What are the primary concerns of mold infestation?
Mold exists in all structures, virtually everywhere, floating in the air and on all surfaces. Many building materials such as wood, sheetrock, etc. provide the "food" that can support mold growth. Even dust that has settled on these materials or furniture can be a food source for molds. Mold needs to eat to survive, and it's perfectly happy eating your home, if you allow it.
But health risks arise when the levels are too high, and most people don't even consider the possibility of an infected home or workplace; most Doctor's don't even delve into the chance that their patient's condition is due to indoor air quality issues, even though the media has identified and covered several instances of mold making people sick. According to the EPA, all indoor mold growth should be removed promptly, no matter what type(s) of mold are present, or whether or not it can produce toxic mold. It's not a myth, prolonged exposure to mold increases health risks.

How does mold originate, and where does it reside?
Mold only needs a few things to grow and multiply; Nutrients (food), a suitable place to grow, and moisture. Molds can grow almost anywhere there is enough moisture or high humidity. The Moisture can come from our bodies (sweat, wet hair on pillows, breath), steam, moist air from outdoors, tiny plumbing leak, clothes that aren't fully dried , and a host of other reasons. Mold often appears as a staining or fuzzy growth on furniture, walls, ceilings, or anything made of wood or paper. It can smell like an earthy, or musty odor, though oftentimes it's undetectable. Mold colors range from white, gray, brown, black, yellow, or green.

What promotes mold exposure?
Exposure increases when indoor moldy materials becomes dried, damaged or disturbed, causing spores and other mold cells to be released into the air and consequently inhaled. Elevated exposure to mold may also occur if a person directly handles moldy materials or accidentally ingests non edible molds.

Do you perform mold tests?
We can take samples to test for mold and send them to our lab for testing, although not all molds are detectable. Most of our clients detect mold with their nose or eyes. If you see mold in one area of your dwelling, be assured it is everywhere in that building, and when it's blatantly visible, there usually isn't a need for the added expense of testing.

Can't I just use bleach to eradicate mold?
Bleach does not kill mold, it only removes the color. When you treat mold in your bathroom, you effectively eliminate the appearance; but it comes back in the same place, doesn't it? Not only does it not work, but the when the mold comes back, its roots become even more resilient, not to mention that bleach is an incredibly caustic chemical.

Will Paint and / or Primer kill mold?
The simple answer is No. It can seal the problem for a short while, but it will return. After our treatment plan is complete, that is a good time to prime, and we recommend the use of an oil based primer. Water based primers are ok as well, but not as effective.

Newer Homes and Buildings are immune to the mold problem, right?
Unfortunately this is Not true. Building materials, lumber and trusses sitting outside in the rain too long, can all become infested, and the mold can show up several months after the structure is complete. Some molds will lay dormant until moisture re-activates them.

How are Condos and Apartment complexes affected?
There are a large amount of Condos and Apartment complexes that have had one or more units that suffered some kind of water damage and consequently, mold infestation. Because of the close proximity, mold can spread from unit to unit.

How can mold affect one's health?
This answer is not meant to scare you, but it is real. Mold can grow in the lungs and on the spine. It can cause paralysis, eye fungus, and the toxic effects of fungal exposure and deadly mycotoxins can compromise the immune system. Reoccurring bronchitis is commonly caused from tainted indoor environments. Too many times, testing and removal is performed after the damage is done, this is why we promote the eradication of even the possibility of mold, especially in surroundings that you spend most of your time in. In rare cases, mold can even produce arsenic gas and cause permanent brain damage. People that suffer from allergies, breathing impairments, nasal and sinus congestion, nose and throat irritation, and migraine headaches should make the O3 Wizard treatment their Top Priority.

What are the ancillary benefits of your treatment?
Our treatment is approved for decontamination for red bag rooms, biohazards, blood, feces, linens, and needles used in the medical industry and hospitals. It effectively kills Mersa as well as aerobic (with air) and anaerobic (without air) contaminants. Given this power, your home of workplace is more than covered.

While occupational exposure to airborne pollutants such as coal dust and asbestos have long been known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pneumoconiosis (black lung), the affects of being exposed to airborne contaminants, especially bio-aerosols like mold, in homes and non-industrial work sites such as office buildings, are just being realized. In the last 10 years, micro-organisms and mold have been concluded to be the primary source of indoor air contamination in as many as 50% of homes and offices studied since 1994. This realization can in part be attributed to a new interdisciplinary approach used in the evaluation of physical, chemical and microbiological constituents of indoor air environments.

