It is no secret that INCUBATORS in Labs are used to provide OPTIMUM GROWTH CONDITIONS for Mold...well so do FORECLOSED HOMES!

 

With a record number of these foreclosed homes, closed and without power and hence no Thermal Comforts, the growth conditions in many cases are the very same, or even better,  conditions as the Lab Incubators. These environmentas provide a perfect balance of temperatureand humidity, becoming the cozy homes for molds and bacteria to grow at optimum conditions.

 

There are literally millions of foreclosed homes which sit unused for months and even years...waiting for the proverbial Red Tape to be sliced, while all the while mold and bacteria continue their growth unaddressed. 

 

Of the over 2.5 million foreclosed homes, it is possible that we are talking 40% or more of these are impacted by mold growth.

 

When home are lived in, the HVAC as well as some natural ventilation and homeowner maintenance keeps mold at bay. But sadly whe the opposite is true, and these homes go for extended periods void of proper maintenance and the use of proper HVAC and humidity controls, mold begin to grow on the building materials - namely the drywall, and the bill for remedial efforts can grow to tens of thousands to remediate.

 

Local Realtors tell IEAQC that in many cases the banks that "hold the note" are the very ones that are penny smart and dollor foolish as they refuse to maintain the utilities needed to arrest the growth and as such incur thousands of dollars in mold damage.  "My advise to buyers these days is have a professional  Mold inspection performed", says Ann Pearson, a Realtor in Delray Florida.

"We are seeing an alarming number of these homes coming back into the market" says Harvey Gordon of Indoor Air Quality Corporation and President of the Indoor Environmental Air Quality Council, "and in almost all cases the prior owners have contributed to these conditions when leaving by damaging plumbing fixtures in the anger of their loss".

 

 

"Word got out and they just kept coming" said IEAQC Director Tony Merced, "The event turned out GREAT!".

 

"It's tru what I have heard about IEAQC's Shoot The Breeze" said one of the attendees "they really have made the leap and crossed the "association/affiliation" barrier to UNITE ALL Mold Professionals, regardless of our association and/or affiliation to any other organization.".

 

"What keeps me coming? First class venues, ability to fellowship with my peers, and most of all education second to no othet association I have been affiliated with..." said IEAQC Member Zach Broch, "bottom line, IEAQC knows mold guys and what mold guys like - good food and gooder education.".

 

"I was so humbled that Lisa Rogers, Chair of the ASTM D22 Committee for standards related to our industry, would drive on her own dime from the St Petersburg area to speak at tonight's Shoot The Breeze." said IEAQC President Harvey Gordon.

IEAQC Chapters meet once a month and the main goal of the meeting is Education and Unity.

Mold professionals from multiple associations accross the state are expected to gather to hear Lisa Rogers, ASTM Mold Standards Committee Chairperson, who will be the Featured Guest Speaker at the upcoming IEAQC Shoot The Breeze in Lighthouse Point.

 

Ms. Rogers will be discussing the recently released ASTM Mold Inspection Standard and the upcoming ASTM Standards for Air and Surface Sampling, as well as Post Remedial Inspections.

 

 

The event is scheduled for March 15th. To attend, click here.

 

Licensed Mold Professionals from multiple associations, and areas, are expected to gather on March 15th in Lighthouse Point Florida to discuss the Florida Department of Professional and Business Regulation's (DBPR) new notice related to Continuing Education (CE) reqiuirments at the EAST Coast IEAQC Shoot The Breeze.

 

"We had to shut the registrations down at one other event" said IEAQC President Harvey Gordon, "we are anticipating a PACKED HOUSE here in Broward County!".

 

 

Licensed Mold Professionals from multiple associations, and areas, gathered on last night (Feb 23, 2012) in Tampa Florida at the West Coast IEAQC Shoot The Breeze.

 

"We had to shut the registrations down" said IEAQC Chapter President Angela Pless, "before we knew we had a PACKED HOUSE!".

 

"IEAQC's Shoot The Breeze has crossed the "association/affiliation" barrier to UNITE ALL Mold Professionals, regardless their  "association/affiliation", and this meeting was a testament of the fact that we are eager to put "associations and affiliations" aside and come together for the goal of bettering their education and the industry" said one of the attendees.

 

Tampa is only the second IEAQC chapter in Florida, however over the next 30 to 60 days other chapters are slated to open, with Orlando being the next. 

 

IEAQC Chapters meet once a month and the main goal of the meeting is Education and Unity.

A study published in the Oxford University Press - Journal of Infectious Diseases has noted that six patients died after being exposed to airborne Aspergillus conidia in the Intensive Care Unit of Major Heart Surgery (MHS-ICU) of a Spain Hospital.

