Mycometrics: Fill & Download for Free

Consider treating the root cause.Psychiatry can not address it if their meds aren’t working.Depression is often what happens with inflammation. Here’s what I’ve seen people do to treat symptoms of depression:Mycometrics home mold test and then a Shoemaker certified MD to treat if the test comes back positive.Surviving Mold has a VCS test for $15 on their site that’s really accurate.They test for Lyme/Bartonella but only from a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.People detox their liver and often get relief. Some do liver flushes.Depression is treatable.

Of course! However, air quality is very complex so it’s important to know what you are looking for.The EPA and my fellow answerer George Varkey mentions several different types of pollutants to look for in the indoor environment and you’ll need different detection methods for each one.Airborne Microbes - viruses, bacteria, and mold.There are two ways these biological things in the air can affect you: infection, which is rare, and allergies, which are common. Viruses only come from sick folk, typically only last a few hours in the air, and aren’t known to cause allergies, so they’re not really a concern in a private apartment. Bacteria can live and reproduce on their own, can produce airborne spores, and also sometimes cause allergies, so they might be a problem. But the microbe that you should really be testing for is mold. Mold grows and spreads spores in homes, causing all sorts of problems.How to test for Airborne Microbes:The best way to test for these little guys is with a test kit. You’ll take a sample of your air, send it to a lab and they’ll use standard equipment to test for microbes. Mycometrics makes several kits that you can use to find out what types of mold have landed on the surfaces in your home.Allergens - Pet dander, dust mites, pollen, mold, and many others.These substances cause what is known as allergic rhinitis, also known as allergies. The symptoms are well-known: sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, inflamed tissues—the standard maladies. Almost any living thing and some non-living things have allergens. If you are experiencing these problems, go see your doctor to get an allergy test to find out which ones affect you. Then you can figure out how to get them out of your home.How to test for Allergens:Also a test kit. The kits for allergen testing are expensive and hard to come by, but are really the only way to know which allergens are in your apartment. Indoor Biotechnologies is one of the companies that makes the equipment to do this, but it can get expensive if it’s just for your apartment.Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) - toluene, formaldehyde, acetone, etc.VOCs represent a very wide array of substances with different chemical properties, so they can be harder to detect. These chemicals evaporate into the air from new paint, furniture, building materials, electronics, and pretty much any product that contains plastic. They have been known to cause all sorts of health issues such as respiratory problems, cancer, cognitive defects, and others.How to test for VOCs:Use a VOC test kit. Same as with microbes, use the kit to take a sample of your air and send it to a lab and they’ll use very complicated equipment to tell you exactly what’s there. Home Air Check makes a couple of good kits for this.There are some monitors that claim to measure VOC levels in the air, but given the different chemical properties of different VOCs, not all sensors can detect all VOCs reliably and most sensors can only tell you the TVOC- the total VOC concentration. While useful, TVOC doesn’t give a measure of toxicity, so it’s impossible to tell if the sensor is picking up a carcinogen or something harmless. If you do go with an off-the-shelf monitor, be sure to contact the manufacturer and ask them under what conditions their device may give false positives and false negatives.Particulate matter (PM) - smoke, dust, lead, asbestos, industrial byproducts, etc.PM is commonly described as one of the most dangerous forms of pollution. Different sizes of PM have different health impacts, because smaller particles are more likely to be absorbed into the blood through lung tissues. From there they tend to deposit in internal organs, which can lead to cancer, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, dementia, and many other problems. Extremely high levels of PM, enough to see in the air, may even cause immediate asphyxiation. The smallest and most dangerous forms of PM are undetectable except by laboratory equipment.How to test for PM:Buy a PM monitor. Ideally you will want a sensor that detects PM2.5, but one that detects PM10 will still give you an idea of the quality of air in your apartment. Keep in mind that very low levels of certain pollutants like lead and asbestos may cause harm over time even if they are undetectable by a consumer sensor, so it’s important to have building materials tested for their presence.Gaseous Pollutants - ozone, radon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides.(This is hardly an exhaustive list of potential indoor gaseous pollutants, but these are the most common.)How to test for radon and carbon monoxide:-These gases are very dangerous and kill people. Radon is extremely carcinogenic and carbon monoxide can prevent the body from absorbing oxygen. Don’t rely on a monitor alone, get a device that will sound an alarm. The difference is that if the levels of radon or carbon monoxide reach past a certain low level, the device will alert you like a smoke detector to leave the room immediately. Radon almost always enters the home by seeping into the basement from the earth, so that’s the best spot to place your radon-detecting device.How to test for ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides:-Buy a monitor that can detect these substances, as different monitors will detect different gases. Sources of ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides are usually outdoors, so these three can possibly be controlled by closing a window. Carbon dioxide is produced by all living humans and elevated levels can reduce cognitive function, so it’s a good idea to know when levels rise substantially in your apartment. The Awair sensor is a good one for CO2, and also does PM and TVOC.There are many companies that offer solutions on how to test the air quality in your apartment. Be sure you go with a reputable organization that is well-reviewed online and is certified by governmental organizations. Always ask your doctor about how different pollutants might affect you personally.In summary:For microbes, allergens, or VOCs, use a test kit designed to test for each one.For particulate matter and non-VOC gaseous pollutants, a home monitor should be sufficient.For radon and carbon monoxide, get an alarm.