Mold analysis challange

[Guest guest]

Here's a challenge for those of you that are learning about mold

sampling by using the Home Depot and EHS culture plates and how to

interpret the data; or observing those that are.

A house for sale had a " professional " conduct mold testing with spore

traps (not culture plates) by one of the best labs in the country.

One sample upstairs, one in the basement and one outside. No

inspection was conducted and they refused to interpret the results. I

was asked by the buyers to interpret the data for them.

The buyer's previous previous house had mold from leaking EIFS

(synthetic stucco). The engineering firm that was called to

investigate opened the walls from inside the house without using

containment, spreading spores throughout the rest of the house and on

contents at levels measured greater than 200,000 per cubic meter (by

spore trap). I think we'd all agree that is " a lot. "

Both reacted so severely that staying became impossible, so they

moved out. She recovered but he didn't. His VCS was consistent with

his lack of recovery. They have since been in two rental houses in

the 7 months they've been looking for a house to buy. They reacted to

the first rental house when they brought contents from the

contaminated house. Sound familiar?

So here's the question. With what you know from above and with the

numbers given below, would you recommend they buy or not buy the new

house?

Genus Main floor Outside Basement

Basidiospores 80 213 27

Cladosporium 267 27 320

Memnoniella* 13 113 0

Pen/Asp types 160 80 80

Stachybotrys 13 73 20

Misc 59 100 128

TOTALS 593 606 575

*Memnoniella is often associated with Stachybotrys.

Don't be concerned about being " wrong " because, as you know from my

previous statements, there is no such thing as absolute right and

wrong. So, and also just for the fun of it, what do you think I

recommended?

Be brave, this is a learning experience not a contest. Beside, the

most beneficial learning experiences I've had were when I was wrong.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC