Mold

Mold - The New Health Hazard

Just because it looks like mold, doesn’t mean it is mold. Mold cannot be truly identified by the human eye. The purpose of mold testing is to determine the type of mold you have, if any, and the amount of mold spores in the building. Not all mold is visual. It is highly recommended that mold testing be done by a certified professional. In the state of Maryland, mold testing is not regulated and no certification is required. Right now your car mechanic can do mold testing in Maryland. When considering hiring a company to test for mold, be sure to ask for their certifications and insurance information. Certified mold professionals are trained in the proper protocol needed to assure true and accurate results. It is also nice to be able to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about your problem. Usually lab reports are written in their own language, which kind of looks like Latin. Try asking questions to the box you bought at the store for the do-it-yourself mold test. The real purpose for mold testing is not only to determine if there is mold, but what kind there is, what category it falls in and what it’s doing. Mold usually falls into one of three categories, Allergenic, Pathogenic and Toxic. The cleanup or remediation process is another reason to have areas of suspected mold tested. Protocol for cleanup of mold is based on the type of mold there is. You wouldn’t clean up Allergenic mold the same way you would clean up Toxic mold, just like you wouldn’t clean up a sewer line backup in your basement like you would a spilled can of soda in your family room.

Mold and mold spores adversely affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Health conscious people or those suffering from the presence of mold in their homes need a certain level of knowledge and a lot of effort to clean and keep their environment healthy. Different types of mold - black mold, toxic mold and allergenic mold are present all the time around us and in the air we breathe. In low levels, molds and mold spores are generally harmless, but if their levels increase they can affect people; especially people with allergies, asthma and respiratory conditions or suppressed immune systems. Mold affects different people different ways. Let’s say you and I are brothers with the same mother and father. We can both walk into the same room at the same time and one of us might be affected and the other one won’t. Science has not yet been able to figure this out as to why this happens to one and not the other. Some health symptoms of mold include itchy runny eyes, chronic cough, skin rash, sinus infections, etc. Mold also affects porous building material such as panel, sheet rock, fabric, carpet, etc. When we say it affects building materials, what is meant is that it causes decay or deterioration of the item it has attached itself to. This cannot only be costly for repair or replacement, but it can cause the loss of the structural integrity to the item that is infected by the mold causing the item to deteriorate. Many people believe the old wives’ tale that you can kill mold with bleach. Part of that statement is true. On nonporous items such as ceramic tile or laminate countertops, bleach will kill mold. On the other hand, for items that are porous like panel, carpet, etc., bleach does not work. Also, it can damage the item being treated.

There are a few ways to test for mold. You can do a swab test, a tape lift, air sample or an ERMI test. Depending on the circumstances, a certified mold inspector will be able to determine the test that is right for you.

ERMI: The only EPA developed and approved mold DNA analysis.

The AIM Environmental Group is happy to announce that we are one of the first companies in the Mid Atlantic area that is now certified and equipped to perform and offer the EPA’s only recognize Mold DNA analysis. The ERMI panel analyzes the DNA of 36 species of mold from one composite sample. After years in development by the EPA, ERMI is the next generation of microbial investigations. Our team of inspectors and research professionals can rapidly take your test by following proper protocol, process your samples and deliver a clear and concise report within 36-48 business hours. If an ERMI score is elevated, then the species information becomes a paramount, especially in regard to the health of the occupants. Within seconds, you’ll find which water intrusion species are present along with their respective spore concentration. This form of testing takes out all the guess work. This form of testing is strictly state of the art.