Toxic Mold and Pets!

Toxic mold is a scary thing. We all shudder to think of it in our homes, especially after hearing about the many health risks it can pose to ourselves and our families.

Stories circulate about people dying or coming close to it from having mold spores in their lungs, or having long-term respiratory damage or other health issues.

Mold in the home is extremely dangerous. While we consider the side effects and symptoms that toxic mold might present in humans, many people do not know that toxic mold can hurt or kill pets as well.

If your pet is exhibiting symptoms such as extreme lethargy, breathing problems such as wheezing, coughing or struggling to aspirate, bleeding from the nose and disruption in regular eating habits, your pet may be suffering the symptoms of black mold exposure.

This is very dangerous both for your pet and for you. If you have noticed these behaviors in a dog or cat, think about any symptoms you may be exhibiting as well, check your home for black mold, and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Mold Can Harm Your Pet

For a long time, it was not entirely clear to veterinarians or scientists whether black mold exposure would have the same detrimental effect on house pets that it does on human beings. Within the past few years though, some specific cases have shed light on the fact that toxic black mold can indeed both harm and kill pets.

Only recently, a vet specialist in Florida was doing a routine procedure on two felines. During the procedure, the specialist observed frothy blood in the tubes with which the anesthetic was administered, therefore stopping the procedure out of concern. Unfortunately, both of these cats passed away. After their deaths, blood was taken from their body to be tested in order to determine the cause of death — toxic black mold had caused both cats to die of pulmonary hemorrhages.

Health Risks

There are quite a few potential risks caused by toxic black mold in the home where pets are concerned.

Respiratory difficulties and illnesses are among the most notable and most concerning side effects of black mold poisoning. Whether the animal is suffering from what seems like a minor respiratory difficulty or serious lung trauma, the capillaries within the lungs are being weakened. The black mold puts these capillaries under duress, causing them to rupture, hemorrhage and eventually lead to the death of the animal.

How to Protect Your Pet

If you are concerned that you have black mold in your home, even if you are not sure, it is important to immediately take all of your pets to the vet if even one begins exhibiting symptoms of toxic black mold poisoning.

If your dog or cat appears to be in any form of respiratory distress, seems lethargic in a way that is out of character for the pet, bleeds from the nose or avoids regular feedings, these symptoms should be taken very seriously.

Be sure to get medical attention for your pets and have your home thoroughly investigated for black mold for the safety of you, your family and your beloved animals.

Call AMT Environmental and schedule your inspection and testing today 917-257-3545

AMT Environmental is offering our services at cost for anyone who suffered water damage from super storm sandy

http://www.petsadviser.com

Black Mold Effects & Pregnancy

Black Mold Effects & Pregnancy

Strachybotrys chartarum know as black mold, is a slimy, black substance that usually grows where it is dark and damp. Black mold exposure during pregnancy may cause harm to the developing fetus.

Birth Defects

Black mold exposure to the fetus can cause birth defects such as paralysis due to spina bifida.

Fetal Development Problems

Exposure to black mold during pregnancy can lead to issues with fetal development. The fetus may not develop at the rate that corresponds to the gestational weeks of pregnancy.

Miscarriage

Miscarriages have been linked to black mold exposure during a woman's pregnancy. A miscarriage occurs when a fetus is expelled from the body before it is viable outside of the womb.

Warnings

Black mold exposure can cause negative health problems in the pregnant woman as well. These include nose bleeds and abdominal pain.

Considerations

There is limited research on what the effects of black mold exposure to the fetus are during pregnancy. There may be more negative side effects to the fetus that haven't been determined yet.

Call AMT Environmental today and schedule your mold inspection and testing 917-257-3545

By Stormy Lee, eHow Contributor

11 facts about indoor air pollution.

11 Facts About Indoor Air Pollution | Do Something

Call AMT Environmental today. Schedule your mold inspection and testing 917-257-3545

Toxic Mold Related Illnesses

Toxic Mold Related Illnesses

Spores are often thought to be the culprits in the illnesses caused by toxic mold. However, they are only the vehicle by which the real toxins are transferred. Toxic molds are named so because of the chemicals that they release. These chemicals can be very harmful to humans and, in many cases, even deadly.The most deadly toxin produced by certain types of mold (including the infamous black mold) is mycotoxin. It is produced by mold that grows indoors and outdoors. Large colonies or collections of spores appear to the human eye as velvety, or slimy, black spots. By the time enough spores accumulate to form a colony, the level of mycotoxin is high enough to cause harm. Mycotoxin can be inhaled through the air, ingested through food and irritate skin – all of which could be the start of a serious illness.Mycotoxins have been linked to liver and kidney damage, as well as liver, kidney and lung infections. It may also cause flu-like symptoms, nosebleeds, asthma, pulmonary edema, and even brain damage. The toxic mold Stachybotrys is notorious for mycotoxin production, which makes this mold the most harmful.Mycotoxin isn't the only deadly chemical produced by toxic molds. The black mold fusarium produces trichothecene toxin, which harms the nervous system and circulatory system. Another toxin produced by fusarium colonies, zearalone, attacks the female reproductive system. Mold may cause infertility, as well as variations in reproductive and hormonal cycles. Twenty-five million Americans suffer from allergic reactions to molds, according to the Mold Homepage, and this doesn't have to be the case, if people are educated about dust. The problem is that mold is everywhere, so it has the ability to hold people hostage, without them even knowing, sometimes.~Prolonged exposure to any indoor mold can lead to serious injuries such as keratitis (severe inflammation of the cornea), internal bleeding, pneumonia, and many types of infection. A connection has even been established between mold and pulmonary hemorrhaging in newborns.Infants, small children, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems all are highly susceptible to serious illnesses due to mold contamination. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has been linked to exposure to toxic mold. Prolonged exposure to any of these molds can result in chronic and even fatal illness. Some of the more significant health issues associated with the presence of toxic mold include: cancer, tuberculosis, lupus, chronic fatigue disorder, fibromyalgia, and the Epstein-Barr virus. Immediate eradication of mold is therefore essential in the homes of the high susceptibility groups. If one's immune system is weak, it is sure to weaken more when a person is in regular contact with mold. There is a decreased resistance to disease and other illnesses as a result of mold infestation.Attention should be paid to the following symptoms, as they may be a sign of more significant health issues: burning eyes, vomiting, nausea, night sweats, chest pains, rest, numbness/tingling, dizziness and abdominal pains – and these are just a few.Some medical professionals contend that there is no concrete connection between toxic mold exposure and serious illness; however, physicians who are familiar with mold cases have been able to prove otherwise. If you suspect a property of being contaminated with toxic molds, immediate action should be taken to rid the property of any type of mold. Those who have had prolonged exposure to the mold should seek medical attention. Only professionals should attempt to clean up a mold colony. The chances of infection and severe illness are great when the colony is agitated, and therefore should not be attempted by nonprofessionals.

