As a San Diego mold attorney, I know there is a lot of information out there about the health effects of mold and who is most likely to be effected. Most of it, we must say, is poor information. So-called toxic mold can effect you in a number of ways:

• Mold can have toxic effects due to mycotoxins
• Mold spores can have an irritant effect
• Mold lets off gases that have an irritant effect

When clients call a San Diego mold attorney for legal counsel, they usually have suffered from allergic type symptoms. People who suffer from allergies are most likely going to have significant reactions when exposed to mold, fungus or volatile organic compounds. So, it goes without saying that people with allergies (especially to mold and dust mites) need to avoid mold infested environments.

Also, some people might not even know they are allergic to mold or dust mites.  Many people might just believe they have hay fever or are allergic to something else.

As a very general rule, based on my experience as a San Diego mold attorney, there are three classes of people that have to be especially careful of mold and dust mite exposure:

• The very young
• The elderly
• Those with compromised immune systems.

The reason these individuals are more at risk is because they are more likely to have severe long-term problems. You see, the majority of people return to their baseline (ie get better) within a short time after leaving the infected environment. The people listed above are generally the only people we see, as San Diego mold attorneys, who have the potential for life-long damage.

If you or someone you love has been exposed to mold, dust mites or volatile organic compounds you need a San Diego mold attorney that will fight the insurance company. Call our office today at 619.615.0767 for a free, no-hassle consultation or send us an email with the specifics of your case.

Our San Diego mold lawyers are proud to serve all of Southern California.

1. Take Pictures

You need to take pictures of anything that even remotely looks like mold. You will also want to take pictures of water damaged areas. When taking the pictures, make sure to take two of each. One that is a close-up and another that gives a perspective of the location. Also photograph any items of personal property that have been damaged by mold or fungus.

2. Make An Inventory

Document all the items of personal property that have been damaged and what you believe the current values to be. Also write down any out of pocket expenses such a moving costs, hotel bills, cleaning costs etc..

3. Have The Property Tested

It is extremely important to verify the type and levels of mold in your home. We recommend you undertake ALL of the following for complete results.

Air Sampling – this provides a picture of what the air looks like in your room at the given moment in time. It can also identify the type of mold in the air, if any.

Swab Sampling – even if there is no mold in the air at that given time you may still have a mold problem. Swab sampling finds out the type of mold and its concentration on porous and semi-porous materials.

Dust Sampling – lastly, and was is becoming most important, is dust sampling. This is a do-it-yourself test that is shipped to a lab. You vacuum a sample from your carpet or flooring and send it to a lab. I would highly encourage people to undertake this test. http://moldinspectionkit.com/interpret.asp

4. Seek Medical Advice

Allergy/Immunology – you need to get tested to see if you are allergic to mold and/or dust mites.

Blood Testing – blood testing can reveal certain allergies to mold as well as certain mycotoxins in the blood.  http://www.realtimelab.com

VCS Testing – this is an inexpensive way to see if exposure to toxins is effecting you neurologically. http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com

Neuro-Psychology – if you are experiences cognitive issues after exposure to mold such as ADD, brain fog, memory loss and chronic fatigue you see a qualified professional to examine your brain and see how it has been effected by the mold exposure.

5. Document All Communications

Wether you are communicating with a landlord, HOA, property manager or real estate agent, you want to get everything in WRITING. If you speak with a neighbor or another witness go inside the house and write down what that person said noting the date and time. All communications giving the responsible party notice of mold and/or water damage MUST be in writing.

6. Call An Experienced Mold Attorney

We at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are San Diego Mold Lawyers who will vigorously fight against the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation your deserve. If you believe that you or someone you know has been effected by toxic mold call a San Diego County Mold Lawyer that will fight for your rights. Call us TODAY at 619.615.0767 or visit our website www.ThompsonLawSD.com

As San Diego Mold Lawyers, we are proud to serve the following areas in San Diego: Alpine, Bonita, Camp Pendleton, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Downtown, Eastlake, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Imperial Beach, La Jolla, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista

In this article we are going to focus on the VOCs. In mold, we classify these as microbial. Any organism that metabolizes lets off an volatile organic compound. When the metabolite is emitted into the air it can produce quite pungent and unpleasant odors. Studies have found an association between exposure to microbial volatile organic compounds and eye irritation, upper respiratory symptoms, allergy and persistent cold. There have also been links to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation and nausea. There are difficulties in determining the levels of mVOCs in rental unit but it is generally understood that the smell of a musty odor is indication of mVOCs in the air.

This musty smell, or mVOC, is often overlooked as a potential health threat. Common volatile organic compounds are benzene, ketone and formaldehyde. When these compounds come from mold we stick an “m” in front and call them “microbial.” Many people are deceived by mold tests, in particular, air sampling. Air sampling only tells you the spore count in the air. If the spore count is low, most people assume that they are not being effected by mold. To the contrary, if you are smelling strong musty odors than you are most definitely being effected by mold.

We at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are Clairemont Mold Lawyers who will vigorously fight against the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation your deserve. If you believe that you or someone you know has been effected by toxic mold call a San Diego County Mold Lawyer that will fight for your rights. Call us TODAY at 619.615.0767 or visit our website www.ThompsonLawSD.com

The action was filed in June in the Sacramento County (Calif.) Superior Court and was removed in August to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Plaintiffs filed an amended, eight-count complaint in federal court on Dec. 22.

Christina Mitchell and other plaintiffs say they have suffered water intrusion, mold, wood rot and other ills since purchasing homes constructed by Skyline, which is based in Folsom, Calif. Further, some Plaintiffs are already experiencing effects of mold exposure. Mold generally only take 24 hours to incubate.

Skyline sold a total of 2,712 homes in fiscal year 2009, ranging in size from 400 to 1,600 square feet, according to plaintiffs.

Homes typically are constructed with an asphalt-coated paper or felt barrier, or plastic sheet material, attached to the structure beneath any siding materials. Such barriers typically cost between $300 and $500 for materials and labor and their absence can result in thousands of dollars in damage to the homes, according to the amended complaint.

Plaintiffs fear that based on the inherent design flaws that home will be riddled with water damage, mold and fungus.

We at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are Del Mar Mold Lawyers who will vigorously fight against the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation your deserve. If you believe that you or someone you know has been effected by toxic mold call a San Diego Mold Lawyer that will fight for your rights. Call us TODAY at 619.615.0767 or visit our website www.ThompsonLawSD.com

Mold Inspector

If you anticipate proceeding with litigation against a responsible party, the person you have do the mold testing is as important as anything else because that person will probably be called upon to testify on your behalf. A Certified Industrial Hygienist (“CIH”) is the ideal person to do mold inspections. A CIH has studied and passed examination in a number of disciplines giving he/she superior knowledge in the area indoor environmental controls. The downside is that a CIH is generally very expensive.

We usually recommend a Certified Mold Inspector for our clients as there is a good balance between the quality of the report and the price.

As La Jolla Mold Attorneys, we can recommend you to high quality vendors to suit your needs.

Mold Report

Depending on who you go to, once you get your mold report back, you might not know how to interpret the results. First, we look at the indoor samples vs. the outdoor samples. Generally, if the indoor sample is not at least 2-3 times as high as the outdoor sample than an indoor source may be difficult to determine. Second, we look at the species of mold identified. Certain types of mold will only grow inside and vice versa. If we see a large quantity of one type inside but that same species not present outside, it is easy to determine the indoor source.

These are just two of the factors to consider when evaluating a case of fungal exposure in La Jolla, California.

We at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are La Jolla Mold Lawyers who will vigorously fight against the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation your deserve. If you believe that you or someone you know has been effected by toxic mold call a San Diego Mold Lawyer that will fight for your rights. Call us TODAY at 619.615.0767 or visit our website www.ThompsonLawSD.com

No one with a compromised immune system, a history of respiratory problems or who is sick should participate in any mold remediation.

The source of moisture must be identified and all areas of infested mold should be cleaned. But, cleaning may not be an option if the area is porous or semi-porous. At that point, all areas should be removed.

Mold should not be allowed to touch bare skin. Eyes and lungs should be protected from mold exposure.

Proper containment is necessary.

Residents who do undertake clean-up are encouraged to work over short periods of time and take plenty of breaks to get some fresh air.

Keep in mind that we feel these guidelines to be very conservative in nature. By conservative, we mean that MORE caution should be undertaken than the guidelines provide. We recommend that tenants never clean mold themselves especially after they have been sick. We also advise clients that bleach will ONLY be effective on non-porous surfaces not wood and drywall. Regardless, always contact your landlord when you first suspect mold in your unit.

OSHA once had the recommendation that bleach was an effective method of mold remediation. OSHA has since removed that recommendation. The EPA edited their indoor air quality document to exclude the use of bleach as an acceptable method of mold clean-up. The reason for this is simple: bleach is not effective in getting to the roots of mold on semi-porous and porous materials.  Bleach may remove what is on the surface but will not get to the source of the problem.   

If you report a suspected mold problem to your landlord and your landlord tells you to clean it with bleach or has someone come out to clean it with bleach immediately inform them that this is not an effective solution. Also, tell your landlord you need an air quality test and a remediation expert to assess the problem.   Regardless of whether your landlord listens to you requests, call a Rancho Santa Fe Mold Attorney right away to find out your rights with respect to your hime and your families health. 

We at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are Rancho Santa Fe Mold Lawyers who will vigorously fight against the insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation your deserve. If you believe that you or someone you know has been effected by toxic mold call a San Diego Mold Lawyer that will fight for your rights. Call us TODAY at 619.615.0767 or visit our website www.ThompsonLawSD.com

Initially, it seems like something that building maintenance could handle, but upon further inspection they found significant water leaks that had not been addressed by the landlord. Jagger hired mold inspectors who found high levels of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Stachybotrys.

By the end of 2001, with Jagger’s health in disarray, she was forced to move from the unit because the conditions were intolerable.

In 2003, Jagger stopped paying rent on her $4600-a-month apartment. Each month she puts the full amount into an escrow account while the City undertakes an investigation.

In 2004, she filed suit against her landlord, Katz Park Avenue. That lawsuit is still in the midst of litigation today.

The lethal toxin can cause serious health complications, and has been linked to cancer, memory-loss and severe respiratory problems. Toxic mold is expecially dangerous to infants and individuals with diminished immune systems like the elderly.

Jacques Tizabi, CEO of Universal Detection Technology says “this easy-to-use product will equip homeowners in proactively testing their homes and remediate any mold damage prior to the onset of health complications”.

More information is available at www.udetection.com