Part of being a homeowner is identifying hazards and addressing them before they cause too much harm. Toxic black mold is a common hazard in the San Francisco Bay Area, and can cause illness if left unaddressed for too long. If you notice signs of toxic black mold or symptoms of toxic black mold syndrome, it’s vital that you hire a mold remediation expert as soon as possible.

This video offers an overview of toxic black mold and toxic black mold syndrome. Black mold most often grows in areas that have been affected by moisture. How a person reacts to mold exposure depends on their genetics—some people are unaffected while others experience severe symptoms. According to one estimate, as many as 10 million Americans are affected by toxic black mold syndrome.

Your home should be a place where you can relax and feel safe. Unfortunately, indoor air pollution is a very real concern that could impact your comfort and health. According to some estimates, indoor air pollutant levels are about 5 times higher than outdoor pollutant levels—a disturbing figure considering that the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. If you suspect that your indoor air isn’t as clean as it could be, let San Francisco indoor air quality experts evaluate your indoor air quality. Here are a few signs that your home may have a high amount of indoor air pollutants.

Unpleasant Smell
If there’s something amiss with your indoor air quality, you’ll likely be able to smell it. Mold has a distinct musty smell, and potentially harmful chemicals may have more of a harsh scent. To determine whether your home has an odd smell, consider going outside for a minute then coming back in.

Throat Discomfort
Do you often wake up with a sore throat? There’s a good chance that your indoor air quality isn’t as good as it could be. A sore throat could be caused by mold spores, or it could be caused by low humidity. If your home has low humidity, you might consider purchasing a humidifier.

Mold Growth
Mold thrives in dark, moist environments. If your indoor humidity is too high, there’s a good chance that mold will start growing on your walls, furniture, and floors. Mold is usually easy to recognize; if mold is growing in your home, you should be able to detect a musty smell and black or green splotches on your indoor surfaces.

Health Concerns
Indoor air pollution can cause a wide range of health concerns, including respiratory disorders and even neurological disorders. Lead exposure—often caused by lead-based paint—can cause behavioral and developmental problems in younger children. If you or your family members feel ill more often than you should, indoor air pollution could be to blame.

If you value your health and the health of your family, don’t wait to test for asbestos in your home. If your home does contain asbestos, the longer you wait to schedule asbestos testing and removal, the more at risk you and your family are for serious illness. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to lung disease, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers cannot be seen without the right type of microscope, so don’t attempt to test for asbestos yourself. If you do encounter asbestos, call an asbestos removal company in San Francisco immediately. Improperly handling asbestos can put you in danger of breathing in harmful asbestos particles.

Be proactive about your health and get peace of mind that your home is free from asbestos and your family is safe by scheduling asbestos testing and removal in San Francisco today.

You probably feel safest and most comfortable in your home—but perhaps you should be more careful. Indoor air pollution can be as bad (if not worse) as outdoor air pollution in major developed cities. Prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution can cause or contribute to the development of serious cardiovascular conditions, including asthma and a number of other chronic lung diseases. Have your home tested for mold, asbestos, lead, and bacteria , and look out for these common sources of indoor air pollution.

Biological Pollutants
Biological indoor pollutants include molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, animal dander, and particles from dust mites and cockroaches. To keep biological pollutants under control, wash bedding and sweep/vacuum your floors regularly to kill dust mites, control moisture to prevent mold growth, and hire a mold testing company to inspect your home for harmful biological pollutants.

Combustion Pollutants
Combustion pollutants come from sources such as fuel burning stoves, furnaces, and gas-burning appliances such as water heaters and fireplaces. Carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are the most dangerous gases produced by such sources. Make sure combustion appliances are installed and maintained by professionals, and make sure your home is properly ventilated.

Asbestos
Although asbestos use is now outlawed in the U.S., it was once one of the most popular building and construction materials in the country. Asbestos produces microscopic fibers that, when inhaled into the lungs, can cause asbestosis (scaring of the lung tissue), lung cancer, and mesothelioma. If your home or office building was built before 1980, hire an asbestos testing and removal company in San Francisco immediately.

Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter your home or business through cracks in the foundation floor, drains, and other opening. Indoor radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Test your home for radon regularly and follow recommendations for further testing and repairs.

The story of lead paint goes back thousands of years, when early civilizations discovered how useful the heavy metal was. In the 19 ^th century, lead was added to paint (especially exterior paint) because of its strength, durability, and the way it enhanced the paint’s color and performance. Unfortunately, lead exposure can have numerous damaging effects on the body. In adults, it is not uncommon to experience emotional symptoms such as aggressiveness. In high doses, lead poisoning can cause coma and even death. The real danger is when children are exposed to lead paint poisoning, as low levels can cause long-term developmental issues, including brain defects.

Watch this video to learn more about the dangers of lead paint poisoning. If your home or commercial building uses lead paint, contact a lead paint removal company in San Francisco . And if you aren’t sure about the type of paint on your home or business, a lead paint testing company can find out. Lead paint removal can be dangerous, so leave it to a professional.

There is nothing more important to us than our customers! Check out our latest reviews on Yelp to read about why they love Safe Air Fast and leave a review about your experience.

“Kathy from Safe Air Fast Environmental was great in promptly setting up a same day testing and inspection of some linoleum tile that needed to be removed.” – Amond S

.

While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce mycotoxins, the molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous. However, that doesn’t mean that certain types of “toxic molds” can’t cause serious health problems. In fact, there are reports that Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) causes memory loss in adults in acute pulmonary hemorrhaging among infants. The sooner you have your home or business tested for black mold , the sooner the mold will be removed, and the less likely you will be to suffer from the following health problems.

Respiratory Difficulties
People living in homes or working in businesses with toxic mold are exposed mainly through breathing in mold spores and mycotoxins in the air. Exposure to black mold can cause minor respiratory difficulties such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Long-term exposure can lead to more serious difficulties, including pulmonary edema (swelling of the lungs) and pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding in the lungs).

Circulatory Difficulties
The mycotoxins produced by black mold can be breathed in, ingested, or absorbed through a person’s skin. After prolonged exposure, these mycotoxins find their way into the person’s bloodstream. The circulatory difficulties stemming from black mold exposure include irregular heartbeat, heart inflammation, internal bleeding, and blood clots. If your doctor has diagnosed any such circulatory problems, schedule a mold inspection today.

Immunosuppression
Mycotoxins also suppress the human body’s immune system, which is why many immunosuppressive drugs are created from toxic molds. If you suspect that your home or workplace has black mold and you more easily get infections or sickness, contact a mold remediation company in San Francisco to test your residence or building for mold.

Chronic Fatigue
Prolonged exposure to black mold may cause the immune system to release a sedative called Chloral Hydrate, which is used as a defense to slow down the effects of toxic black mold in the bloodstream. Chloral Hydrate also causes chronic fatigue, drowsiness, muscle pain, joint pain, and recurring cold or flu like symptoms. If you notice these signs, hire a mold removal company to inspect your home or business for mold and remove anything they find.

Have you noticed a musty smell coming out of your bathroom, basement, or anywhere else in your home? A foul odor is just one of the signs that you could have mold growing inside your house. There are as many as 300,000 different types of mold in the world, and many of these love to grow in warm, humid conditions such as damp basements, showers, and sinks. In addition to being smelly, mold can cause allergic reactions such as itchy eyes, sneezing, headaches, and even asthma attacks. For the good of your home’s structure and your family’s health, you should know the signs of mold and how to prevent it from growing.

Take a look at this infographic from a mold removal company serving San Francisco to learn more about mold in your house. If you suspect you have a problem, let the professionals handle the mold testing and mold remediation for best results. Please share this info with your family and neighbors.

Asbestos is an extremely tough mineral that is able to resist heat, chemicals, and weather. Many older homes have asbestos in their building materials. If you are a homeowner, it is extremely dangerous to come into contact with asbestos fibers in the air. When a person breathes in asbestos, harmful fibers enter their nose and lungs. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to serious health complications and fatalities.

If you are concerned about asbestos in your home, it is very important to schedule an asbestos test. At Safe Air Fast, we provide asbestos abatement services to homeowners in San Francisco. Our asbestos removal company will provide you with top quality asbestos testing and asbestos removal.