Following Texas' Winter Storm Uri, Mold Is Becoming a Growing Issue

The Texas winter storm Uri of 2021 was a catastrophic event that caused widespread damage across the state. At least 210 people were killed as a result of the storm, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas estimated that the state's storm-related financial damages would range from $80 billion to $130 billion.

One of the most common and costly problems faced by homeowners was water damage from burst pipes. In some cases, this damage was caused by freezing temperatures that caused pipes to expand and burst. In other cases, it was due to the high winds that toppled trees and power lines, causing power outages that left pipes without heat and causing them to freeze and burst.

The resulting water damage from these burst pipes often led to the growth of mold. Mold can cause a number of health problems, including respiratory issues, skin rashes, and headaches. Mold inspection and testing are essential for any home or business that has been affected by water damage.

If you suspect that you have mold in your home or office, contact MSE Environmental right away. They will be able to test for mold and determine the best course of action for removal.

The Correlation between Pipe BuRst into Mold Growth

When water freezes in a pipe, it expands and exerts enormous pressure. If a pipe breaks, numerous supply lines may quickly leak hundreds of gallons or more of water into a structure. Water gradually makes its way to the lowest spot it can reach, which means that a broken pipe on the second or third level might cause water damage to that floor and the floors below. Under some situations, even sewage pipes can freeze and break, allowing potentially infectious waste to pollute a structure.

It can cause water damage to the surrounding areas of your home, creating ideal conditions for mold to grow. This can be especially true in basements and attics, where moisture can accumulate and remain undetected. If the pipe burst is left unrepaired for an extended period of time, the conditions become even more favorable for mold. Mold can also begin to grow quickly in water-damaged walls and furniture, which can put you and your family at risk for health problems.

Health Risks when exposed to a large quantity of Molds

Molds have the potential to be harmful to one's health. Molds create allergens and irritants (substances that might induce allergic responses). Watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, headache, and exhaustion may result from inhaling or handling mold or mold particles. Repeated mold exposure might enhance sensitivity, resulting in more severe allergic responses.

Mold allergies are rather frequent. They might be both immediate and delayed. Molds can also trigger asthma episodes in persons who are allergic to mold. Furthermore, mold exposure can irritate both mold-allergic and non-allergic people's eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. Inhaling mold does not often cause symptoms other than allergic and irritating reactions.

Mold Inspection and Testing on the Aftermath of Winter Storm

There are several techniques to test for mold on your own. Almost any hardware shop will sell you an at-home mold test. However, you should be skeptical of these tests' accuracy. These tests have been known to produce inaccurate findings. Unopened test kits were even moldy when purchased in certain circumstances.

Furthermore, mold testing should be performed by a fully licensed, experienced mold inspector because it is highly technical, if not dangerous. If you don't know anything about mold, you can misinterpret the results. There is also the risk of test result contamination if the proper chain of custody is not followed during the testing procedure. A professional examination and testing is the best method to find out. Unlike at-home testing, qualified professional mold inspectors can determine where mold is developing, where it is coming from, and the severity of the mold.

With that being said, MSE Environmental provides expert mold inspection and testing services throughout the United States. Our mold inspectors are all ACAC trained and skilled focusing mainly on mold testing and inspection. To avoid any conflict of interest and to deliver the best mold testing services in the Country, we exclusively employ neutral third-party laboratories.

Conclusion

It is always the what if’s that people are so afraid of. What if there is another Winter Storm hitting the Texas Region, are you prepared for the end results? It is always preferable to have information and practical expertise on what to do in the aftermath. Mold growth is one of the most disastrous effects of this catastrophe. The dangers of mold are real and should not be taken lightly. If you find or suspect that you have mold in your home, take steps to remove it as soon as possible. Proper inspection and prevention steps are important when it comes to preventing future mold growth.

CONTACT MSE ENVIRONMENTAL TODAY FOR HELP AND ADVICE IN DEALING WITH MOLD TESTING AND INSPECTION.

RELATED POST

What is Lead, and why do we need to conduct Lead-Based Paint Testing and Inspection?

What is lead?

Lead is a post-transition metal which is scientifically known as Pb with an atomic number of 82. This element is denser than the majority of common materials. Lead is soft metal that has been used for a variety of applications over the years. Since 5000 BC, it has been extensively utilized in paints and pesticides as well as metal products, wires, and pipes. Out of the four metals, lead is the one that has the worst effects on human health. Through the ingestion of food (65%), water (20%), and air (15%), it can enter the human body.

