In this episode, we delve deep into the fascinating (and sometimes grotesque) world of indoor pathogenic bacteria and mold with Larry Schwartz, an indoor environmental medical engineer and the founder of Safestart Environmental.
Larry explains the what, where, why, and how of indoor bacteria…covering what it is, where it hides, why it affects our health, and how we can test for and safely remove it.
This interview offers helpful analogies and ends with practical strategies we can all follow to effectively reduce the bacteria and mold levels within our own indoor environments.
Episode Highlights:
- What are the causes, symptoms, and types of tests best suited for people who are affected medically by indoor environmental toxins? (2:30)
- How long does it take for indoor bacteria to grow, what role does it play in your home and health, and how can it be tested for? (13:30)
- What are endotoxins? (18:20)
- Does killing bacteria and mold, and using chemicals to do so, create any health risks? What about the use of surfactants? (20:05)
- What are Actinomycetes and how do you interpret lab reports about their presence in your home? (22:45)
- Where does bacteria in your home come from? (26:23)
- What is “stack effect”? (27:24)
- Where are bacteria mainly found within your home, and can mold or bacteria in non-livable spaces, like your crawl space or basement, affect you? (31:08)
- How do air and toxins move throughout your home, and where is the highest concentration of bacteria and Actinomycetes in a home? (32:45)
- How can you interpret tests that measure levels of bacteria in a building? (36:42)
- How can air purification and ventilation keep your home’s air healthy? (44:17)
- Why do toxins affect you more when you’re indoors than when you’re outside? (58:26)
- What are some simple ways you can conduct your own source removal? (1:00:23)
Get in touch with our guest:
PDF mentioned in interview: