Is Black Mold Affecting Your Family's Health?

For Your Peace Of Mind, Have Samples From Your Home Tested For Black Mold

There's been a lot of news about black mold and its effects on our health in the past few years. It is important to know that black mold isn't the only toxic mold that can affect your family's health. Here, we use the term "black mold" to mean any hazardous mold regarless of color. Are you or a member of your family suffering from black mold allergy symptoms or other mold-related illnesses? Molds such as Stachybotrys, Aspergillus and Penicillium are associated with adverse health effects. Others like Alternaria and Cladosporium are well-known allergens that can trigger allergic reactions such as hay fever and even asthma.

What Does Health Canada Residential Indoor Air Quality Guideline Say About Indoor Mold Growth?

"Health Canada considers that mould growth in residential buildings may pose a health hazard. Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on allergic sensitization. However, the large number of mould species and strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability in human response to mould exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits..."

Symptoms Of Black Mold

If you or your family are experiencing any of these symptoms when they are in the house, you might consider investigating for black mold:

• runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes
• skin rash or itching
• flu-like symptoms
• asthma attacks
• constant headaches
• memory problems
• mood changes
• aches and pains
• possible fever
• and rarely, pneumonia.

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Who is most at risk of black mold exposure?

Everyone is at risk. However, the elderly, young children, the sick, and those with a history of asthma are at higher risk of suffering from mold related illnesses. So if you find mold in your home, it's important for everyone's health that it's removed right away.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Thinking an ordinary dust mask and gloves provides enough protection
• Thinking you can use bleach to get rid of black mold
• Thinking you can paint over black mold to get rid of it
• Disturbing black mold and releasing mold spores into the air

If You Have Mold in Your Home, Don't panic! We Can Help!

The good news is that not all black molds that occur indoors can affect your health, but even a small amount of mold growing in your home should be identified. Current Canadian mold guidelines advise building occupants to clean-up and/or remove visible mold growth. You can control mold growth by eliminating or reducing moisture in your home.

Caution: If you have a large amount of black mold present (over 10 square feet), please call a professional. Trying to remove large amounts of hazardous mold without specialized protection equipment and expertise in handling hazardous material can result in heavy exposure to toxic mold spores, which may cause you or your family to become ill.

How do you know if the mold is hazardous? Simply send samples to our lab for testing.

A simple, inexpensive lab test can save you money and protect your family's health

You can have peace of mind for Can$42.00 or US$45.00 per sample. You'll know whether the mold growing in your home is hazardous to your health or whether it's harmless. You'll know the mold in your home will be properly and correctly analyzed because our mold testing laboratory is headed by someone with a PhD degree in microbiology who has worked in this field for over 18 years.

Within 1-3 business days (after we receive the samples), we'll send you an easy-to-understand laboratory report:

• identifying the mold from your sample,
• explaining any known health problems associated with the identified mold,
• and providing you with information on how to remove it safely.

How to Take Samples for Black Mold Testing Using Ordinary Household Tape

Do Not spend money on expensive mold testing kits! A mold testing kit only adds cost but not value to your test results. Use clear scotch tape. It's inexpensive, easy to use and works just like taking a fingerprint.

Follow These Simple Instructions

• Click Order form and print our easy-to-use instructions.
• Wear some gloves (which you can purchase from a pharmacy store).
• Cut approximately 2-3 inches of clear scotch tape.
• Hold tape at one end and place sticky side down onto the surface with visible mold growth and press gently.
• Remove tape and stick it without folding onto a plastic bag (e.g.,ziplock bag).
• Number each tape and identify the locations sampled. For example:
  • Tape 1: Basement, east wall.
  • Tape 2: Windowsill, master bedroom.
  • Tape 3: Ceiling tile, kitchen.
• Enclose samples in an envelope or bag.

(NOTE: More than one mold type may be present. If several sites show visible mold growth (with different discolorations), it is advisable to take more than one sample.)


Other Suitable Samples For Black Mold Testing

Pieces of wallpaper, drywall, wood, carpet and insulation material can also be sent for mold testing.

How To Send the Samples

Click Order form, print it and fill in the information required about the samples and submit the completed form along with your samples and your payment of Can$42.00 or US$45.00 for each sample. You can pay by cheque, money order or Visa or MasterCard. Please indicate your payment method on our form, and provide credit card information if it's your payment choice. Please make your cheque or money order payable to Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories. If you can't print the Order form, you can just submit the samples together with the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Phone
• Fax (if available)
• Email address
• The date the sample was collected
• Payment details (for credit card payment, include expiry date)

Samples can be sent from anywhere in the USA or Canada to:



Don't delay. Left unattended, mold continues to grow. Send us your samples today!

Make sure you know what type of mold is in your home. Make sure you know whether it's hazardous to your health or not, and make sure you know exactly how to remove it. It's easy, it's affordable and it will give you peace of mind.

Click Order form now to download our easy-to-use instructions. The form includes information you need to send together with the samples. Should you have any questions regarding black mold, please feel free to contact the lab directly at 905-290-9101 or use our LiveHelp feature (when online)!

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