Indoor Air Quality & Mold Sampling
Mold Information
Molds are everywhere, molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. Mold plays an important role in nature by breaking down and feeding on decaying leaves, trees, and other organic material. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold can present problems in homes when wet and/or damp areas allow it to settle on surfaces, and grow. The Key to Mold Control is Moisture Control. If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture. Mold will become dormant when it no longer has moister to grow. However the mold spores will still be present.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF MOLD
The presence of mold spores in the home can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. It can trigger asthma attacks and can be particularly harmful for persons whose immune systems have been compromised.
Indoor mold types that can damage your home and health include:
Aspergillus/Penicillium/Trichoderma
Stachybotrys/Chaetomium/Ulocladium
Cladosporium/Alternaria/Curvularia
The effects of a particular mold species on the occupants of a home should be evaluated and advised by a medical professional.
TESTING INFORMATION
Any detected mold like substance will be referenced as “Apparent Microbial Growth”, until analyzed by an accredited laboratory. Only a laboratory using a microscope and specialized testing equipment can determine if the “apparent microbial growth” is indeed mold, and of what strain.
Two Procedures for Collecting Samples
Indoor air quality testing:
This procedure is highly recommended, especially if a musty smell is present in the home and when the foundation is not visible as is the case with finished basements. The results from this procedure will determine what mold spores are present in the air and at what concentration.
• $349.00 for homes up to 2000 sq ft. – $50.00 there after for each 1000 sq ft.
Surface sampling:
A laboratory grade tape or swab is applied to the area of fungal growth and peeled off, and sealed. This procedure is used when fungal growth is visible. The Lab will determine if the growth is mold and of what strain. However, this test does not provide information on the level of Mold Spores in the air present in the home.
• $99.00 for the first sample – $50.00 for each additional sample taken.
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