We recently came across a question about mold readings inside the crawlspace of a residential condo. The person asking wanted to know if the levels listed were considered safe or not. There were several types of mold, ranging from a few dozen per m3 to several thousand.
There are several ways to get a “read” on the amount of mold within the air, usually by drawing air across a slide with a calibrated pump. The amounts of mold spores in the results can range from the single digits to the thousands and beyond. However, once you have the reading, how can you determine what is safe and what is not?
How much mold is safe?
The answer is short and simple. There are many varieties of mold, and each one has different properties and side effects. Some may be mild (check out this post for an example) and some may be severe. Therefore, because of the many properties and variables, it is almost impossible to set a “safe” amount of mold for the air.
Prevention
The best way to keep your home mold-free is to
- Remove any ambient moisture
- Perform regular checks of your home
- Keep an eye on high-risk areas like basements and crawlspaces
- Deal with any mold that is found as soon as possible
- Keep an eye out for signs of mold sensitivity
Although there may be alternate recommendations for “safe” mold levels, there is truly not an effective way to determine what effect even a small amount of mold might have depending on the situation. Therefore, the best thing to do is simply to deal with mold as soon as it it is found, whatever the amount.
Mold remediation can seem expensive and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! The Flood Medix will be here with you every step of the way, and we can answer any questions you might have.
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