Re: Re: Mold Early Warning System Served Up by Computer Co.

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Was it a black light (UV)? Some molds will " glow " under a " black

light " but not all of them will. If it's something different I'd be

interested also.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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> This reminds me was it at this site that someone posted something

> about a light that glows on surfaces that are getting moldy???? I

> must remember where I saw that. Comment said every mold inspector

> should have one but I want one!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure too expensive for

> a twerp like me though, but I'd sure like to find an inspector with

> one.

>

> > > Mold " Early Warning System " Served Up by Computer Co. > >

> http://www.multi- >

>

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>

[Guest guest]

Carl, indeed, it must have been a black light (ultraviolet lamp)

Many people don't realize that there are different kinds of black

light. Short wave ultraviolet (UVA) makes the most things flouresce,

but it can also damage the eyes (and skin!)

UVB (long wave UV) is more common, and it also makes many things glow.

Aflatoxins (or actually, I think it is another chemical, kojic acid,

that often occurs with them) glow blue or green under ultraviolet

light, but they are just one kind of mycotoxin. I don't know how many

others exist but don't fluoresce. Probably quite a few.

[Guest guest]

Barb,

The amount of toxins that can kill or make you sick is infinitesimal in many

cases. (usually milligrams or even less, micrograms..)

When they are using UV lights to separate food grains they look for kernels

that glow. With mold in a home, that might not apply, what I saw in my moldy

apt. was tiny specks of florescence (in a completely dark room) but YMMV,

emphatically.

Pure UV i.e. 'Black' light is invisible (more purple than visible violet -

beyond the range in which humans see - ) however, most 'black lights' also

emit some visible light, usually a VERY deep violet (purple)

Many lights that emit white light also emit some ultraviolet (like the sun

and mercury vapor lights without a phosphor coating) These are often fine

for germicidal use but would be useless for forensic analysis of mold

toxins, for obvious reasons. (they would need a filter!)

On 5/13/06, barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote:

>

> Carl, actually it was something that caused moist areas to glow now

> that I think of it so you could look for mold there. I'm still

> looking.

>

>

> >

> > Barb,

> >

> > Was it a black light (UV)? Some molds will " glow " under a " black

> > light " but not all of them will. If it's something different I'd be

> > interested also.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Everyone,

Please understand that mold is not the only substance that will

fluoresce with a black light. Many specks, especially the ones most

noticeable, are lint from clothing. Just shine a black light on a tee

shirt or the white laces of your tennies and you will immediately

understand.

Shine the light on a wall and watch the display! The bright specks

will not be mold, but lint. Shine it near the exhaust of your clothes

dryer! The leakage will astound you - but shouldn't necessarily alarm

you. (Avoid the bathroom or you will be totally grossed out. However,

many of the " yellowish " streaks may be soap rather than urine,

especially if they are away from the toilet).

The mold in the air will be very small spores and fragments, not

large colonies of growth. Mold by definition is a micro-organism

which means it is (way!) too small to see. So unless there is a

nuclear reaction of some type causing a gigantic light flash you

won't " see " the fluorescense from the micro-organisms and fragments

in the air.

When mold GROWTH occurs on surfaces and the GROWTH of the colonies

becomes large enough to " see " then the fluorescense may be detectable

- IF the mold is of the type that will fluoresce. On the other hand,

I have seen innumerable mold growth colonies that appeared as other

colors and even absorbed the UV light, leaving a very " dead " looking

black " hole. "

Seeing " something " with a black light means " something " is there.

Additional efforts are required to find out what it is. It might be

mold but it might not be.

That is one time when some sort of lab testing MIGHT be useful. I'd

personally sample for mold for analysis by microscopy and culturing

plus another sample for dust characterization. I did just this on the

outside of a house once, convinced that the specks were from insects

rather than mold as the tenants claimed. I was wrong. It was mold. So

they power washed the outside of the house. Which is the same remedy

for insects - and they could have saved the cost of the testing. But,

as we all know, sometimes we do need to know.

As with any measurement or detection system, you must first establish

a baseline of comparisons of known substances, including what you are

looking for. Only then can you learn to accurately identify your

target from amongst the myriad of indications.

I don't know about dust mites - their feces, actually - but removing

the " dust " will remove whatever particles are in the " dust. " That's

what's so great about the category known as particles. You don't need

different methods for each kind of particle. Remove the " dust " of a

certain size and you get all of those and larger. Which is why HEPA

is nearly universal for air filtering.

Finally when you use the white glove test, also use a black glove

because not all dust is dark. Sheet rock dust, for example, will

rarely be detected with a white glove but is starkly obvious with a

black glove. Just like dandruff on a black dress or shirt.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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> Q, The black light I have at home caused many specks to florese (sp)

> all over the place, much on things that would collect dust, and

> scattered in other places. Since I'm allergic to dust and dust mites,

> I plan to use it (some day) to give my home the white glove test, i.e.

> to see if there is any place that I am routinely missing after a hepa

> vacuum for example. Just once to see how I'm doing. I thought is was

> just as likely to be dust mites, as I think any biologic would glow.

> Just my idea. I'm sure this thing I saw detected moisture. I think

> someone from here posted a link about mold and I went there and then

> browsed around and saw it. I should have posted it.

>

>

> what I saw in my moldy

> > apt. was tiny specks of florescence (in a completely dark room) but

> YMMV, emphatically.