"Moldy" Roof Trusses

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Originally Posted by kshepard

I used to get all worked up over the mold argument, but not any more. People think what they think according to their experience. I spent a lot of time researching mold trying to figure out what was real.

It really does kill people and it's not something to be taken lightly, but my take on it is the result of my research and I'm satisfied with my understanding.

The reaction of different inspectors to the mold issue is a lot like the reaction of different inspectors to presidential politics. You just don't often change people's minds by arguing on the message boards.

Until you see how just a little bit of visible mold can destroy a whole family's health and livelihood, you will never understand. I use to be like you Ken, did not think it was a big deal. Experiencing how mold has effected my client's lives made me a believer. Sad but true.

Also $2500 is cheap if the remediator does it right.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbraun

Until you see how just a little bit of visible mold can destroy a whole family's health and livelihood, you will never understand. I use to be like you Ken, did not think it was a big deal. Experiencing how mold has effected my client's lives made me a believer. Sad but true.

Also $2500 is cheap if the remediator does it right.

James, exactly how did it destroy the family's health? Did they all develop fungal infections? Was this someone you personally know? Have you seen medical reports?

I don't know anyone who can say "yes" to all these questions because it always (so far) turned out to be an article or someone with a finanacial interest in having it turn out to be mold that's providing the information.

My cousin's wife is a registered nurse and she's seen people die of fungal infections, but they were individuals who already had health problems. Not whole families who were healthy until a moldy house ruined thier health.

I know bad things happen, I just like to see evidence come from a neutral source.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by kshepard

James, exactly how did it destroy the family's health? Did they all develop fungal infections? Was this someone you personally know? Have you seen medical reports?

I don't know anyone who can say "yes" to all these questions because it always (so far) turned out to be an article or someone with a finanacial interest in having it turn out to be mold that's providing the information.

I know bad things happen, I just like to see evidence come from a neutral source.

Homeowners can always get someone to come to their defense and say all their problems in life are caused by mold.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0411/100.html

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Well, that's often true, but I've got a lot of respect for James' opinion, and yours, Joe... you guys are both in states with way higher humidity than we have here in CO, even though we also get serious mold issues from leaks.

"Mycosis" is the term used to describe human infection from fungus. There are different levels, from infection of the surface of the skin to infections deep in the body and symptoms run from no symptoms to death and everywhere in between. Still, everything I read says that almost all serious cases are from immuno-compromised people. I ran into a great online medical book discussing this in pretty easy to understand terms but lost it when I lost my Favorites. I'll try to find it again.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I have not seen a study yet that proved that the immune systems of people are strong before they lived in a house with mold, and I will never will. The studies are always taken after the mold growth. Most of the considered toxic molds will slowly wear at an immune system that is why the studies showed the people affected have weak immune systems. Also you will notice that mold affects the very young and the very old first and people who have had surgeries because they have weaker immune systems. When mold propels spores, it is not just the spores that can make us sick (they have to find a wet place to grow such as a lung or nasal cavity first) but the mycrotoxicins ejected into the air when the spores are released is what causes the problems in most cases. A mycrotoxicins is a chemical, and our body is made of a various chemicals, everybody has a different level of chemicals which gives us our different personality and traits. If a person gets overexposed to a certain chemical they become chemical sensitivity, this is what happens with mold. Also our body's chemical level is why one occupant is more sensitive then another. The reason why the mold is putting out toxicians is to defend itself from other molds. Molds are fighting for food all the time. People getting sick is the after affect of these wars.
I have had cases from mild allergies to death (mold in blood stream). All I know for sure is that after the mold was removed properly the occupants got better, some better than others. Some of the others are perfectly healthy people who are know disabled because they are unable to function like a normal person. Some of the some of the others are children. Sad but true.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Originally Posted by kshepard

James, exactly how did it destroy the family's health? Did they all develop fungal infections? Was this someone you personally know? Have you seen medical reports?

I don't know anyone who can say "yes" to all these questions because it always (so far) turned out to be an article or someone with a finanacial interest in having it turn out to be mold that's providing the information.

My cousin's wife is a registered nurse and she's seen people die of fungal infections, but they were individuals who already had health problems. Not whole families who were healthy until a moldy house ruined thier health.

I know bad things happen, I just like to see evidence come from a neutral source.

Most cases did not have fungal infections, some of the cases I know personally before they gotten ill. Some of the medical records I have seen (medical records before the water loss, medical records during mold, medical records after the cleanup), before-healthy, during-ill, after-better but some not fully recovered (most likely never will). The mold is properly removed, symptoms are gone but some lagging affects remains.
Mold also causes neurological effects. I am guessing due to the chemical in balance that a body experiences after/during mold toxification, but this is just my guess, no valid studies have been conducted.

[Mike Chamberlain]

Mold is a very serious issue here in Indiana. I see it everyday and Kenton I am with you, you just can't change the minds of the ignorant, until they can actually see the damage it can cause to not only the home, but also to ones health for themselves. It just blows my mind to hear some inspectors as well as agents say that it isn't a big deal. I'd bet you anything they would make a big deal of it, if it were in their home.

By the way...bleach does not kill mold...Hydrogen Peroxide does.

Peace everyone