 

The study revealed that abnormally high levels of airborne Aspergillus Fumigatus conidia (between 2006 and 2008) correlated withnew cases of IA, even in patients who were not severely immunocompromised.

 

Aspergillus fumigatus conidia (A. fumigatus) is a saprophytic fungus and is the main cause of the human disease, aspergillosis (allergic aspergillosis or respiratory infection). This fungus is common in dust, soil, on plants and plant products such as hay or grain. It is also an important agent of systemic mycosis in domestic animals and in humans, especially the immunocompromised. A. fumigatus has also been reported to cause allergies, asthma, and rhinitis. This fungus produces a large number of mycotoxins and tremorgenic metabolites.

 

The study data concluded that  the presence of >17.4 CFUs/m3 of A. fumigatus spores can increase the risk of IA even in MHS patients who are not severely immunocompromised. 

 

After the last peak of abnormally high airborne conidia levels, the air conditioning system was replaced and HEPA filters were installed in all the rooms of the MHS-ICU. No further cases of IA have been recorded to date.

 

Ten patients with endobronchial aspergilloma diagnosed by bronchoscopy and histological examination were identified at the Gyeongsang University Hospital of Korea, from May 2003 to May 2009.

The patients included 9 men and 1 woman, and the age of the patients ranged from 36 to 76 (median, 58 years).

The associated diseases or conditions were:

• previous pulmonary tuberculosis in 7 patients

• lung cancer in 2 patients

• pulmonary resection in 1 patient, and

• foreign body of the bronchus in 1 patient.

The chest radiologic finding showed fibrotic changes as a consequence of previous tuberculosis infection in 6 patients and a mass-like lesion in 2 patients.

Two patients had a co-existing fungus ball, and an endobronchial lesion was suspected in only 2 patients on the CT scan. 

The bronchoscopic appearance was a whitish to yellow necrotic mass causing bronchial obstruction in 7 patients, foreign body with adjacent granulation tissue and whitish necrotic tissue in 1 patient, whitish necrotic tissue at an anastomosis site in 1 patient, and a protruding mass with whitish necrotic tissue in 1 patient.

 

Conclusion:

An endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare presentation of pulmonary aspergilosis and is usually incidentally found in immunocompetent patients with underlying lung disease. It usually appears as a necrotic mass causing bronchial obstruction on bronchoscopy and can be confirmed by biopsy

PEMBROKE PINES, FL (January 31, 2012) -- Like everything else in life, this didnt come easy to Jay. He fought for what he believed in - intergrity of service - and in the end he was able to reep the victory!

Jay Schwartz, an IEAQC Founding Member and former Vice President, beat the imcumbent and, on Feb 15th, he will be sworn in as Pembroke Pines' new City Commissioner!

 

"I have campained for Jay" said IEAQC President Harvey Gordon, "the one thing I was struck with was his desire and passion for his City and for bringing honesty back to public service vesus being a politician".

 

Over and over exit pollers said it best; "Jay swayed me with his door-to-door campaign." and "Jay told me what the other guy has not done while in office. Now its time for a fresh approach to get Pembroke pines back to life!".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would seem that White Nose Fungus (Geomyces destructans) continues to move at a pace which could wipe-out the bat populations in the US, and even Canada!

 

With the fungus killing over 5 million bats in North America it has been called "...the worst wildlife health crisis in memory." by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!

While bringing home that beatiful live Christmas tree may mark the beginning of the holiday season for many, the mold that thrives on its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for some.

The time may be near when many homes may be relieved of smelly, corrosive Chinese drywall thanks to a proposed settlement this week by Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., one of the largest makers of the defective drywall made in China.

 

 

(MARGATE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 19, 2011) IEAQC today announced that South Florida Members united to collect Christmas Gifts for children in South Florida who have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.

Gifts were donated to 4Kids of South Florida.

From the moment children are removed from their families, 4Kids of South Florida meets their needs by demonstrating the love of God. Their goal is to protect, provide, and offer permanent solutions for these children and their families so they can have a hope-filled future.

 

IEAQC selected 4Kids of South Florida due to the unique nature of their mission and the urgent need. Every child in Broward County who is brought into the Child Welfare system, from newborns to 17-year-olds, upon being removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment, is given loving shelter and supervision at SafePlace 4KIDS while they await a more permanent placement.

 

In Broward children are either placed with a foster care family or at KidsPlace, a family-style home for up to six kids, age 4 to 14. This home allows 4Kids of South Florida to keep siblings together on a short-term basis while they await a foster home placement or reunification with a family member. Their care and support is provided by a live-in parent or couple. 

 

In Palm Beach, siblings age 3 to 12 are placed in the 4Kids of South Florida family-style home, KidsPlace Boca Raton, while they await a foster home placement or reunification with a family member.  Their care and support is also provided by a live-in couple.  

