Environmental Testing FAQs

Angstrom tests for a range of indoor environmental and building-related contaminants, including mold, asbestos, lead paint, lead dust, lead in water, formaldehyde, VOCs, bacteria, Legionella, silica, mercury vapor, soot, smoke residue, nicotine, dust allergens, PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other project-specific concerns.

The appropriate tests depend on the complaint, building history, visible conditions, odors, moisture, renovation work, materials disturbed, HVAC operation, suspected sources and reason documentation is needed. A useful scope starts with the question being asked and then selects methods capable of addressing it.

Angstrom provides independent inspection, sampling, laboratory coordination, consulting and written reporting. We do not perform remediation, abatement, duct cleaning, restoration, plumbing repair or reconstruction.

Angstrom is led by Paul Scardino, CIH, QEP, LEED AP. Particular projects may also require applicable mold, asbestos, lead or other licenses and certifications.

View licensing and certifications

Projects include homes, apartments, condominiums, cooperative buildings, offices, schools, daycares, health care facilities, retail spaces, commercial properties, construction sites, industrial locations and institutional buildings.

No. Environmental testing documents selected building conditions, measurements and laboratory findings. It does not diagnose illness, establish medical causation or replace evaluation by a qualified health care professional.

Angstrom serves New York City, Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, southern Connecticut, eastern New Jersey and nearby communities. Availability depends on the service, required licensing, equipment and project scope.

A mold inspection may include review of the water-damage history, accessible-area inspection, moisture readings, odor evaluation, photographs, HVAC observations and air, surface, dust or bulk-material samples when appropriate.

Not always. Visible mold already documents a moisture or microbial condition on the material. Air sampling may still be useful for hidden-mold concerns, HVAC distribution, comparison areas, clearance, litigation, real estate review or airborne-condition documentation.

Hidden mold is growth that is not readily visible during a normal walkthrough. It may occur behind walls, under flooring, above ceilings, behind cabinets or baseboards, in crawl spaces or within HVAC components.

Read about hidden mold

Mold or microbial reservoirs may occur in fan-coil units, air handlers, coils, drain pans, return plenums, wet duct liner, filters, blower compartments and accumulated HVAC debris when moisture and suitable material are present.

New York State licensing requirements may apply when professional mold assessment or remediation work involves an area greater than 10 square feet. The assessor and remediation contractor must perform separate roles where the law applies.

Review New York State mold licensing FAQs

Clearance or post-remediation assessment is performed after mold remediation to evaluate whether the specified work was completed. It may include visual inspection, moisture readings, odor review and air or surface sampling based on the assessor’s protocol.

Mold color alone does not identify the species, extent, moisture source or potential exposure. The assessment should focus on active growth, affected materials, moisture, dust reservoirs, building conditions and suitable laboratory methods.

ERMI and HERTSMI-2 are DNA-based analyses of selected fungal species in collected dust. The results are influenced by the sampled area, available dust, cleaning history, carpeting, furnishings and sample-collection method.

The August 9, 2025 deadline has passed. Applicable property owners should already have completed one-time XRF testing of painted surfaces in covered dwelling units and common areas. Owners who missed the deadline may still need to complete testing and retain the required compliance records.

Review NYC HPD paint-testing requirements

X-ray fluorescence testing uses a direct-reading instrument to evaluate painted building components for lead. It is commonly used for Local Law 31 inspections, lead risk assessments, renovation planning, exemptions and property documentation.

Dust wipe testing measures lead loading on selected surfaces such as floors, window sills, window wells, stairs and work areas. It may be used after renovation, abatement, cleaning or suspected disturbance of lead-based paint.

Read about lead dust testing

A lead risk assessment evaluates potential lead-based paint and lead hazards. Depending on the project, it may include visual review, XRF testing, dust wipe sampling, soil sampling, water sampling and a written hazard assessment.

The RRP Rule applies to many paid renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. Covered work requires specified certification, containment, lead-safe practices, cleaning and recordkeeping.

Read about the EPA RRP Rule

Testing should be considered before disturbing suspect materials such as floor tile, mastic, pipe insulation, plaster, joint compound, ceiling materials, roofing, siding, transite, fireproofing and other older building materials.

Appearance alone is generally not enough to confirm or exclude asbestos. Suspect materials should be evaluated by a qualified inspector and analyzed using the appropriate laboratory method.

Silica testing may be useful during or after work involving concrete, masonry, stone, brick, mortar, tile, engineered-stone countertops, demolition, cutting, grinding, drilling or sanding.

Dust samples may be collected from selected reservoirs to evaluate dust mite allergens, pet allergens, cockroach allergens, mold-related particles, pollen or other biological dust constituents.

Read about indoor dust reservoirs

Cockroach droppings, saliva and body fragments can become part of settled dust. Environmental sampling may document selected allergen-containing dust reservoirs, but medical diagnosis belongs with a qualified health care professional.

Thirdhand-smoke testing may include surface wipe sampling for nicotine as a marker of tobacco-smoke residue on walls, floors, furniture, dust, HVAC surfaces, vehicles and other selected areas.

Read about thirdhand smoke testing

Depending on the project, selected surface or dust samples may be analyzed for smoke-related markers. The sampling plan should consider the suspected source, affected rooms, pathways, surfaces and intended use of the findings.

Testing may include particle measurements, surface sampling, microscopic soot or char analysis, VOC testing, odor observations, HVAC review and documentation of residue or infiltration pathways.

Duct and HVAC dust can contain fungal material, pollen, pet dander, fibers, soot, renovation dust and other particles. Assessment should consider the air handler, filter, coils, blower, drain pan, plenums, duct liner and supply registers.

No. Cleaning is most relevant when accessible ducts or HVAC components are visibly contaminated with substantial mold, vermin, excessive dust, debris, odors or material being released from the system.

Read about air duct cleaning and indoor air quality

Yes. Depending on the materials and work performed, dust may be evaluated for lead, silica, asbestos, metals, soot, general particulate or other project-specific constituents.