spreads.

    To get some answers about what to do when you’ve got moisture in the walls, floors, ceilings or insulation of your home or business, The Times spoke to mold remediation professionals and other experts.

    Here’s what they said:

    1. Don’t make it worse

    The first thing you should do is make sure you don’t exacerbate the problem. If money’s tight, it may be tempting to try to fix the problem yourself.

    If you’re lucky and mold hasn’t started to grow, it may be O.K. to run some fans or pull up a damp patch of carpet. But if areas of moisture remain, mold will likely follow within a few days.

    Once you start to see visible mold or smell its telltale dank odor, it may already be too late to take purely preventive measures. Even just running fans could spread mold spores throughout your home, as could removing moldy materials.

    2. Call a professional

    As soon as you can after an event like a storm or a pipe break causes water to pour into your home or business, you should get in touch with someone who knows what they’re doing.

    One good option is to contact a full-service water damage recovery and mold remediation company. These firms are inundated with calls after inclement weather, so the sooner you call them the better. They’ll start out by talking you through what you’re facing and will typically send someone to assess the damage and how to address it.

    You’ll also need to consider whether — and when — to get in touch with your insurance company. This is a personal decision, but there are some important questions to consider before you make that call. For instance, what’s your deductible and how much do you expect the bill to repair the damage to be? Do you have flood insurance and what exactly does your policy cover? If you anticipate costly repairs, it might even be worth consulting with a property damage attorney to help you navigate the claims process.

    Joel Moss, chief business development officer for Paul Davis Restoration in Santa Clarita, said he recommends a property owner’s first call be to a company that can come to your home and determine what’s needed.

    “We can come out and assess what’s going on and give them some professional feedback,” he said, “rather than calling their insurance company first and then finding out that it may not be a covered claim, or if the damage is so small that it’s not going to be beneficial to run the deductible.”

    3. Water mitigation

    If it’s soon enough after the storm and the water hasn’t permeated too deeply, you might be looking at a minimally invasive mitigation process, according to Shay Benhamo, office manager at Green Planet Restoration in Chatsworth.

    By removing moisture before mold can take hold, you can avoid the high costs and lengthy processes often associated with mold remediation. Sometimes just mitigating water can cost a few thousand dollars. But it’s always less expensive and disruptive than waiting until there’s mold.

    “Sometimes you can just dry it out with machines,” Benhamo said, “and sometimes you have to actually remove wet material, like two feet of wet drywall.”

    4. Mold remediation

    There are hundreds of varieties of mold that can show up in indoor spaces, and their appearance can vary widely. Mold can be blue, green, white — essentially any color. If it’s black, you should be particularly concerned, but the feared black mold is not the only variety that can cause respiratory problems and other health issues.

    Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean there isn’t mold. If you know you’ve had significant moisture inside your home or business for three or more days, or if you smell it in the air, you’ll likely need to pursue mold remediation.

    All water and moisture will first need to be mitigated, and any moldy materials will need to be removed. That can mean losing parts of your floor, walls and even furniture and other belongings.

    Paul Davis Restoration’s standards require that when mold is found in a floor, ceiling or wall, the moldy portion must be cut out and removed, Moss said, along with two extra feet in every direction past the part where mold can be seen.

    After the materials are removed, the next step is rebuilding the affected portions of your home or business. Full-service water recovery and mold remediation providers can handle that work, or a capable contractor can be brought in to handle the reconstruction process.

    5. Prevention

    You’ve spent thousands of dollars on water mitigation, mold remediation and reconstruction. But what’s stopping water from entering your home or business again next time there’s heavy rains or flooding?

    It’s essential that you find an engineer who can work with you to ensure proper drainage if flooding or blocked outdoor drains were the issue. If a roof leak or other structural problem was the cause of your property’s water damage, you’ll need to work with a contractor who can reinforce your roof or other parts of your home or business to ensure they’re able to keep water at bay next time there’s a torrential rain and flooding event.

    Because if there’s anything Southern Californians have learned these last couple of years, it’s that there will be a next time.



    Connor Sheets

    Source link

  • Does Marijuana Have An Expiration Date

    Does Marijuana Have An Expiration Date

    The good thing about vodka is it doesn’t expire.  But wine and beer can get old, lose flavor and just get plan bad. Nothing is worse than out of date milk, moldy bread and old meats.  But does marijuana have an expiration date?

    Moldy and/or old weed, when taken, may not lead to damaging health issues, but it can affect you if you have underlying health conditions. If you are 100% healthy, you will observe that it isn’t as potent as when it was still fresh. Older weed also has a different feel, taste, and texture, making it quite unappealing to users. You wouldn’t like such moldy weed hence the reason it is advised that you don’t keep your weed for too long. So how long should you store your weed? And how long does weed stay fresh?

    How long does weed stay fresh?

    If you store the weed properly, it can remain suitable for six months to 1 year. After this stated period, the dried weed starts to lose its potency and aroma. Works of research suggests that weed loses 16% of THC when it is left for an entire year, and it continually drops from there.

