Indoor Mold and the ERMI Test Discussed in New Online Video
Today, the IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of another online video to help educate people about issues that may impact their health. Their latest educational video discusses indoor mold and the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index.
High levels of indoor mold are known to cause a variety health issues. When people have a home tested for mold, there are a number of different types of tests and sampling methods that can be employed. One of these is the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, more commonly referred to as ERMI.
Researchers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the ERMI test method. It is a DNA-based analysis known as Mold Specific Quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) that detects and quantifies various species of mold. The test provides a standardized and rapid method that identifies the mold burden of a dust sample collected from a home. Carpet dust in a home often acts as a reservoir for mold that has settled over time.
The test looks for a combination of 36 molds from two groups. One group is considered to be species associated with water-damaged environments and the other considered to be found in homes independent of water damage. The results of the test are then compared to a national database that describes the mold burden of the home with a single numeric number.
“This technology has been licensed by firms that provide this test commercially,” reported Paul Cochrane, President of Cochrane and Associates, the company behind the IAQ Video Network and the new public outreach video. “As with all test methods, they each have their pros and cons. There are many factors involved with a typical mold investigation in a home, but the ERMI test can be a useful tool for evaluating the potential risk of indoor mold growth. We hope this new video helps to shed some light on the ERMI test and how it can help determine if there is a mold problem in a home.”
This educational video was sponsored by a number of organizations and leading industry professionals that help to protect the public’s health. Sponsors include: EMSL Analytical, LA Testing, Mold Solutions, Clark Seif Clark, MBM Insurance Resource Center, Zimmetry Environmental and Healthy Indoors magazine to name a few.
To view this video please visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJLDvHgA-nA
To examine over 260 past videos that have been viewed over 646,000 times about environmental, health & safety topics, please visit: www.youtube.com/iaqmarketer
To learn more, or to inquire about IAQ Video Network sponsorship opportunities and customized videos, please visit www.IAQTV.com or www.cochraneassoc.com, email info@cochraneassoc.com or call (602)510-3179.
About Cochrane & Associates, LLC & the IAQ Video Network
Cochrane & Associates is a business development, public relations and marketing consulting firm that specializes in the environmental, HVAC, mold and indoor air quality industries. The company has worked with many of the industries’ leading institutions and companies and continues to be an innovator in the industry. They are also the driving force behind the IAQ Video Network.
