Allergens:
An allergen refers to a misguided reaction by your immune system in reaction to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. It is misguided because these foreign substances are usually nontoxic and remain so to non allergic people.
Indoor, allergens are generally thought of as substances in our air or in our home environment that cause us some physical discomfort. These are things we are or can become allergic to, such as: mold, pollen, animal dander, cockroach feces, bedbugs, dust mites, rodents, etc.
Generally these allergens can be discovered through testing by your health care provider. Testing in your home is relatively easy and economical. Good thorough cleaning, air filtration and common sense on you part can go a long way in relieving the threshold that triggers your particular allergic response.
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Asbestos:
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.
What is its affect on Health?
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:
- lung cancer;
- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and
- asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.
The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.
Asbestos is a health hazard in many homes, offices and schools. Asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer. An estimated 20,000 people will die each year for the next 30 years from asbestos exposure.
How To Identify Materials That Contain Asbestos
You can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples yourself is not recommended. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed (by remodeling, for example) should be left alone. Only material that is damaged or will be disturbed should be sampled. (copied from: EPA web site. For more information check www.epa.gov/asbestos.
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IR, Infrared Scanning
IR or Thermal Imaging is the process of creating a picture of an object through its radiated heat signature.
Used as a diagnostic tool to find hot or cold spots that may be useful in winterization, insulation or potential areas of moisture infiltration.
MET Owner is a certified Level I Thermographer
A Fluke Ti30 radiometric thermal imager is used in situations requiring IR scanning or photography.
Inside/Outside Views:
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Lead Base Paint:
Are you planning to buy or rent a home built before 1978?
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly.
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting or buying a pre-1978 housing:
- LANDLORDS must disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint.
- SELLERS must disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to ten days to check for lead hazards.
Surface testing is available. Encapsulation is the usual remedy.
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Mold
General Information:
Mold belongs to a sub group in the Kingdom Fungi. Fungi are neither plants nor animals and they obtain their energy from other organic organisms. Their main function is to “decay” dead plant material. This includes items such as wood, paper, leather, oil, fruit, bread, and textiles. These are all food sources for mold. One of their favorite substances is paper or cellulose. Mold is a naturally occurring function of Mother Nature to breakdown and recycle organic material in the outdoors. Since we build most of our homes with wood and paper products, we do not want the action of mold on the inside of our homes. Mold reproduces by sending microscopic spores into the air and at any given time there can be 100,000’s of spores in the air. Eventually they get to the indoor portion of our homes. Mold thrives in the same relative temperatures that humans do. The only requirement for mold to grow is to have a source of moisture. When a viable mold spore settles out or lands on an organic surface that has a moisture content of 20% or more, it can germinate and start growing. When it produces its full structure it will release more spores from its fruiting bodies and there will be even more mold spores in the air.
Water has wetted the back of the sheetrock paper. Mold really likes to ingest the cellulose of sheetrock. Rapid mold growth is expected.
In every case of indoor mold growth, finding and correcting the source of the moisture is the key and is imperative it be corrected. Once the moisture source has been dealt with, the surface mold can be cleaned or the wall substance removed and replaced.
Of the 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 estimated types of molds in our world, we have identified roughly 70,000 species. Of these, there are basically 8 colors molds exhibit. And depending on what stage of life cycle the mold is in, it may have various colors. The point being, mold cannot be identified by its color.
Each individual exposed to mold can respond differently. The least reactive response would be an allergenic response, such as itchy eyes, minor skin rash, runny nose, etc. A more severe response may be pathogenic. That is little or no response to the mold itself but the mold triggering subdued immune response allowing other pathogens to infiltrate the body. This is more serious in asthmatics’ or HIV infected people. Then we have molds that are known to produce mycotoxins, natural compounds that cause a toxic response in humans.
Small mold spore can remain in the air for a very long time. Then when or if they settle out on an organic substance, the mold can germinate and begin growing it can grow most anywhere, even on a concrete surface as it will use dust for its food source. Controlling moisture is the means of controlling mold.
Humidity is sometimes the moisture source. Humidity can condense into liquid water and all for mold to germinate.
A thorough visual inspection is recommended along with taking samples for analysis to determine what type of mold you are dealing with.
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Mold Testing
When visible signs of mold are available we take a physical sample using with a lift tape, swab or sometimes sending the mold as it appears on the substance it is ingesting. When visible samples cannot be collected, air sampling is the method of choice. Air sampling is pulling a specific quantity of air through a spore trap and recording the conditions of capture, then comparing that spore trap against another spore trap taken from exterior air. We generally take two samples from the interior rooms and one from an exterior location. By comparing the indoor samples to the outdoor sample the experienced laboratory can determine if an elevated mold condition exists. Additional test locations can always be added but we do not recommend less than two air samples be collected indoors to compare with the outdoor air.
The laboratory requires two working days to analyze the samples and returns a complete report with graphs and identifications to us via e-mail, which is then forwarded to you. Testing mold allows us to know what type of mold we have and what steps to take after the moisture source has been corrected.
For EPA recommendations go to www.epa.gov/mold.
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Radon Testing
Radon is a radioactive isotope of decaying uranium. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. A smoker that spends a great deal of time exposed to radon air is estimated to have a 23 times greater chance of developing lung cancer. The EPA has suggested that homes registering a 4.0 PiCU per liter of air be retested within a year. Our relocation departments in the real estate industry have adopted the 4.0 PiCU/liter as the point where they ask for radon remediation. Radon testing is accomplish through various means of collecting radon over a minimum of 48 hours. At MET we use a continuous reading electronic monitor. This monitor gives us an instant average read out as well as a printed read out of the levels of radon counted every 20 minutes.
Radon testing is completed over a minimum of two days and a maximum of 7 days. The test location is 2 – 3 feet off the floor of the lowest habitable room of the house.
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Well Water Testing
Wells are typically found on rural homes and the water is tested for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Approximately a 4 oz. sample is collected and is hand delivered to the laboratory. The results are generally available in 48 to 72 hours.
Other substances can be test such as lead or radon in the water.
On rural homes around our metropolitan center well water and the septic system are usually required to be tested by the county where the property is located. These tests and inspections are usually less expensive if performed by county labs and are required as a term of a real estate transaction.
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