Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Here are the results of my mold air tests by microscopy (not culturing). I'll send the full data to anyone that requests it but it is too cumbersome to post all the numbers here without confusion. 1. There was absolutely no Stachybotrys or Memnoniella identified in either of the indoor samples or in the outdoor sample. The original testing, as you may recall, had significant levels of both in all three locations. 2. The main floor had four types of mold with a total of 536 spores/cubic meter of air. Cladosporium and Pen/Asp were the main ones, accounting for 80% of the total. 3. The basement had six types for a fairly high total of 1,483 spores/cubic meter of air. Higher than I expected based on the inspection and usually high enough for further investigation. However, Basidiospores and Cladosporium made up 90% of the total. Both are outdoor types. Basidiospores are associated with rotting wood and there was none in the basement. Where could it come from? 4. The outdoor sample, taken when the wind was strong and gusty, had eleven types for a total of 12,743 spores/cubic meter of air. Basidiospores and Cladosporium made up 84% of the outside mold. Pen/Asp was less than 3% of the total. While awaiting the culturable samples, my temporary findings and conclusions include: i. The inside level from the main floor was 23 times lower than the outside. This indicates excellent separation especially with the strong gusty wind. ii. The inside level from the basement was nearly 9 times less than outside. Even the most liberal interpretation of the 6-7 times less than outdoor rule of thumb would not consider this a problem environment (unless the occupant was reacting, indicating a need for further investigation). Not as good a separation as upstairs, but the windows were not very good. I could feel air drafting in around the edges. iii. Which means that the outside mold could easily be inside the basement but not upstairs. This is consistent with the sample results. iv. The outside air is the most likely source of the high levels in the basement, especially since the types and ratios are comparable to the gusty outside air. v. In addition to the unusual data and other factors from the original samples, and because they did not indicate a separation between indoors and outdoors, I am relying on my data rather than the previous data. The only levels of concern in the house were the higher than expected basement levels, which most likely came from outside rather than inside. Because: a. I could find no sources of moisture or mold growth anywhere in the house; b. The original sample results were not consistent with the fungal ecology of the house; c. My samples were consistent with the fungal ecology of the house; d. The most sensitive person did not react; The clients decided to go ahead and purchase the house. I'll have the culture results by next week. It will be interesting to see what they look like. I still can't explain the radical difference between the original results and mine. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 -Thanks Carl for sharing this with us, it was a real eye opener and got me studying my own air test much closer and I realize something that well help my own case. I'm still leary about tottally trusting my reaction to a home to deside if it's ok or not and would also have testing done. I do know that I made some bad judgements on this when renting, a few times but after getting lucky and learning about advoidence, I'm a much better detecter now, but detecting is not the only thing we need,education and dependable perfessionals is a must. I wish the best for your clients and thier new home.-- In , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote: > > Here are the results of my mold air tests by microscopy (not > culturing). I'll send the full data to anyone that requests it but it > is too cumbersome to post all the numbers here without confusion. > > 1. There was absolutely no Stachybotrys or Memnoniella identified in > either of the indoor samples or in the outdoor sample. The original > testing, as you may recall, had significant levels of both in all > three locations. > > 2. The main floor had four types of mold with a total of 536 > spores/cubic meter of air. Cladosporium and Pen/Asp were the main > ones, accounting for 80% of the total. > > 3. The basement had six types for a fairly high total of 1,483 > spores/cubic meter of air. Higher than I expected based on the > inspection and usually high enough for further investigation. > However, Basidiospores and Cladosporium made up 90% of the total. > Both are outdoor types. Basidiospores are associated with rotting > wood and there was none in the basement. Where could it come from? > > 4. The outdoor sample, taken when the wind was strong and gusty, had > eleven types for a total of 12,743 spores/cubic meter of air. > Basidiospores and Cladosporium made up 84% of the outside mold. > Pen/Asp was less than 3% of the total. > > While awaiting the culturable samples, my temporary findings and > conclusions include: > > i. The inside level from the main floor was 23 times lower than the > outside. This indicates excellent separation especially with the > strong gusty wind. > > ii. The inside level from the basement was nearly 9 times less than > outside. Even the most liberal interpretation of the 6-7 times less > than outdoor rule of thumb would not consider this a problem > environment (unless the occupant was reacting, indicating a need for > further investigation). Not as good a separation as upstairs, but the > windows were not very good. I could feel air