Homes with Children Should be Tested for Mold to Help Prevent Asthma

Cinnaminson, NJ

A study recently published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology shows the correlation between mold exposure at a young age and the development of childhood asthma. The article, entitled “High environmental relative moldiness index during infancy as a predictor of asthma at 7 years of age”, followed a high-risk group of 176 children. According to the article, “This study followed up a high-risk birth cohort from infancy to 7 years of age. Mold was assessed by a DNA-based analysis for the 36 molds that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) at the ages of 1 and 7 years. At the age of 7 years, children were evaluated for allergic sensitization and asthma based on symptom history, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and airway reversibility.”

Thirty-one of the children (18%) were found to be asthmatic at seven years of age. The study also found that children living in high ERMI value homes at the age of one had more than double the risk of developing asthma than those with low ERMI values in their homes. The study’s conclusion, “Early exposure to molds as measured by ERMI at 1 year of age, but not 7 years of age, significantly increased the risk for asthma at 7 years of age.”

“The ERMI test, developed by scientists at the EPA, is a valuable tool for parents to quickly and affordably test their home for elevated levels of mold that could impact their children and everyone who spends time in the home,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading environmental testing laboratory. “EMSL Analytical offers home test kits that provide this important information for as low as $149. The information allows parents to take corrective actions in their homes if high levels of mold are discovered,” he continued.

EMSL has developed an online instructional video on ERMI sampling, it can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o81WCv3hJQ8

To learn more about mold, ERMI, indoor air quality (IAQ) or other environmental testing services please visit www.MoldInspectionKit.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of quality environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail