In 2005, Edward Close, PhD, a mold remediation consultant with 30 years experience in the environmental industry, was asked to do third-party sampling for mold in an apartment complex that had been flooded, evacuated, and [...]]]> Mold expert stumbles upon an amazingly powerful and non-toxic method of toxic mold removal…in his wife’s aromatherapy kit

In 2005, Edward Close, PhD, a mold remediation consultant with 30 years experience in the environmental industry, was asked to do third-party sampling for mold in an apartment complex that had been flooded, evacuated, and later put up for sale. The buyer who was renovating the apartments had paid a company which had used the strongest stuff they knew of—a hospital disinfectant. Yet Dr Close’s sampling showed that either the product had not killed the mold or that the mold had already re-established itself.

After much urging by his wife, he diffused Thieves oil in the apartments for a 24-hour period. The research project yielded astonishing results! And two weeks later they were even more astonishing!

Results of Dr Close's first case study on toxic mold removal with Thieves oil

In another instance, 10,667 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a per cubic meter area. After diffusing Thieves essential oil for 48 hours, Dr Close retested. Only thirteen stachybotrys remained. Similarly, 75,000 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a sample of sheetrock. After 72 hours of diffusing, no stachybotrys mold spores remained.

Disappearing Toxic Mold Spores
10,667 to 13 in 48 hours
75,000 to 0 in 72 hours

Most remarkable to mold remediation experts is that three factors about Thieves oil merge to create a perfect storm against toxic mold…

• It’s powerful. But so is diesel fuel.
• It’s safe. Many things (like diesel) may kill mold, but they are toxins themselves. So you exchange toxins and the building is still uninhabitable. Thieves oil has an FDA supplement facts panel on the label. It’s so safe that workers can breath it while it’s diffusing.
• It’s long-lasting. While mold may be reduced immediately by standard remediation products, it often makes a fast comeback. Thieves continues killing the mold for weeks afterward.

Dr Close documented his first 20 case studies (yielding similar results) in his book Nature’s Mold Rx, the Non-Toxic Solution to Toxic Mold.

While it is exciting to finally see Thieves-specific research on toxic mold, the following studies on the individual ingredients in Thieves have been telling us the same story for years.

Mold/Candida/Fungus Studies

Secret of Thieves: Natural Solution
for Toxic Mold Removal

Toxic mold was never definitely linked to Oak Ridge Elementary. Eight months after closing their doors, classes have now resumed at Oak Ridge. Many hours of work have been spent resolving issues that parents believe were making their children sick, including a number of changes to the HVAC system. Parents were able to tour [...]]]> Updated 2-28-10…

Toxic mold was never definitely linked to Oak Ridge Elementary. Eight months after closing their doors, classes have now resumed at Oak Ridge. Many hours of work have been spent resolving issues that parents believe were making their children sick, including a number of changes to the HVAC system. Parents were able to tour the new-and-improved Oak Ridge last week, and crews were still making last-minute preparations for the returning students on Monday. The school will continue to monitor conditions inside the building.

Updated 1-27-10…

Has the toxic mold issue been resolved at Oak Ridge? Good question. Seven months and $1.6 million later, school officials still can’t say if the problem has been fixed, or if there ever was one. None of the inspections performed at the school have definitively linked mold to the illnesses reported. Turner Building Science and Design said testing has been done to ensure that moisture and mold levels are within acceptable ranges. Superintendent Mo Green said he takes the clearance testing results as an indication the school is safe to return to.

Updated 10-27-09…

The toxic mold issue at Oak Ridge has left all parents frustrated, to say the least. The school system is awaiting environmental results from NIOSH before allowing students back in the school, however, a petition is being signed by some parents requesting permission to return by January 4, 2010. Oak Ridge PTA President Ashley Royal said the petition signals a shift in public perception on the Oak Ridge problem. She said the petitioners think they have waited patiently while the school system has spent months trying to fix a problem that doesn’t affect many students, but are frustrated with the inconvenience of sending their children to three different schools.

Updated 8-4-09…

Toxic mold may also be an issue at Oak Ridge alternative locations. Fourth and fifth grade students were to begin school in the Cone building at Oak Ridge Military Academy, however a “musty dank odor”, water-damaged ceiling tiles, soiled carpet and a water leak in the HVAC room have changed those plans. Inspectors also found “surface mold contamination” in the HVAC diffusers at Colfax Elementary where Kindergarten and first graders were relocated. Repair status is unknown.

Updated 8-1-09…

A preliminary report has confirmed mold at Oak Ridge Elementary. The NIOSH was brought in to bring a higher level of expertise to the “sick” school. The report showed mold in various locations of the building. The team spent three days examining the school and left monitoring equipment behind to collect data. Their final report may take up to two months to complete.

