Particles & Molds We Check for with Indoor Air Quality Testing

• Amorphous Organic Debris — Non-specific organic dust (skin flakes, food, plant bits); common background indoor debris.

• Dust Mites — Mites, parts, or fecal pellets; thrive in higher humidity and accumulate in bedding/carpets.

• Fiberglass — Insulation fibers; usually from disturbed attic, duct, or air-handler insulation.

• Fibers—Cellulose — Paper/wood fibers; from cardboard, paper products, or building materials.

• Fibers—Cotton — Textile fibers; shed from clothing, towels, and soft furnishings.

• Fibers—Synthetic — Polyester/nylon/acrylic; from textiles, carpets, and filter media.

• Hair—Animal — Pet hair; indicates pets in the space or transfer from visitors.

• Hair—Human — Human hair; normal occupant debris.

• Minerals — Inorganic particles like sand or soil; often tracked in or from construction dust.

• Plant Fragments — Tiny leaf/seed/stem pieces; from outdoors or potted plants.

• Skin Cells — Epithelial flakes; major component of normal household dust.

• Starch Grains — Plant/food starch; linked to cooking and food handling.

• Feather Barbules — Minute feather fragments; from down bedding, pillows, or jackets.

• Insect Fragments — Wings, legs, casings; indicates insect activity or old infestations.

• Low Contrast Amorphous — Featureless, translucent debris; non-diagnostic background particles.

• Newspaper Ink — Carbonaceous ink flakes/spheres; from printed newsprint and handling.

• Salt Crystals — Crystalline salts; from sea spray, de-icing salts, or evaporated water.

• Soot — Fine carbon from candles, fireplaces, or cooking; can discolor surfaces.

• Tire Rubber — Black elastomer particles; intrusion from garages/nearby traffic.

• Wood—Hardwood Fragments — Hardwood cell structures; from flooring/furniture or woodworking.

• Wood—Softwood Fragments — Softwood cells; from framing lumber or sawdust.

• Charred Plant Debris — Burned plant material; suggests nearby combustion or past fire residue.

• Charred Woody Fragments — Charred wood particles; indicates heat/fire exposure.

• Diatoms — Silica shells of algae; associated with water sources, soil, aquariums, or humidifiers.

• Gypsum Board Debris — Gypsum with paper fibers; drywall cutting/sanding or renovation dust.

• Inkjet Droplets — Pigmented micro-droplets; from desktop/office inkjet printing.

• Oil Droplets — Aerosolized oils; from cooking, diffusers, or machinery.

• Silica — Quartz/amorphous silica; construction dust—respirable fraction is a health concern.

• Efflorescence — Salt deposits from moisture movement through masonry; indicates water intrusion.

• Fire Related Soot — Very fine combustion soot from flames/fires; can be acidic/corrosive.

• Glass — Glassy shards or fibers; from broken glass, grinding, or some insulation products.

• Metal—Aluminum — Metallic wear particles; from HVAC components, foil insulation, or tooling.

• Metal—Iron — Steel/rust flakes; from tools, ducts, or structural steel—often moisture related.

• Pigments—Angular — Inorganic pigment grains; typical of sanding or deteriorating coatings.

• Pigments—Paint — Paint chips/film fragments; from scraping, sanding, or aging paint.

• Pollen—Birch — Seasonal tree pollen; common allergen entering with outdoor air.

• Pollen—Grass — Spring/summer pollen; frequent allergen.

• Pollen—Hickories — Spring tree pollen; indicates outdoor air infiltration.

• Pollen—Oak — Heavy spring shed; often very abundant in the Southeast.

• Pollen—Pine — Large, waxy grains; highly visible but typically less allergenic.

• Pollen—Sunflowers — Aster family pollen; from outdoors or cut flowers.

• Pollen—Undifferentiated — Pollen present but not identified to type; outdoor entry indicated.

• Pollen—Walnut — Seasonal tree pollen; outdoor source.

• Pollen—Witch Hazel — Late-fall/early-spring bloomer; indicates outdoor infiltration.

• Over 200 families of mold! (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium, etc)