Re: result of first round of testing

[Guest guest]

felice,

Just looking at the numbers, meaningless without some sort of

comparision, but with some rudimentray comparisons, they seem quite

high in levels and types for a typical well-maintained home that is

clean and dry.

For example, the " Aspergillus/Penicillium-like " are hydrophillic

meaning they like water, don't need as much as some others and can

quickly grow on the surfaces of wood and other materials. The

Basidiospores and Ascospores are more consistent with long-term

wetness resulting in conditions (inside) that are indicative of wood

rot, which takes a long time. The Hyphal fragments at 20% in the

Basement could indicate either long-term growth or the growth was

disturbed during sampling.

So I have a number of questions to fine-tune understanding:

Was any of the mold visible? Where? On what type of surfaces?

Do you have an inspection report prior to taking the samples?

Some of the terminology is unusual. I'm not familiar with a result in

units of " fungal structures/m3 " . The presence of pollen and the

identification of " Aspergillus/Penicillium-like " indicates this was

collected with a spore trap but " fungal structures " usually applies

to tape lifts. I would not expect to see " fungal structures " other

than clusters of spores in the air and certainly not surviving

collection in a spore trap. But if so, they would be in the great

minority not the primary count. It would be labled " spores/m3 " or

" count/m3 " but not " fungal structures/m3. "

I assume the numbers in pararentheses are the " raw count, " which is

the actual number of spores collected. This number is then converted

into " count/m3 " which in this case would mean a collection time of 4

minutes -- IF the flow rate was 15 lpm. Greater or lower than 15 lpm

and you won't get reliable results.

I don't understand " Presumptive Fungal Identification " especially

when followed by the raw count.

If a spore trap was used, what was the debris rating? Usually 1-4.

The higher the rating number the more likely spores were covered by

other particles resulting is a reduced count by as much as 10 times.

Which lab and were they independantly accredited with EMLAP and/or

EMPAT or A2LA or other identification?

Under what conditions were the samples collected? Where?

Was moisture mapping done? Psychrometry readings? Age and use of

building? House, apartment, condo, city, country, area of country?

All these and more influence the interpretation of the numbers. BTW,

I could care less about what is in the outside air and feel good

about the fact they didn't collect an outside sample. Almost always

the only time I take outside samples is if the belive system of the

opposing side dictates it. Inside conditions are more important.

HOWEVER, none of these associate with your symptoms and complaints. I

have clients that are complaint free with higher numbers but others

are incredibly ill with numbers 1/10 these. So it comes down to a

fundamental question of " What is the question you are trying to

answer with the samples? " What other information helps to answer that

same question and could influence the meaning?

E-mail me the actual lab data sheets (privately) if you are willing.

They will answer many of my technical questions.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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> What do you think of the following??

> What would YOU do??

>

> From November 8, 2006.

> Sample No. Location Results(fungal structures/m3) Presumptive Fungal

> Identification(counts of fungal structures)

>

> 6312002 Master Bedroom 1,133 Basidiospores (68)

> 800 Aspergillus/Penicillium-like (48)

> 183 Ganoderma (11)

> 167 Myxomycetes (10)

> 150 Ascospores (9)

> 100 Cladosporium (6)

> 67 Hyphal fragments (4)

> 33 Alternaria (2)

> 17 Botrytis (1)

> 2,650 Total

> 50 Pollen (3)

>

> 6312005 Living Room 533 Basidiospores (32)

> 433 Aspergillus/Penicillium-like (26)

> 250 Cladosporium (15)

> 217 Myxomycetes (13)

> 100 Ascospores (6)

> 83 Ganoderma (5)

> 50 Hyphal fragments (3)

> 1,667 Total

> 17 Pollen (1)

>

> 6312008 Basement 3,383 Aspergillus/Penicillium-like (203)

> 1,383 Basidiospores (83)

> 383 Ascospores (23)

> 333 Hyphal fragments (20)

> 250 Ganoderma (15)

> 133 Cladosporium (8)

> 133 Myxomycetes (8)

> 83 Pithomyces (5)

> 50 Chaetomium (3)

> 33 Alternaria (2)

> 17 Periconia (1)

> 17 Pestalotiopsis (1)

> 6,200 Total

> 33 Pollen (2)

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> FAIR USE NOTICE:

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