Often we think of orphans as children who live in third world countries, those whose images we see on television or in the newspaper. But they’re not just around the globe, they’re also right here in our own backyard.

 

On any given day in South Florida, there are three to four thousand “temporary orphans” in foster care.

 

"IEAQC is proud of the way our Members joined together and helped those less fortunate (James 1:27)" said Harvey Gordon, President of IEAQC, "it is just one more reason that I love this organization and what it stands for".

 

For more information on 4Kids of South Florida or to make a donation, please visit their website at www.4kidsofsfl.org

 

IEAQC today announced its newest Laboratory Partner, Hayes Microbial Consulting (HMC) out of Midlothian, VA.

“After speaking with HMC there is no doubt that they share our passion and dedication to the Indoor Environmental Industry”, said IEAQC President Harvey Gordon.

HMC provides a broad range of high quality mold analysis and consulting services to the indoor air quality industry, and has developed a strong presence in the industry and an impressive, international client base which includes environmental consulting firms, Accredited Indoor Environmental Hygienists, Certified Industrial Hygienists, mold inspectors, remediation companies, and government agencies.

“IEAQC’s visible passion, integrity, and commitment to the environmental professional industry is right in line with our pledge and drive to provide the environmental professional industry with exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, technical expertise, and professional integrity.” said HMC Sales Director, Andrew Kerwin. “We believe in the IEAQC model and are excited to partner with them in bringing their vision to the market.”

Researchers have been concerned for a long time about the respiratory health of apprentices in the school environment, and particularly in trade schools where it was suspected that they could develop occupational asthma. Epidemiologist Denyse Gautrin of the Sacré Cœur Hospital in Montral has been interested in it since 1992. Some cases of asthma in healthy individuals are caused by substances present in the workplace: this is called occupational asthma. Other cases are said to be exacerbated or worsened by work. This is a completely different type of asthma. The first is a recognized occupational disease with known sensitizers, which is not the case for the other condition. Work-aggravated asthma affects asthmatic individuals, but the factors that can worsen their respiratory condition are still not well known. Early in the 1990s, scientific publications began to be more interested in this condition that was still not well known, namely work-aggravated asthma. One hypothesis circulating in health research communities considers that, in some trades such as construction, this worsening could start while the future worker is being trained. To complete the picture, rhinitis must also be mentioned, which is a respiratory disease whose symptom is inflammation of the nasal mucosa, in the presence of irritating substances or products at high concentration. Since the early 1990s, Dr. Gautrin has been interested in the natural history of occupational asthma. This disease’s development is manifested first by an allergy to substances present in the work environment, and then by respiratory symptoms and an increase in bronchial reactivity. The researcher’s initial first studies dealt with cohorts of students registered in training programs for trades involving high risks of developing occupational allergic diseases. In fact, animal health technology, pastry-making, dental hygiene technology and automobile body work are trades known respectively for risks of exposure to laboratory animals, flours, latex and isocyanates. These agents are among the main causes of occupational asthma in most industrialized countries. Could the training environments therefore involve exposure hazards? Yes! It must be taken into consideration that the student’s estimated risk of exposure during the practical part of their training was based on the approach of model of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), meaning for a level of control of the risk factors corresponding to the worst exposure scenario. It is impossible right now to state definitely that “personal” asthma evolves towards work-aggravated asthma under certain sensitization or irritation conditions during training in the construction trades. However, thanks to many studies, we may soon know for sure. Until then, personal protection during training remains of UTMOST importance.

A $600,000 facelift is needed to a shine her up after nearly a century of water intrusion. in 1902, it is said that a sign which read Shower & baths free if you furnish your own soap and towels. Jennings & Co., 1902.It was hung in the rotunda only days after the Capitol was opened.and ever since, she has been leaking, flaking and crumbling, for more than a century. Weare going to scaffold-up the roof and remove the old copper on the dome, said Glenn Davis, superintendent of the job for Childers Construction Co. It has been leaking for years and we ll re-seal that with new copper and new paint. Michelle Gammon Purvis, curator of the Historic Capitol, says mold and water seepage is a chronic problem around the base of the domea So off comes the domeAGAIN! Yep, they did 30 years ago also! The finished dome will probably not be shiny-shiny, but will be like copper pipe. said Bob McLaughlin, facilities manager for the Capitol complex.