    From 16% at one year, it gets to 26% THC lost in two years, and 34% THC lost in three years. If you leave the weed for more than four years, you will lose 41% THC. What’s the purpose of weed without THC? Why would you keep the weed for that long?

    In some cases, it is possible that you unintentionally left the weed; maybe you traveled for a long time or forgot that you had weed. Regardless of the reason, you should be intentional with how you use your weed such that if you will not use it within six months, don’t buy it.

    How can I tell if my weed is old? 

    The smell 

    The first sign that your weed is old is its smell. The weed that has stayed for too long will have a different scent and an entirely different aroma from what you initially bought.

    Some weeds may also have a harsh smell and taste, which can be a significant turn-over for anyone. Please pay attention to your weed’s aroma when you first buy it so you can tell the difference between a fresh weed and a thick weed.

    The appearance

    Next are the weed’s outlook and appearance, which gives you an indication that it is too old. Fresh weed doesn’t crumble or look spongy when you break a part of it: if any of these happens, it is too old. If it seems too dry or even too moist, it has become too old for use.

    Feeling sick after consumption

    We hope you don’t get to this third sign because it is unpleasant, but it is also a sign of old weed. If you consume old weed, you might feel unwell afterward: the primary symptom will be an upset stomach. If you are unsure how long you’ve left the weed, please don’t consume it to avoid this unpleasant experience.

    Photo by Flickr user Thomas Bresson

    When searching for molds, you must do it carefully as it is possible to miss the molds. Molds can be hard to see unless you take a more careful and closer look. You will see small, white fuzzy spots on the weed that has a powdery feel when you look closely. Molds also have a musty smell that will remind you of hay.

    RELATED: How To Tell If Your Marijuana Is Moldy

    Now, if your weed is not very old, it is still advisable that you do a mold inspection as sometimes molds appear on weed even when they are not very old. If you consume the molds on weeds, you will experience coughing, vomiting, and nausea.

    For those with a weak immune system, inhaling the smoke or vapors of mold-infested weed can cause damaging illness and sometimes death (when it is taken excessively). Generally, if it looks or smells terribly, please toss it (even if it isn’t old).

    How can I store my weed properly?

    Now we need to learn the correct way to store weed, and there are some things you should know. Oxygen, temperature, humidity, and light affect your cannabis immensely, from its taste to its aroma and even potency.

    Therefore to store weed safely without the negative impacts we’ve discussed, you should do the following:

    Purchase the right jars

    Please don’t use plastic bags to store your weed because they have static that affects the weed’s trichomes. Trichomes are the parts of the plant that produces cannabinoids and terpenes, and without these properties, the weed will lose its potency.

    RELATED: Cannabis Pro-Tips: 8 Ways To Properly Store Marijuana For Freshness

    The best storage option for weed is a glass jar: this is airtight, it doesn’t have a static charge, and limits the weed’s exposure to oxygen. Glass jars are also inexpensive and easily accessible for purchase.

    marijuana is a lot more than just thc
    Assorted cannabis bud strains.
    Roxana Gonzalez/Shutterstock.com

    Observe the humidity of your location

    When you store the weed, monitor the location’s humidity: it should be at 59-63% and not more than this. If it goes beyond this percentage, you will trap too much moisture inside the container, thus encouraging mold growth.

    If you are unsure about the humidity, please get a humidity pack for the containers you use, one meant for cannabis, and you would get it right.

    Keep the weed in a cool, dry, and dark place

    Weed should be kept in a cool, dry, and dark place away from sunlight. If you place the weed under sunlight, it will break down, and molds will start to grow on it. Keep it in the dark place like a cabinet at a temperature below 77°F.

    Don’t keep it in the freezer

    Your weed will become brittle and easily break off if you put it in a refrigerator. The refrigerator also exposes the weed to excess moisture, which leads to molds’ build-up, so avoid refrigerators.

    Cannabis is fast becoming a treasured product because of its versatility to us both as a medicinal agent or recreational product. Take care of it like you do other drugs and valuable items in your home by storing it properly. Keep weed in a sealed container, safe from heat, sunlight, and moisture. With these safety tips and strategies, you can have very fresh and potent weed that can last up to a year.

     

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link

  • Tori Spelling: Mold Is ‘Slowly Killing’ My Family

    Tori Spelling: Mold Is ‘Slowly Killing’ My Family

    Tori Spelling’s mold situation has her fearing for her family’s health and safety.

    The “Beverly Hills, 90210” actor turned to Instagram to ask for help handling a household mold problem that she said has been “slowly killing” her loved ones “for three years.”

    “Does anyone know how [to] find a Major Great MOLD lawyer in CA that can help our family?” Spelling asked, calling the issue “next level.”

    “My kids and [I] are so sick and can’t get well and our family needs help,” she went on. “Overwhelmed. We do need to start with an amazing lawyer who can guide us thru this.”

