Recently, we discussed mold that can be found in unlikely places, such as in the bedroom, bathroom, and the kitchen. After all, most report mold behind cabinets or crawlspaces, but mold can actually grow virtually anywhere. A test for mold can help find it.
There is one thing we can all agree on. You do not want hidden mold growing in your home. If there is mold somewhere, anywhere, with the potential of causing health issues with your family, you want to know about it so you can remove it and keep everyone safe.
EPA on mold
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) https://www.epa.gov/has much to say about the need for mold testing. “In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary,” according to a statement on the EPA website. And what the EPA says makes sense. If you can see the mold, you do not need to take samples and run tests because you know the mold is there. The professional restoration company, Accent American Inc in the Tampa area, that removes the mold will figure out what type it is and proper procedures for your specific case. Florida law requires that any company treating or removing mold must have a State mold remediators license, or face heavy fines or even jail time.
But what if you can’t see the mold but you feel something is there?
Then it’s time to engage mold sampling and testing. According to the EPA, surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated.
Who should do it?
Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), https://www.aiha.org/the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), https://www.acgih.org/or other professional organizations, says the EPA. Florida law requires a state license to test for mold, just like for those that remediate mold. http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/mold-related-services/
You can contact Accent American Inc for a referral to a qualified mold testing professional.
Regulations and guidelines
Standards or threshold limit values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants. Generally, your mold test should have a comparison of outside mold spore counts to inside mold spore counts. The difference between the two, and the type of molds present, are the determining factors as to whether you have a mold issue or not.
But if you have mold, you no doubt aren’t driven by regulations or guidelines, or lack thereof. You want to know if there is mold and if there is, what you can do to remove it.
One option is to purchase a do-it-yourself mold testing kit, something that you test surfaces with and send in for testing at a laboratory.
Another is to contact an industrial hygienist and have professional testing conducted. An industrial hygenist is an expert in this.
No matter what you do, if you do have mold growth, do the right thing. Turn the work over to your favorite Tampa area mold remediation and restoration company, Accent American Inc. 813-621-6015
