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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryUnderstanding Mold In The Understanding Mold In The Property Restoration IndustryProperty Restoration IndustryUnderstanding Mold In The Understanding Mold In The

Property Restoration IndustryProperty Restoration Industry

Presented by: Presented by:

Servpro Industries, Inc.Servpro Industries, Inc.

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoverySINCE MOLDS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER,WHY IS IT JUST NOW BECOMING A PROBLEM?

Mold problems have been around for a long time. In the Bible, at Leviticus the 14th chapter, there is a procedure for handling of the leprosy of the wall. The Hebrew work used in this text is tsara’ath, which, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, can be translated as mold when used in conjunction with clothing or a building. That makes the first written mold remediation protocol in recorded history over 3500 years old! The High Priest was the first environmental consultant and his visual inspection to determine occupancy was the first environmental clearance.

-Jim HollandRestoration Consultants

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryMolds Grow By Sending Out Branches

• Hyphae(high fee)

• Root-like hyphae• Surface hyphae• Upright hyphae

Spore Mass

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryA Simplistic Question: If Molds Are A Simplistic Question: If Molds Are Biological, What Will Be The Reaction Biological, What Will Be The Reaction When We Endanger Their Existence?When We Endanger Their Existence?

• Fight or flight! Fight or flight! • If attacked, the spore mass If attacked, the spore mass

ruptures and thousands of ruptures and thousands of spores become airborne to spores become airborne to preserve life! preserve life!

• Threatened molds may wage Threatened molds may wage chemical warfare:chemical warfare:

Mycotoxins

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryMolds Cause Minor Illnesses…Molds Cause Minor Illnesses…

• Allergies

• Headaches

• Sore throats

• Cold and flu-like symptoms

• Fatigue and malaise

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryMolds Can Cause More Serious Molds Can Cause More Serious Illness As Well…Illness As Well…

• Upset stomachUpset stomach• NauseaNausea• VomitingVomiting• DiarrheaDiarrhea• Athlete’s footAthlete’s foot• Dermatitis Dermatitis

(inflammation of the (inflammation of the skin)skin)

• Internal bleedingInternal bleeding

• AsthmaAsthma• PneumoniaPneumonia• RingwormRingworm• Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity

pneumonitispneumonitis• EdemaEdema• BronchiospasmsBronchiospasms• Pulmonary Pulmonary

emphysemaemphysema

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryPriority 1!!! Priority 1!!! Safety of Employees and OccupantsSafety of Employees and Occupants

• EPA: Warn people about the risks …– If you’re aware,

BEWARE!– No fear mongering.– Physicians know at-risk!

Vendors only prequalify.

• Workers’ training and use of personal protective equipment

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryHazard: Real or Perceived?

• Real–Symptomatic

–Telltale Odor

–Visible Mold

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Disaster Management & RecoveryDisaster Management & RecoveryHazard: Real or Perceived?

• Perceived–Bandwagon

Sixty Minutes aired two segments on September 28th, 2000, one entitled “An Insidious Mold” which discussed black mold or Stachybotrys and the other entitled “Is Your building sick?” Though these news articles raised far more questions than answers, the impact on the insurance industries was profound. A follow-up article on the same program (12/12/00) entitled “Invisible Killer”

–Hypochondriac

–Sick Building Syndrome