Mold is ubiquitous; its spores are pretty much everywhere. It’s when they are blown into our homes and begin to grow there that they pose a health risk to us. Mold spores in the home become airborne, and exposure to them – living or dead – can cause sinus congestion, cold-like symptoms, sore throats, coughing, and asthma attacks. Long-term exposure can result in more serious mold allergies. As a result, it is important to minimize one’s exposure to mold.
In the home, mold tends to grow in areas that have been flooded or exposed to dampness, such as basements, bathrooms, and in walls into which moisture has seeped. Nevertheless, mold is often difficult to detect. In general, if you are aware of a musty odor or see signs of discoloration on walls or flooring, especially in areas that have been exposed to flooding or consistent high humidity, chances are you have mold. One way to test discolored spots for the presence of mold is to apply a small drop of bleach; if the stain loses its color or disappears, it’s probably mold, and should be removed.
Areas of mold in the home can be small (a square yard or less), moderate (more than three patches, or one patch smaller than three square yards), or extensive (when any patch of mold is larger than a sheet of plywood). If you have extensive areas of mold in your home, you should seek professional help to remove them. But if you take the right precautions, you can safely remove small and moderate areas of mold yourself:
Ozone (O3) is a colorless gas naturally located high in the atmosphere, which helps shield the earth from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. However, when ozone exists at ground level it can be harmful to our health. Ground-level ozone is created when volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrous oxides react in the presence of sunlight. This type of ozone has been shown to be the cause of numerous adverse health effects, contributing to diseases of the respiratory system and increasing the risk of heart disease.
Pollution from our modern industrial world is the greatest contributor to ozone formation. The exhaust from motor vehicles contributes approximately 70% of the nitrous oxide pollution and 50% of the VOCs in the atmosphere that react to create ozone. Industrial agriculture and its abundant use of petrochemicals for fertilizers, pesticides and machinery is also a major contributor to nitrous oxide pollution. The application of chemical fertilizers alone accounts for 68% of total U.S. nitrous oxide emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other sources include aircraft, oil refineries, paints, solvents and garden equipment.
The most common adverse health effect of ground-level ozone is its contribution to asthma and other lung diseases. Those with asthma suffer more frequent and severe attacks when ozone levels rise. Symptoms often worsen in those suffering from chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and even those with healthy lungs can find themselves contracting respiratory infections more often when ozone levels are high.
Studies have shown that ozone also contributes to an increased risk of death from heart disease and stroke. A 2007 study in the British Medical Journal reported that researchers found that of 100 million people who took part in the National Mortality and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) between 1987 and 2000, which studied the connection between health and air pollution, the higher the ozone, the higher the rate of deaths from heart disease and stroke. As the summer temperatures rise, so does ozone’s health danger. Deaths from heart disease and stroke on a day where temperatures rose considerably during the day were 1% higher at the lowest ozone level and 8% higher when ozone was at its highest.
Most summertime weather reports will include the projected ozone level for the day, so if you are among those groups sensitive to ozone, such as children, the elderly and those with asthma or other lung diseases, keep the following suggestions in mind:
Some governments are attempting to solve the ozone problem by encouraging the development of alternative fuels and implementing increased fuel efficiency standards. You can do your part by using your vehicle less often, buying fuel-efficient products and products such as paints and solvents that are more environmentally friendly and do not contain VOCs.