What is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungi that grows in the natural environment all year round and is the single biggest cause of poor indoor air quality. There are thousands of species of mold which grow in a wide variety of colors. Mold is found everywhere both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, molds live in the soil, on trees, plants, and on dead or decaying matter. In nature, mold helps break down organic material which helps recycle nutrients throughout the ecosystem. Mold growing indoors however, presents a major health issue. Some species of mold like Aspergillus and Stachybotrys Chartarum can not only grow, but can also reproduce into colonies indoors. Many times, mold is easily detected by a musty odor in places with high moisture like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and bathrooms. Molds produces microscopic cells called "spores" that easily spread through the air. These spores act like seeds, forming new mold growth colonies when they land in areas where the conditions are right for mold growth.

Mold is composed of linear chains of cells (hyphae) that branch and intertwine to form the fungus body (mycelium). All fungal cell walls contain (1-3)-beta-D-glucan, which is a medically significant glucose polymer that has immunosuppressive, mitogenic (causing mitosis or cell transformation) and inflammatory properties (characterized by eye, nose and throat irritation). This mold cell wall component also acts synergistically with bacterial endotoxins to produce airway inflammation following inhalation exposure.

What makes mold grow?
Mold only needs a few things to grow and multiply:
» Nutrients (food)
» A suitable growing environment
» Moisture

Many building materials such as wood, drywall, and sheetrock provide ample food to support mold growth and reproduction. Even the dust that settles on these materials or furniture can be a food source for molds. Molds are able to grow anywhere there is adequate moisture. Some common causes of mold growing conditions are:
» Flooding from external sources-(storm water, overflowing rivers, lakes and streams)
» Flooding from internal sources-(overflow from sinks, bathtubs, showers, air conditioners)
» Condensations-(from indoor humidity in basements, crawlspaces and attics)
» Water leaks from the outside-(structural leaks from roof, walls, and floors)
» Water leaks from the inside-(indoor plumbing leads or a broken pipe)
» Poor ventilation-(steam from cooking and bathroom moisture from showers)
» Use of Humidifiers
» House plants

What is Black Mold?
Black mold is usually associated with Stachybotrys chartarum, a type of greenish-black mold commonly associated with water damage. The known health effects from exposure to Stachybotrys are similar to other common molds and have been proven to cause upper respiratory tract irritation, flu like symptoms, and/or skin irritation.

Health Effects Associated with Molds
Common molds like Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys chartarum, Fusarium, and Aspergillus versicolor are able to produce toxic and harmful substances called mycotoxins, which are lipid-soluble and are absorbed into the body through the airways, skin, and intestinal lining. When small diameter spores are inhaled into the body, they can reach the lung alveoli and induce an inflammatory reaction creating toxic pneumonitis. Mycotoxins have long presented health risks to human and animal populations, and depending on quantities produced and consumed, mycotoxins can cause immune-logical effects, organ-specific toxicity, cancer, and in some cases death. Other symptoms of mold exposure are respiratory problems such as wheezing, difficulty in breathing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning and watery eyes, hacking cough, chronic fatigue, and skin dermatitis. Molds also produce a large number of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). These chemicals are responsible for the musty odors prevalent in areas with mold growth.

The negative effects of mycotoxins produced by mold have been recorded throughout the ages and from different sources like 5000 year old Chinese texts, numerous scientific journals and even the Bible. During the middle ages there are recorded examples where consumption of moldy food has lead to fiery pain, swelling and gangrene in the limbs. More recently, molds that produce potent toxins have been associated with acute pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, and it is document mold can cause infections in immuno-compromised individuals. Some molds have also been classified by the National Toxicology Program as human carcinogens, and we also know that respiratory illnesses like aspergillosis among workers can be attributed to mold exposure. Based on an American Journal of Medicine report we have learned that outbreaks of Hypersensitivity pneumonitis has been linked to individuals with high exposure to mold-contaminated humidifiers and ventilations systems in office buildings. The Institute of Medicine concluded in its report, "Indoor Allergens", that airborne fungal allergens were most often associated with allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Who Does Mold Effect?
There is a wide variability in how individuals are affected by mold exposure, depending on the type of mold, the amount of mold present and the length of exposure to the mold. People who are affected more quickly and severely are:
» Infants and children
» Elderly people
» Pregnant women
» Individuals with respiratory conditions, asthma, and/or allergies
» Persons with weakened immune systems
» All individuals with extended exposure

