Mold Expert Fry Answers Objections To Use of High Output Ozone Gas in Mold Remediation
Montrose, MI, August 2, 2014 (Newswire.com) - "The use of high output ozone as one of the steps in effective mold remediation is often unfairly criticized in internet articles attacking the use of ozone for killing mold," observes Phillip Fry, Certified Environmental Hygienist, Professional Industrial Hygienist, co-manager of the international EnviroFry environmental inspection and remediation firm, and webmaster since 1999 of the mold education website moldinspector.com.
"High output ozone gas for at least eight hours in each treatment area is highly effective for killing mold spores and mold growth that are actually touched by the ozone gas," adds Mr. Fry, who is also webmaster of the ozone information website ozonegeneratorkillsmold.com, a website that sells high output ozone generators.
Mr. Fry provides "the other side of the story" to these four criticisms contained in several internet-posted articles.
1. "The use of ozone generators is not the magic wand that is going to eliminate the tough work of mold remediation-the careful removal of mold-contaminated materials from indoor environments."
TRUE. High output ozone treatment is only one of the steps for effective mold remediation. For example, EnviroFry not only effectively and safely removes moldy building materials from client buildings, but the company also does other non-ozone remediation steps such as hepa-vacuuming and spraying and fogging mold-killing EPA-registered fungicides.
2. "Pets, indoor houseplants, rubber gaskets, plastic coatings such as electrical wire insulation, fabrics, artwork and other materials and contents in buildings can all be damaged by exposure to ozone."
OVERSTATED. During high output ozone treatment of a home or other building, and for two hours after treatment, there are NO pets, people, or live plants inside the building. The EnviroFry experience with many mold remediation projects over the years worldwide is that limited duration ozone treatment (e.g., eight to ten hours at a time) has no effect on rubber gaskets, plastic coatings, artwork, or other materials. In addition, artwork and other items can either be removed or covered/wrapped in plastic sheeting during the ozone treatment time.
3. "Exposure to ozone often leads to chest pains, asthma attacks and a number of related breathing problems. Permanent damage can occur from long-term contact, including degradation of the body’s ability to fight respiratory infections."
MISLEADING. Occupants are not exposed to breathing in ozone because there are no people (or pets) inside the building during the ozone treatment time and for two hours afterwards. After the end of an ozone treatment, EnviroFry immediately opens up windows and uses fans to exhaust ozone-containing air to the outdoors. During such airing out, EnviroFry personnel wear special breathing respirators to filter out ozone during their brief airing-out work inside the building.
4. "High levels of ozone are not sufficient to impact biological contaminants embedded in porous materials."
TRUE. Moldy porous materials such as drywall are removed and discarded in effective mold remediation. Mold growth is removed from wood timbers by either power wire brushing or baking soda blasting. If the mold growth is too deep into the wood for surface removal, such moldy lumber is removed and replaced with new mold-free, treated lumber that has also been encapsulated (prior to installation) with latex enamel glossy paint containing the EPA-registered mold preventative Tim-Bor. The enamel paint adheres the Tim-Bor directly to the wood to protect against future mold growth and also serves to keep high humidity and water leaks from wetting the replacement timbers.
Mold-exposed clothing should be washed with borax laundry detergent, dry-cleaned (if dry cleanable) or discarded. Similarly, mold-exposed upholstered furniture, bedding, and carpeting should be thoroughly HEPA-vacuumed and scrubbed with a mold removal agent such as boric acid powder, dissolved into hot water. If there is visible mold colony growth in such items, they should be discarded with no effort to mold clean them.
For information about the EnviroFry nationwide USA mold inspection and mold remediation services, email Phillip Fry phil@moldinspector.com, or phone Mr. Fry toll-free 1-866-300-1616 or his cell phone 1-480-310-7970, or visit the company website moldexpertconsultants.com.
Contact:
Phillip Fry, Co-Manager
EnviroFry
10104 Sheridan Rd.,
Montrose, Michigan 48457
Phone Toll-Free 1-866-300-1616
phil@moldinspector.com
http://www.moldexpertconsultants.com