Broward County Circuit Judge Charles Greene has ruled that property owners not satisfied with the $54 million Banner settlement reached in June on their behalf may file separate lawsuits against Miami-based distributor Banner Supply Co who supplied the tainted drywall within their homes. The settlement only covers about 2,000 people in Florida who were effected by drywall distributed by Banner. In his ruling, Greene said that each and every plaintiff must file a notice about their intent to be included in the settlement class or not. In some class action lawsuit settlements, parties are barred or delayed from pursuing separate lawsuits. Durkee and Diaz, Miami area attorneys who among those who are representing clients individually, have criticized the settlement as providing too little money an average of only $4,000 to $33,000 per victim. The Banner settlement is not the only source of money expected to cover expenses. The Miami company was only the distributor of the Chinese drywall. Settlements with manufacturers, including Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, are being negotiated. The settlement is being handled by Coral Gables-based law firm Colson Hicks Eidson.

IEAQC today announced that it has begun to point internet traffic directed to IndoorAirQuality.org to the IEAQC main internet page.

Air fresheners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, disinfectants, dish detergents, all-purpose cleaners, soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorants, and shampoos can set people up for a lifetime of chemically induced illness, and repeated exposure to small amounts of household chemicals can trigger symptoms to previously tolerated chemicals.

(June 20 FLORIDA) A preliminary settlement has been reached between companies in the family-owned Florida-based drywall supplier group Banner, insurers and homeowners whose homes were damaged by tainted Chinese drywall.

MARGATE, FLORIDA: IEAQC today added Bioaerosols.org and Bioaerosols.com to its list of Internet Domains being used to direct Environmental Internet Traffic related to its website.

Margate FL (June 2, 2001) The Indoor Environmental Air Quality Council announced today that Lawrence Zolnowski, Publisher of the South Florida Business News newspaper, will speak at the June 9th, 2011 Shoot The Breeze. Mr. Zolnowski will share his vast marketing secrets on How to Grow Your Business With Your LOCAL Chamber of Commerce. IEAQC Shoot The Breezea is designed to be a time of fellowship and networking with other Florida Mold Assessors and Remediators! Seating is limited and you MUST Pre-Register by CLICKING HERE! Event Location: Lighthouse Point Yacht Club

IEAQC today announced that they have reached a broadcasting agreement with MiamiDigital.TV IEAQC will become the exclusive environmental broadcasting arm within MiamiDigital.TVs Environmental Channel. Under the agreement, IEAQC.TV will provide 24 hour pre-recorded relevant indoor environmental news to the public, as well as multiple LIVE broadcasts monthly. IEAQC.TV will also be available on ROKU as well as the soon to be released MiamiDigital.TV APP for the IPhone, IPod, and IPad. We are very excited to have been chosen by MiamiDigital.TV to provide their viewers with expert news and advice regarding Indoor Air Quality. I believe that this medium will provide tremendous benefits to consumers who can tune in 24hrs a day on AppleTV, ROKU, and via the APP to hear streaming media related to Indoor Air Quality in their homes, thus better equipping the viewers of IEAQC.TV when it comes to protecting the Indoor Air Quality in their homes, said IEAQC President Harvey Gordon. Look for IEAQC.TV to Turn On in the very near future!

Thomas P. Costa, 59, owner of Protective Solutions, an Orlando Mold Remediator and Assessor, was preforming both Mold Inspections and Mold Remediation, a practice now Illegal in Florida, which is not only ILLEGAL in Florida since July 2007, but also the mold industrys #1 conflict of interest. Sadly his website states: We are Certified Mold Inspectors and remediators that pass all the requirements above and beyond for the Florida Mold Bill Effective July 2010. We are members of IICRC, IAQ, local chamber of commerce, and we have current workers compensation insurance and general liability insurance. Please research any company that you would do business with to ensure that they abide to the same standards. The Orlando and Sun Sentinel ran the following story Tue Feb 22, 2011 (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-mold-inspection-o…) Orlando Sentinel By Amy Pavuk, The owner of an Orlando mold inspection and remediation business was arrested Monday on charges that he falsified testing records and defrauded customers, the Department of Environmental Protection said. Thomas P. Costa, 59, owner of Protective Solutions, faces more than three dozen criminal charges ranging from grand theft to insurance fraud to violating the RICO Act. According to DEP, Costa offered his services to homeowners, businesses and apartment complexes in Orlando, Fort Myers and the West Palm Beach areas from April 2007 to November 2008. During that time, DEP alleges, Costa obtained samples that he told his clients would be tested, however, no testing occurred. Authorities say Costa provided fictitious laboratory reports to clients that were extremely technical. He then offered assistance in performing remediation, for the mold problems tearing out walls, carpet, flooring and cabinets in order to remove the supposed mold. During the remediation, the mold was not always removed properly, leaving clients with continuing problems. Many clients moved or lost their homes, DEP said. During that timeframe, authorities say, Costa and Protective Solutions received more than $239,000 for fraudulent laboratory testing and remediation work. There are more than 29 victims, DEP said. apavuk@tribune.com or 407-420-5735.