Mold Air Testing & Clearance Air Testing

Have you noticed a musty odor in your home or perhaps seen evidence of mold growing somewhere in your basement or crawl space? Perhaps you or one of your family members have experienced allergies and you are not sure what it may be attributed to, it could be mold.

Mold is often smelled or causes allergic reactions before it can be seen. Mold is a result of moisture intrusion issues in your home. It can cause health problems and can affect the structural safety of your home.

Below are some useful facts to help your knowledge of mold and to help you better understand if you may require mold testing. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in order to better understand mold growth one must know the following important facts:

mold can be harmful or helpful – depending on where it grows

mold needs moisture to grow

mold growing inside a home can negatively affect the occupants’ health

As stated in the CCA 82 – 2004 Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry:

“Mould, or fungi, has existed on Earth since life first began, and results in the natural decomposition (recycling) of organic materials. In the built environment, fungi and mold damage wood, wallboard, and other materials and cause them to rot. The growth of fungi on materials in the built environment can affect human health, depending on the extent of growth, the length of exposure, and the health status of the exposed personnel. Because many regulatory agencies now consider mould growth a health hazard, there has been an increase in litigation, originally limited to the United States but now being seen in Canada.”

However, mold can also be helpful. Some antibiotics are obtained from a specific type of mold, as well as some foods and beverages are made by the actions of mold, one obvious example of this is cheese. The important differentiation between helpful and harmful molds is that the good types of molds are usually selected and grown in a controlled fashion. The bad types of molds, are the types that enter a building or structure and grown due to some sort of moisture intrusion problem. These are the molds that we can assess with professional mold testing and that if homeowners are not careful, can rapidly grow (24-48 hrs), and become a very prominent health issue. If you suspect you may have a mold problem it is important to contact a certified inspection and mold testing company sooner rather than later. If mold is caught quickly, remediation efforts and health affects will likely be greatly reduced.

Mold Needs Moisture to Grow

There exists some estimated 300 000 species of mold in the world. In Canada, there are over 1 000 varieties. The specific species of mold and quantity of spores should be identified by a certified laboratory, as a result of a professional taking a proper sample during your scheduled mold testing appointment.

Mold exists to a certain extent everywhere. There are microscopic spores in almost every location on the globe. Mold only becomes a problem when it starts to take over an existing surface, like a wall or bathroom tiles and grout. This is when the mold growth, because of its’ extreme concentration in these such cases, can become a health hazard and/or a structural problem for your home.

Mold is a very simple life form that needs only moisture and a food source (which could be almost any surface found around the home.) Mold exists in two stages and can complete its’ growth process in 48 hours. Moisture is the most important component that mold needs to grow, as it does not need light or any specific food source or surface. Of course, mold will grow easier on a porous surface such as concrete; however mold may grow even on non-porous surfaces such as glass. A swab or bulk sample during your mold testing appointment can determine whether mold is in fact growing on a specific surface.

Mold Growing inside a Home can negatively affect the Occupants’ Health

As most people are aware it is now considered a fact by the scientific and health care communities that mold does negatively affect human health. Depending on the individual, their exposure, and the type of mold the effects may vary from a very minor allergic reaction (sniffling, congestion, hay fever) to exceptionally severe, invasive disease such as asthma and other lung issues, as spores may enter the lungs. Some molds, such as Stachybotrys, may produce extremely toxic (potent) mycotoxins. Exposure to these toxins can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure.

Mold can grow in your home without necessarily being seen (i.e. behind the drywall, in your HVAC system). Even though you may not see the mold, it can still affect the health of you and your family. If members of your family start to exhibit such symptoms as coughing, hay fever, asthma symptoms, nail infections, etc. you may want to consider having a mold testing professional check your home.

Generally, it should be noted that the most common symptoms from exposure to mold in indoor environments are runny nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, aggravation of asthma, headache, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and skin rash.  However, Not everyone experiences allergic reaction; the susceptibility to exposure varies with the individual’s genetic predisposition, age, state of health, and concurrent exposures.

People’s reaction to mold exposure is quite varied, and although anyone can be affected, some people may be more susceptible and at greater risk, including:

- Infants and children

- The elderly

Pregnant women

Individuals with respiratory conditions or allergies and asthma

Persons with weakened immune systems (e.g., chemotherapy patients, organ or bone marrow transplant recipients, and people with HIV infections or autoimmune diseases).

The OHSA sets out, in very general terms, the duties of employers and others to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job.  These duties include:

taking all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers [clause 25(2)(h)]

ensuring that equipment, materials and protective equipment are maintained in good condition [clause 25(1)(b)]

providing information, instruction and supervision to protect worker health and safety [clause 25(2)(a)]

acquainting a worker or a person in authority over a worker with any hazard in the work and in the handling, storage, use, disposal and transport of any article, device, equipment or a biological, chemical or physical agent [clause 25(2)(d)]

Our objective when doing a visual inspection is to identify the source(s) of moisture intrusion into your home as well as identify the possible existence of mold.