Forensic Analytical Environmental Services Division The Case of the Phantom Mold

Transcription

1 Forensic Analytical Environmental Services Division The Case of the Phantom Mold Interpretation of Carpet Microvacuum Results in a Litigated Matter Presented by: Ben Kollmeyer, MPH, CIH Forensic Analytical Specialties Inc.

2 Background Teacher alleges various injuries caused by environmental conditions at a school. Suit against school dismissed (worker s compensation as exclusive remedy). Focus shifts to school builders and suppliers. Focus shifts to mold and mycotoxins.

3 Environmental Setting School set in an arid climate. Rooms arranged around a central quad with exterior entrances. Teacher predominately spent time in two classrooms, 4 & 7. Predominately 7. Room 4: slab on grade, sticks & bricks. Room 7: modular at grade w/ crawlspace. Focus of claims is on room 7.

4 Environmental Data Visual observation by three different environmental consultants. Air sampling by one consultant. Microvacuum sampling by two consultants within 6 months of each other. Tapelift and swab samples by two consultants.

5 Room 7

6 Room 4

7 Room 7 Visual Findings Summary Standing water and biological growth in subgrade crawlspace. Evidence of exterior surface moisture and intrusion into entry. No elevated moisture in carpet. No visible mold. Room 4 Mold at sink separator. Mold behind baseboard.

8 Swab and Tapelift Samples Confirm visual observations. Others do not reveal elevated levels. General agreement among consultants.

9 Air Sampling Summary 2 locations in each room. Viable and non-viable samples. Variety of rooms other than 7 & 4. 4 outdoor control controls. Results do not show elevations in 4 or 7. Generally lower than outdoors. No different than other rooms. General agreement among consultants.

10 Consultant #1 cfu/100cm2 Microvacuum Results 8 samples from room 7. 6 samples from room 4. Consultant #2 cfu/g 3 samples from room 7. 3 samples from room 4.

11 Carpet Dust Studies Chao, et al (Harvard Study) Mycopathologia 154:93-106, 2001 Randomly selected office buildings. Most strongly correlated w/ age of carpet: Yeast Coelomycetes Aureobasidium Non-sporulating

12 Chew, et al Carpet Dust Studies Allergy 58:13-20, 2003 Randomly selected homes. Most common: Non-sporulating, Penicillium, Yeast More prevelant in dust than air: Yeast, Eurotium, A. versicolor

13 Horner, et al. Carpet Dust Studies Appliend & Environmental Microbiology 70: , 2004 Non-problem homes. Most common: Cladosporium Yeast Penicillium

14 Hicks, et al. Carpet Dust Studies JOEH 2: , 2005 Non-problem homes. Most common, high traffic: Cladosporium, Yeast, Penicillium, Aureobasidium Most common, low traffic: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Yeast

15 Consultant #1 Microvac Sample Results By Room - High Traffic Locations Room 7 Entry Room 4 Entry Series3 A. versicolor Aureobasidium Cladosporium Epicoccum Ocelomyces Rhodotorula Ulocladium Yeast A. sydowii Alternaria Colony Forming Units Per 100 cm2 (CFU/100cm2

16 Consultant #1 Microvac Sample Results By Room - Medium Traffic Locations Room 7 Desks Room 4 Desks Series3 A. versicolor Aureobasidium Cladosporium Epicoccum Ocelomyces Rhodotorula Ulocladium Yeast A. sydowii Alternaria Colony Forming Units Per 100 cm2 (CFU/100cm2

17 Consultant #1 Microvac Sample Results By Room - Low Traffic Locations Room 7 Corner Room 7 E Wall Room 4 N wall Series4 A. versicolor Aureobasidium Cladosporium Epicoccum Ocelomyces Rhodotorula Ulocladium Yeast A. sydowii Alternaria Colony Forming Units Per 100 cm2 (CFU/100cm2

18 Consultant #2 Microvac Sample Results By Room - High Traffic Locations 300, ,000 Colony Forming Units Per Gram (CFU/g 200, , ,000 Room 4 N. Entry Room 4 S. Entry Room 6 Entry Room 7 Entry Series5 50,000 0 Aureobasidium Cladosporium Fusarium Penicillium Phoma Yeast

19 Consultant #2 Microvac Sample Results By Room - Medium Traffic Locations 300, ,000 Colony Forming Units Per Gram (CFU/g 200, , ,000 Room 6 Center Room 7 Center Room 8 Center A Room 8 Center B Series5 50,000 0 Aureobasidium Cladosporium Fusarium Penicillium Phoma Yeast

20 Consultant #2 Microvac Sample Results By Room - Low Traffic Locations 300, ,000 Colony Forming Units Per Gram (CFU/g 200, , ,000 Room 4 Rear Room 6 Rear Room 7 Rear Room 8 Rear Room 8 Corner Series6 50,000 0 Aureobasidium Cladosporium Fusarium Penicillium Phoma Yeast

21 The Positions Plaintiff focused on the presence of elevated levels of yeast with moisture under the building as the cause. Defense found results to be typical of carpets and foot traffic patterns. Focused on moist grass outside of classrooms and lack of differences in sampling results between the two types of construction.

22 The Outcome It settled before trial (of course). Both sides equally unhappy (supposedly).

23 Interpretation of Mvac Results Quantitative.less valuable Extremely variable. Highly dependent upon how sample is collected. Commonly used numerical values (i.e., 100K cfu/g) not very reliable. Focus on comparative samples.

24 Interpretation of Mvac Results Qualitative.more valuable Compare to genera/species commonly found in non-problem buildings. Compare to known growth reservoirs. Visual.most valuable If there is mold exposure, show me the mold.

25 Thank You! We Make Experts Forensic Analytical Specialties, Inc.