~Frequently Asked Questions~

 Is Asbestos dangerous?
Yes, especially if it is damaged. If so, why? Damaged or old asbestos can easily crumble and the needle-like fibers can become airborne. It's easy to inhale these fibers. The fibers will lodge in the pleura (lining of the lungs), lung tissue or other parts of your body and can cause lung scarring and cancer.

Where might I come into contact with asbestos?
Asbestos can be present in many products produced before the asbestos phase out of friable materials in the 1970s, including insulation, vermiculite, duct wrap, floor tile, vinyl sheet flooring, drywall tape, gaskets, brake shoes, certain household products, and more. These may still be in your home or your workplace.

Where can Mold grow in a building?
Mold spores need moisture to grow. Mold grows on organic matter including wood, ceilings, wallpaper, paint, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation, where they use their powerful enzymes to dissolve building materials in the same way that they dissolve decaying plant matter.

What is Toxic Mold?
First of all, "toxic mold" is a bit of a misnomer. Mold itself is not toxic; however, some toxigenic molds ("toxic molds") produce poisons called mycotoxins, which in extreme cases can cause fatigue, nausea, headaches, eye irritation, and respiratory problems. Stachybotrys mold, also known as black mold, has been linked to fatal lung bleeding in infants when combined with environmental cigarette smoke.

How do I know if I have a Mold problem?
If you see small, white, thread-like growths or clusters of small, black dots on the walls of your bathroom or basement, other areas that are or were wet, or if you smell a musty odor, then you may have a mold problem. Some mold, however, may be hidden and cannot be detected by our senses. Symptoms of mold allergy include runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, fatigue, headache, congestion, sniffling, sore throat, itch eyes, and watery eyes. In children, mold exposure can lead to recurrent respiratory infections.

Why is lead poisoning dangerous to children?
Because children are much smaller than adults and have a developing nervous system, exposure to the same amount of lead leads to a much higher concentration of lead in the body.  Children's brains are still developing, once the brain is fully developed, around age 25, lead exposure is less likely to interfere with the structure of the brain, but young children can suffer serious developmental problems.

How does Lead exposure occur?
Most people are exposed to lead through contact with lead-contaminated dust.  Even very small amounts can pose a substantial health risk.  Deteriorating lead paint is the number one source of lead dust.  Small children can ingest it while crawling on the floor, or by putting their hands or other objects in their mouths.  Lead from deteriorating paint can also contaminate the soil around a building – more than 75 percent of housing units in the U.S. have some level of lead contamination.  The older the property, the greater the chance of contamination.  Some other sources of contamination include plumbing fixtures, drinking vessels or food containers made with lead, and some folk remedies from Mexico, Central America, Asia, India and the Middle East.