Specializing in
- Asbestos, Lead, and Mould Air Monitoring
- Sampling of Asbestos and Lead Paint (Assessments)
- Complete Hazardous Materials Surveys
- IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Testing
What is Mould?
According to Health Canada, the word “mould” is the common name referring to fungi that grow on food or materials in homes or other buildings. Living in a home with mould and dampness increases the risk of eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, and worsened asthma symptoms. Prolonged exposure may also contribute to the development of asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections, and eczema, making proper ventilation and moisture control essential for health.
Mould
Services
Bulk or Surface Sampling for Mould
Bulk mould sampling is usually done to provide a direct examination of a surface indicating all mould species present in a given area. Direct sampling may reveal indoor reservoirs of spores that have not yet become airborne. Samples are usually a 1”x1” specimen.
Indoor Air Quality Testing
Airborne mould samples are taken using the Zefon Bio-Pump Plus calibrated pump and Air-O-Cell impactor cassettes. Samples are usually taken in at least 2-3 locations in a residence with 1 outdoor reference sample and 1 blank sample for quality control purposes.
Indoor results are compared to outdoor results for interpretation. Any of the following indicates the likely presence of mould growth in the building or incomplete cleaning after abatement: dominance indoors of Aspergillus, Penicillium or Chaetomium species or the presence of any amount of Stachybotrys.
Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. references:
- Health Canada: Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada, 2004.
- Health Canada: Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings: A Technical Guide. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada, (revised 1995).
- Alberta Health Services: Fungal Air Testing, Investigation and Reporting Requirements for Extensively Mould-Contaminated Buildings. Dec. 11, 2018.
- www.albertahealthservices.ca
Additional Services
Asbestos Services
All asbestos services provided by Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. follow procedural guidelines and best practices set forth by the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual. Our lab technicians are fully certified in fibre counting.
Indoor Air Quality
Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. provides IAQ monitoring using the TSI Quest EVM-7 monitor. The investigation will include air samples of areas of concern and compare these results established by Health Canada.
Lead Services
Following the NIOSH 7082 method for lead air monitoring, Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. collects “close-face” samples using a 37mm, 0.8µm pore size, cellulose ester membrane to detect the presence of lead.
DOP/POA Testing
Testing the integrity of HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting Filter) that is at least 99.7% efficient in collecting a 0.3 micrometer aerosol. Alliance Air Monitoring uses PAO (Poly Alpha Olefin) in all our DOP Testing.
Radon
Health Canada states that Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. uses long-term (3-month) Alpha Track Dosimeters for testing as advised by Health Canada.