What Should I do if I See or Smell Mold in My Home?
If you see or smell mold in your home, the first step is to call Great Environmental because our technology will completely eradicate all mold present. You may not need to replace any moldy materials such as ceiling tiles, carpeting and drywall. If you do not see any visible mold, but notice a musty odor, mold is most likely growing in and behind the walls, wallpaper, carpet, flooring and/or ceiling tiles. Attempting to remove mold without taking the proper precautions will make the situation worse because more spores and mycotoxins will be released into the air. If you see visible mold, or smell mold behind walls it needs to be remediated immediately. Great Environmental will be able to provide an encompassing solution to your problem.

Should I Test My House for Mold?
Yes. Testing for mold is very inexpensive and can uncover potentially hazardous conditions within your home stemming from mold growth that is hidden behind walls, underneath carpeting and in attics, basements and crawlspaces. A simple mold test can be purchased through Great Environmental or any home improvement retail store for around $15. When testing is done it is necessary to compare the levels and types of mold spores found inside the structure, with those found outside the structure. It is unacceptable to have a higher count indoors that the count of spores outdoors. If visible mold is present, the first step is to take action to remove it. Then take corrective action on the problem causing the moldy conditions.

Who do I Call to Deal with Mold Growth in my Home?
Great Environmental is a certified, licensed, and insured organization experienced in mold inspection, evaluation and remediation. It is imperative extensive mold growth within a building is corrected immediately, due to the numerous negative health effects. If there is a concise reason for moldy conditions, like a leaky pipe, mold may grow back, so it may be necessary to correct the problem.

What do I do About Mold in the Workplace?
If you see or smell mold, or if you or anyone else is experiencing any mold related symptoms, report it immediately. Tell your employer, supervisor, building manager, health and safety officer and/or your union representative so it can be investigated. If a particular office, floor, or area is affected, see if others are having any symptoms of the adverse side effects associated with mold exposure. Your employer is most likely responsible for removing unhealthy working conditions and must control indoor accumulation of water and humidity levels to prevent mold proliferation.

Mold Glossary

Allergen
A substance that elicits an antibody response and is responsible for producing allergic reactions by inducing formation of IgE. IgE is one of a group of immune system mediators. When bound to basophiles in circulations or mast cells in tissue, IgE can cause those cells to release chemicals when they come into contact with an allergen. These chemicals cause injury to surrounding tissue within the body, which are the visible signs of allergy. Fungal allergens are proteins found in either the mycelium or spores. All fungi are thought to be allergenic.

Airborne Contaminants
see Bioaerosols

Airborne Pollutants
Ultra-fine particles (organic metals, dioxins, aromatic compounds) floating around in the air, which may cause adverse health effects to humans and other animal populations.

Bioaerosols
Airborne particles floating around the air that originate from living organisms such as culturable, non-culturable and dead microorganisms, fragments, toxins and particulate waste products from a wide variety of living organisms.

Black Mold
This is a term used in association with Stachybotrys chartarum. Many molds appear black, while only a limited number of molds are truly black.

Fungi
Fungi are classified in their own kingdom because they are neither animals nor plants. This Fungi kingdom consists of a very large group of organisms including molds, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs. Current estimates range up to 10 million different species of mold and mycologists (people who study mold) have grouped fungi into four large groups according to the method in which they reproduce.

Hidden Mold
Mold growth on structures that is not easily seen or visible. For example: Mold above drop ceilings, within a wall cavity, behind wall paper, underneath carpeting, or inside the ventilation system and/or air ducts.

Immuno
compromised-Individuals with underlying health issues like diabetes, AIDS, leukemia, organ transplant recipients or those receiving chemotherapy.

Immunosuppressive
A substance like a drug, hormone, bacteria or virus that reduces the function and efficacy of a human's immune system. That substance essentially lowers the body's ability to fight infections, making them more susceptible to illness.

Indoor Air Quality
The quality of air available to breath within any permanent or non-permanent structure. Bioaerosols from molds, mildew, dust mite excrement, and dander from pets are some causes of poor indoor air quality. Poor Indoor Air Quality is becoming a more wide widespread epidemic because structures are being built with better design and materials to create a more sealed, "leak-proof" environment than in the past, and because people are spending more time indoors (the average person spends 90% of their time indoors).

