UV and MOLD

Is Ultra-Violet (UV) Light the Right Solution for Mold Remediation?

By Edward R Close, PhD and Jacquelyn A Close

© EJC Advantage, July 22, 2016

Ultra-Violet Light (UV) is best known for its ability to eliminate bacteria. And the effectiveness of germicidal UV has not only been recognized but also incorporated in the Facilities Standards for Public Buildings as follows:

"Ultraviolet light (C band, UVC) emitters/lamps shall be incorporated downstream of all cooling coils and above all drain pans to control airborne and surface microbial growth and transfer. Applied fixtures/lamps must be specifically manufactured for this purpose."

http://www.americanairandwater.com/mold/mold-uv.htm

You need to know, however, that while UV emitters placed in the airflow downstream of AC coils and drip pans may help improve the air quality coming from HVAC systems, they will have no effect on mold colonies growing elsewhere in a building.  In addition, the effectiveness of UV in HVAC systems depends on a number of factors such as: rate of air flow, humidity, placement and distance between the UV light and the microorganisms it targets, irradiation time, as well as other variables occurring in real world environments that make calculation of effective UV dosage very difficult.

It is true that UV light will destroy the DNA of harmful microorganism given a high enough dosage over a sufficient length of time. And germicidal UV systems may be successfully utilized in hospitals and public buildings to inhibit microbial growth in HVAC systems, thereby improving the quality of indoor air and decreasing the risk of bacterial and fungal infections in people with compromised immune systems and/or open wounds. But the question is this:  Is it an effective solution for remediating a building infested with mold? In a word: NO.

The problem with UV or UVC systems for addressing mold infestations is the fact that they only treat the airstream within the HVAC system, and cannot safely address the many sources of mold spores that may exist in a building in places other than inside the air-handling system.

Sources of mold around leaks, in moisture from humidity condensation, and other conditions that lead to the growth of mold super-colonies, are not affected by the air flowing through an HVAC system. Sources of mold spores can be also be found on surfaces, such as the exterior of HVAC ductwork, walls, floors, in bathrooms, in fact almost any surface inside or under a building. While some spores in the air flowing through a UV system may be killed, UV only treats the air that flows through the system and nothing more.  

For UV light to destroy mold spores, one must have two things —

1.  Sufficient UV light intensity, which decreases rapidly with distance from the bulb, and
2.  Sufficient “dwell time” which is the time that the mold spore is actually exposed to the UV light.

The amount of exposure time required to destroy a mold spore varies greatly for the different species of mold. Some spores are destroyed after a few seconds — others require 8,000 seconds or more. That’s more than 2 hours.

The air traveling in an air duct is moving at a minimum of 100 feet per minute. You have to ask: what are the chances that a mold spore in the airstream inside the ductwork will be exposed to the UV light for a sufficient length of time? Pretty slim.

And while the air may be re-circulated, mold spores can fall out anywhere along the path from the outflow vent to the intake vent, and never be returned to the UV system for additional treatment.

“UV lights have been shown to reduce mold when exposed continuously to the coils of the HVAC system. Cleaning the coils periodically would accomplish the same result.”

http://www.allergyclean.com/youve-got-mold/

Cleaning with essential oils and essential-oil-based cleaners will be far less costly. 

So, UV and UVC systems may be helpful in improving indoor air quality, however, they are not effective in eliminating most mold infestations and may pose health dangers if not properly installed, shielded and maintained. In general, they are far more costly and less effective than using essential oils and essential oil-based cleaners.

Limitations of UV or UVC Systems

1. They cannot address many sources of or surfaces infested with mold
2.   Intensity and “dwell time” requirements do not address all mold species
3.   Humans have DNA, and since UV and UVC are known to destroy the DNA of microorganisms, special handling of lamps, installation of shielding, and added protection for human inhabitants increase the risk of damaging the DNA of humans that come in contact with the light, as well as increasing the costs associated with its installation and maintenance.

Is UV right for your mold problem?

The best answer is that it depends on the building and the budget. It is only one of a number of options that can be utilized for improving air quality as part of the solution for a building with a mold problem. It is not a solution in and of itself, and not necessarily even a part of the best possible solution for a given mold problem. There are far more cost-effective options available that can help you address all sources, surfaces, and air streams. 


We have more than 20 years of mold remediation experience, over 10 years experience using The Close Protocol to Remediate Mold in Buildings, and many hundreds of personally-supervised mold remediation projects where The Close Protocol was employed, and we have found that essential oils and essential-oil based cleaners have proven far more cost effective as well as more effective and complete in addressing and remediating mold in buildings.