Have your indoor air quality tested for mold by AMT Environmental. We are local on the island, 100% certified and are offering our testing at cost for anyone who suffered damage from super storm sandy.

Why a certified professional mold inspection and testing is so important.

Nowadays, before you actually buy a house you need to get the whole place inspected. Are you wondering why? Fine, I shall explain that to you. Apart from the electrical as well as plumbing issues, there is one more issue that has to be checked thoroughly.It is called a mold inspection. It is a kind of fungus that actually grows in areas which are wet as well as damp. It is not good for the health of the people living in the place and this is the reason why mold inspections are quite important before you actually occupy a place in order to live.Mold can actually cause quite a lot of health problems. Some of the common problems are headaches, irritation in the eyes, dizziness and other kinds of allergies. Most of the time, it is seen in older buildings. It can grow in any area of a building like basement, bathroom or even the attic. Most of the time, it is commonly found in the walls of the house.Sometimes, you can see it with the naked eye, but you should get the house thoroughly inspected by AMT Environmental If there is moisture, then there are more chances for it to grow and this is the reason why mold inspections are quite important.In order to get rid of the problem, you actually need to eliminate the source. If you keep trying to clean it, you can’t completely stay away from the problem. The mold inspection professionals at AMT Environmental can actually come up with a solution. There is a process of cleaning up the mold once it is the mold detection is over.It is very important to completely eliminate the root cause of the whole problem; otherwise your own building will become a breeding ground for your enemy called mold. Before various objects or furniture in your house get contaminated, it is highly advisable to completely get rid of the problem. Call AMT Environmental and schedule your appointment today at 917-257-3545

The life cycle of fungi!

The life cycle of fungi

The life cycle of fungi can follow many different patterns. For most of the molds indoors, fungi are considered to go through a four-stage life cycle: spore, germ, hypha, mature mycelium. Brundrett (1990) showed the same cycle pattern using an alternative diagram of the developmental stages of a mould. The majority of mold fungi do not have sexual stages and following this simple life cycle pattern.Other life cycle patterns differ from this four-stage cycle in that different reproduction mechanisms and physiology characteristics are present, esp. for non-moldy fungi (such as wood rots, etc.)Fungi reproduce by releasing airborne spores, which have different shapes and dimensions. Through spore liberation (the process of detachment of spore from the spore-bearing structure) and spore dispersal (the subsequent movement of the spore before settling on a material surface), spores travel through air, water and event on other insects from fungal infesting areas into homes and rest on surfaces and in building envelope. Concentrations of spores in outdoor and indoor air have been the target for much research (Ingold, 1971 and Darrell, 1974).Spore diameters (Unit: micron):Alternaria, 8-75,Aspergillus 2-10,Cladosporium4-20,Epicoccum 20,Penicillium 3-5,Periconia 16-18,Stemphylium 23-75,Spores present in the air settle on surfaces. When conditions are favorable, spores start the growth process. Spores go through four stage of development: maturation, dormancy, activation, and germination (Burnett, 1976). The combined process is usually referred to as germination, and will be discussed in more detail in the next section.Once activated and germinated, the resulting germ tube is ready to grow into hyphae, then a cluster mycelium when conditions are favorable. In this (vegetative) growth stage, fungi produce microscopic, cylindrical filaments, the thread-like cellular strands called hyphae, into the food sources (material). These hyphae produce and excrete digestive enzymes in the food and take up nutrients in watery form (Figure 4), and transport them to the growing hyphal tips. The hyphae grow by extending itself on the tip or by branching out new threads at the tip and in the older parts. The total quantities of hyphae produced by a fungus are collectively termed as a mycelium. Figure 5 shows images of some mycelia.The mycelium grows into the material (substrate), consumes its organic components in the process, wakens the structure of the material, and eventually destroys the structure and renders the material incapable to fulfil its function.

Companies that test and remediate mold!

AMT Environmental is offering mold testing and complete in home consultation for anyone who had water damage from super storm sandy. We are offering our services at cost. We are not affiliated with any remediation companies so you can be assured you are getting a true unbiased certified report. If you are using a company that does testing and remediation it is in that companies favor to report findings that are in the favor of that company so they can get the contract for remediation. Don't let these companies pray on the vulnerable in a time of need. I have come across this many times and can honestly say that the victims of super storm sandy are being taken advantage of when it comes to mold remediation and testing. AMT Environmental is dedicated in giving you a unbiased certified report/testing and necessary steps for remediation if needed. Call us today at 917-257-3545