Mold

Medical studies have found that mold is the #1 cause of allergic symptoms. The mold Stachybotrys found in home, office and school environments has been linked to fatal pulmonary disorders.

Our test indicates the presence of molds within 48 hours. Lab analyses are available and identify the exact count and type of mold present.

Our Mold Test utilizes patented laboratory analytical method for accuracy and reliability. To help detect the possibility of mold, do you notice any of the following?

• Discoloration or black mold on baseboards, wallboards, or wallpaper.
• Cracks in shower tile, lack of caulking, loose toilet seal, leaks under sink
• Carpet and padding in direct contact with concrete slab
• Poorly maintained or dirty air conditioning/heating vents and filters
• Damp basement or crawl space
• Water penetration (water marks on walls, mold spots on walls)
• Musty/ moldy odor

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then you could be EXPOSED TO MOLD!

What is Mold and Where Is It Found?

Molds are microscopic organisms, found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Molds can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Also susceptible to mold growth are cellulose materials, such as, cardboard, paper, ceiling tiles, and sheet rock. Mold spores are easily detached and made airborne by vacuuming, walking on a carpet or sitting on a couch. In indoor environments, mold can grow in air conditioning ducts, carpets, pots of houseplants, etc.

How Can Mold Affect Your Health?

Exposure to mold is not healthy for anyone but the following individuals are at a higher risk for adverse health effects: infants, children, elderly, immune compromised patients, pregnant women, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions. When inhaled, even in small amounts, mold can cause a wide range of health problems including respiratory problems (wheezing), nasal and sinus congestion, watery and red eyes, nose and throat irritation, skin irritation, aches and pains, fevers, asthma, emphysema and in some cases even death.

Mold Can Be Found In Many Areas of Your Home

• Attic
• Living Rooms
• Bathrooms
• (HVAC) Ventilation System
• Bedrooms
• Kitchens
• Basements
• Any Moist Areas
• Carpets
• Garage

How Can You Be Exposed To Mold?

When moldy materials become damaged or disturbed, spores (reproductive bodies similar to seeds) can be released into the air. The following are sources of indoor moisture that may cause mold problems in your home or office: flooding, leaky roofs, humidifiers, damp basements or crawl spaces, constant plumbing leaks, house plants, steam from cooking, shower/bath steam and leaks, wet clothes, and clothes dryers vented indoors. Protection...Testing Is Your First Line of Defense

To find out if mold is a problem in your home or office, you must conduct a mold test!

The Black Mold Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra)

Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) is a greenish-black toxic mold that colonizes particularly well in high-cellulose material, such as straw, hay, wet leaves, dry wall, carpet, wall paper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles, thermal insulation, etc. Stachbotrys, before drying, is wet and slightly slimy to touch. There are about 15 species of Stachybotrys, known throughout the world. This toxic mold grows in areas where the relative humidity is above 55%. This type of mold does not grow on plastic, vinyl, concrete products, or ceramic tiles. It is not found in the green mold on bread or the black mold on the shower tiles.

Stachybotrys produces a mycotoxin that causes human mycotoxicosis.

This type of mold is thought to be a possible cause of the sick building syndrome. Children's exposure to Stachybotrys spores are thought most likely to cause pulmonary hemosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs). The following is a list of symptoms associated with exposure to Stachybotrys mold spores:

1. Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, and difficulty in breathing
2. Nasal and sinus congestion
3. Eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity
4. Dry, hacking cough
5. Sore throat
6. Nose and throat irritation
7. Shortness of breath
8. Chronic fatigue
9. Skin irritation
10. Central nervous system problems (constant headaches, memory and mood changes)
11. Aches and pains
12. Possible fever
13. Diarrhea
14. Possible hemosiderosis
15. Immune suppression

INTERPRETING MOLD ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORTS

Recent Studies of mold in homes have provided new understanding of what is "normal" in a healthy home. No home is without mold; however, assumptions can be made about whether a particular home has unusual conditions warranting further investigation. Based on review of the recent work and in consultation with industry specialists, Home test has made prudent changes in protocols for stating whether a mold sample indicates "unusual conditions".

It is important to remember that:

1. any sample is indicative or a "picture in time" and that further evaluation may yield different results, and
2. no matter where a line is drawn, some will be "close calls" that certainly will need additional evaluation.

Swabs/Carpet Samples/Bulk Samples/DNA

Reports for swabs will continue to indicate that unusual conditions exist when the sample contains spores of any molds. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines state that "visible mold, mold-damaged materials, and moldy odors should not be present" in a home.*

Air Samples

EPA guidelines state that "the kinds and concentrations of mold and mold spores in the building should be similar to those found outside", and further state that "In cases in which a particularly toxic mold species has been identified or is suspected... a more cautious or conservative approach to remediation is indicated".** In light of this guidance, we adopted the standards below in attempting to make reasonable determinations about air sample results. We will report, "unusual mold conditions exist" when:

For total spore counts:

Air samples indicate the total spore count inside the home is over 5000 spores/m3 and significantly higher (25%) than outside.

For certain mycotoxic spores:

A sample count of Stachybotrys spores inside is over 35 spores/m3

A sample count of Penicillium/Aspergillus group inside is over 750 spores/m3and significantly higher (25%) than the outside count.

A sample count of certain*** other spore types that may produce mycotoxins, is over 250 spores/m3 inside and significantly higher (25%) than the outside count.