Mold has received a lot of attention lately. Primarily due to the vast amount of sickness it has caused, to the many law suits it has generated, and to modern building practices.

Mold has always been around. It has been documented as the cause of the Ergot Epidemic (a mold induced food poisoning) which plagued Europe and limited population growth for over 500 years during the Middle Ages. The Irish Potato famine of the mid-1800's was caused by a species of mold that killed the plants causing the migration or starvation of millions of people.

The reason we see more mold in our homes is partly due to the fuel shortage of the 1970's and the high cost of energy today. Most homes are heavily insulated and many are wrapped on the exterior with a vapor barrier, which does save energy. However, these practices create less ventilation within the home and when there is a water event (condensation build up or a leaking pipe, window, roof, etc). If there is a water event there is the potential for mold growth. The Bureau of the Census reports that 35% of homes are damaged due to water or moisture each year. The products we use to build our homes such as wood, cellulose and other organic materials provide a fertile platform for mold growth.

What kind of mold is it? Is it toxic?"

Unfortunately, mold can not be identified by sight and there are thousands of types of mold. Our job is the first step, which is to collect samples and have a lab analyze them. Molds can be divided into 3 basic groups based on their health affects: Allergenic, Pathogenic, and Toxic. Allergenic mold can cause allergenic symptoms such as wheezing or a runny nose. Pathogenic molds can cause suppressed immune systems or serious health effects in a person who already has a decreased immune system. Toxic mold can cause serious health effects in almost everyone. These effects may be short-term irritations or even cancer.

How do you test for mold?

There are two typical methods used for mold testing. One is air sampling (air is drawn through a Spore Trap with a vacuum pump) where air samples are taken inside the home and an additional sample taken outside the home for comparison to detect a problem. The other is a swab sample or tape lift of any visible mold to determine the type of mold.

Why an Indoor and an Outdoor Sample?

Mold exists everywhere in the outdoors. Mold spores enter a home through open doors or windows and attached to people or items brought into a home. These spores will likely remain dormant unless they contact an area with sufficient moisture to grow. The logic behind this method of testing is: If the level of mold spores inside the home is significantly higher than the level of spores outside the home, then there is mold growth inside the home.

These services range from an inspection that is requested in a specific client defined area, to an inspection that can produce mold remediation specifications. All of the services have a clear understanding and written explanation, within the inspection agreement, of what will be inspected. Copies of inspection agreements are available upon request.

There are a wide range of substances that cause allergic reactions. They include:

Bacterial Contaminants which include bacteria, mold, mildew, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house dust mites, cockroaches, rodent urine, and pollen.

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC's). The word "Volatile" indicates that the compounds vaporize, or become a gas, at normal room temperatures. The "Organic" Indicates that the compounds contain carbon. Typically at room temperature, Volatile Organic Compounds are emitted as gasses from certain solids or liquids. VOC's include a wide variety of chemicals (e.g., formaldehyde, benzene, perchloroethyene). Many VOC's are known carcinogens i.e. Benzene. VOC's may have no color, smell, or taste. Most VOC's are nuerotoxic, which means they are poisonous to nerves or to nerve cells.

Potential Health Effects of VOC Exposure Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors that outdoors. Levels of exposure in indoor air vary, depending on the volume of air in the room or building, the rate of which the VOC is off gassed, the building ventilation rate, outdoor concentrations, and time spent in the environment in which the VOC is present. The extensive use of petrochemnmical-based organics and biologics in building products paralleled by low natural air exchange rates in nearly air-sealed buildings often results in elevated indoor concentrations of VOC's.

Eye, nose, and throat irritations: headaches, loss of coordination, nausea: damage to liver, kidneys, and central nervous system are some of the health problems caused by exposure to VOC's. Some VOC's can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

The investigative process to determine which allergen(s) to test for includes, but is not limited to, interviewing all residents of a home, your physicians recommendations, a full physical inspection of the subject property, forming a hypothesis and recommendations for sampling. Sampling cost is tied to lab fees for the specific analysis.

• Sneezing, often accompanied by runny or clogged nose
• Postnasal drip
• Coughing
• Itching eyes, nose, and throat
• Watery eyes
• Allergic Shiners (dark circles caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses)
• The "Allergic Salute" (in a child, persistent upward rubbing of the nose that caused a crease on the nose)
• Conjunctivitis (membrane inflammation that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes, and rubbing of eyelids)
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

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