Show #288 – Water Damage, ERMI Testing And All Things Mould With Michael Rubino, The Mold Medic

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And on this week’s show!

This week we are talking about water-damaged buildings, mould, ERMI testing, remediation and what some of the tell tale signs are for water damage as well as some of the best ways to build to avoid it. My expert joining me on the show is Michael Robino, President of All American Restoration and a mold remediator with much experience working with families severely affected by mold. Michael’s passion extends beyond remediating homes, as he has now put the wheels in motion advocating for the right to clean air and a tightening up of building codes, materials used and waterproofing techniques to ensure healthier homes in the future and a greater level of rights for people experiencing issues now. On today’s show, Michael also takes us through 2 of my past ERMI test results, pointing out various aspects of the reports that show alarm bells for mold-sensitive people living there. If you want to watch that part of it, I’ve included it as a video section over in the show notes. I hope this show supports you if water damage has been something you’re grappling with and if you want more on mould, head to the show notes over at lowtoxlife.com/podcast and click on today’s show, to find a post link where I’ve listed all of the resources we’ve shared over the years on mold, mold illness, water damage and healing.

Questions I asked Michael:

Why mould for you as a profession?
How do you stay well and safe spending so much time in contaminated homes?
Is there a rhyme or reason to which types of homes are more likely to be affected by water damage?
What percentage do you do an inspection and they actually just have an indoor humidity problem rather than a water damage issue?
Are some moisture sources harder to find than others?
Can a home that’s been flooded be saved if one acts fast and how do people get around the fact that insurance assessments take way more time to wait for than we have when urgently dealing with flooding/big leaks?
What is your favourite testing? (I’m assuming ERMI given you’ve mentioned it in the pre-Q’s)
What is an ERMI score and how can we make the most of such a report? Are there common mistakes people make interpreting the results? (I’ve shared a couple of our past ERMIs in attachment so you can maybe reference those for a relatable story thread as my listeners know my story so well – Randwick interestingly was the worst result and the newest build (only 3 year old and stunning penthouse apartment and very close to a cluster of phone towers. and Darling Point was the lowest but worst neurological symptoms for me. All were awful but that one was particularly inflammatory to the brain)
What is the difference between mold remediation and mold removal?
Metrics every homeowner needs to use to assess the health quality of their home
Prevention is the best medicine and I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I’ve been asked so many Qs about ‘cleaning mould’ after all our rain here on the East Coast of Australia these past 5 months and last year’s summer as well: What do you wish everyone would do on a regular basis to put you out of a job?

About Michael Rubino:

Michael Rubino is an air quality expert who helps bridge the gap between the air in our homes and its direct impact on our health. Rubino works with over 100 doctors globally to not only raise awareness but also provide solutions to correctly identify and remove the pollutants causing

this global health crisis. As President of All American Restoration, Rubino specializes in working with people who are immunocompromised or have acute and sustained reactions to mold exposure and has helped heal over 1,000 families—including celebrities and athletes. He is also a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and is a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He is the author of The Mold Medic and a contributor to MindBodyGreen. Rubino has been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s The goop Podcast and goop’s website, Brandi Glanville’s Unfiltered Podcast, Luke Storey, Forbes, USA Today, and Bloom TV, to name a few.

He hosts the YouTube series, Mold Talks, where guests include medical experts as well as mold recovery patients, including media icon Atoosa Rubenstein.

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