Hidden Mold in the Home May Cause Health Concerns

People may suspect they have a mold problem in their home, school or office even when no visible mold is present.  A tell-tale sign is often a musty odor that is noticed when people enter a building or a room.
 
A clear indicator of potential mold problems is after water damage has occurred in a building.  Even if no mold can be seen, it may be present in countless areas that are not visible.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).”
 
For people concerned about elevated levels of mold, investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult.  “It also requires caution if the investigation could involve disturbing potential sites of mold growth,” reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, a mold and indoor air quality test kit provider. “For example, if a homeowner removes wallpaper to see if mold is located behind it, the process can lead to a large release of spores into the air if there is indeed mold present.  IAQ Index has developed a noninvasive and easy to use test kit for detecting mold.  Mold spores that are present in a building and getting into areas inhabited by people can quickly be tested for with IAQ Index’s mold test kit.”
 
An online video discussing how mold and other indoor air quality contaminants can be detected utilizing test kits developed by IAQ Index can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/_Zzav8NbPcc 
 
To learn more about testing for mold and other indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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