Basic Facts About Mold and Your Mold Report

East Tennessee’s only Home Inspector Using a  Particle Counter!   

                                     How We Use a “Particle Counter” to Help You:

• Our Particle Counter “instantly” measures the number of mold sized spores in the air.* 
• Reduces Your Cost for mold sampling. 
• Fast! Helps find hidden mold without having to sample large numbers of areas and wait for lab testing results 
• Accurate! Measures concentration of mold spores & particles to find high growth areas without disturbing building structures.*  
• Free Demonstration with every mold sampling or investigation.

         *Particle counters (PC) are not a substitute for mold sampling and testing. They are an aid in reducing 
          the number of samples needed and to find hidden mold sources. Each PC test takes 3 to 10 minutes.

 Mold is everywhere, whether it is in the form of growing mold bodies (colonies) we can see or the microscopic spores ("seeds") that fly to far off destinations attached to the body of a bird. Mold is necessary to change (or "rot") organic matter like a dead tree back into the soil from where it started. Mold is also harmful because some species contain small amounts of toxins that can cause health issues for humans and pets. These "mycotoxins" exist in some molds whether they are alive or dead.

The mold body we see and the mold spores we cannot see must compete with different mold types for a place to grow. The mycotoxins some molds produce are their way of fighting off competition from other molds for a growing place. The more potent the mycotoxin is in a mold species, the more dominant it becomes on the damp surface it needs to grow. Unfortunately, these dominant species are the so-called toxic molds that affect human and pet health.

Mold spores and fragments of mold bodies can float in the slightest air current, whether it is a gentle breeze or by stirring the air by stepping on carpet containing mold spores. Mold toxins can affect our health by breathing them into our respiratory system's nose, sinuses, throats, and lungs. Or, they can cause skin irritations on our bodies in sufficient quantity. The key word is "sufficient quantity". For some people with hypersensitivity to certain mold species, sufficient quantities may be only 100 spores of a certain species. For others, it may take 2,000 spores of the same species to cause an adverse reaction.

Usually, the most toxic forms of mold need an organic, moist surface to grow on. Mold needs organic matter to feed on so it can grow and form mold colonies. Organic surfaces can be the paper on a piece of drywall, the wood on furniture, a cardboard box, shoe leather. Or it can grow in dust, which is comprised mostly of human or animal hair and dead skin cells. All mold needs at least 50% relative humidity in the air or a sufficiently moist surface to begin growth. Otherwise, it sits on a surface as spores or fragments of mold bodies with spores attached waiting for the right opportunity to growth as a new colony.

As your personal consultants, our only business is to help you find the best and most cost effective methods of eliminating your indoor air quality issues. Our methods are backed up by recommended procedures from the EPA and from accredited, national organizations. Please call us with whatever questions you may have and we'll do our best to advise you with the very best solutions.

Gene Walshaw, Indoor Environment Professional
Owner, Best Choice Inspections.
UT Certified Mold Inspector