Category Archives: Medicine

Mold Remediation

Mold Remediation is not merely cleaning the molds. It involves the elimination of the source of moisture; containment of the molds to control its further spread; removal of dead molds and spores from infested areas; and the treatment of the area to avoid future occurrence of molds.

During the course of mold remediation, the contractors wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid contamination. They wear gloves to avoid contact with allergens and cleaning solutions; and a respirator with HEPA filter to prevent entry of small particles. Disposable protective clothing is recommended too to forestall the transfer of mold and to prevent skin contact. The PPE should be worn all throughout the process to protect the entire body.

In all mold remediation processes, the goal is to remove the contaminated materials in a manner that will discourage its recurrence. During the process, one or more of the methods may be utilized: Clean up with anti-microbial agent; application of organic-based enzyme or fungicide or mold encapsulator; and sanding or painting. Though professionals have different strategies, the procedure boils down only to three steps.

The first method employed is identifying and cutting off the source of water. Wet vacuuming is utilized to collect accumulated water from the area but only if it is still wet. If the affected surfaces are already dry, the molds will be wiped out or scrubbed with water and detergent. Afterwards, the place has to be dried quickly.

The second process is to spray the infested area with biocide. Biocide is a liquid which eradicates mold. It is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved to kill the molds. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum is recommended for the final cleanup of the dust that settled on surfaces beyond the remediation area.

The last step is to encapsulate the molds. This is done by spraying the moldy area and its surrounding with paint or whitewash. This ensures that the remaining spores do not spread and no more molds grow.

All the materials damaged by molds are removed and sealed in a 6-mil polyethylene sheeting before bringing outside the containment area. This is a way to contain the spores and prevent its release into the air before final disposition.

Upon completion of the process, post-treatment testing is conducted to find out if the remediation was successful. It involves evaluation of the area to detect any airborne spores. Passing the clearance test is an indication that the contaminated area was completely treated.

Why gluten-free means opportunity

Guest Post:

If you have been diagnosed with some form of gluten sensitivity, you will have to adapt to a gluten free diet. Some people, when faced with this change, become upset and even incredulous. How can you possibly replace a key ingredient in so many standard foods, from birthday cakes, biscuits and muffins to spaghetti and ravioli?

It might elicit some cognitive dissonance to see it this way, but adapting to a gluten-free diet will be bring greater joy and energy to your life in two distinct ways: greater creativity and variety. I appreciate why many people may be skeptical about such a claim, but stick with me here. This isn’t your usual rationalization for enduring gluten allergy symptoms and adapting to a gluten-free diet.

Humans thrive on creativity and variety. So many people don’t realize this anymore because they get stuck in some kind of comfortable daily rut. But just go draw a random picture or write something silly and creative (even if you feel you can’t write). Even people who don’t consider themselves creative will find some subtle, quiet joy at the very act of creation.

Furthermore, variety is the spice of life, right? What this means is that variety keeps the exuberance of living fresh and vital. When you experience the same thing over and over, time runs together. Hours turn into days and days turn into years and soon enough you’re wondering where it all went. With variety, we experience a renewed perspective and interest in our daily lives.

How does this apply to adapting to a gluten-free diet? As you refine your palette and dietary habits to adapt to your gluten intolerance, you will find yourself exploring more creative and diverse culinary avenues than you have in years.

And what you will discover is that eventually you will not miss foods containing gluten. Instead, you will relish the greater diversity of foods you’re enjoying and savor the increased creativity of putting together your meals.

You own what part of me?

We all remember being kids, playing and mingling with others our age on the school playground, and having a bigger kid stake out some bit of prime real estate on the blacktop, claiming it as his special spot in the universe, unusable by all others (at least until the bell rang).

Even as children, we understood experiences like this to be immensely unfair. The playground is, after all, common property intended to benefit everyone. (Of course, I admit to feeling prideful when I was finally old enough, or big enough, or with the “right” crowd that I was one who shared the prime turf, but it was no more justified when I was reaping the benefits of the arrangement).

So, it is with the same spirit that every child can understand that common resources should not belong to a select few that I am pleased by the ruling of the U.S. District court on Monday. The ruling by Judge Robert Sweet invalidated patents on human genes.

DNA illustrationIn the case in question, Myriad Genetics Inc. filed for and received patents on two human genes that have been linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. By “owning” this section of our genetic code, Myriad wants to be the only company in the U.S. that can look for these genes, and thus be the only place a woman could go to test for the presence of these genes if she or her doctor were concerned. In essence, Myriad owned part of your body that you could not touch—you want to look you had to pay them.

As research advances into new frontiers, and as we learn more about genes and their control over our lives, the potentials for new breath-taking and life-saving advances are huge. We can imagine a day when a medical practitioner can sample your genetic code and work with you on a personalized health care regime for life, designed to address the issues that you are likely to face, working on preventative life-style choices for example. Or, when disease does strike being able to use designer drugs created for you personally based upon your genetic makeup, not throwing at you a host of drugs that work on “average” people, but one that will work for you.

The Human Genome Project (HGP) laid out the entire code of human DNA, and set the groundwork for such advances in medical and other research. The HGP was undertaken in the best spirit of science, to expand our knowledge for the potential benefit of all. Having private companies being able to stake off claims to sections of our DNA for exclusive use is the antithesis of that spirit.

Few things could be claimed to be more common property to all of humanity than the very genes that make us human. The ruling will almost certainly be appealed and I sincerely hope it is upheld. Free the genes!