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Mobile ViewENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS ACCURACY vs PRECISION of MEASUREMENTS ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD ACTIVITY of MOLD in BUILDINGS AGE of MOLD - Old is the Mold? AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE MOLD COUNT NUMBER GUIDE AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS ALLERGENS in BUILDINGS, RECOGNIZING ALLERGY & MOLD IAQ PRODUCTS ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES ATTIC MOLD BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOD WASTEWATER TEST BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD Cadmium in the home CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2 CARBON MONOXIDE - CO Carbon Nanotube Hazards CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CAT DANDER in buildings Cell phone Radiation Hazards CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER COALSTOVE SAFETY COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CPSC Indoor Air Pollution Book Online Copy DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DRYWALL MOLD DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS DRINKING WATER Diethylstilbestrol - DES DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST, HVAC CONTAMINATION STUDY DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD EMF MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES ENVIRO-SCARE - PUBLIC FEAR CYCLES EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS FEAR of MOLD - MYCOPHOBIA Fiberboard Insulation Sheathing Mold Fiberglass Enviro-Scare FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE FIREPLACE INSERTS Fireplaces & Woodstove Contaminants FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION FLOOR TILE HISTORY & INGREDIENTS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD INFORMATION CENTER ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS AIRBORNE MOLD COUNT NUMBER GUIDE AIRBORNE MOLD COUNT VALIDITY Causes of Variation in Airborne Particle Levels Indoor vs. Outdoor Spore Counts Extent of Variation of Airborne Particle Counts Particle Levels vs Sampler Height Particle Levels vs Windows/Doors PARTICLE & MOLD LEVELS in DUCTWORK Concentration Bursts of Mold Spores False Negative Results in Mold Tests Mold Culture Plate Test Errors Why Use Airborne Mold/Particle Sampling? Visual Inspection and History for Mold ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE MOLD COUNT NUMBER GUIDE ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOD WASTEWATER TEST BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC BLACK MOLD, TOXIC & ALLERGENIC BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPENTER ANTS CARPENTER BEES CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TEST SAMPLE CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP CRAWL SPACES DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DO-IT-YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP WARNINGS DRYWALL MOLD DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIND MOLD, ESSENTIAL STEPS FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO Fireplaces & Woodstove Contaminants FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOOR TYPES & DEFECTS FLOOR TILES ASBESTOS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LEED Building Designation & IAQ MEDIA BLASTING for MOLD REMOVAL METHANE GAS SOURCES MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MILDEW in BUILDINGS ? MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD ACTIVITY in BUILDINGS MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold? MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX MOLD BY MICROSCOPE MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS Mold on Books, Book Conservation MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES MOLD CLEANUP, DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD CLEANUP by MEDIA BLASTING MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS MOLD CLINICAL REFERENCE TEXTS MOLD CONSULTANTS / INSPECTORS MOLD CONTAMINATION LEVELS MOLD CULTURE PHOTOS MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD DOCTORS - ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE MOLD or INDOOR AIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD EXPOSURE, FOOD HAZARDS MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY MOLD LEVEL REPORTS MOLD LEVELS IN BUILDINGS MOLD BY MICROSCOPE MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD STANDARDS TEST KITS for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLE TESTS MOLD TEST METHODS, ACCURACY MOLD TEST PROCEDURES MOLD TEST REASONS MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY MOLD TESTING SERVICES MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE RENTERS GUIDE TO MOLD & IAQ SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES TERMITES TEST KITS for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLE TESTS Thermal Expansion Cracking of Brick THERMAL EXPANSION of HOT WATER THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY THERMAL IMAGING MOLD SCANS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS THERMAL TRACKING & THERMAL BRIDGING TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing UV LIGHT BLACK LIGHT USES VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO VINYL SIDING VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WALL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER vs CAVITY WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE More Information |
How much variation do we see when using Air Sampling to test for Mold Exposure or Contamination Levels in Buildings? Here we demonstrate that indoor airborne mold or other particle counts vary enormously from minute to minute, providing highly inaccurate (though precise) numbers of spores per cubic meter of air. This document is a brief tutorial which provides information about the accuracy of tests for the level of allergenic and toxic mold in residential buildings: Are spore counts valid? Are cultures and swab tests valid? These critical questions are discussed in this series of articles. At Causes of Variation in Airborne Particle Levels we discuss the causes of this high level of airborne particle variability. Readers should also see MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY, and for a more in-depth critique of popular mold testing methods than this tutorial see MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. Extent of Variation of Airborne Particle Counts
What is the Difference Between Precision and Accuracy in Airborne Mold Spore Counts?Some people are confused about the difference between precision and accuracy. An airborne mold spore count obtained from a spore trap or similar air sampling device can be processed in an aerobiology lab or mold test lab by several methods of varying accuracy depending on not only the site variables (which dominate the airborne particle count, but also depending on the skill and experience of the lab technician, the quality of the microscope and slide preparation, and the percentage of the particle trace that is examined. In the hands of a skilled microscopist who uses the best practices and who examines 100% of the particle trace, the resulting lab report can give mold spore count that is very precise - for example, citing 5,731 Aspergillus niger spores per M3 (cubic meter) of air. But what the mold test field investigator and laboratory technician may not be able to report is that the variability from minute to minute in the airborne particle level was enormous, easily by a factor of 100. If the mold test field investigator had collected her or his sample in the very next five minute interval using exactly the same equipment and methods and processing the sample in exactly the same lab with the same technician may produce a very precise count of 573,124 airborne mold spore count of Aspergillus niger spores per M3 of air. The two counts are very precise (5,731 and 573,124), but the airborne mold spore count produced by this spore trap method is completely inaccurate: 573,124 mold spores per cubic meter of air is 100 times more mold spores per cubic meter of air than 5,731. If your airborne mold spore count can easily vary by a factor of 100 from minute to minute it may be precise, but it is inaccurate, and therefore in many cases, especially in cases of low counts that appear to be below the threshold of concern in many mold standards, such counts are completely unreliable. Just try waving a note book across a table before counting mold spores in air and check the difference in airborne spore levels. Then review mold inspection and mold test reports to notice whether or not the field investigator has noticed and recorded building conditions that affect air current activity in a building: fans on or off, space occupied or unoccupied, heat on or off, air conditioning on or off, etc. Any one of these completely changes the airborne particle level indoors. The realization that airborne mold spore counts or counts of any indoor airborne particle are inaccurate is a reason to perform a thoughtful visual inspection of and history taking of a building that is under investigation for air quality problems. But such investigations, properly performed, may be costly and often are unnecessary and should not be performed at all. See MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaUse the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides MoldMold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.
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