    Exposure to some types of mold can be harmful, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2004 study found a significant link between indoor exposure to mold and upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people.

    The mold in Spelling’s home is apparently affecting a lot of people: She shares children Liam, 16, Stella, 14, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and Beau, 6, with husband Dean McDermott.

    “Here we are again at Urgent Care,” she wrote along with photos of Hattie, Finn and Beau. “We’ve all been on this continual spiral of sickness for months. Sick. Get better. To get sick again.”

    Source link

  • Healthful Home Products Discusses the Dangers of Mold in a Home

    Healthful Home Products Discusses the Dangers of Mold in a Home

    Mold can strike any home in any climate. It’s important for homeowners and renters to know the dangers of mold, how to test for mold, and how to safely remove it from a home according to Healthful Home Products.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 23, 2017


    Wheeling, Illinois, March 23, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​​​​​​​Mold problems can strike any home in any climate. Household mold poses a serious health hazard, especially for children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. That’s why it’s important for renters and homeowners to be aware of mold risks, how to test for mold, and how to safely remove mold once it’s found.

    Why Worry about Mold?

    According to a National Center for Healthy Housing study, 35 million homes in the U.S. have mold and other indoor air quality issues. To be safe, everyone should test for mold at least once a year with the 5-minute Mold Mold Test.

    Ron Herrmann, National Sales Manager, Healthful Home Products

    Mold is a broad term for certain kinds of fungi that grow in damp places. In closed, humid environments, mold thrives and quickly spreads. As it grows, mold releases millions of tiny spores into the air, and these spores can be harmful if breathed in. While no mold is deemed safe, over 30 identified species of indoor mold are identified as toxic, wreaking havoc on the body’s cells—particularly in the lungs, throat and sinuses.

    Mold exposure has been linked to asthma, allergic reactions, nervous-system disorders, and chronic sinusitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold exposure can also lead to skin, throat and eye irritation, and it can interfere with the body’s ability to fight off diseases. For sensitive individuals, even small amounts of mold exposure can trigger serious health problems, sometimes requiring hospitalization.

    “A National Center for Healthy Housing study revealed that 35 million homes in the U.S. have mold and other indoor air quality issues,” said Ron Herrmann, National Sales Manager for Healthful Home Products. “To be safe, everyone should test for mold at least once a year with the 5-minute Mold Mold Test.”

    Causes and Signs of Mold

    Widespread mold problems make headlines in hurricane-prone areas, but they can strike in drier regions, too. Common causes of mold include sewage backup, cracked or broken water pipes, flood damage, water damage from a leaky roof, and poor ventilation in bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements

    Sometimes mold is easy to spot. Usually, however, mold lurks in hard-to-see places such as behind drywall, in the seams of cabinets, or under the fridge. Common signs of mold in the home include:

    • The appearance of dark green, blue or black spots, especially around vents, on walls, in cabinets and on curtains
    • Sudden unexplained onset of asthma or other respiratory distress symptoms
    • A damp, musty smell in the home
    • Obvious signs of water damage, especially on the walls and floors

    A mold test is required to determine if toxic mold is present in a home. Until recently, do-it-yourself mold test kits needed to be sent to a lab (often requiring an extra fee), and results were not available for weeks. Fortunately, a new mold test called 5-Minute Mold Test Kit from Healthful Home displays results in minutes.

    Using a small sample of household dust from the floor, cabinet or other surface, this test kit can detect the presence of over 32 different types of harmful mold spores including black molds (while ignoring harmless molds like mildew). The 5-Minute Mold Test Kit is the only fast-acting DIY mold test kit on the market, and it has been licensed by the CDC. The kit lists for $44.99.

    How to Treat Mold

    After harmful mold has been detected, it’s possible to clean up many mold problems without the help of a professional. For localized mold issues, Healthful Home’s eco-friendly Mold and Bacteria Cleaner starts killing mold right away, and the mold-fighting effects can last for up to 6 months. It’s odorless, safe to use around children and pets, and 100% biodegradable. The product lists for $21.99.

    For a more widespread mold problem, Fog-U Mold is a fast and extremely effective way to treat an entire room. Like the Mold and Bacteria Cleaner, it contains the same all-natural ingredients and keeps working for months. It’s ideal for hard-to-reach places like crawl spaces and ventilation systems, and it even treats carpets and upholstery. The product lists for $21.99. All Healthful Home products can be found exclusively at Ace Hardware. For more information, visit www.myhealthfulhome.com.

    Once mold is identified, don’t forget that it is important to fix the source of the problem–whether it’s a poorly ventilated laundry room or bad water damage. Once the problem is fixed, improve air circulation and reduce indoor humidity to make sure the mold doesn’t have a chance to come back.

    NEED PHOTOS?

    Editors, writers and bloggers are invited to visit www.homegardenandhomestead.com for additional information and photos. 

    Source: Healthful Home Products

    Source link