How is mold tested for?
Mold is a fungus whose spores are always found in the air. To determine whether or not you have mold, it’s essential to test for mold levels. There are two ways to do this:
1) Testing the dust (for example, with a swab);
2) Checking air quality (air testing). For this purpose, an instrument that measures airborne particles is used; there are different kinds available; we’ll use a cassette or small plastic container that collects these particles. It’s then sent to a lab, and they count how many of certain types of particles there were per cubic meter (m3). The results can be expressed as:
There can be tiny holes in the cassette so that some particles will escape during sampling, but those wouldn’t be from mold.
Mold spores are tiny and light and can travel long distances in the air. So, even if the level of mold is low in your home or office, you can still be exposed to it if you’re near a place with a high concentration of spores. That’s why it’s essential to test not only for the amount of mold but also for the type of mold. Different molds can cause other health problems.
It’s also important to know that just because you don’t see any mold doesn’t mean there isn’t any. Mold can grow on hidden surfaces like inside walls and ceilings or behind furniture. So, if you think you might have a mold problem, it’s best to get it tested.
To prevent or minimize mold growth, it’s always essential to keep the humidity in the house below 50%. Also, if you have a cat but are allergic to them, you can try getting rid of your pet. If you don’t like sterilizing your home with chemicals, there are other ways of killing mold, like sunlight and vinegar. For information about these methods, check out this website. There is also some research about how natural enzymes eliminate fungus; here is an article.
If you have a mold problem and it’s severe, you might need to hire a professional. They will come in and test the air quality and determine the source of the problem. Then they will take steps to remove the mold and fix the water damage that caused it. It can be expensive to hire a professional, but it might be worth it if the health of you or your family is at risk.
Recent Comments