Do you think you have a mold problem somewhere? Can you see it?
If it is visible, the EPA says that mold testing isn’t necessary.
They feel that the type of mold you have doesn’t matter. Since
mold growth is caused by excess moisture, what matters is getting rid
of the mold growth and fixing the water problem. And, since all molds
can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks, it does not
matter whether your mold is “toxic” or not. Asthma attacks
kill people every day. No one knows how many asthma attacks are caused
by mold exposure. Mold’s adverse health effects are not restricted
to “toxic molds” alone. The bottom line is that there is
no such thing as good mold growth indoors – unless it’s
on the brie in your fridge.
What if you think you may have a mold problem that isn’t visible?
In this case, the EPA suggests finding a competent professional
with experience in finding and diagnosing such problems.
So you flip open the phone book and place a call to the local “mold
guys.” For a few hundred bucks they’ll look around and for
a little more money, they’ll do some sophisticated air testing
(otherwise known as air sampling). Sounds good, right? After all, they’re
a certified mold inspector! They must be good.
Let’s see.
We’ll assume you’ve got a good mold inspector. He really
knows what he’s doing. After the visual inspection, whether he
finds something or not, he tells you that it’s usually a good
idea to do some testing to verify the findings and have
some peace of mind. After all, we are talking about a microscopic organism
here.
So how many mold tests do you do?
Well, you have to have at least one outside air test because there
are no standards yet stating how much mold is acceptable in indoor air.
And we expect indoor air to be as good, if not better, than outdoor
air.
Then you do the inside air samples. When the lab analyzes the samples,
you will then compare the results from the indoor samples to the results
from the outside samples and see whether there are unusual quantities
or types of mold spores floating around in the air you breathe every
day.
So, how many tests? I don’t know. And neither does the inspector
usually. Maybe three or four. Maybe one in every room.
(Big bucks at $100 or more per sample.)
Next question is where? Do you sample only where you are concerned
or where you have an odor? Do you sample in areas that
don’t have
a problem? Do you sample in the middle of the room or near the walls?
Most inspectors have no idea. But they’ll never tell you that.
Let’s pretend you do the tests in every room and spend a small
fortune. The results come back with no unusual levels.
Now you can sleep well. Your family is safe. Right?
Not necessarily.
The results from air sampling often create a false sense of security.
If nothing unusual shows up, it does not mean you don’t have a
mold problem. This is known as a false negative, and it’s all
too common in air sampling. Air tests are prone to false negatives because
1) some molds make small numbers of spores so there aren’t many
to become airborne, 2) some make large spores and/or sticky spores that
do not easily become airborne or stay aloft long enough to be captured,
and 3) mold spores are far too large to pass through the pores of sheetrock
or paneling, so it’s quite possible to have mold growth in wall
and/or ceiling cavities that air testing will never pick
up.
And to make things worse, even when abnormal spore counts are found
through air tests, the location of the source is often still a mystery.
Here’s what the Institute of Medicine had to say in a study titled “Damp
Indoor Spaces and Health” published in 2004, on page 66: “Fungal
types vary remarkably in their capacity to produce
and release spores. Penicillium and Aspergillus typically produce
large numbers of spores that are easily released into the air. Stachybotrys and Chaetomium are examples of fungi that produce fewer spores and
release them only occasionally. Penicillium and Aspergillus spores
are regularly found in air samples, and Stachybotrys and Chaetomium
spores are rarely found in the air, even in environments
where they are growing (Andersen and Nissen, 2000)”
I underlined the final sentences in the last two paragraphs because
part of the reason mold is on your mind is that the media
has made a mountain out of a mold hill. A few stories of devastating
mold problems have made this the newest modern plague; “the next asbestos,” as
some people are fond of saying. The mold everyone talks about – “black
mold” or “toxic mold” – is called Stachybotrys
Chartarum (pronounced: stack-ee-Bah-tris). It can produce a potent
chemical toxin, hence the reason for it to be called
the “toxic
mold.” The truth is hundreds of molds create toxins, known as
mycotoxins. Stachybotrys is just the one that gets the spotlight.
Some people who have been exposed to Stachybotrys and its toxins
report nosebleeds, neurological disorders, memory loss and many other
frightening symptoms. While many of these symptoms are anecdotal, and
the jury is still out as to the direct relationship of mold exposure
and severe illness, it is well known and widely accepted that the indoor
environments in which molds like Stachybotrys grow are not exactly
healthy for human habitation. But, as you read, spores of Stachybotrys rarely
show up in air samples. So how do you find it?
When mold grows, it creates vapors and gases as byproducts of digestion,
just as we do. They are called microbiological volatile organic compounds
(mVOCs). The mVOCs molds produce are what we pick up on when we smell
something that smells musty. According to the NJ
Department of Health, these mVOCs can cause allergic reactions,
headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. This makes even more sense
when we realize that mVOCs emitted from mold growth can include ethanols,
methanols, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, benzene, methyl chloride and
many other chemicals we associate with the petroleum industry and other
sources of air pollution.
So exposure to spores is not the only issue. Even if the mold is growing
peacefully inside your walls, exposure to the mVOCs can
still cause adverse medical effects. This complicates the whole thing
doesn’t
it? But, ironically, mVOCs are actually the solution
to finding hidden mold.
Although mold spores are too big to pass through walls, the gases and
vapors which the dogs are trained to detect and locate the source of,
can and do permeate the walls. When detected and pinpointed by dogs,
the area can be thoroughly investigated and evaluated, therefore reducing
the probability of false negatives, enabling source detection instead
of symptom detection and making diagnostics and mold remediation planning
more efficient and less expensive.
When normal, non-invasive air tests are done by more sophisticated
mold inspection specialists like Lab Results LLC, a calibrated handheld
laser-based particle scanner can be used to find areas where the greatest
concentration of airborne microscopic particles exist within the building.
This eliminates much of the guesswork of where to take the air samples,
enabling the technician to develop a sampling plan with more confidence
and ultimately with less cost to the customer.
Lab Results LLC, based in Princeton NJ, is an indoor air quality
improvement company that specializes in the detection,
location, diagnosis and prevention of indoor mold and moisture problems.
In March 2003, Lab Results LLC brought the first certified mold detection
dog, Oreo, to the Northeast. Now with over 1000 inspections under
her collar, Oreo is one of the most experienced mold detectives in
the country. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Channel 6 Action
News and been featured in over one hundred newspaper and magazine
articles. Her owner, Jason Earle, the founder of Lab Results LLC,
has pioneered the integrated use of conventional testing methods such
as air sampling, with mold-detection dogs (Mold Dogs ™), laser
particle scanners and infrared thermal imaging cameras.
If you aren’t pleased, neither are we.
We will re-perform any contracted service
deemed to be unsatisfactory – free of additional charges.
If you are still displeased, we will offer a 100% refund.
We know that you’ll be more than satisfied.
We guarantee it.
