Blog Post

FAQ’s about mold

lemaster • August 17, 2016

MOLD TESTING

Testing for mold can be done through a variety of techniques such as air, surface, bulk or swab sampling to identify the presence of mold. At present there are no state or federal standards established for unsafe levels or types of mold.

There are over 1,000 different molds that have been identified indoors and the health effects of mold growth in homes are not well understood.

If testing for mold is done, it is critical to establish a sampling methodology to appropriately address the investigator’s hypothesis. This usually involves collecting control samples (such as outdoors) to compare to samples from the suspect area. For example, if the molds found indoors are different from molds outdoors, or if the levels of molds are significantly higher indoors from outdoors, this may suggest a potential indoor mold problem.

How much mold is too much?

Any mold growth in a building should be considered a problem because it is damaging to building materials. In addition, it is safest to treat any indoor mold growth as a “potential health hazard” which needs to be corrected because there are no health standards for mold and the health effects of mold are not well understood. Any amount or type of mold should be removed and the moisture problem that allowed its’ growth should be fixed.

Is there a “killer mold”?

Indoor molds are unlikely to be life threatening. Livestock have died from eating moldy feed and fungal infections can be fatal to humans, although this is rare. There is no specific mold that creates a life threatening situation by its mere presence.

Much concern was raised about the mold species Stachybotrys chartarum because it was found in homes of infants with an unusual “bleeding lung disease” in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Stachybotrys was labeled by the media as a “killer” mold because some of these infants died. Recently, however, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other experts reviewed the investigations of the Cleveland case and concluded that an association between the exposures to mold and the illnesses was not proven.

Despite the recent focus on Stachybotrys, many kinds of mold may affect an individual’s health. Although healthy individuals are not likely to experience severe effects from small amounts of mold growing indoors, some people are more susceptible and hence, at greater risk than most of the population. It is generally prudent to assume that some people might experience problems when mold is allowed to grow unchecked indoors and the likelihood of health effects increases as the amount of mold or the duration of exposure increases.

I’ve been feeling sick lately. Is it from mold?

Some people are allergic to mold and some experience asthma symptoms in the presence of mold. Certain types of infections are caused by mold such as athlete’s foot. A few molds can cause infections (such as aspergillosis) in individuals with severely weakened immune systems, for example persons with to advanced HIV or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Mold has been alleged to cause other health effects in some cases but these are not well understood.

If there is visible mold growth in your home it should be removed whether or not you are having health problems. It is important to keep an open mind and consider other possible causes of illness. As with any illness, you should see a physician to try and determine the cause of the symptoms.

What is causing the mold growth in my home?

Mold must have a source of moisture in order to grow. Some common moisture sources are:

Indoors

Humidifiers
Cooking and dishwashing
Bathing / Showering
Plumbing / Roof leaks
House plants
Firewood stored inside
Unvented clothes dryer/indoor clothes line
Improper venting of combustion appliances
Occupancy load

Outdoors

Flooding
Rain or snowmelt
Seasonal high humidity
Ground moisture
Wet building materials

The best way to identify a mold problem is to conduct a visual inspection and moisture investigation to identify the moisture sources.

Newer Post >

Mail

Signs That You Should Test for Mold

November 15, 2023

Exclusive Testing Labs Inc. is a mold testing service for the White Plains, NY area. Click here to learn more about the signs that you should test for mold!

The Importance of Air Quality Testing

June 14, 2023

Learn why air quality testing is crucial for your health and well-being. Uncover hidden risks and take control of your environment with Exclusive Testing Labs, Inc.

Asbestos Testing Services in Westchester County Ny

The Importance of Asbestos Testing

September 2, 2021

Asbestos testing is essential to keeping older homes safe from toxic substances that can make you sick. Call us today for asbestos testing in White Plains, NY.

The Effects of Mold & The Importance of Testing

July 28, 2020

Professional mold testing for both commercial and residential properties is extremely important because Americans are exposed to over 200 different species of mold every day. While some of these molds are harmless, there are many that are not. Indoor mold may be unsightly and smelly, but the potential problems are more serious than that. Actively-growing mold not only has the ability to damage the material it lives on, it can also impair the structural integrity of a building and cause adverse health effects in humans, including allergies and infections. When toxic mold grows, it contaminates the air quality in your home or business which can profoundly affect your health, your family’s health, or your employee’s health. It can cause symptoms such as coughing, headaches, fatigue, sneezing, wheezing, nausea, and rashes. Those with allergies to mold or those with asthma or chronic lung conditions may have a more intense reaction. Signs of Mold You notice a strange musty or damp smell Your property has a history of flooding There has been a recent flood in your property There are places in the building where water or moisture tends to collect There are water leaks in your home/business The Importance of Mold Testing Most of the time, indoor mold growth is obvious and visible. However, sometimes it is not, especially if the mold is growing behind walls, ceilings, or floors. It is hard for the untrained eye to determine whether hidden mold growth is extensive, which is why mold testing is necessary. At Exclusive Testing Labs, Inc., we offer mold testing and remediation services to those in Manhattan, Westchester County, NY, and the surrounding communities. If you have noticed any of the above signs, please get in touch with our team as soon as possible. Learn more about our mold testing and remediation process here .

Disinfecting and Reducing the Spread of COVID-19

By proadAccountId-382138 • March 17, 2020

With so many unknowns surrounding the coronavirus, one area remains true: disinfection is a leading practice of COVID-19 prevention. It’s been revealed that the virus can live on surfaces for up to three days. These surfaces can include stainless steel and plastic, and it can remain on cardboard for up to a day. Luckily, our team is equipped with the proper medical-grade virucidal disinfectants that will sanitize your home, vehicles, or business. Below are a few ways in which our team’s deep-cleaning virucidal disinfectant methods can help keep your residence or establishment free from a variety of dangerous viruses. Cleaning vs. Disinfecting: Cleaning surfaces can remove dirt and germs, but it doesn’t rid of them completely. This means that impurities can still remain on the surfaces after cleaning. With our specialized equipment and the use of our virucidal disinfectant, we are able to evenly apply a hospital-grade disinfectant to all surfaces. The CDC recommends cleaning surfaces followed by disinfection as a best practice measure for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses. Following Guidelines: In order to limit the spread of viruses, our team follows strict guidelines on the ways in which we provide our deep-cleaning service. ETL follows all guidelines and recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Health (DOH). This includes wearing full personal protection equipment (PPE) such as disposable gloves, eye protection, respirators, coveralls as preventative measures throughout the process. We will also be disinfecting our cleaning materials before each appointment, to ensure our equipment is safe to enter your establishment. Thoroughness: Our trained and experienced environmental disinfectant cleaning team is dedicated to providing your home or business with the deep-cleaning and virucidal disinfecting that reaches the nooks and crannies that are sometimes overlooked. From door knobs to light switches, we take every precaution in ridding viruses from all rooms. We understand the severity of this health crisis and are taking the cleaning measures seriously. If your home or business has been in contact with someone carrying COVID-19, please get in touch with a member of our team. Highly trafficked areas including gyms, offices, stores, and the surface areas of your home are breeding grounds for the spread of disease. A deep-clean and disinfection of those areas can bring you peace of mind by increasing the safety of the location. It’s imperative that the spread of this virus is halted, and our staff is here to help. Contact Exclusive Testing Labs Inc. today to learn more!