Is it really necessary to carry out an air quality test?

What is an air quality test?

An indoor air quality test is an assessment that measures various air parameters inside the living space. This often includes measuring the concentration of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, radon, mold, humidity, and other factors that can affect air quality and the health of the home's occupants. The most common test is for mold. This type of test will determine all types of spores and their number per cubic meter.

But why is this type of test one of the most popular?

1. Health Concerns: Mold can have a significant impact on human health, triggering allergic reactions, respiratory problems, and even fungal infections. Because of these health risks, many building owners and occupants are concerned about testing the air for mold to prevent associated health problems.

2. Frequent presence in indoor environments: Molds are ubiquitous fungal organisms that can grow in indoor environments with high humidity levels or water damage. Due to their potential ubiquity, airborne mold testing is often recommended to assess indoor air quality.

3. Structural Damage Prevention: In addition to health concerns, the presence of mold can also be an indicator of potential structural damage in a building. By detecting mold early, steps can be taken to prevent further damage to the building structure.

Due to these considerations, airborne mold testing has become one of the most popular tests for assessing indoor air quality and preventing health and structural problems associated with mold.

Should I do a fungal air quality test if I see mold?

The answer is simple: no ! If mold is visible in your property, there is no need to conduct an air quality test, as the spores from this mold will be captured by the air test. If you want to know exactly what type of mold it is, it would be more convenient to take a sample using Bio-Tape and have it analyzed in a laboratory.

Why request a fungal (mold) air quality test?

There are several important reasons for requesting a fungal air quality test in a home:

1. Presence of Mold: If mold is suspected in the home, such as musty odors or a history of water damage, it is recommended to perform a fungal air quality test to assess the concentration of mold spores in the indoor air.

2. Allergies and Respiratory Problems: Allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, and breathing problems, can be indicators of mold spore exposure. In such cases, a fungal air quality test can help identify the presence and concentration of mold spores potentially responsible for the symptoms.

3. Health Impact Assessment: For people who are sensitive or have chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, knowing whether mold is present in the indoor air is crucial to assess the potential impact on their health and implement corrective measures if necessary.

4. Preventing Structural Problems: The presence of mold in the air can also be an indicator of moisture problems or leaks in the building structure. A fungal air quality test can help detect these problems early, allowing preventative measures to be taken to avoid more significant structural damage.

What are the threshold levels of fungal spores in the air for human health?

Unfortunately, no precise scale of fungal spore counts relevant to human health can be established due to several complex and variable factors:

1. Individual sensitivity: Reaction to fungal spores varies greatly from person to person depending on individual sensitivity, medical history, general health, and any allergies. What might be considered an acceptable level of spores for one person could cause health problems for another.

2. Fungal species diversity: There are thousands of different mold species, and each can have different effects on human health. Some species can produce potentially harmful mycotoxins, making it difficult to establish a single scale for all species.

3. Duration of exposure: The health effects of fungal spores also depend on the duration of exposure. Prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of spores can have different effects than short but intense exposure.

4. Pre-existing Conditions: Individuals' health and pre-existing conditions, such as allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems, can affect how they react to fungal spores.

Due to this complexity and variability, it is difficult to establish a precise quantitative scale of fungal spores that directly relates to human health effects. Instead, fungal air quality assessments typically focus on the overall presence of mold and comparing results with general reference levels, while also taking into account individual and environmental factors specific to each case.

Can a visual inspection replace a fungal air quality test?

The answer is no , unless you have transcendent vision that allows you to see through walls. Indeed, it is very common to get very high results for fungal presence even when you don't see any mold. These molds are often hidden in the walls, ceiling, or under the floor.

What to do when we receive higher than normal results?

First, a company like ours will conduct an air quality test in conjunction with a non-invasive visual inspection of the premises to check for the presence of visible mold, or to determine if certain elements could contribute to a high level of fungal spores, such as the presence of compost, log storage, the presence of carpets, etc.

Second, we can conduct a more in-depth, so-called exhaustive, search to determine the presence of abnormally high fungal spores. From the results, we can obtain clues because some spores will grow on concrete, wood, or some may clearly indicate water infiltration, or in rarer cases, the presence of spores belonging to the Serpula Lacrymen (Weeping Dry Rot) family.

Our building experts will be able to determine the cause of the presence of fungal spores in most cases. We will then prepare a written report detailing our investigation, the causes of the mold, and ultimately, the necessary corrective measures to eliminate the problem.

In short, a fungal air quality test can be very relevant depending on your needs. Our experts will be able to assist you from the first call to direct you to the service that is most appropriate for your needs and situation.