Episode #5: Mold 101 With Mark Levy

Today’s interview features Mark Levy who has spent over 15 years performing mold inspections specifically for hypersensitive individuals with complex health issues like Biotoxin illness, Lyme, CFS/ME, and Autoimmune Issues. In this interview, we clarify some common misconceptions and provide you with some foundational knowledge you need to better understand how mold and water damage affect the health of your home. Episode Highlights:·       When a building experiences water damage, mold is not the only thing you need to worry about.  Can you tell us a bit about this complex ecosystem? (2:10)·       Are all molds toxigenic?  (6:36)·       Why is it not a good idea to simply kill, fog, paint over, or encapsulate mold? (9:50)·       Can you identify the species of mold just by looking at it? Is color or location a good way to tell if a mold is dangerous? (12:28)·       What’s the difference between mildew and mold? (15:21)·       What role does testing play in an inspection? How do you decide when and where to test? What three sample TYPES are critical to properly evaluate the health of your home? (16:43) ·       When you get test results back from an ERMI, air, swab sample, etc., tell us what you are looking for. Are there certain species in certain amounts that are red flags for you? (24:14)·       How does humidity contribute to mold growth? (29:48)·       How can environmental testing complement medical labs? (33:20)·       How do attics and crawl spaces impact the living space? (36:43)·       Why is clutter and dust your enemy? (42:23)·       If you don’t smell mold does that mean you don’t have a problem? What if you only smell it occasionally? (47:29) Get in touch with our guest:https://yesweinspect.com/Learn more about Change the Air Foundation:  ChangeTheAirFoundation.orgSign up for our newsletter: ChangeTheAirFoundation.org/stay-informed/Donate: changetheair-bloom.kindful.com/Disclaimer: Your Indoor Air Podcast, a Change the Air Foundation production, is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, healthcare or other professional services, such as giving healthcare advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care.  Users should not disregard or delay in seeking medical attention for any medical condition or concern they may have.