It is most likely the toxins rather than spores that people react to. Toxins are like gaseous vapors. That’s the way I think of it. It’s the toxins that are so difficult to remove and can remain after any mold growth is cleaned up or removed.
The most toxigenic molds can colonize in hidden places like wall cavities. Their toxins are what can cause severe health problems and potentially death. Those molds often don’t produce much if any airborne spores and may not even appear elevated on ERMI tests, which makes them hard to detect with testing.
All mold testing has limits. A good, thorough inspection by a professional, use of tools such as moisture meters and infrared cameras can help locate hidden mold.
Finally, symptoms should be the ultimate guide. If nothing is found through these methods and you still feel symptoms in a room or near a particular area, there could still be a colony in a cavity that may not be found without
opening up the cavity. That should only be done by a mold professional after setting up proper containment and air flow for the area.
I’m about
to go through remediation, and I am pretty sure I can predict what might happen. Once some of the obvious areas of contamination are cleaned up, I am probably going to have stronger reactions to other areas until it’s all found and removed (if I can get the mold pros to cooperate and that is a big if).
I have to try, though. I’m going to be dealing with mold and water damage for the rest of my life - learning how to find it, remove it, correct the cause if it, clean the toxins remaining in the air and on surfaces, and preventing measures to avoid future leaks, water intrusion, and humidity problems.
Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 5/11/2019 7:27:04 AM (GMT-6)