Mold Testing Laboratory

Seattle, WA,  May 20^th, 2019

The Bulletin recently published an article about an Oregon library and its decision to discard thousands of donated books slated for a book sale to raise money for the library system. The decision was reportedly made after water seeped into the storage area of the library’s administration building where the books were being stored. The moisture caused a mold outbreak that damaged the books and led to the books going to the local landfill instead of a fundraising event.

Housing thousands of books made of paper, libraries and places that store books and manuscripts must be especially vigilant of mold, moisture and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues to protect printed materials. One component of IAQ that is particularly crucial is the level of humidity allowed in a library or storage area. Humidity levels can quickly increase if there has been water damage or if the facility’s HVAC system is not working correctly.

“Paper is an excellent food source for many types of mold,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Add moisture or high humidity levels to the equation and mold growth typically won’t take long to become a problem. Not only can the mold destroy books and printed materials, people exposed to the mold can have a myriad of reactions to it. Mold is a known allergen, respiratory irritant and can even trigger an asthma attack in some people with the condition.”

EMSL not only provides mold testing services and sampling supplies, we also offer humidity sensors, air monitors, moisture meters and other tools to detect conditions conducive for mold growth to help catch potential issues before mold contamination becomes a problem.

To learn more about mold and indoor air quality testing or for access to air monitoring instruments and building inspection tools, please visit www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675. For access to indoor environmental test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.