Mold Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, September 24, 2024

Exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. Asthmatics who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. CDC also warns that immunocompromised individuals, and people with chronic lung disease, could be at risk of getting lung infections from some types of mold.

The bad news is mold will grow almost anywhere indoors if there is enough moisture. Elevated humidity levels, condensation, water leaks, and flood damage can all allow for the rapid growth of mold in a home, school, office, or any type of building within just a few days in most cases.

To help prevent indoor mold growth in residential environments, CDC provides the following tips:

• Keep humidity levels in the home low - no higher than 50% - all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help keep the level low. Humidity levels change over the course of a day so check the humidity levels more than once during the day.
• Be sure the air in the home flows freely. Use exhaust fans that vent outside the home in the kitchen and bathrooms. Also make sure the clothes dryer vents outside the home.
• Fix any leaks in the home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
• Clean up and dry out the home fully and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after a flood.
• Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
• Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried right away. Think about not using carpet in places like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

“The vast majority of building materials, furnishing, and personal belongings readily act as a food source if humidity levels are high enough or if there has been water damage,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Proactive measures and preventive maintenance, as well as responding rapidly to any type of water damage, are crucial for stopping indoor mold growth and subsequent exposure concerns.”

With multiple locations in California, LA Testing provides laboratory services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, and building inspection tools to help detect moisture, mold, and many other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video that shares the CDC’s tips to prevent indoor mold growth that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/7XthSUBvJ0k

To learn more about mold and indoor environmental quality testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.