Healthier and Safer Homes for the Family
- ICF Construction system enhances indoor air quality and eliminates mold and bacteria ensuring a healthier and cleaner indoor environment
- ICF structures are incredibly strong and resistant to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and fires
- Flame Retardant Material, ICFs Stand Up Against a 1093.3 Celsius Fire for four hours, Proven to Stop the Spread, and Free of Harmful Chemicals
- BetterBlock’s Insulating Concrete Forms built-in energy efficiency significantly reduces annual energy costs when compared to concrete block structures, providing substantial savings (70%).
Asthma Prevalence
Data indicates that 23.2% of the population of Costa Rica suffers from asthma.
Costa Rican health authorities have issued another warning regarding the surge in respiratory illnesses among children, leading to a staggering 134% occupancy rate in the National Children’s Hospital.
Source: Tico Times newspaper – July 25, 2023
The United Nations agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), declared these key facts about Asthma on May 6, 2024:
Key facts
- Asthma is a major non communicable disease (NCD), affecting both children and adults, and is the most common chronic disease among children.
- Inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs cause asthma symptoms, which can be any combination of cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
- Asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 455,000 deaths.
- Inhaled medication can control asthma symptoms and allow people with asthma to lead a normal, active life.
- Avoiding asthma triggers can also help to reduce asthma symptoms.
- Most asthma-related deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where under-diagnosis and under-treatment is a challenge.
- WHO is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of asthma to reduce the global burden of NCDs and make progress towards universal health coverage.
Is Mold Affecting Your Health?
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Mold can start growing on damp cinder blocks in just 24-48 hours, with spores germinating quickly, though visible colonies might take 3-12 days, and significant growth appearing within 2-3 weeks, especially in the warm, humid conditions common in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where moisture from rain or humidity easily provides the needed water for rapid colonization.
The time it takes for mold to affect your health can vary greatly, from immediately to weeks or months, depending on your sensitivity and the extent of the exposure.
Individual Sensitivity/Allergies: People with a mold allergy or existing respiratory conditions (like asthma) may experience immediate symptoms (within seconds or minutes) after exposure to spores.
Amount of Mold: A larger quantity of mold is more likely to cause adverse effects, and potentially more quickly, than a small amount.
Duration of Exposure: The longer you are around mold, the higher the overall exposure and the sooner symptoms are likely to develop.
Proximity: Being closer to the mold source increases exposure levels.
Air Quality and Ventilation: Poor ventilation can trap spores in the air, increasing inhalation risk.
Contact Us
Call or email us — we’ll be happy to assist you.
Panama +507 833-8110
Costa Rica +506 8333 4996
Canada 1 289 460 5101
USA 1 561 429 9001
Email: info@bb-icf.com