Black Mold: Your Health and Your Home [Paperback]

Richard F. Progovitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0974394394 | ISBN-13: 978-0974394398

Black Mold Your Health and Your Home is a comprehensive introduction to mold, the problems it can cause and how to properly deal with it. Through two hundred pages and five sections, author and mold expert Richard F. Progovitz explains the facts about mold toxicity and systematically demystifies the abundance of molds we encounter in our daily lives. Approximately one hundred species of mold are toxic and about fifteen are known to cause negative health effects in humans, including allergic reactions, asthma and other chronic conditions. Recent media reports about mold infestations in schools and colleges across the country as well as in the homes of famous personalities Ed McMahon, Melinda Ballard and Erin Brockovich have begun to alert the public to the potential health risks of toxic molds. Each of these incidents involve what has become known as "Sick Building Syndrome."

Is mold silently affecting the health of your loved ones or slowly deteriorating your home? Black Mold Your Health and Your Home was written to help you answer these important questions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Forager Press, LLC is pleased to present "Black Mold Your Health and Your Home" at a time when there is a great need for reliable and approachable scientific information on the topic. Mold is in the media due to the multitude of mold infestations that have closed schools and colleges across the country. These school closures have alerted, if not alarmed, the public to the health threat posed by toxic black molds. Infested structures are labeled as having "Sick Building Syndrome," and the problem has recently been referred to as "the asbestos of the new millenium." Though molds have been present on earth for millions of years, the heath problems they can cause or complicate are only now becoming understood. We would like to thank author and mold expert Richard F. Progovitz for providing such a thorough introduction to the problems that mold can cause, precisely when the public needs it.

About the Author

Author Richard F. Progovitz is a Certified Mold Inspector and Mold Contractor, with over forty years experience in the study of mycology (the science of fungi). He holds two patents, over a dozen inventions, and has published many technical papers in his twenty five years as a Mechanical Engineer (Retired 2002 - IBM). He has been the President of the Susquehanna Valley Mycological Society for the past nine years and recently served as the Vice President of the Northeast Mycological Federation. He has also created two sets of wild mushroom identification flashcards — edible and poisonous — and lectures frequently on mold, mushrooms and related topics. He is well-known and well-liked throughout the mycological community. Richard is on-call with the Lourdes Hospital Poison Control Center in New York State, to aid in identification of wild mushrooms that people have consumed, either intentionally or un-intentionally.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Forager Press, LLC (September 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974394394
• ISBN-13: 978-0974394398
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,440,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Mold Your Health and Your Home, January 22, 2004

By 

JIM COYLE (Binghamton NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Mold: Your Health and Your Home (Paperback)

We are a certified mold remediation company. This is an excellent book for the home owner or property manager. If you ever had a water damage and noticed mold growing you need to read this book. It's an easy quick read and very understandable. The author has done a great job. Well worth the price and could save you thousands of dollars in remediation and repairs. Proper mold remediation by a qualified professional can cost from $3,000 to tens of thousands of dollars. It could also cost you your entire house not to mention your health. This book will put you on the right track to making an educated decision on how to proceed if you have mold.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introducing Black Mold, June 20, 2004

By 

"no1cdatty" (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Mold: Your Health and Your Home (Paperback)

This book is an easy read, and I finished it in a few days. Part One - Introduction to Molds explains fungi groups; fungi reproduction; common molds found in buildings; and 'the enemies of mold'. Along the way, Richard Progovitz adds interesting historical facts about mold, such as the discovery of penicillin. I would compare this to an introductory text book, but it's certainly livelier than anything I read in college.

Part Two talks about the health symptoms associated with mold and has a good description of allergic reactions to mold. The book has a good, but general, description of problem molds and some reactions.

Section Three is Molds and the Home. Among the usual culprits for mold, did you know mold can enter your house attached to a pet? I particularly liked Mr. Progovitz' discussion of mold and recreational vehicles, an issue I never considered.

Section Four discussed Mold Remediation Issues. There are plenty of photos showing collection techniques and laboratory testing methods. Mr. Progovitz clearly explains the difference between viable and non-viable testing. He is a strong proponent of borate for mold remediation.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading, September 21, 2004

By 

Dr. Joan A. Nielsen (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Mold: Your Health and Your Home (Paperback)

Book on mold should be required reading for all homeowners as well as those living in apartments. The serious health effects on mold are overwhelming . . . explains what mold is, how it it can effect you, and what to do about getting rid of it. This is an excellent book. I am recommending it to all my patients.