Contact us for an Air Quality Assessment

Symptoms of poor indoor air quality are broad and vary depending on the contaminant. They can easily be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses such as seasonal allergies, stress, colds, and influenza. 

If you notice relief from your symptoms soon after leaving a particular room or building, your symptoms may be caused by indoor air contaminants. Indications not limited to moldy, damp earthy smells, and moisture.  

Conflict of Interest? 

HEALTHY Air quality is an integral part of your health. SFBMA is in the TESTING ONLY business. Unfortunately, there are many remediation and abatement companies provide "complimentary" mold testing as part of their service to customers. Regrettably, this unsavory practice indicates the company is taking advantage of each client they obtain in order to increase the estimated cost for cleanup. Finding a reputable company to assist with your needs can be challenging. SFBMA has taken all the guesswork out of this process by guaranteeing our inspection results.  

Respiratory Health Effects

Consult the EPA’s Health Effect Symptom Reference Chart to determine the cause of the particular health effect:  

• Rhinitis, nasal congestion (inflammation of the nose, runny nose)
• Epistaxis (nose bleeds)
• Dyspnea (difficulty of breathing or painful breathing)
• Pharyngitis (sore throat), cough
• Wheezing, worsening asthma
• Severe lung disease

More Severe Health Effects. Consult the EPA’s Health Effect Symptom Reference Chart to determine the cause of the particular health effect such as:  

• Conjunctive (eye) irritation
• Rashes
• Fever, chills
• Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat, sometimes leading to shortness of breath)
• Headache or dizziness
• Lethargy, fatigue, malaise
• Nausea, vomiting, anorexia
• Myalgia (muscle pain)
• Hearing loss

What is Mold? Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows exactly how many species of fungi exist in the world, but estimates range from three hundred thousand or more. Mold grows best in warm, damp, wet and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth. Some people are sensitive to molds. Symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation are some of the common effect amongst others. Some people with serious allergies to molds may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as closed up offices, cubicles, water intrusions, lack of ventilation. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance. WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mold Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies, but more research is needed in this regard.  

Where are molds found?  Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, crawl spaces, & HVAC ducts.   

For more information, please visit the CDC website: Click Here