John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH

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



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

3
and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
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

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

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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Microscopic Analysis
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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. Refere
nce NIOSH Method 800 Bioaerosol Sampling
8
and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Active viable sampler SKC Anderson N6
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
10
and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Incubated Culture plate
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Weather Effects

• Wind speed
• Direction
• Temperature
• Humidity

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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
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Lab Sample Bulk Air
Comments

3 OUTH03 x ____No fungi isolated
____ _____ ____
1 C.F.U. x Penicillin Species
17 C.F.U. X Cladosporium Species
C.F.U. Alternaria Species
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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
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Local Mycology Labs
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Case Study Office Suite
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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

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8
3
4
2
1
5
Sampling Locations
6
7
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Results Background and Reference
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2800 CFU/M3
Air Flow Patterns
754 CFU/M3
273 CFU/M3
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Results Complaint Areas
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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. 
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  Clinical Information
  Clinical Information
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.
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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.
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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 of are
pathogenic for animals, although a few species
cause plant diseases.
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Pitfalls

• Did you ever catch snakes as a kid?
• Post remediation standards

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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Questions?
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and staff are complaining about allergies.
They think It might be mold.
Thank you