High ERMI Mold Levels Found in Homes of Asthmatic Children

The EPA research tool, the Environmental Relative Mold Index (ERMI) has determined that higher scores were associated with homes of asthmatic children.

Asthmatic children in 3 U.S. cities studied were found to be living in homes with significantly higher Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) values than were found in homes randomly selected during the HUD 2006 American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS) from the same geographic areas. The differences between asthmatics’ home’s and the AHHS home’s ERMI values was statistically significant for all three cities. Taken together, the average ERMI value in the asthmatic’s homes was 8.73 compared to 3.87 for the AHHS homes. In addition, Kansas City homes of children with “Mild, Moderate or Severe Persistent Asthma” had average ERMI values of 12.4 compared to 7.9 for homes of children with only “Mild Intermittent Asthma”. Aspergillus niger was the only mold of the 36 tested which was measured in significantly greater concentration in the homes of asthmatic children in all three cities. The ERMI metric may be useful in describing mold contamination in the homes of asthmatic children in the US. High ERMI values were associated with homes of asthmatic children in three widely dispersed cities in the United States.*


Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/02770903.2012.740122
Mold in water-damaged homes has been linked to asthma.The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) metric was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency, with assistance by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to quantify mold contamination in US homes.


Link to Journal of Asthma

*Note that the EPA still considers the ERMI as a research tool and does not endorse it for public use. Even so, the ERMI is in wide use in the public domain by mold inspectors, remediation companies and 10 EPA licensed labs.

About Steve Zivolich and Guaranteed Property Inspection and Mold Investigation: 
www.gpinspect.com

Steve Zivolich, M.A., the owner/operator of Guaranteed Property Inspection and Mold Investigation Inc. has been providing property and environmental inspections for over 13 years in Orange County and Southern California.

Steve Z. has performed over 7,000 home inspections, mold, energy and environmental inspections and is fully certified and insured to meet all your inspection needs. He personally provides all field inspection services and as a result is able to maintain the highest Better Business Bureau rating of A+.

Steve has extensive training and years of experience as a home, mold, energy, radon, EMF/RF and environmental inspections,  that will guarantee that you receive the most thorough, state of the art and comprehensive inspection that follows current industry standards of practice and codes of ethics.

He conducts every inspection, as if he were moving his own family into the property. Steve also backs up every home inspection with a 90 day warranty, that is purchased on your behalf from American Home Warranty Association.

Unlike other home inspection companies, who will need to refer you to an environmental and/or energy audit contractor, Steve is a nationally certified expert that can handle the job without making you jump through hoops to hire additional people before the end of your inspection period, including the areas of: mold, asbestos, allergens, child safety, radon, formaldehyde, energy, EMF, water quality, and VOC's. 

As a result of his advanced training, he is able to offer a FREE energy audit and FREE limited mold investigation as well, with each home inspection.
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Please take the time to read through Steve's home inspector credentials and qualifications as this is so important when hiring an inspector. www.gpinspect.com