Lipid
A term that describes a fat or fat-like substance found in the blood, such as cholesterol. The human body stores fat as energy to be used in the future, much like an automobile that has a reserve fuel tank. When the body needs energy, it is able to break down the lipids and burn them like glucose (sugar).

Lipid-soluble
the ability of a material to dissolve and be stored within a lipid.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs)
Harmful chemicals produced and released into the air by fungi as a result of their metabolism. These chemicals are typically responsible for the moldy, musty or earthy smell associated with mold growth.

Mitigenic- An agent that affects the ability of a cell to divide and reproduce.

Mold- A group of organisms that belong to the fungi kingdom. All molds are fungi, but not all fungi are molds.

Mycotoxin
Compounds produced and released into the air by molds that are toxic to animals and humans. These mycotoxins have a negative effect on one's health and in some cases associated with cancer and even death.

Remediate
To fix a problem. When related to a mold problem or mold contamination, removing mold from an infested structure.

Soluble
The ability of a material or substance to be dissolved in a liquid. For example, sugar is soluble in water.

Spores
Spores are essentially the reproductive units of mold. They function the same way that seeds do for higher species of plants. They are specialized cells that provide the primary means for dispersal, reproduction and survival.

Toxigenic Fungi
Fungi that is able to produce mycotoxins, which have been associated with Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, dermatitis and other symptoms like fever, headache and aggravated asthmatic conditions.

Simply put, bacteria and viruses are germs that invade our body and make us sick. These pathogenic microorganisms are so small you need a microscope to see them, and they invade your home and body without notice. Unfortunately, you won't know you have been infected until you feel the symptoms of the sicknesses that these germs cause. Science is proving that hand washing and conventional cleaning is just not enough when it comes to keeping your family healthy, and your home free of these harmful and dangerous invaders. Did you know one sneeze can generate an aerosol of enough cold viruses to infect thousands of people! Did you know the influenza virus evolves into an entirely different strain each year!

What are Bacteria?
There are thousands of species of bacteria. Bacterium are single-cell, living microorganisms that get nutrients from their surrounding environment in order to live, and come in three different shapes, Cocci (round), Bacilli (rod shaped) or Spirilla (spiral shaped). Some bacteria have been found to live in temperatures well below the freezing point, and others can live in temperatures above the boiling point as well. In fact one species of bacteria (Deinococcus radiodurans) is able to withstand exposure to radiation 1,000 times greater than would kill a human being.

Bacteria live in, or on just about everything in the environment including air, water, soil, on door knobs, and on kitchen countertops. Bacteria are able to live directly on one's skin and reproduce both inside and outside of one's body. Bacteria will grow in length, form a new cell wall down the middle and split in half forming two new bacterium. Given the right environment, each new daughter cell is able to reproduce once every twenty minutes, which means that in four hours there could be more that 4,000 new bacterium present (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096). With the ability to replicate within your body at speeds like this, there is no wonder why these germs make humans so ill.

All bacteria species are not necessarily bad for you. Some bacteria found in your digestive track helps your body to extract all the nutrients from the food you eat, while others are used to make vital medicines and vaccines. Though some bacteria prove to be helpful to the human race, others are the causes of horrible sicknesses such as ear infections, strep throat, skin infections, pneumonia, and even death.

What is a Virus?
To truly understand what a virus IS, you need to understand what a virus is NOT. A virus is not a bacterium or an independently living organism. Viruses are incredibly tiny particles that float around the air and sit on things like furniture, door knobs, and remote controls until they come into contact with a living cell. A virus is unable to survive in the absence of another living cell, and they have only one purpose: to reproduce. Viruses will sit inert, on structures in the environment until they come in contact with a living cell, and then they will infect and take over the cell in order to reproduce themselves.


What Do Viruses Do?
Viruses exist only to make more viruses, and with the exception of a small number of bacterial viruses that kill bacteria, all viruses are harmful. A virus first enters a host cell by attaching to the cell wall and eventually the virus will pump its DNA or RNA into the host cell to replicate itself, which is called a viral infection. Essentially the DNA or RNA that the virus has injected into the cell has instructions imprinted on it which forces the host cell to stop producing itself, and start to produce viral parts. The healthy host cell will get "taken over" and begin to produce only viral parts which soon form complete viruses. Viruses are able to produce many, many times within a healthy cell because they are so much smaller than the host cells (for example, the polio virus is able to make over one million copies of itself inside a single human intestinal cell).

