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 Mobile ViewENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD ACTIVITY of MOLD in BUILDINGS AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS Particles per Cubic Meter Equipment Calibration Microscope calibration Quantitative Particle Counts Lab Chemicals for Particle Samples Qualitative Vacuum Sample Analysis Qualitative Surface Analysis Sample Microscope Calculations Example Count w/ Allergenco Sampler Alternative count procedure Counting Airborne Mold Concentrations Airborne Mold or Level Reporting Equipment Trace Dimensions ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS ATTIC MOLD BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC BLACK MOLD, TOXIC & ALLERGENIC BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CAT DANDER in BUILDINGS CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIELD INVESTIGATION SERVICE FIND MOLD, ESSENTIAL STEPS FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT HOUSE DUST ANALYSIS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION MOLD ITCHY FABRICS LAB & FIELD IAQ EQUIPMENT SOP LABORATORY SERVICES LAB PROCEDURES MICROSCOPE TECHNIQUES LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE Legionella Legionnaires' Disease Legionella BACTERIA & HVAC Equipment LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MICROSCOPE SLIDE PREPARATION Slide Preparation Procedure Slide Stain & Media Recipes Permanent Slide Mounts Gelvatol Meltmount Mowiol The Stains File MICROSCOPE SLIDE PREP - PERMANENT MOUNTS Required materials To use meltmount slides MICROSCOPE TECHNIQUES for the LAB 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 TEST CLEAN PREVENT 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 on or in CARPETS MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS 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 with BLEACH MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FLOORING MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD MOLD CLEANUP HEALTH RISKS MOLD CLEANUP MISTAKES to AVOID MOLD CLEANUP - SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS MOLD CULTURES 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 on or in CARPETS MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS MOLD FREQUENCY in BUILDINGS MOLD GROWTH ON SURFACES, PHOTOS MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES, TABLE OF MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS MOLD INSPECTION HOME BUYERS GUIDE MOLD INSPECTION SERVICE MOLD INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE TIPS MOLD INVESTIGATION REPORTS MOLD KILLING GUIDE MOLD LAB REPORTS MOLD LEVEL REPORTS MOLD LEVELS IN BUILDINGS MOLD by MICROSCOPE MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS MOLD SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS MOLD TEST METHODS, ACCURACY MOLD TEST PROCEDURES MOLD TEST REASONS MOLD TEST SAMPLE POINT CHOICES MOLD TESTING & SAMPLING MISTAKES MOLD TESTING SERVICES ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN BUILDINGS PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PAINT FAILURE CHECKLIST PAINT FAILURE - EXTERIOR CLUES PAINT FAILURE - INTERIOR CLUES PAINT FAILURE - SITE HISTORY of PAINT FAILURE INDICATORS PAINTING MISTAKES PAINTING MISTAKE - BAD SURFACE PREP PAINTING SHORTCUT ERRORS PAINTING OVER MOISTURE INCOMPATIBLE PAINTS PAINTING in SUN or WIND PAINT on STUCCO, FAILURES PAINT FAILURE DICTIONARY PAINT FAILURE ANALYSIS LAB PHOTOS Paint Failure Case Photographs-SITE Paint Failure Case Photographs-LAB PAINT LAB SAMPLE PREPARATION PAINT SURFACE PREPARATION PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN BUILDINGS PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ Particulates & Allergens Indoors Pesticide Exposure Hazards PET ALLERGEN REMEDIES PLASTIC CONTAINERS, TANKS, TYPES PLASTIC HEATER VENT PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS POLLEN Photographs RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SLIDE PREPARATION, MICROSCOPE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAINS & Thermal Tracking TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE World Trade Center Collapse Dust Photos More Information |
This document describes proper procedures for evaluating mold and other aerobiological samples for purposes of identification of environmental sample contents and to help in assessing potential exposure of building occupants to levels of indoor particles, mold, allergens, and other materials. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.Included are procedures for proper particle counting from air samples, lab chemistry for sample preparation, and a directory of field sampling practices and methodology. References are also given for particle identification. This is Daniel Friedman's American Home Service Company - AHS - General Lab Procedure. For clarity, some topics are addressed in separate documents listed here. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Indoor Air Quality Sampling Equipment Calibration Proceduresreview equipment calibration and calibrator details in Equipment Procedures notebook, latest calibration dates in
Microscope calibration:review microscope setup, Kohler illumination, objective centering, and other preparation procedures in the lab notebook dedicated to each microscope.
