Environmental mold inspections vary widely in their
approach. Here are two examples:
The environmental consultant spent an hour at the house, taking four air
samples for laboratory analysis. The air samples were taken in a bedroom,
the kitchen, the basement, and an exterior air sample for comparison. Penicillium
mold was found in the basement. Aspergillus mold was found in the
bedroom. The source of the Aspergillus was not determined.
A second environmental consultant was called in when the home owners
weren't satisfied with the first report and didn't know what to do to clean
up their home. The Enviro Health investigator arrived with plenty of Petri
dishes for air samples, plus a microscope. She took air samples at the above
locations, plus every bedroom, several closets, downstairs locations, and
the attic. Because she is trained in pre-screening of the molds, she could
survey the entire house for allergenic molds. Laboratory fees were incurred
for only a couple of the samples.
Her findings from the air sampling were that the chief source of allergenic
mold for these home owners was the attic, not the basement. The attic was
contaminated with Aspergillus from neglected roof leaks ten years ago,
before the current owners had bought the house.
Her report provided guidance and instruction on clean-up and control of the
mold to match the owners' pocketbooks - both in the attic and the basement.
Using her microscope, she examined tape samples taken from numerous surfaces
in the attic, basement, and several other areas suspect for mold. She was
able to track the extent of mold and map out the areas of contamination.
For not much more money than the first investigator, the home owners learned
a great deal more helpful information and were clear in their minds about
how to proceed.
Enviro Health mold evaluations give you more bang for the buck. If 25 air
samples need to be taken and 50 surface samples studied under the microscope, so
be it. Since we can screen these samples on-site and in our office, you do not
incur additional lab fees. Confirmation of our findings with a professional
laboratory is available for an optional fee, as needed.
Mold Inspections
The Enviro Health mold evaluation is unique, because we use an on-site microscope for sticky tape diagnostic work and also do our own pre-screening of air sample culture plates for the most common allergenic molds. Only select samples may be sent for laboratory confirmation. With this approach, many more samples can be taken without incurring additional laboratory fees. The client gets "more bang for the buck." Equipment includes a microscope, moisture meter, Allergenco Air Sampler, Anderson Impact Air Sampler, and relative humidity meter.
Our mold inspection includes:
Air sampling at numerous indoor locations, including bedrooms, attic,
basements, crawlspace, other areas suspect for mold
Tracking of mold contamination using an on-site microscope - to determine
what clean-up needs to be done and what belongings should be discarded
Microbial and particulate sampling at ductwork to learn if your
ductwork needs to be cleaned
Microscopic evaluation of air particulates - mold and pollen counts. You
will see the particulates in the air you are breathing - indoors and
outdoors.
Vacuum cleaner health evaluation - Is your vacuum cleaner recycling
mold spores?
Evaluation of building materials for moisture content
Assessment of dampness in basement and discussion of mold control
measures
Recommendations for remediation and control
Air sampling in your car's heating/ air conditioning systems if needed
What molds are screened for?
Aspergillus, Stachybotrys,
Penicillium, Alternaria, and Cladosporium are the main allergenic
molds investigated, but other molds may also be identified. If anything
suspicious turns up, the mold plate is sent for additional analysis - lab
fee.
Samples are also taken for bacteria. Anything suspicious is recommended to
be sent for lab analysis. For example, we sent one suspicious sample off to
a lab, which found exceptionally high levels of Staphylococcus in the
master bedroom at one house.
To schedule the Enviro Health residential environmental inspection, e-mail us at
envirohomeinfo@mindspring.com or call 717-583-4155 (voice mail).
These evaluations are available in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and West Virginia, with referral in some other areas. Or, sign up for
notification of our next cross-country inspection tour.
For those who cannot schedule our evaluation, there may be other
self-help options.
Key Benefits
Reducing your toxic load will enable your body to direct resources to healing instead of to counteracting toxins.
Mold gives off toxic gases.
If you are a parent, you will be taking advantage of the best that is known environmentally on behalf of your children and helping to safeguard their health.
Many people find a reduction in symptoms once mold gases are reduced and
mold contamination cleaned up.
The advanced European inspection protocol followed is state-of-the-art for environmental home inspections, including biologically significant aspects unavailable through
other environmental firms.
Besides diagnosing environmental issues that could be health concerns, practical recommendations are offered for remediation.
Clients receive a 50+ page easy-to-understand written report containing findings, recommendations, and resources. To help clients get organized, the report includes a summary section entitled, How Does Your House Rate?, with priority steps for action.
You will have peace of mind that you are making the best of what you have to deal with.
Capabilities
May Dooley has been in the home inspection field since 1984, owning the Suffolk, New York, office of HouseMaster Home Inspections before opening EnviroHealth Consulting, Inc., in 1994. Click for May's
résumé.
She has overseen or conducted thousands of home inspections.
Costly environmental inspection equipment, some of which was custom-made in Europe, reveals the invisible world at inspection sites.
