I just saw a TV show on the ills that can be caused by hidden black
mold. After seeing that story, I don't think I would ever huy a house --
old or new -- without having it tested first. The problem is, mold
testing appears to be quite expensive. What steps would be prudent prior
to a home purchase?

Getting a competant inspection.

the world is a dangerous place. it'll kill ya. i suggest buying a suit of
armor followed by the same suit worn by bubble boy. then finding a concrete
encased, burried house with its own artesian well and a water purification
plant in the shed. that still might not protect you from everything but its
a start...

that or simply turn off the tv....

randy

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
I just saw a TV show on the ills that can be caused by hidden black
mold. After seeing that story, I don't think I would ever huy a house --
old or new -- without having it tested first. The problem is, mold
testing appears to be quite expensive. What steps would be prudent prior
to a home purchase?

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 13:12:03 -0500, (m Ransley)
wrote:

Getting a competant inspection.
I wouldn't recommend making a decision based on some clown on
television attempting to make ratings. Check the Centers for Disease
Control report and the newest one from the Academy of Sciences. There
is a lot of hot air in this subject and a lot of needless scaring of
people. If you have a wet house, get the moisture controlled. If you
find mold, clean it up with chlorine bleach water and get back to real
life. An overly humid interior environment is not healthy but the
health effects have more to do with the general environment than any
specific association with mold. There is a push right now by people
selling to home inspectors to get them to push mold testing as a
profit enhancer, but I wouldn't generally recommend it.

Dan

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
I just saw a TV show on the ills that can be caused by hidden black
mold. After seeing that story, I don't think I would ever huy a house --
old or new -- without having it tested first. The problem is, mold
testing appears to be quite expensive. What steps would be prudent prior
to a home purchase?

Not sure what all it comes with, but I saw a mold test kit at Lowe's for
less than $10.....

mcp6453 writes:

I just saw a TV show on the ills that can be caused by hidden black
mold. After seeing that story, I don't think I would ever huy a house --
old or new -- without having it tested first.

The mold scare is boob bait for suckers. While you're at it, have your
ducts cleaned, your water magnetically softened, your house liquid-sided,
your water heater tankless, and your septic tank fed.

Richard J Kinch wrote:

mcp6453 writes:

I just saw a TV show on the ills that can be caused by hidden black
mold. After seeing that story, I don't think I would ever huy a house --
old or new -- without having it tested first.

The mold scare is boob bait for suckers. While you're at it, have your
ducts cleaned, your water magnetically softened, your house liquid-sided,
your water heater tankless, and your septic tank fed.


I would agree that there is a lot of fiction, but I would disagree with
your attitude that it is nothing to be considered. There is a certain
type of black mold that causes permanent genetic damage in some people.
It is probably rare, but it does exist.

See http://www.forensicfiles.com/Ffiles.asp?Fid=1360. The house had to
be demolished.

From: mcp6453

I would agree that there is a lot of fiction, but I would disagree withyour
attitude that it is nothing to be considered. There is a certaintype of black
mold that causes permanent genetic damage in some people.It is probably rare,
but it does exist

I've read about this black mold also. I forgot the name of it, but it is a
black mold that grows on wood and wood panelling, and is often seen in damp
basements. The types of molds that grow in bathroom showers are unpleasant, and
you wouldn't want to go out of your way to breathe in the spores, but they
aren't nearly as dangerous as the black molds described above.

Chemqueries wrote:
From: mcp6453


I would agree that there is a lot of fiction, but I would disagree withyour

attitude that it is nothing to be considered. There is a certaintype of black
mold that causes permanent genetic damage in some people.It is probably rare,
but it does exist

I've read about this black mold also. I forgot the name of it, but it is a
black mold that grows on wood and wood panelling, and is often seen in damp
basements. The types of molds that grow in bathroom showers are unpleasant, and
you wouldn't want to go out of your way to breathe in the spores, but they
aren't nearly as dangerous as the black molds described above.


Some informative links that deal with Black Mold and other, more common,
mold/fungus hazards. Black Mold is a particular threat to infant
lungs; adults are only rarely severely affected. But for anyone with
existing pulmonary disorders, almost any mold growth is a potential
threat.

There is a *huge* amount of good info on the 'Net. Use GOOGLE to
search for : mold + health or similar searches.
A lot of sites are selling *something*, so a little care is needed.

http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/moldsigns.htm
http://www.pennhealth.com/ency/article/000070.htm
http://www.aspergillus.man.ac.uk/pat...ex/index.shtml
http://www.inspect-ny.com/sickhouse/mold.htm

Jim