The Mold Investigation 

      "Investigators with expertise in both health effects and environmental 

      exposure conditions are essential in addressing salient health issues in a

     timely fashion, thus avoiding unnecessary investigations and risk"

- Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples, 2nd edition

A few years ago, the Mayo Clinic released a study concluding that 95% of asthma cases can be attributed to mold.  Medical research clearly shows that molds cause health problems for people with allergies of asthma. Therefore, it makes sense to begin an indoor air quality assessment with a mold survey in a building where allergic or asthmatic individuals are located.

Many mold investigations are as much about ruling out mold as a contaminant as they are about identifying mold as an issue. All mold investigations should involve identifying the source of moisture feeding the mold.

"The expert advise we received from Craig was invaluable. Craig tells it like it is and science does not lie. He helped advise us based on scientific research on how to best solve the mold problem in our crawl space and what measures to take to prevent its return (ventilate with humidity sensing fans versus sealed conditioned crawl space). Craig is passionate about his work and educating consumers on the health risks associated with mold toxins. If you are in the unfortunate situation of dealing with mold, Craig will be your best ally. Craig has special instruments to measure indoor air quality and to look for water intrusion where you normally wouldn't look. I highly recommend Craig Whittaker as an expert in environmental issues and would never purchase a home again without an environmental survey done first. I really appreciate his integrity and willingness to tell it like it is whether or not it is something you want to hear."

Why should you consider ESG: 1) experience - over 1500 properties assessed for fungal material; 2) proven methodology - our methods are trusted by property owners, builders, school & government officials, doctors and attorneys; 3) cost-effective - extensive readings for airborne particles and moisture reduces guesswork, allowing us to collect samples when & where they will provide conclusive results. This keeps sampling fees as low as possible; 4) thoughtful investigators who are trained experts in identifying the issues leading to microbial growth; 5) expert communicators - whether issuing a written report or speaking to a group of concerned parents, ESG understands the importance of communicating the facts in an understandable manner.

Our methodology includes the following steps:

• Visual survey of the interior and perimeter of the property
• Gathering health information of occupants
• Airborne particle count (PM) readings in every room, including ambient air, conditioned air and the air above furnishings & carpet. Elevated airborne PM can be an indication of an indoor air quality issue relative to biological growth. In addition, airborne particle readings are a better indicator of an air quality issue than mold spore counts collected in a cassette, and can provide important data relative to mycotoxin-containing hyphal fragments.  Elevated levels of airborne particles are also a causative agent for cardiovascular disease and an asthma trigger.
• Temperature, relative humidity (RH), dewpoint and total VOC measurements
• Thermal imaging to determine if building materials are likely to contain moisture (images provided to client in a report)
• Confirmation of thermal image anomolies with a moisture meter
• Moisture readings of crawl space soil, joists and sub-floor decking
• Digital photos documenting conditions during the assessment
• Formation of a hypothesis (we will try to prove the negative so that a scientific basis is attained)
• Calibration of the over $50,000 worth of sampling equipment that will be used on site - calibration is crucial for reliable results
• Collection of surface and/or air samples to provide third-party validation of mold types and levels by an AIHA-accredited lab. Indoor air samples are collected in pairs (spore traps and air cultures¹ on two media). Outdoor air samples are always collected for comparison.
• Summary Report of Findings (optional)
• Customized Investigative Report with Remedial Protocols (optional)
• 30 minutes of telephone consultation time following the investigation

¹ While spore traps are a convenient means of gathering airborne fungal spores, air cultures are essential for providing more accurate information on the airborne fungal load and the necessity of more aggressive remediation practices. If your project could eventually require an attorney and/or lead to a lawsuit, air cultures are an essential aspect of a fungal assessment.

No universal standards for performing  a mold assessment exist at this time, however, ESG's Craig Whittaker serves on a committee that is developing a standard for assessment. The standard should be submitted for ANSI approval in 2009. In the meantime, the procedures followed by ESG investigators are closely aligned with the in-process standard and follow recommendations of the Indoor Air Quality Association, American Industrial Hygiene Association, IICRC and the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Laboratory services for microbiology are provided by Scientific Analytical Institute (SAI) in Greensboro NC. SAI employs state of the art equipment, including the Biolog System, for identification of over 1900 species of bacteria, yeast and fungi. This system provides distinct advantages over PCR analysis - learn why by clicking here.