drafting in around the > edges. > > iii. Which means that the outside mold could easily be inside the > basement but not upstairs. This is consistent with the sample > results. > > iv. The outside air is the most likely source of the high levels in > the basement, especially since the types and ratios are comparable to > the gusty outside air. > > v. In addition to the unusual data and other factors from the > original samples, and because they did not indicate a separation > between indoors and outdoors, I am relying on my data rather than the > previous data. > > The only levels of concern in the house were the higher than expected > basement levels, which most likely came from outside rather than > inside. > > Because: > a. I could find no sources of moisture or mold growth anywhere in the > house; > b. The original sample results were not consistent with the fungal > ecology of the house; > c. My samples were consistent with the fungal ecology of the house; > d. The most sensitive person did not react; > > The clients decided to go ahead and purchase the house. > > I'll have the culture results by next week. It will be interesting to > see what they look like. I still can't explain the radical difference > between the original results and mine. > > Carl Grimes > Healthy Habitats LLC > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Thank you, Jeanine, You have precisely stated what needs to be done when evaluating an indoor environment and how we learn from experience. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC ----- > -Thanks Carl for sharing this with us, it was a real eye opener and > got me studying my own air test much closer and I realize something > that well help my own case. I'm still leary about tottally trusting my > reaction to a home to deside if it's ok or not and would also have > testing done. I do know that I made some bad judgements on this when > renting, a few times but after getting lucky and learning about > advoidence, I'm a much better detecter now, but detecting is not the > only thing we need,education and dependable perfessionals is a must. I > wish the best for your clients and thier new home.-- In > , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote: > > > Here are the results of my mold air tests by microscopy (not > > culturing). I'll send the full data to anyone that requests it but it > > is too cumbersome to post all the numbers here without confusion. > > > 1. There was absolutely no Stachybotrys or Memnoniella identified in > > either of the indoor samples or in the outdoor sample. The original > > testing, as you may recall, had significant levels of both in all > > three locations. > > 2. The main floor had four types of mold with a > total of 536 > spores/cubic meter of air. Cladosporium and Pen/Asp > were the main > ones, accounting for 80% of the total. > > 3. The > basement had six types for a fairly high total of 1,483 > spores/cubic > meter of air. Higher than I expected based on the > inspection and > usually high enough for further investigation. > However, > Basidiospores and Cladosporium made up 90% of the total. > Both are > outdoor types. Basidiospores are associated with rotting > wood and > there was none in the basement. Where could it come from? > > 4. The > outdoor sample, taken when the wind was strong and gusty, had > eleven > types for a total of 12,743 spores/cubic meter of air. > Basidiospores > and Cladosporium made up 84% of the outside mold. > Pen/Asp was less > than 3% of the total. > > While awaiting the culturable samples, my > temporary findings and > conclusions include: > > i. The inside > level from the main floor was 23 times lower than the > outside. > This indicates excellent separation especially with the > strong > gusty wind. > > ii. The inside level from the basement was nearly > 9 times less than > outside. Even the most liberal interpretation > of the 6-7 times less > than outdoor rule of thumb would not > consider this a problem > environment (unless the occupant was > reacting, indicating a need for > further investigation). Not as > good a separation as upstairs, but the > windows were not very > good. I could feel air drafting in around the > edges. > > > iii. Which means that the outside mold could easily be inside the > > basement but not upstairs. This is consistent with the sample > > results. > > iv. The outside air is the most likely source of the > high levels in > the basement, especially since the types and > ratios are comparable to > the gusty outside air. > > v. In > addition to the unusual data and other factors from the > > original samples, and because they did not indicate a separation > > between indoors and outdoors, I am relying on my data rather than the > > previous data. > > The only levels of concern in the house were > the higher than expected > basement levels, which most likely came > from outside rather than > inside. > > Because: > a. I could find > no sources of moisture or mold growth anywhere in the > house; > > b. The original sample results were not consistent with the fungal > > ecology of the house; > c. My samples were consistent with > the fungal ecology of the house; > d. The most sensitive person > did not react; > > The clients decided to go ahead and purchase the > house. > > I'll have the culture results by next week. It will be > interesting to > see what they look like. I still can't explain the > radical difference > between the original results and mine. > > Carl > Grimes > Healthy Habitats LLC > > > > > > > > > > > FAIR USE NOTICE: > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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