John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH Safety Director Occupational Health & Safety Baystate Health System Springfield

1. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think it might be mold.” John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH Safety Director Occupational Health & Safety Baystate Health System Springfield MA USDA Teleconference

2. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Where to Start • Contraindications • Low relative humidity • No visible growth • Complaints of revolving • illness USDA Teleconference

3. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” USDA Teleconference

4. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Places to look • Baseboard • Wall paper paste/wall paper seams • Inside ventilation ducts • Inside wall cavities • Typically wet areas – e.g. window sills USDA Teleconference

5. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Sampling methods & analysis • Microscopic Analysis – Non-viable • Tape Samples • Spore Trap • Incubation – Viable Samples • Swab • Agar Plate • OPD – Open Plate Deposition • Active USDA Teleconference

6. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Microscopic Analysis USDA Teleconference

7. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Sampling Plan Bioaerosol sampling A minimum of four samples: Complaint Area, Non-complaint Area, Outside and a blank. Sampler is cleaned between plates with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Samples are delivered to the lab for incubation and identification. Reference: NIOSH Method 800 Bioaerosol Sampling USDA Teleconference

8. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Active viable sampler SKC – Anderson N6 USDA Teleconference

9. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” USDA Teleconference

10. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Incubated Culture plate USDA Teleconference

11. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Weather Effects • Wind speed & • Direction • Temperature • Humidity USDA Teleconference

12. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Relations with Lab Qualifications Speciation Media Choice TSA, PDA, SDA, MEA……. Data presentation USDA Teleconference

13. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Lab # Sample# Bulk Air Comments***** USDA Teleconference

14. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Lab Data Conversion CFU/m3 = Colony Forming Units * 1000 liters time in minutes * sample flow rate in liters/minute m3 For the previous page 18 CFU * 1000 l = 218 CFU/m3 3 min * 27.5 l/min m3 USDA Teleconference

15. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Local Mycology Labs USDA Teleconference

16. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Case Study – Office Suite USDA Teleconference

17. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Collection Points • Break Room • Main Lobby • Office #1 • Office #2 • Office #3 • Warehouse • Print Shop • Outside USDA Teleconference

18. #8 #4 #3 #2 #1 #5 Sampling Locations #6 #7 USDA Teleconference

19. 380NC1 Warehouse, Near Pick Area 754 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp and Alternaria sp. isolated. 380NC2 Print Shop 273 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp. and Streptomyces sp. isolated. 380-O1 Outside, NE corner of building >2800 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp. and Streptomyces sp. isolated. 380 Blank Blank No viable colonies isolated “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Results – Background and Reference USDA Teleconference

20. 2800 CFU/M3 754CFU/M3 Air Flow Patterns 273 CFU/M3 USDA Teleconference

21. 380C1 Old Break Room 325 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp. and Streptomyces sp. isolated. 380C2 Main Lobby 299 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp and Alternaria sp. isolated. 380C3 Office #1 221 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp., and Cladosporium sp. 380C4 Office #3 221 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp.,Cladosporium sp and Alternaria sp. 380C5 Office #2 182 CFU/m3 Penicilllium sp., and Cladosporium sp “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Results – Complaint Areas USDA Teleconference

22. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” The Organisms Penicillium is one of the most common molds found indoors.  Because it is so common, the source of it may not be easily identified.  It particularly likes to grow in basements on stored materials such as boxes, paper sacks, fabrics, gypsum board wall facings and cellulose ceiling tiles. Penicillium is one of the most common species found in house dust.  As such, a positive test for Penicillium in most cases carries no health significance with it.  USDA Teleconference

23. Clinical Information Clinical Information Cladosporium A genus of mold which can be found within indoor environments. Cladosporium is the most common of the so-called black molds. It produces a black pigment that protects it from ultraviolet light. This characteristic as well as its growth and dispersal characteristics is likely responsible for its presence and abundance in the environment. Cladosporium A genus of mold which can be found within indoor environments. Cladosporium is the most common of the so-called black molds. It produces a black pigment that protects it from ultraviolet light. This characteristic as well as its growth and dispersal characteristics is likely responsible for its presence and abundance in the environment. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” The Organisms Cladosporium is one of the most common mold species found in indoor and outdoor environments.  In most cases, outdoor concentrations are higher than those indoors. Cladosporium produces a black pigment so that when it grows on a surface it looks black.  Cladosporium, like all known mold species, can cause allergic sensitization in potentially sensitive individuals.  As such, it can cause chronic allergic rhinitis, asthma, and possibly fungal sinusitis. Exposures to common molds like Cladosporium pose no unique health risks to a pregnant woman or her fetus.  It may pose a risk to an asthmatic individual if they have been sensitized to Cladosporium. USDA Teleconference

24. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” The Organisms Alternaria is a fungus commonly isolated from plants, soil, food, and indoor air environment. Alternaria is often found growing on carpets, textiles and horizontal surfaces such as window frames. It is known to be a common allergen. Alternaria is commonly found in water damaged buildings, and a significant increase in its numbers compared to outdoor levels can be a sign of growth. Although Alternaria is a source of allergic reactions, pathogenic infections are also reported infrequently. USDA Teleconference

25. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” The Organisms Streptomyces species are found worldwide in soil and are important in soil ecology. Much of the characteristic earthy smell of soils arises from chemicals given off by Streptomyces species. Streptomycetes are metabolically diverse and can "eat" almost anything, including sugars, alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, and aromatic compounds.  Few species ofare pathogenic for animals, although a few species cause plant diseases. USDA Teleconference

26. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Pitfalls • Did you ever catch snakes as a kid? • Post remediation standards USDA Teleconference

27. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Questions? USDA Teleconference

28. “…and staff are complaining about allergies. They think It might be mold.” Thank you USDA Teleconference