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Unless you have a leaking roof, mold and mildew inside a house is a house cleaning issue. If you don't want mold, start doing a better job of cleaning.
Maybe if you ask, management will let you out of your lease and you can move. Just be aware, that no matter where you go, if you don't keep the house clean, you will get mold or mildew there, too. Always run the bathroom fan whenever you run any water for anything in the bathroom. Always run the kitchen exhaust fan when you are cooking. Dry things off. Report any plumbing leaks promptly. Leave space for air to circulate behind furniture and in closets.
Really? Spots on the window? You could not take some windex and a paper towel and remove them instead of watching them for a few weeks and then calling someone else in to deal with them?
Both of the closets had a roof leak. They fixed one but other closets still leak. I sent them a video just last week again. As far as the window goes, it wasn't sealed properly for a while so when it rains water used to get inside. Later the apartment fixed it. I really don't want to move out but due to health concerns for my child, I probably will.
Why do you think it might not be a true mold case? Do you think the lab would provide a false report?
You live in Texas.. you have humidity. The most you have is mildew… not toxic mold. Did the report say you ave toxic mold? Has the health dept. contacted you regarding toxic mold?
Break your lease and move if it bothers you that much.
You live in Texas.. you have humidity. The most you have is mildew… not toxic mold. Did the report say you ave toxic mold? Has the health dept. contacted you regarding toxic mold?
Break your lease and move if it bothers you that much.
Yes the report shows it detected Stachybotrys both in air & swab sample
If the roof has leaked and that has caused the mold, either clean it up or give the landlord notice that you are moving out. You probably don't have to stay there and if you are losing sleep over it, then give notice and get out.
If you don't want to move, there is a large assortment of mold cleaners available OR use bleach OR vinegar. (never mix cleaners)
When a window leaks or you leave the window open and it rains, dry the water up and don't leave it there. it takes a few seconds to rub a towel over the areas and dry it off. Mold and mildew require moisture to grow and if you keep things dry, they can't grow. Take your stuff out of those closet and open them up to air them out. Maybe blow a fan into the closet.
Stachybotrys sp. - Aw (water activity) - 0.94, optimum Aw (water activity) - >0.98. Several strains of this fungus (S. atra, S. chartarum and S. alternans are synonymous) may produce a trichothecene mycotoxin- Satratoxin H - which is poisonous by inhalation. The toxins are present on the fungal spores. This is a slow growing fungus on media. It does not compete well with other rapidly growing fungi. The dark colored fungi grows on building material with a high cellulose content and a low nitrogen content. Areas with relative humidity above 55% and are subject to temperature fluctuations are ideal for toxin production. Individuals with chronic exposure to the toxin produced by this fungus reported cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local hair loss, and generalized malaise. The toxins produced by this fungus will suppress the immune system affecting the lymphoid tissue and the bone marrow. Animals injected with the toxin from this fungus exhibited the following symptoms: necrosis and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus, spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymph node, liver, and kidney. The mycotoxin is also reported to be a liver and kidney carcinogen. Affects by absorption of the toxin in the human lung are known as pneumomycosis. This organism is rarely found in outdoor samples. It is usually difficult to find in indoor air samples unless it is physically disturbed. The spores are in a gelatinous mass. Appropriate media for the growth of this organism will have a high cellulose content and a low nitrogen content. The spores will die readily after release. The dead spores are still allergenic and toxigenic. Percutaneous absorption has caused mild symptoms.
This seems to be general information about this mold lifted straight out of some technical journal but it doesn't mean it was specific to your unit. Sometimes trying to apply information to the wrong question isn't helpful. What actual level of the mold did testing find? Obviously, higher levels would be more worrisome than lower. I took a quick look at several mold remediator dotcom websites and found levels higher than 50 spores per cubic meter seemed to be actionable. However, guidelines for acceptable levels of Stachybotrys molds in living spaces haven't been established according to the CDC.
Sure, no one wants to see mold in their home, but just because some exists doesn't mean its going to create an actual health problem. So many modern construction materials are cellulose-based and provide a food source for molds. It would be difficult to find any that didn't. I agree with checking more frequently for mold growth and cleaning the room better (why wouldn't you do this anyway?). A few links that may shed a bit more light:
Whether it's toxic or not, dangerous or safe, real or imagined, rational or paranoid - none of that matters. It seems pretty clear that OP has already made up her mind and doesn't feel that she and her baby are safe. Hence, she should be looking at alternative housing and the costs to break that lease.
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