WATER DAMAGE ARDMORE PA

MOLDS IN FALL – PART 3

If symptoms are severe or unusually persistent, your doctor should probably test you to find out exactly what’s causing the trouble. The real culprit might not be ragweed at all, but another environmental allergen or even certain foods, such as chamomile and banana.

Two allergy tests are widely used:

• A blood test checks for the presence of antibodies to ragweed. It’s reliably accurate, but takes up to two weeks to get results.
• A skin-prick test is fast, but can yield a false negative result if you are taking an antihistamine. Minute quantities of various substances are injected into the skin. If a wheal forms that’s larger than the control substance, the test skin prick is considered positive.

The ultimate weapon against ragweed allergy (and allergies in general) is immunotherapy. In this tried-and-true therapy — effective in about 85% of allergic rhinitis sufferers — the patient receives a series of injections of the allergy-causing agent until the body no longer mounts an immune response. The injections are typically given for several months before determining responsiveness to treatments

In recent years, American doctors — following the lead of their counterparts in Europe — have begun treating ragweed allergy sufferers with sublingual immunotherapy instead of allergy shots. Drops of liquid are placed under the tongue. Sublingual immunotherapy can be more convenient than traditional immunotherapy — no need to come in for shots — and it takes less time. Results are often seen within weeks or months.

For more information, visit our website by safely clicking here:  BIOWASHING.com

OUR SPONSORED EVENT

We sponsored the St. Mary’s Hoedown Fundraiser yesterday, and here’s a couple of pictures showing the good time had by all.   

SURFACE SAMPLING FOR MOLD

Surface sampling is the most common technique used to test surfaces for mold during a mold inspection.  It provides valuable information.  The species of mold, the relative degree of contamination, and the potential for airborne spore production may all be determined by tape sampling. This method can be performed using either standard, clear cellophane tape or a packaged kit specifically designed for mold sampling.  Both types involve sampling by direct contact to visible mold.  The tape or a slide prepared with adhesive is pressed against a moldy surface in order to collect the sample, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. This method is non-invasive and will not damage materials or surfaces, when performed properly.  Depending on the material, tape samples can be obtained from the surfaces of valuable furnishings and materials of historical provenance that have visible fungal growth, usually without risk of damage.

Advantages

• Surface sampling is inexpensive and (for a direct examination) may be analyzed immediately.
• A direct microscopic examination of a surface shows exactly what is there.
• Surface sampling may also reveal indoor reservoirs of spores that have not yet become airborne.

Disadvantages

• The presence of biological materials on a particular surface is not a direct indication of what may be in the air.
• Health problems related to indoor microbial growth are generally caused by the inhalation of substantial numbers of airborne spores, sometimes over a substantial period of time (exceptions being, for example, situations involving small children or immuno-compromised individuals).

For more information, visit our website at BIOWASHING.com

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that researchers officially established the connection between asbestos exposure and serious respiratory conditions (although evidence was presented as early as the 1920s). But by then, millions of workers had already been exposed in the workplace and in other locations. While federal asbestos exposure limits were imposed in 1972, an estimated 10,000 people in the United States continue to pass away each year from related illnesses.

Asbestos exposure occurs when someone inhales or swallows asbestos fibers. Just about everyone breathes in asbestos from the outside air, but these trace amounts rarely cause health problems. While no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, most asbestos-related illnesses arise after heavy, repeated exposures. Harmful exposures happen in a wide range of occupational settings. Construction work and home renovations can be especially hazardous because many common building materials contain asbestos. When asbestos products start to deteriorate, or someone cuts, sands, drills or otherwise disturbs them, microscopic fibers enter the air.

