Alpine Environmental Services    Alpine Cleaners provides residential mold inspections. We are proud to be associated with RespirCare Analytical Services, a highly structured group of IAQ professionals committed to raising the bar of integrity and excellence in the IAQ industry through professional education, training, resources. Mold is a generic name for over 100,000 different kinds of fungus. Essentially, molds are living organisms that make up a large portion of the fungi kingdom. Once thought to be part of the plant kingdom, molds make spores instead of seeds which float in the air like pollen. Spores are regenerative cells surrounded by a very tough coating that can survive detergents, chemicals, bleach and extreme temperatures. Mold spores are microscopic in size, typically requiring 600X magnification to identify. It is has been said that 250,000 mold spores can fit on the head of a pin. A visible patch of mold the size of a quarter can represent billions of spores. Some molds release volatile compounds into the air, produce unpleasant odors and have been associated with a variety of specific health problems. Scientists label these compounds “microbial volatile organic compounds” or “mVOCs”. Exposure to mVOCs has been associated with headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Molds and other fungi can impact human health through three processes: allergic reactions;  infections;  and  toxic poisoning. There are many reactions to mold exposure, the severity of which depends on the sensitivity of the exposed person. Allergic reactions are the most common and typically include: chronic clogged throat; wheezing and difficulty breathing; nasal and sinus congestion; burning, watery, reddened eyes or blurry vision; sore throat; dry cough; nose and throat irritation; shortness of breath; nausea; and skin irritation. A person may experience these reactions while in a moldy environment and feel perfectly fine outdoors or indoors where mold levels are not elevated. People with serious allergies to molds may have more severe reactions such as fever and shortness of breath and asthma attacks. Additionally, people with chronic lung illnesses, such as bronchitis, emphysema and other obstructive lung diseases can develop severe infections in their lungs and breathing passages. Learn more about the health risks of mold exposure. "But I don't SEE any mold!" Half of the people who call us don't see any visible mold in their home or office, but they have a reason to suspect a mold problem. Unfortunately, not all mold problems are as obvious as we would like them to be. In fact, the most costly mold related repairs are caused by mold that no one knew was there. Unnoticed, mold can rapidly spread exponentially inside walls, under floors, above ceilings, and deep into heating and air conditioning vents. By the time hidden mold is detected, it can cause thousands of dollars in property damage. If you suspect you have a mold problem, don't wait until you can visually see it.  Call Alpine today at 508-347-8085 or 1-800-286-0799  or e-mail us at alpinecleaners@charter.net.