Episode #190: Exploring Mold with John Banta, CIH

Why You Should Listen:  In this episode, you will explore mold and consider how Pathways testing might be a helpful tool in an environmental exploration. About My Guest: My guest for this episode is John Banta.  John Banta, CIH, BA is certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene as a Certified Industrial Hygienist with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Health Science and 35 years of experience in Indoor Environmental Quality.  For the last 27 years John has specialized in mold and water damage problems in buildings. He conducted investigations and supervised crews in water damage and flood and mold remediation throughout the United States.  He trained workers in restoring water damaged buildings, contaminated water clean-ups, mold remediation, and worker health and safety programs throughout the United States and Canada; as well as England, Australia, and New Zealand.  John currently specializes in medically important investigations with 85% of his clients referred to him by their physician.  John is the co-author of the book titled Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 4th Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders and Homeowners and author of Extreme Weather Hits Home, Protecting Your Buildings from Climate Change. John's upcoming book Mold Controlled is about recovering buildings from mold and other water damage organisms, finding, avoiding and fixing problems. Key Takeaways: What is the five step process to investigation, mitigation, remediation, and maintenance? How might MSQPCR or ERMI be used and interpreted? What is inhibition and how might it lead to false negative MSQPCR results? Are there concerns with diffusion of essential oils in an environment? When might the outdoor environment lead to issues with mold indoors? Why are portable dehumidifiers recommended over whole house systems? What are some key considerations with doing basements, crawlspaces, and attics right? What is the Pathways process? How might one approach drain cleaning to optimize the environment? Should antimicrobials and encapsulants be used as part of a remediation effort? How much of a concern is lumber yard mold? Is there a place for fogging or misting as part of a remediation effort? What is the Effective Cleaning process? Connect With My Guest: http://JohnCBanta.com Related Resources: Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 4th Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders and Homeowners 25 Days of Investigation, Mitigation, Remediation, and Maintenance in 25 Minutes Effective Cleaning Practices  Pathways™ Presentation Interview Date: October 3, 2023 Transcript: To review a transcript of this show, visit https://BetterHealthGuy.com/Episode190. Additional Information: To learn more, visit https://BetterHealthGuy.com. Disclaimer:  The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal medical authority.