Updated 6-30-09…

Toxic mold at Oak Ridge school has been ruled out. Ward Robinson of the Guilford County Department of Public Health believes the building itself is sick…a term is used to describe the poor circulation of fresh air in a closed building. He feels the problem involves the imbalance of the air conditioning system and dehumidifier. This could lead to bad and dry air in parts of the building, which may result in feelings of tiredness, headaches and nose bleeds…all similar symptoms of toxic mold.

Updated 6-26-09…

According to this news report, self-proclaimed mold expert Linda May says she believes the mold at Oak Ridge Elementary is the worst case she’s ever seen. She performed her services at no charge, and offered free advice to the school board. She recommended that students and staff not be allowed back in the building. School officials disagree, and are awaiting the federal investigation by NIOSH.

However, this quote from an in-depth article sums up concerns about her expertise…”There is every reason to be skeptical of May and of her claims. To begin with, despite her repeated claims of connections with OSHA, the EPA and the Department of Defense, there is no indication that she has any connection with those agencies, and despite being asked repeatedly, she provided no documentation to prove any such connection. Pressed for her qualifications on Friday, June 12, she would say only that she has a bachelor’s degree in public safety from the University of Illinois, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Lakeview College of Nursing in Illinois and took a three-week training course, which she couldn’t describe with any specificity, from OSHA at some time during the 1990s. She said she would email documents to support those three claims, but never did.”

Updated 6-22-09…

Oak Ridge Elementary continues to struggle with toxic mold. Classes won’t be held this summer, as school officials investigate why teachers and kids are getting sick. The school will be working with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to determine if toxic mold and other health hazards are present.

Updated 5-30-09…

Oak Ridge teachers are fed up with toxic mold. With just a few weeks remaining in the school year, teachers take their students to the only place they feel is safe…outside. The district says it’s okay as long as the students are learning. Teachers plan to keep the kids outside as long as possible in order to limit their exposure to mold.

Updated 5-23-09…

Angry parents demand answers to toxic mold problems. End of Grade testing has been interfered with because kids have been going home sick. There have been unusually high numbers of headaches, nose bleeds, sore throats and lethargy. Health inspectors have found no mold, but further testing is needed. The school principal suspects ventilation problems.

Updated 5-21-09…

Oak Ridge Elementary is still receiving complaints over toxic mold. A teacher claims his symptoms have gotten worse, and he is no longer able to teach. Doctors have tested him positive for aspergellis and penicillin. A parent has pulled her daughter out of school due to mold sickness, unsure of when she will return.

Oak Ridge Elementary parents are concerned about toxic mold. Letters were sent out regarding the hygiene of various classrooms. Renovation plans are underway, however, parents are questioning the environmental safety of their children. Mold has been a problem at Oak Ridge since it’s construction in 2005.

The Trussville toxic mold case with HUD has come to an end. Nearly a year after fighting with the federal government, the Johannsens have finally moved back into their home. HUD completely renovated their home, while removing mold from the unoccupied adjoining town home as well. Unfortunately the unit next [...]]]> Updated 2-23-10…

The Trussville toxic mold case with HUD has come to an end. Nearly a year after fighting with the federal government, the Johannsens have finally moved back into their home. HUD completely renovated their home, while removing mold from the unoccupied adjoining town home as well. Unfortunately the unit next door remains empty, which is a great concern for the Johannsens. “You never know what’s going on on the other side of your walls, you can only control your own so that’s what we’re doing and hoping everything will stay safe,” Leslianne said.

Original post 6-13-09…

Toxic mold has forced a Trussville family from their home. The Johannsens have resolved their case with the Federal Government. The family lived in a townhouse that was connected to a HUD home. A roof leak in the government unit caused mold to spread into the Johannsens walls, floors and vents. HUD is paying for the remediation and reimbursing the family for six months of mortgage payments. The project should be completed in a few months.

The Twitter mold lawsuit filed last year has been dropped. Tenant Amanda Bonnen was sued by a Chicago property firm for tweeting, “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s okay,” Judge Diane J. Larson ordered the case dismissed with prejudice, meaning that Horizon can’t refile the [...]]]> Updated 2-7-10…

The Twitter mold lawsuit filed last year has been dropped. Tenant Amanda Bonnen was sued by a Chicago property firm for tweeting, “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s okay,” Judge Diane J. Larson ordered the case dismissed with prejudice, meaning that Horizon can’t refile the same case. According to Bonnen’s attorney, the judge felt the tweet was too vague to meet the legal standards of libel.

Original post 7-29-09…

A Twitter post about mold has lead to a highly publicized lawsuit. On May 12th Amanda Bonner’s tweet read in part: “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon reality thinks it’s okay.” In an effort to preserve their reputation, Horizon Group Management LLC has filed a lawsuit claiming the post “maliciously and wrongfully” slammed the apartment and the company managing it.