Once the reproduction is completed and the viruses are mature they will eventually grow and leave, killing the host cell. The new viruses that were released into the body work to find new healthy cells to take over, so they can continue to reproduce. The fact that host cell is destroyed in the process of viral replication is the reason why all viruses are considered harmful.

Do Viruses Mutate?
Yes, and that is why antibiotics don't work against viruses. Many treatments for the "flu" or the common cold, just ease the symptoms, they don't work to kill the virus that is making you sick. Although vaccines have neutralized the effects of some viruses like polio, others viruses like the influenza virus produce mutations so quickly that last year's vaccine for the "flu" won't be effective this year. The influenza virus mutates so quickly the cold you have today could be a completely different strain than the cold you had last month!

Sometimes during viral replication mutations will occur. If the mutation was harmful to the virus, the offspring may no longer be infectious. In some cases however, mutations may not leave the virus completely ineffective. Viruses replicate themselves many thousands of times and even if 500,000 particles are no good 500 might still be infectious. These 500 infectious offspring will be sufficiently different from the parent virus, creating a brand-new strain of virus. Each new strain will render past vaccines useless.

What is the Difference Between Bacteria and a Virus?

Bacteria are much larger than viruses and much more complex.
In fact the biggest virus is only as large as the smallest bacterium. A typical bacterium has a rigid cell wall containing a cell membrane, which holds cytoplasm (water like substance that fills the cell). Within that fluid are chromosomes that hold instructions for making new bacteria and performing a host of other functions.

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and are measured in millions of a millimeter.
Viruses are much simpler than bacteria and are made up of only nucleic acid, a protein coat, and a spiked envelope. Viruses are unable to live in the absence of a living host cell.

Household pets create numerous problems for both your home and for the health of the individuals whom reside within it. Obviously some pests pose bigger problems than others, but let's face it, they are all just downright annoying. Dust mites, spiders, lice, ants, fleas, cockroaches, and other rodents (mice, squirrels, raccoons, etc.), all are common pests that find ways to enter and inhabit your home. These pests living, excreting, and reproducing within your home creates an unsafe living environment. Unfortunately the day to day activities of the pests living in your home isn't the worst part. A majority of the most effective pesticides to kill these pests are a health concern in their own right. Some common negative health effects associated with pesticide exposure include, irritation to nose, throat and eyes, damage to the kidneys and central nervous system, and for some a dramatic increased risk for cancer. Other symptoms include headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, and nausea.

In 1990, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that nearly 79,000 children were involved in common household pesticide poisonings or exposures. Additionally, almost one-half of households with children were found to have at least one pesticide product within reach of children. Surveys have shown that nearly 75% of homes located within the United States use at least one pesticide product indoors every year!

Pesticides
Pesticides are indoor air pollutants that are widely used to reduce many household pests. They are sold as sprays, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers. Pesticides typically used within the home include products to control insects (insecticides), termites (termiticides), rodents (rodenticides), fungi (fungicides), and microbes (disinfectants). These products are specifically designed to eliminate certain organisms, and consequently they pose health risks to humans as well. Some studies suggest that between 80%-90% of most pesticide exposures occur indoors, and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air within homes tested. Our patent-pending technology is environmentally friendly, uses no chemicals or solvents, and leaves no residue. This means when removing pests, you and your family don't have to worry about any negative health effects!

Dust Mites
House dust mites are microscopic bugs that are closely related to spiders and ticks, and are a major cause of poor indoor air quality. These bugs live on dust and dead skin cells shed from either people or pets. These skin cells, most commonly called dander, are often concentrated in areas where much time is spent such as stuffed toys, furniture, beds, pillows or associated carpet areas. A typical mattress can contain anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites, with each mite producing about 20 waste droppings each day (it has been reported that nearly 10% of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings). Dust mites waste contains proteins to which many are allergic. Dust mites are second only to pollen in causing allergic reactions that range from itchy eyes and nose, to severe asthma attacks. Studies have showed that the most potent house dust allergens can be extracted from the feces and skin sheds produced by dust mites. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings and they thrive when the air is humid.

Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are increasingly becoming a problem within a wide variety of residences including homes, apartments, hotels, cruise ships, dormitories and shelters. Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that solely feed upon the blood of warm-blooded animals. Bed bugs and their relatives are essentially nest parasites, waiting in the nests (beds) of their prey. Their color ranges from off white to a deep brown or a burn orange. Bed bugs seek out people and animals, generally at night while these hosts are asleep, and bite them in order to suck their blood. While feeding, bed bugs inject a small amount of saliva into the host's skin, and repeated exposures to bed bug bites will cause the host to become sensitized to the saliva of the bed bugs, and can illicit intense allergic responses. The bites of bed bugs are similar to other blood feed insects such as mosquitoes and fleas, so it is nearly impossible to determine the cause of the skin legion.

Lice
Head Lice are small parasitic insects that mainly live on the scalp and neck hairs of their human hosts. Head lice are equal opportunity parasites, and their presence in no way indicates a lack of hygiene. Head lice are acquired through direct head-to-head contact with an infected persons hair, usually through the sharing of hats, combs and other hair accessories, pillows, and in some circumstances from resting ones head on headrests on couches, chairs, and other furniture items. Head lice extract nutrients from their hosts by blood-feeding every 4-6 hours each day. Each female head louse is able to deposit more than 100 eggs at a rate of nearly six per day. Generally, an infested person has a dozen or fewer active lice on their scalp at any time, but may have hundreds of viable, dead, and hatched eggs on their scalp as well. The presence of lice creates an uncomfortable situation for the host, with guaranteed itching and scratching, and the risk of spreading the pest to others in close proximity.

Ticks
Although ticks are commonly thought of as insects, they are actually arachnids like spiders. They have four pairs of legs and no antennae. Ticks are among the most effective bugs at carrying and transmitting diseases because they firmly attach to their hosts when sucking blood, feed slowly, and usually their presence goes unnoticed for a considerable time while feeding. The disease most commonly associated with ticks is Lyme disease, and nearly 90% of all Lyme disease cases have been reported in the northeastern part of the US. Lyme disease is a potentially serious bacterial infection which is transmitted through the bite of certain ticks. There are two groups of ticks, soft ticks and hard ticks. Hard ticks like the common dog tick have a hard shield just behind their heads. Soft ticks prefer to feed on birds and are seldom encountered unless they are nesting and rooting within an occupied building. Some common ticks include, American Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, Blacklegged Tick, Winter Tick, and Brown Dog Tick. All of these ticks should be considered equally dangerous and treated with the same level of seriousness.

Fleas
Fleas are very small insects that are typically brought into the home by harboring passage on the skin of a family pet like a dog or cat. They are reddish brown & black, wingless insects, who obtain blood meals from their hosts. Fleas account for more than half of all dermatological conditions requiring professional help, and even a single bite to a hypersensitive animal or person may induce an intense allergic reaction and major itching and irritation. The cat flea is suspected of transmitting murine typhus to humans, and may also serve as an intermediary host of dog tapeworms, so while annoying, fleas pose a serious health risk as well. The average female flea will lay about 20-30 eggs per day on the host. They eggs sometimes fall of the pet on to surfaces like bedding, furniture and the carpet, because of the animal's day to day interactions. There the eggs will hatch in about two days. So it is possible that fleas are reproducing and growing in number within you home even though fleas on a pet may have been identified and removed.

Spiders
Spiders are ancient animals with a million year history. Spiders are abundant and widespread as a natural control of increasing insect populations. They are found in dark places within the home like the attic, basement, under furniture, in closets, and within cabinets. In nature these bugs help maintain a suitable level for insect populations, however indoors, they pose a huge health concern. Bites from certain species of spiders are devastating in their ability to harm humans. Brown Recluse and other species of spiders should be avoided at all costs. These pests creep out of their hiding places at night to find an ideal place to weave a web, sometimes crawling on us while we sleep. Spider bits are usually only an annoyance, however bites from select spiders can be much more serious. Spring and/or fall cleaning, moving in or out of a home, and just normal routine in and out of basement/attic can uncover an undesired circumstance if met with a spider with a vicious bite.