Review objective/eyepiece field width measurement data at spread sheet dedicated to each microscope Quantitative Particle Counting:review details in Equipment Procedures notebook, writeups per/sampler to review slide handling and counting procedural details beyond the example given below. Lab Chemicals for Particle Sample Examinationreview list of chemicals, uses, preparations in the Lab Procedures ™ Chemistry & Slide Preparation notebook. Review the MSDS for each lab chemical in the Lab Supplies MSDS notebook. Key files:
Qualitative Surface or Vacuum Sample Analysis:tape or vacuum cassette (tape, Air-o-Cell, or filter cassette) samples are prepared using lab SOP for each sample type. Qualitative analysis and characterization is described in each lab report. Quantitative analysis of surface tape samples is highly questionable since particle density across a building surface cannot be assumed to be uniform. For Air-o-Cell or MCE filter cassettes, scan the entire trace at low magnification, 40x or 100x, for consistency and for unusual particle clusters to be considered in selecting areas for cross-scans. For tape samples, the sample may be examined using the low-power stereo microscope to evaluate sample consistency and to select a sample tape segment most-likely to contain significant particles. A 1 cm segment is selected for analysis. If the tape appears to contain a variety of particles by texture, color, etc., multiple 1-cm segments may be required for analysis. Scan across the trace beginning at one end of the selected area, to and from areas where no particle are visible while crossing the trace. See separate counting rules and stopping rules (if any stopping rules are to be applied), obtaining raw counts of significant or other particles of interest in each pass and totaling for the trace. See Particle Counts.xls for worksheets used for this purpose. The worksheet automates particles/M3 of air when the raw counts and volume of the sample are entered. For documentation and training purposes some example manual calculations are shown below. Chemical and mechanical details of slide preparation of various media are not addressed in this document. Example % of Trace Calculations for an Olympus CH-2 microscope #5F0837Air-O-Cell @1000x: .173mm field width/14.4mm x 100 = 1.2% of trace per pass Air-O-Cell @ 400x:.44mm/14.4mm x 100 = 3.05% of trace per pass Burkard @ 1000x: .173mm/14.0mm x 100 = 1.24% of trace per pass Burkard @ 400x: .44mm/14.0mm x 100 = 3.14% of trace per pass Allergenco @ 1000x: .173mm/.145mm x 100 = 1.193% of trace per pass Allergenco @ 400x: .44mm/.145mm x 100 = 3.03% of trace per pass (e.g. use .303 as divisor in formula below) (WARNING: this data is calibrated for a particular microscope in our lab. This number must be calibrated to the microscope, and optics used for the examination of the trace). A Detailed Example for Airborne Particle Counting using the Allergenco Time-Lapse Impaction SamplerSample Volume in Liters = (Sampler run time in minutes x calibrated sampler flow rate in LPM) 1. One M3 is 1000 cubic liters. So another version of the calculation could use 2. Sample Volume in M3 = [(Flow rate in
LPM)/1000] x [run time in minutes] 3. Trace length counted = (Microscope field diam) x (# cross-width traverses) 4. Particles / M3 = (raw particle count / portion of trace counted) x (1000L/M3 / sample volume in L) Example: If an Allergenco time-lapse impaction air sampler is run for 10 minutes, 150 L was sampled (10 minutes x 15 LPM) For the Allergenco, 1 cross trace pass at 1000x = 1.193% of trace For the Allergenco, 10 cross-trace passes = 11.93% of the trace, or .1193 of the trace. Example: If Particle "x" was counted at 653 particles in 10 passes of the trace at 1000x. [653particles / (.1193 of trace/pass )] x [1000 L in 1 M3 of air / 150 L in sample] = 34,490.6 particles/M3 of air in the sample. This number should be documented in the lab as 34,490.6 but in an interpretation may be described as 34,500 particles/M3 of air. An Alternative count procedure for Airborne Particle ConcentrationsMeasure the actual trace length. Divide the trace into equal segments by 4ths Count 1 segment completely, selecting a representative segment after scanning lengthwise the whole trace. Multiply the actual count by the number of segments (4) to get the "trace total count. ["trace total count"] x [1000/sample volume] = particles/M3 General Counting Rules for Airborne Mold ConcentrationsObjective is to count 25% of the trace. 20% may be used in difficult cases. Count Stopping Rules may be considered. (when 200 particles/M3 are reached continue that pass across the particle trace to completion, record the total count, calculate the total based on % of trace read, and express it as a minimum with citation of stopping rule.) IAQ Investigation and Airborne Mold or Particle Level Reporting requirementsSee prototype Field Investigation, Lab Determination, Clearance report prototypes. Air Sampling Equipment Trace DimensionsThis information is required to complete airborne particle concentration calculations. SeeInspectAPedia.com/sickhouse/IAQEquip.htm to determine airborne particle trace dimensions for various air sampling equipment. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about how to calculate airborne mold or other airborne particle levels expressed as n particles per cubic meter of air Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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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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