Air Purifier News

Toxic mold a growing problem

Village residents may remember the story of Chuck and Charlotte Reiman. The couple was awe-struck when in 2004 they realized their dream retirement home on Harlow Drive was infested with toxic mold, causing a host of health problems, and could not be saved.

Toxic mold hidden from sight in a house or building is a continuing and ever-changing problem, said Manuel Barnes, president and CEO of EGIS, Inc., an environmental consulting company in Bentonville.

Barnes and his team of environmental specialists know the seriousness of these contaminants and the effect they can have on the body, especially to those with compromised immune systems. Certain species of mold, such as Aspergillus-Penicillium, can illicit headaches, nose bleeds, respiratory problems, malaise, eye irritation or fever. Each person’s response is different, depending on their immune systems. "One shoe doesn’t always fit on another," Barnes said. "You should always pay attention to what is going on in your home environment."

Mold flourishes in moist, dark conditions where any organic material is found. The biggest factor in mold forming is the intrusion of water into the home.

More problems are found in newer houses, Barnes said, because homes are built so tightly to conserve energy that air is not allowed to properly flow. Homes that are built on a slope can receive more water buildup on the high side, creating greater mold conditions.

Another way to tell if there is a mold problem is if a person leaves the home for an extended period of time and sees the symptoms of mold contamination disappear from the body. If the symptoms return back at home, then mold could be the reason.

Barnes points to certain precautions that can help prevent conditions suitable for mold growth in the home. Keep humidity levels below 50 percent and use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during the humid months. Be sure a house has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Check window sills for seep during cold months and replace dirty air filters. All leaky pipes should be repaired promptly and any flooded carpets should be removed. "Many Bella Vista residents moved here from the North and are used to keeping their windows and vents closed, but fresh air helps," said Donna Mansell, the company’s director of technical services and a certified microbial investigator.

EGIS has worked with numerous clients from Bella Vista. Barnes said that village residents, because of the many houses built on a slope, should be mindful of drainage and ventilation issues.

There are still no federal or state standards for human exposure to mold. EGIS uses a Particulate Laser Counter to measure the number of mold spores and compare indoor air samples with outdoor ones. If the proportion of spores is higher indoors than outdoors, there could be a problem.

Mold isn’t a bad thing in nature, Barnes said. Without mold, organic material such as leaf matter would never decompose. The idea is to keep it where it belongs, at normal levels.

Each mold remediation is different, depending on the situation. "It’s kind of like scuba diving, you plan the dive and you dive the plan," Barnes said.

The investigation process includes locating the moisture source and examining the extent of mold contamination via sampling. A borescope is used to burrow into a wall and inspect for possible mold. It has an articulating fiber optic arm with a light on its end. A small hole is drilled in the wall and investigators feed the fiber optic arm into the wall where they can look inside.

Once a problem area is found, it is contained with heavy mill sheet plastic using a double-air lock system that purports negative air pressure, which curbs the ability of spores to become airborne. Air purifiers are used to "scrub" the air. Personal protective equipment and safety precautions are used to either remove the contaminated area from the structure or eradicate the mold.

A dry ice blasting machine is used to remove the mold and an application of a fungicide is used on all the surfaces. Vacuuming with a Hepa filter removes 99.97 percent of any microscopic material in the carpet. Finally, a post-remediation sampling will tell investigators if the problem has been removed.

Barnes is a certified asbestos inspector and a professional wetland scientist. EGIS is certified by the American Indoor Air Quality Council and is a licensed contractor.

As for the Reimans, they have since sold their home at a greatly reduced price and still live in the village in a rental property. Charlotte Reiman is still agitated at the cruel impact that this toxic mold has had on their home and health. "I wish we would have never moved there in the first place," Charlotte Reiman said.