Toxic Mold: A Guide to Sick Building Syndrome

Toxic mold can be one of the most life threatening conditions in some situations. In others, it can worsen or cause asthma in children and those with a weakened immune syndrome. Nevertheless, many people have no idea it is in their homes or in the places they work. By understanding what Sick Building Syndrome is, individuals can be more proactive about removing the mold and getting any type of restitution necessary for it.

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

The term, often abbreviated to just SBS, is one used by governments and others to describe a building where the occupants are experiencing acute health conditions or discomfort that may be linked to the building in some way. In these situations, no specific illness or cause is possible to identify, but the complaints may come from a specific room or zone of the building, or may be throughout the building. One of the underlying and often times difficult to detect conditions is toxic mold.

If you are concerned about your building, consider some of the indicators of SBS:

Those who work or live in the building have some form of acute discomfort. In cases of toxic mold, this may include throat irritation, headaches, pain in the eyes or nose, dry and itchy skin or difficulty concentrating.
In some cases, individuals will feel dizzy and nauseated.
Most of the complaints or discomforts improve once the individual leaves the room or building, within a few minutes.
There is no known cause to the underlying problem.

In cases of toxic mold, individuals may have difficulty finding the source because it can live in duct work, humidifiers, carpeting, insulation or in other areas, especially if there is stagnant water left out. Even dampness can lead to the growth of this form of mold. Most who have toxic mold in their home will have respiratory congestion and mucous membrane irritation as well. This is due to the allergic reaction the body naturally has to mold substances like this.

The only way to know for certain what could be behind Sick Building Syndrome is to have an expert test the quality of the air and surfaces within the home. Toxic mold can be expensive to clean up.

When to Hire an Attorney

If you have been exposed to toxic mold due to someone else's negligence, or you believe that a property owner has not maintained the space for you, contact an attorney. The attorney will work with you to determine if you have a case for personal injury.

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