Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Detection, Mold Treatment, Indoor Air Quality Testing, and Asbestos Inspections in Lower Manhattan, NYC, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, and the Surrounding Areas

YES. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.

Some compounds produced by molds have strong smells and are volatile and quickly released into the air. These compounds are known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Because mVOCs often have strong or unpleasant odors, they can be the source of the “moldy odor” or musty smell frequently associated with mold growth. A moldy odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and should be investigated.

The health effects of inhaling mVOCs are largely unknown, although exposure to mVOCs has been linked to symptoms such as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

It’s impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors, and some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. That is where Coastal Inspections Testing comes in. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a mold inspection and assessment.

Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus.  The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit.

Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments, called hyphae. Molds can thrive on any organic matter, including clothing, leather, paper, and the ceilings, walls and floors of homes with moisture management problems. Mildew often lives on shower walls, windowsills, and other places where moisture levels are high. There are many species of molds. In unaired places, such as basements, they can produce a strong musty odor.

In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

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What are the factors when pricing out a mold cleanup service?

Pricing factors can include: the number of rooms affected, level of structural damage (floors, sub-flooring, wall surfaces, cabinetry), length of time left unattended, additional complications such as hoarding, machinery, or large amounts of personal property such as furniture and clothing.

If you are paying with insurance, your carrier may not cover the costs of personal property so we will provide a separate estimate for cleaning and/or removal

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There are several low-to-no-cost steps you can take to improve the indoor air quality in your home based on three best practice strategies of: controlling the sources of pollution; insuring there is adequate ventilation; andusing supplemental air cleaning and filtration. It is also important to control moisture and keep humidity below 60% (ideally, 30-50%).

If you are in the market for a new home, look for the Indoor airPLUS label. Homes built with the Indoor airPLUS label are designed for improved indoor air quality compared to homes built to minimum code.

Apartments can have the same indoor air problems as single-family homes because many of the pollution sources, such as the interior building materials, furnishings, and household products, are similar. Indoor air problems like those in offices may be caused by such sources as contaminated ventilation systems, improperly placed outdoor air intakes, or maintenance activities.

Solutions to air quality problems in apartments, as in homes and offices, involve such actions as: eliminating or controlling the sources of pollution, increasing ventilation, and installing air cleaning devices. Often a resident can take the appropriate action to improve the indoor air quality by removing a source, altering an activity, unblocking an air supply vent, or opening a window to temporarily increase the ventilation; in other cases, however, only the building owner or manager is in a position to remedy the problem.

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:

There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:

Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.

You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation.  For about 50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.

If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.

If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.

HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is an acronym for “high efficiency particulate air [filter]” (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy).  This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). The diameter specification of 0.3 microns corresponds to the worst case; the most penetrating particle size (MPPS). Particles that are larger or smaller are trapped with even higher efficiency. Using the worst case particle size results in the worst case efficiency rating (i.e. 99.97% or better for all particle sizes).

All air cleaners require periodic cleaning and filter replacement to function properly.  Follow manufacturer’s recommendations on maintenance and replacement.

Air cleaners may reduce the health effects from some particles – small solid or liquid substances suspended in air, such as dust or light spray mists.

Some air cleaners, under the right conditions, can effectively remove certain respirable-size particles (for example, tobacco smoke particles). These invisible particles are of concern because they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Removing such particles may reduce associated health effects in exposed people. These effects may range from eye and lung irritation to more serious effects such as cancer and decreased lung function.

Some controversy exists about whether air cleaners can reduce the allergic reactions produced by larger particles such as pollen, house dust allergens, some molds, and animal dander. Most of these particles are found where they settle on surfaces in the home, rather than in the air. They cannot be removed by an air cleaner unless disturbed and re-suspended in the air.

Air cleaners that do not contain special media, such as activated carbon or alumina, will not remove gaseous pollutants, including radon, or reduce their associated health effects. Whether air cleaners that contain these media are effective in reducing health risks from gaseous pollutants cannot be adequately assessed at this time. In addition, the effectiveness of air cleaners in reducing the health risks from radon progeny (decay products) cannot be adequately evaluated at present. The removal of gaseous pollutants and radon and its progeny is not addressed further in this fact sheet. Health effects from these pollutants may be serious, however, and they are of concern in indoor air.

Climate change may worsen existing indoor environmental problems and indoor air quality, and it may also introduce new problems as the frequency or severity of adverse outdoor conditions change.

Climate change can affect conditions indoors by worsening existing indoor air quality issues and introducing new ones. Most people in the United States spend about 90% of their time indoors. The air we breathe indoors, and ultimately our health, can be impacted by many factors, including the air quality outdoors, people’s activities indoors, and the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a building.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been widely used in various industries due to its unique properties. It is known for its heat resistance, strength, and insulating properties. Asbestos has been used in building materials, automotive parts, textiles, and other products.

There are several types of asbestos minerals, including chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Among these, chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most commonly used form.

While asbestos has been valued for its beneficial properties, it poses serious health risks when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Due to these health concerns, many countries have implemented regulations to restrict or ban the use of asbestos in certain products and industries. Asbestos removal and abatement procedures are also conducted to minimize the risk of exposure in buildings and structures containing asbestos-containing materials.

The removal of asbestos should only be carried out by trained and certified professionals due to the health risks associated with asbestos exposure. Here are general steps involved in asbestos removal:

Assessment and Planning:

• A thorough assessment of the site is conducted to identify the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
• A detailed plan is developed, outlining the scope of work, safety measures, and removal procedures.

Notification and Permits:

• Appropriate authorities and relevant parties are notified about the asbestos removal project.
• Permits may be required depending on local regulations, and they should be obtained before starting the removal.

Isolation and Containment:

• The work area is sealed off and isolated from the rest of the building or structure to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers.
• Plastic sheeting and negative air pressure systems may be used to create a containment area.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Workers involved in asbestos removal wear specialized PPE, including disposable coveralls, gloves, respirators, and other protective gear.

Wetting:

• Asbestos-containing materials are kept wet during the removal process to minimize the release of airborne fibers.

Removal and Disposal:

• Asbestos is carefully removed using appropriate tools and techniques.
• The removed materials are double-bagged in labeled, impermeable containers for proper disposal.

Decontamination:

• Workers and tools are decontaminated before leaving the work area to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers.

Air Monitoring:

• Air quality is monitored throughout the removal process to ensure that asbestos levels are within acceptable limits.

Final Inspection:

• A final inspection is conducted to verify that all asbestos-containing materials have been safely removed.

Disposal:

• Asbestos waste is disposed of in accordance with local regulations, often at approved disposal sites designed to handle hazardous materials.

It is crucial to adhere to safety regulations and guidelines during asbestos removal to protect both workers and the surrounding environment. Additionally, local regulations and requirements may vary, so it is essential to consult with local authorities and hire licensed asbestos removal professionals.

The cost of an asbestos inspection can vary depending on several factors, including the size and complexity of the property, the number of samples to be tested, the location, and the qualifications of the inspection professional or company.