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Endogenous Mold Exposure: Environmental Risk to Atopic and Nonatopic Patients
Published in Richard B. Gammage, Stephen V. Kaye, Vivian A. Jacobs, Indoor Air and Human Health, 2018
Peter P. Kozak, Janet Gallup, Leo B. Cummins, Sherwin A. Gillman
With the present emphasis on energy-efficient structures, we can anticipate some reduction in the influx of outdoor mold spores. If repeat or chronic interior water damage occurs in the presence of organic material, a significant increase in endogenous mold levels would be expected. Additional problems will undoubtedly occur that are secondary to contamination of humidification-control and filtering devices. Extensive studies are required to better define indoor mold exposure and to monitor changes that occur as we manipulate the indoor environment. Our goal should be to evolve an indoor environment that would afford maximum health to all inhabitants at a reasonable energy cost.
The changing nature of financing flood damages in Canada
Published in Edmund C. Penning-Rowsell, Matilda Becker, Flood Risk Management, 2019
There are advantages to the insurance industry in expanding their coverage to include overland flood insurance, as it is a missed business opportunity, a major source of claims and a reputational problem (Oulahen, 2015). As of 2015, water damage was in any case a major financial component of insurance companies in Canada, despite policies which excluded damage caused by overland flooding. In a 2014 report by Aviva, one of the country’s largest insurance companies, the principal source of residential property claims was water damage, surpassing both fire- and theft-related claims.
The Building Survey
Published in Kenneth F. Cherry, Asbestos, 2020
Factor: Water Damage. Water damage is usually caused by roof leaks, particularly in buildings with flat roofs or a concrete slab and steel beam construction. Skylights can also be significant sources of leaks. Water damage can also result from plumbing leaks and water or high humidity in the vicinity of pools, locker rooms, and lavatories.
Perspectives of future water sources in Qatar by phytoremediation: biodiversity at ponds and modern approach
Published in International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2021
The problem of contamination around Doha city increased substantially, especially in residential areas close to those ponds. Many studies have been carried out to evaluate the environmental impacts of these ponds on agriculture, public health, economy, general lifestyle, and wildlife. Regarding the untreated ponds, these studies (Abulfatih et al. 2002) recommended that such ponds must have a negative impact on human health, livestock, and groundwater quality because of their contents of pathogenic microorganisms and hazardous chemicals (Al-Naimi 2002; Elhag 2002; Sweileh 2002; Al-Thani 2003). Therefore, it was recommended that the local authorities should abandon such ponds and not allow any further dumping of wastewater in them, as such ponds are very close to highly populated areas with all hazards of dissemination of germs and microbes, as well as possible contamination of the grounds water, damage to wildlife, and reduced quality of air and esthetic value. Moreover, these studies also covered the treated ponds, which come to the same conclusion that in the long run, such ponds might have had the same environmental impact on general public health and the lifestyle of people (Elobaid et al. 2018). With the increase of wastewater volume from industrial and domestic activities, the problem of contamination of some areas around Doha city increased considerably, especially those close to those ponds. This motivated the people to complain to the government, as these ponds badly affected the people in some parts of Doha city in terms of insects, disgusting smells, and many health issues.
The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index reveals changes in mold contamination in United States homes over time
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2020
Stephen Vesper, Larry Wymer, David Cox, Gary Dewalt, Eugene Pinzer, Warren Friedman, Peter J. Ashley
The Group 1 molds are those selected to reveal excess moisture and the resulting mold growth (Vesper et al. 2007; Vesper 2011). By quantifying the Group 1 mold populations in AHHS II, we were able to confirm that older homes, built before 1978, were more likely to suffer water damage and mold growth than newer homes. Conversely, the population of Group 2 molds in the AHHS II homes built before 1978 did not change significantly. Since the Group 2 molds primarily enter the home from the outside environment, the Group 2 mold populations in homes do not change because of water damage. Rather, Group 2 mold populations change, if cleaning habits in the home changed, if the frequency of opening or closing windows changed, if air-conditioning was added to the home, or if the outside ecosystem changed significantly. Our results showed that, in the intervening 15 years between surveys, these kinds of changes were not a common occurrence and, therefore, the average Group 2 mold populations stayed about the same. These results demonstrate the value of the objective quantification of the Group 1 and 2 mold populations to understanding mold contamination and its relationship/response to water damage.
Quantification of mold contamination in multi-level buildings using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2018
Stephen Vesper, Jean M. Cox-Ganser, Larry Wymer, Ju-Hyeong Park
The ERMI metric has primarily been used to quantify water-damage and mold contamination in homes for studies of occupant asthma. In six epidemiological studies of asthma, higher ERMI values were associated with asthma development and/or exacerbation.[5] For example, infants exposed to homes with ERMI values greater than 5.2 nearly doubled their risk of developing asthma by age seven.[6] The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential use of the ERMI metric to quantify mold contamination in multi-level, office buildings.