Ants
There are several species of ants that may typically be found within a home or structure, ranging in size from 1/32 to 3/4 inch long. They come in a range of colors from yellowish, light brown, reddish-brown, to jet black. Ants have three body parts; a head, thorax and abdomen, and most ants do not have wings. Ants are social insects that live in large colonies, usually located within the soil near the foundation, under concrete slabs, in crawlspaces, within structural wood, and in the garden or yard. Ants live within a caste system, and there are three castes of ants, queens, males, and worker ants. New ant colonies are started by a single fertilized queen ant that lays eggs and tends to the larvae. When the worker ants go looking for food for the queen and her young, ants will enter houses and other structures and become a nuisance by their presence and their ability to contaminate food. Ants who build colonies within the home pose a major problem both for the viability of the structure, but also for the health of the individuals residing within the building. Some common species of ants include the carpenter Ant, Cornfield Ant, Larger Yellow Ant, Pharaoh Ant, Grease Ant, Pavement Ant, Little Black Ant, and the Lawn Ant.

Termites
Termites are incredibly small insects that have mastered cooperation. They are able to achieve some very big things in comparison to their small size including, hollowing out huge trees, moving amazing amounts of soil, and of course eating your house. Termites are not ants, and are actually more closely related to cockroaches. Most termites have a soft, pale body, and they live in a social colony system. Termites primarily feed on cellulose items, commonly used in the building of homes. These bugs can create quit a financial problem, because most of the damage associated with termite infestation happens deep within a home. Actual damage cannot be realized until certain parts of walls and ceilings are torn down to reveal actual structural damage caused by termite feeding.

Fruit Flies
Fruit Flies are common in homes, restaurants, supermarkets and anywhere else food is perpetually present. They are attracted to tomatoes, grapes, melons, squash, bananas, and potatoes, among other things, and indoor infestation usually occurs when a fruit or vegetable is brought indoors with fruit fly larvae on it. These flies will also breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles, trash containers, and on mops and cleaning rags. Fruit flies have the potential to contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms, so their presence should create immediate action for removal.

Cockroaches
Most cockroaches have a flattened oval shape, spiny legs and long antennae. Most adult cockroaches have wings capable of flight and are reddish-brown to dark brown in color. Cockroaches are usually found in restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, breweries and anywhere where food is perpetually present, prepared or stored. Typically cockroaches hide during the day, and become more active at night, feeding on dead and decaying organic matter. Some adult cockroaches can live 2-3 months without food, a month without water and can easily survive outdoor freezing temperatures. New studies are finding that not only are cockroaches pests, but they pose a major health concern. Some medical studies show that cockroaches are responsible for childhood asthma, and the increase in asthma symptoms in asthmatic individuals. The presence of cockroach inhabitation creates a situation within the structure known as "roach dust." Roach dust is made of roach body parts and droppings. Roach dust is a very strong asthma trigger causing severe asthmatic symptoms. Research is proving that this roach dust will linger within a structure even after the roach infestation problem is curbed, still able to trigger asthmatic responses.

Mice
Mice are little four legged pests incredibly adapted to living indoors year-round. There are typically found in homes, restaurants, commercial buildings and other structures, where building owners most likely notice them during cold winter months following their migration indoors for search of food and shelter. Once mice enter a building it is very difficult for one to control them. Mice are prolific breeders, in some cases producing up to 10 litters continuously throughout the year. They can travel throughout ones home, behind walls and through cabinetry and the major economic loss comes from the amount of food and materials that needs to be thrown out from their presence near or within it. Food, clothing, furniture, books, etc., must be throw out because their droppings and urine contaminate everything, and have the potential to transmit diseases such as salmonellosis (bacterial food poisoning.)

Pet Dander
More than 70% of U.S. homes have pets consisting of either cats or dogs. Pets provide companionship, a sense of comfort, and sometimes it's just nice to see their cute faces. For some however, pets can be reason to stay away. An estimated 6 million Americans are allergic to either cats or dogs. For these individuals pets can cause sneezing, wheezing, and running eyes and nose. These symptoms are usually considered "pet allergies," and these allergies stem from the tiny little particles pets let off called pet dander. Pet dander is skin flakes shed from cats, dogs, and other indoor pets. These dander particles are sticky, and they collect on the pet's fur, and are then released into the air within a home. Dander is able to stick on surfaces within the home like furniture and carpeting, and is even able to bind to clothing to be carried around throughout the day. Some individuals are also allergic to the harmless proteins contained within some pet's saliva. Once these contaminants become airborne, dander and other particles are able to stay present within a home for up to six months! Pet dander is universally considered one of the top contributors to poor indoor air quality.

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