Participate in ASTM Comparison of Mold Assessment Methods

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Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year,

Cutz, CIH

Markham, Ontario

--Forwarded Message Attachment--Subject: Participate in ASTM Comparison of Mold Assessment MethodsFrom: Elight@...Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:01:38 -0500

The ASTM Round Robin process offers an opportunity to evaluate mold assessment methods utilizing volunteer laboratories and field investigators. In this regard, Committee D22.08 will sponsor the following two studies:

· Compare response actions recommended from testing for airborne mold or settled dust with visual inspection (per Draft ASTM Mold Guide)

· Evaluate the accuracy of visual mold growth identification or the Mycometer with microscopic examination of tape lifts

Access to study sites would be provided by investigators who would side-by-side assessments utilizing the above methods.

A D22.08 Subcommittee will provide standard procedures and data collection forms, project oversight and data analysis.

Characteristic growth structures observed by a mycologist under a microscope will be considered the reference method for identifying mold growth. These results will be compared to visual determination of suspect growth per the Draft Mold Guide and positive findings using a Mycometer. at the same site.

Buildings will be assessed by three different methods to determine if remediation is recommended. The reference method will be based on historical review and inspection per the Draft Mold Guide (assuming any finding of suspect growth or unresolved water damage represents an action level). This finding will be compared to recommendations based on testing for airborne mold (per each investigators’s standard sampling strategy and criteria) and the ERMI Dust Index (EPA).

Findings should help define the relative accuracy and precision of these alternative methods as well as their limitations under a variety of field conditions.

Feel free to pass on this request to potentially interested field investigators or laboratories. Contact me with respect to your interest in participating and any questions you may have. .

Ed Light, CIH

ASTM Committee D22.08

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SOURCE: OCC-ENV-MED-L Digest for Friday, December 19, 2008