The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) and the American Relative Moldiness Index (ARMI) was developed by Dr. Steve Vesper and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  

What is the ERMI?

• The ERMI is an acronym for Environmental Relative Moldiness Index.
• It was developed by scientists at the USEPA to provide a straightforward, objective and standardized way to obtain results for indoor air quality investigations.
• The EPA is developing am ERMI ranking system based on dust samples collected from homes across the United States.
• The ERMI will help predict the moldiness of homes.  Homes with high ERMI values have a greater chance of having a mold problem then homes with a low ERMI.
• 36 different fungi make up the ERMI and are designated as Group I (those found in atypical, water damaged homes) and Group II (those commonly found in all homes).

If a person is not feeling well and his or her doctor has determined that sensitivity to mold is an issue to explore, than the ERMI analysis of the patent’s home is a good place to start.

An ERMI analysis might help you to determine if your home is safe for visitors who might have genetic susceptibility to mold.