Mold Testing Mold Inspection - BNF Consulting, Inc.

Molds (or fungi) are everywhere in the environment. They only require standing water or humidity levels greater than 60% and a source of nutrients (such as dirt, cellulose, drywall, etc.) to grow. In addition, temperature plays a role. Molds can grow in temperatures ranging from 32--95 F, but grow best at 77--86 F. Since nutrients are readily available in the environment, when there is water present for more than 48 hours or high humidity levels, mold is likely to grow.

According to the study Damp Indoor Spaces and Health (National Institute of Medicine, 2004), in which scientists reviewed the body of published scientific literature regarding exposure to damp indoor environments (including the presence of mold) and health outcomes, there is sufficient evidence of an association (but not a causal relationship) between exposure to mold and/or damp indoor environments and the following symptoms: _ Upper respiratory (nasal and throat) tract symptoms _ Cough _ Wheeze _ Asthma symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons In addition, the report found inadequate scientific evidence to determine whether an association exists between any other health symptoms and mold exposure.

There arent any government health standards to indicate what is considered an elevated exposure to mold.

Its difficult to quantitate an exposure concentration of mold that will cause health effects in individuals, because the health effects of mold exposure experienced by most individuals are allergic in nature. Consequently, if you are allergic to mold you may have symptoms. Typically, very small quantities of allergens elicit an allergic response in individuals; it can vary by individual. It would be difficult to devise a health standard that would be applicable to both allergic and non-allergic people. The challenges would be similar to developing a health standard for dog dander or peanut allergens. The vast majority of people who arent allergic to mold have no problem being exposed to low concentrations of mold.

You may have seen media reports about toxic mold and seen vivid pictures on television news shows of homeowners burning down their houses because they were infested with toxic mold. Most of these reports specifically refer to a black mold called Stachybotrys (stak-e-bot-ris). You might ask, Is toxic mold really a problem for the average homeowner? Many types of mold besides Stachybotrys, even common ones such as Penicillium (bread mold), produce mycotoxins, which are chemical toxins or poisons. The mycotoxins serve an important purpose for the mold organism: they help ward off other molds and bacteria so they dont occupy the molds space. Molds derive their nutrients from the substrate upon which theyre located, so the production of mycotoxins is an important survival mechanism for molds. There has been speculation, especially in the media, that these mycotoxins are responsible for causing some severe toxic health effects in humans, such as mucous membrane irritation syndrome, inhalation fevers, skin symptoms, gastrointestinal tract problems, bleeding lungs, and fatigue.

We recommend to keep 40 to 50% relative humidity in the basement and crawlspace. Please make sure an additional hygrometer to benchmark your dehumidifier setting. Often dehumidifier sensors are not measuring accurately.

Companies that do this type of remediation are available by searching in the online Yellow Pages under terms such as mold remediation and mold removal.

The purpose of mold remediation is to remove the mold to prevent human exposure and damage to building materials and furnishings. It is necessary to clean up mold contamination, not just to kill the mold. Dead mold is still allergenic, and some dead molds are potentially toxic. The use of a biocide, such as chlorine bleach, is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation, although there may be instances where professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain in the air (roughly equivalent to or lower than the level in outside air). These spores will not grow if the moisture problem in the building has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area. Outdoor air may need to be brought in with fans. When using fans, take care to not distribute mold spores throughout an unaffected area. Biocides are toxic to humans, as well as to mold. You should also use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and read and follow label precautions. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia; toxic fumes could be produced.

For general information on mold see the EPA brochure A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home. The EPA brochure also covers health effects. If you would like guidelines on clean-up, especially the procedures mold remediation contractors should use when cleaning up your home, consult the EPA brochure Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although it was written for schools and commercial buildings, the concepts apply to the home setting as well.

It depends on what the client is trying to determine. If they want to know the types and concentrations of fungi to which they are being exposed in their home, or if they want to know if they have elevated mold growth in their home, they should do air sampling. To do air sampling, samples are collected indoors and compared to outdoor samples. Sampling media is attached to a sampling pump. A known quantity of air is pulled through the pump. Hence a concentration in spores per cubic meter of air can be determined. If a client wants to know if a certain material that is discolored is actually mold, bulk or swab samples would be collected. Bulk samples are preferable over swab samples, because the sampler is more likely to collect all the fungi spores present in the material. One downside of bulk sampling, however, is it is destructive in nature, meaning a portion of the sampled material is cut out and sent to the lab. Hence if youre dealing with expensive family heirlooms, swab sampling, which is not destructive, is best.

Look for a Certified Industrial Hygienist or Industrial Hygienist to conduct mold sampling. Search under Indoor Air Consultants in the Yellow Pages online website.