For instance, the sandblasting practices of Alaska-based shipbuilding and repair facility Seward Ship’s Drydock have come under fire by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). The ADEC issued a notice of violation to Seward Ship’s Drydock for uncontrolled “fugitive particulate emissions” at its sandblasting operations. If workers were sandblasting asbestos-containing materials such as paint, insulation or joint compounds off of a vessel, the asbestos fibers released were no longer confined to the sandblasted area and possibly inhaled by individuals elsewhere in the shipyard. Fibers can remain airborne for hours, placing anyone nearby in danger. Once inhaled, they become trapped in the respiratory tract and lungs, where they may stay for life.

For more information, visit our website at BIOWASHING.com

JERSEY SHORE FLOODING

Here’s a set of photos from the recent storms down the Jersey Shore, and one showing the beginning stages of the cleanup. 

LEGIONNAIRES & IT’S SYMPTOMS

The bacterium responsible for Legionnaires’ disease belongs to the genus Legionella. There are approximately 35 Legionella species known to produce the disease. Legionella species are commonly found in any aquatic environment. They can survive for several months in a wet environment and multiply in the presence of algae and organic matter.

Legionnaires’ disease can have symptoms like many other forms of pneumonia, so it can be hard to diagnose at first. Signs of Legionnaires’ disease can include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• High fever
• Muscle aches
• Headaches

These symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after being exposed to the bacteria, but people should watch for symptoms for about 2 weeks after exposure.

Risk Factors

• Being 50 or older
• Having a chronic lung condition such as asthma or emphysema
• Smoking cigarettes
• Taking medications that suppress the immune system
• Having an immune-suppressing illness

For more information, visit our website by safely clicking here:  BIOWASHING.com

WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING & AFTER A FLOOD

Sometimes there is no warning of flash floods, and that is why it is important to think of them and prepare for them before they happen. Here are a few things you can do.

Before the floods… 

• Know about your local relief centers and evacuation routes.
• Keep emergency numbers and important information handy, as well as emergency supplies, kits, first aid items. These may include water, canned food, can opener, battery-operated radio, flashlight and protective clothing.
• Fold and roll up anything onto higher ground (or upper floors of your home), including chemicals and medicines.
• Make sure everything that is of importance is secured (jewelry, documents, pets, and other valuables).
• Plant trees and shrubs and keep a lot of vegetation in your compound if you are in a low-lying area as that can control erosion and help soften the speed of the flowing water.

During the floods…

• Flash floods occur in a short spate of time. As soon as they start, be quick, keep safe and ensure that children and elderly are safe by leaving the house to a higher ground.
• Turn off all electrical appliance, gas, heating and the like if there is a bit of time.
• Leave the area before it gets too late. Do not drive through the water as moving water can sweep you away.
• Stay away from power lines or broken power transmission cables.
• Try to keep away from flood water as it may contain chemicals or other hazardous materials.

After the floods…

• Make sure you have permission from emergency officers to get back inside your house.
• Keep all power and electrical appliance off until the house is cleaned up properly and an electrical personnel has confirmed that it is OK to put them on.
• Make sure you have photographs, or a record of all the damage, as it may be needed for insurance claims.
• Clean the entire home, together with all the objects in it very well before you use them again. They may be contaminated.
• Wear appropriate gear (mask and gloves) before cleaning begins.
• For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com

WINDOW TIPS

October may still be warm enough to have your windows open, but it’s already time begin thinking about the cold weather ahead. Early fall is a great time toinstall storm windows and reap the benefits of lower heating costs this winter.

In colder climates, storm windows on single pane glass can reduce heat loss through the window by 25% to 50% and lower your heating costs by as much as 13%! And the savings jump to 20% if the storm windows have a low-E coating.

If your home already has storm windows, this is a great time to clean and close them. Removable screens can be taken down, scrubbed, and put away until spring. While it’s not necessary to remove screens in winter, the added light can help brighten up your house on dark winter days.

If storm windows aren’t an option for you, an alternative is to seal out cold drafts using plastic window insulation kits. These are applied over the inside of the window with self-adhesive tape. A warm hair blower is then used to heat and shrink the plastic to make it tight and nearly invisible.

For more information, visit our website at Biowashing.com