While I was waiting for my new tires to be installed the other day, a brochure on the counter caught my eye. . .
"A tidy car isn't free of mold, germ, and bacteria. A MiST™ Service is like a hand sanitizer for the vents & interior surfaces of your car. Get a MiST™ Service Today! You owe it to yourself and your family." Intrigued, I turned it over.
There was a magnified picture of a cultured sample taken from the interior of a Porshe, along with an illustration of streams of things coming from your car vent. Below these in bold print it said "Every time the fan is turned on, harmful spores are blown into the air you and your passengers breathe."
According to the EPA, some service providers may attempt to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found grow on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As for the "harmful spores" statement, only an expert can positively identify a substance as biological growth and lab analysis is normally required for final confirmation.
Upon visiting the company's website, you learn that "MiST™ utilizes atomized micro-droplets (1/10 the size of aerosol droplets) of a specially formulated solution. These droplets are drawn into an automobile's vents, penetrating and traveling to where the micro-organisms are living. MiST™ treats the entire ventilation system, including the evaporator, heater core, air ducts and passenger compartment surfaces." The company suggests that you perform this service every 6 months.
It does not say if the specially formulated solution includes water. If so, introducing this additional moisture into the system may actually promote fungal growth. Also, the EPA cautions about the use of biocides inside air ducts. They say that simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material to be transported through the system and released. Depending on the product used, it may actually be more dangerous to breathe.
The company does suggest regular cleaning of your vehicle and maintenance of your filter system, both of which are important to minimize irritating contaminants.
Although this EPA document focuses on the air ducts in your home, many of the issues are the same. Read what they say at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html, and then decide if you want to MiST™ your ride!
Air Matters LLC has performed mold testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee D. Ward, has over 22 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council. You may contact Air Matters at (919) 961-2221 or info@AirMattersMoldTesting.com.
About Me
- Air Matters Mold Testing Services
- Renee Ward founded Air Matters in 2002. Air Matters specializes in confirming the presence and identity of fungal species on surfaces and in the air of homes and businesses. Air Matters does not provide any remediation services, so you can breathe easy knowing you get an unbiased assessment every time. Prior to founding Air Matters, Renee oversaw the safety, ergonomics and environment programs for the Raleigh area manufacturing operations at Nortel Networks. She also has 14 years of experience with Travelers Insurance, where she provided industrial hygiene, safety and ergonomic services to a wide variety of clients, including many Fortune 100 companies. Renee began her environmental safety career at GTE in Durham in 1986. Renee earned both her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in Engineering from North Carolina State University. She is a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council.
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