People are most commonly exposed to lead by drinking contaminated water, inhaling lead particles in the air, and ingesting lead dust or flakes, particularly in the form of lead-based paint. Lead dust or flakes are easily released into the air and collect on interior surfaces when old paint deteriorates or is disturbed by sanding or demolition.

Why do we need to conduct Lead Testing and Inspection?

In the past decades, research has revealed that lead paint is highly toxic and, if absorbed into the bloodstream, can cause serious health problems such as brain, nervous system, and kidney issues. Milder illnesses like headaches, skin rashes, and minor breathing difficulties have also been linked to lead poisoning.

Conducting a thorough lead inspection identifies defective surfaces and assesses toxic levels of lead-based paint on the inside and outside of the home. A comprehensive lead inspection is typically performed using a special instrument for lead in paint testing (an X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer or XRF). The XRF detects lead in all paint layers. This non-destructive testing provides immediate, dependable on-site results and can test intact painted surfaces. Soil, water, and dust samples are collected as part of the comprehensive lead inspection and analyzed for lead concentrations by a certified laboratory.

Lead testing can be done in two ways:

• Paint inspection - determines the amount of lead in painted surfaces in your home or workplace

• Risk assessment - identifies sources of lead exposure such as paint and lead dust and tells you what steps to take to correct this.

An onsite inspection and visual examination of the property to identify potential lead-based paint hazards such as defective paint, with follow-up testing of potential sources of toxic levels of lead are part of a risk assessment. Defective painted surfaces can be tested by a certified laboratory using XRF analysis or paint chip analysis. Dust wipe samples can be collected in specific locations to determine if there is a lead dust hazard. Lead concentrations can be determined by collecting soil and water samples and analyzing them.

Keep Safe and Take Action!

If lead is found in your home or in your workplace, a lead abatement protocol will be required to ensure that all affected areas are dealt with safely and thoroughly. A certified risk assessor can help you review the report and decide whether abatement (completely eliminating lead hazards) or continued good maintenance (managing potential lead hazards) is a better option for you and your family. Hire a trained and certified abatement contractor if you decide to abate. If you choose to manage your lead-based paint in place, you must inspect and maintain it on a regular basis, and you must hire only lead-safe certified home contractors for any work that will disturb lead-based paint. A qualified lead-based paint professional will know how to work safely and will have documentation of certification.

Looking for Wise and Professional Lead Testing Services?

MSE Environmental is a diverse environmental consulting and industrial hygiene supplier. This service has performed thousands of lead paint tests over the years and are trained to identify and address these issues as soon as possible. Don't be caught off guard by issues with old lead paint or other contaminants in your home or workplace. The service can assist you in dealing with them in an efficient and safe manner.

It carries and provides thorough paint tests and procedures - XRF Analyzer for Paint Inspections; HUD Inspections; Abatement Project Design; Work Plans and Specifications; Management of Abatement Projects; Personal and air monitoring; Post-Abatement Clearance Testing; Risk evaluations.

Always seek professional advice before attempting to remove lead-based paint or lead contamination from your home or workplace.

FOR ALL YOUR LEAD PAINT TESTING NEEDS, CONTACT US TODAY. WE’D BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.

Related Post:

Mold

What is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that is nature’s way of biodegrading or recycling organic materials back into the earth. Many times our commercial and residential structures are exposed to mold growth due to natural and catastrophic damage from water and sewage disasters. Fungi are commonly found in most environments but when it pertains to mold growth in buildings, only a few dozen types of mold thrive from the right conditions of moisture, temperature and building materials. Often times this recipe of conditions and fungi cause serious health conditions in some individuals and alarm others with unsightly discolorations all over building materials and can even cause structural and indoor air quality concerns.

MSE Environmental Four Step Mold Investigation Process – Inspection & Assessment, Pre Testing & Sampling, Remediation Scope of Work & Protocol Design, Post Remediation Verification & Clearance Testing (PRV):

• Inspections & Assessment
• Testing & Sampling - Air, Wall, Surface, Culture
• Remediation Scope of Work & Protocol
   Design
• Remediation Project Oversight
• Cause & Origin Investigations
• Post Remediation Verification &
   Clearance Testing (PRV)

  By Erik Lundgaard