Many discussions of mold remediation options and detailed answers to questions about using the Close Protocol for Mold Remediation in Buildings are freely provided on this website. For those of you who require additional help, please contact us.

Basic information about the ten-step protocol is presented in Chapter 7 of our book, Nature’s Mold Rx, The Non-Toxic Solution to Toxic Mold. The book also discusses twenty (20) case studies in detail, and most of the questions that may arise when the protocol is applied are answered in the book.

Be blessed richly and may you always enjoy Vibrant Health!

Very Sincerely,

Dr. Ed And Jacqui Close

EJC Advantage LLC

P.S.:  If you have gotten value from the information shared, please take just a couple of minutes to comment on our posts in the Comments Section below and share your experiences. We love to hear from you this way. We also invite you to share this on Social Media. Thank You!

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Copyright EJC Advantage LLC and Edward R Close and Jacquelyn A Close, 2016 and continuing.  This information and parts thereof may not be reproduced, copied, pasted, or posted elsewhere through any means whatsoever without written permission from the authors. We invite you to provide a link to this webpage if you wish to share this information with others.

Cancer From Chemicals? 3 Household Products That Are Known Carcinogens

Recently, I read an article I saw posted in news on the internet that said:

"It’s very well known that certain lifestyle behaviors like smoking, excessive alcohol use, and tanning bed exposure can cause cancer or put you at higher risk for developing cancer. However, you would hardly think that some of the products that you use everyday or that are lying around your house could place you at the same risk, but some happen to contain well known or unnoticeable ingredients that are in fact human carcinogens." (See the entire article at this link:  CANCER AND CHEMICALS )

So, what are the 3 Household Products to which this article was referring?

1.  Air Freshners

2. Cleaning Products

3. Dryer Sheets

Are you still using those chemical laden items? Are they still under your kitchen sink and in your laundry room?

What the article failed to mention was personal care items, which are laden with synthetic chemicals. What we put on our skin, on our hair, on our face, and in our mouths is of far more concern because these chemicals are immediately taken into our blood stream and they now have proof that newborn babies are carrying a heavy load toxins carried to them through the placenta because of the exposure of the mother.

Now I know that many, many people are beginning to understand that this is not a good choice. Unfortunately, they are still being mislead into purchasing items that contain many toxic synthetic chemicals.

It is startling to know that we think we are doing good for ourselves and our families when we choose certain "Green" brands at commercial big box stores - in the hopes and belief that we are not only saving money but are protecting our families at the same time.  However, numerous studies have shown this logic fails in light of the facts.

Recently, I checked the website for Seventh Generation and found that the list of chemicals contained in their products is long, and includes Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, among many others. This is a known toxin (See the Complete List on Seventh Generation's website:  SEVENTH GENERATION). I have so many friends and even family who have told me they are very careful not to purchase products that contain harmful chemicals, but when I go into their homes, this is one of the main products I find there.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is called SLS for short and is listed by the EWG.org cosmetics database as a "moderate hazard." What does that mean?

According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews,⁶ research studies on SLS have shown links to:
 

·        Irritation of the skin and eyes

·        Organ toxicity

·        Developmental/reproductive toxicity

·        Neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, and biochemical or cellular changes

·        Possible mutations and cancer

Does that sound moderate to you? 

Can 16,000 Studies About SLS Be Wrong?

If you visit the SLS page on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) website,⁶ you will see a very long list of health concerns and associated research studies. In fact, you will also see their mention of nearly 16,000 studies in the PubMed science library (as well as their link to that list) about the toxicity of this chemical. There are clearly grounds for concern about using products containing this agent. (Excerpted from article on Mercola.com available at this link: SLS EXPOSED ).

You can find many of the studies cited by doing a Google search for "PubMed." Lots of great information available there too.

 

And if you look at the cost of the group of products people generally choose for cleaning and compare that cost to the cost of the recommended EOB2 Cleaner, you will see that you pay far less per ounce and get a toxin free cleaning option when you choose the EOB2 Household Cleaner recommended by Dr. Ed Close. 

You have a choice where you spend your dollars and what products and companies you reward. 

So, how will you spend your hard-earned money?

Will you choose to reward those companies who are creating more synthetic chemicals every day that add to the burden we and our environment must bare?

Or - Will you instead choose to save money, reduce your chemical exposure, protect your home and your family, and give the EOB2 Household Cleaner a try, just to see how it works for you?

If you just want to try one bottle of the EOB2 Household Cleaner, then contact us today.

May You Always Enjoy Vibrant Health!

Abundant Blessings,

Dr. Ed and Jacqui Close

EJC Advantage LLC