Legally Defensible Strategies for Mold Investigations

Transcription

1 Legally Defensible Strategies for Mold Investigations Metro New York AIHA Bull Moose Meeting September 10, 2014 Jack Springston, CIH, CSP TRC Environmental, Inc.

2 Disclaimer The contents of this TRC presentation are intended for general purposes only. This production provides general education pertaining to microbial investigations and should not be construed as advice or a professional opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. It is advisable to consult with an environmental professional concerning any potential mold situation and any specific questions you may have.

3 Training Topics Basic science of molds Contributing factors to mold problems Common causes of water intrusion Mold investigations

4 BASIC SCIENCE OF MOLD

5 What is Mold?

6 What is Mold?

7 What is Mold?

8 What is Mold?

9 Fungi give us food and drink

10 Fungi give us medicine

11 Fungi can be found everywhere

12 Fungi can be found everywhere Outdoors: Plants and leaves Compost piles Soil Indoors: Food Plants/potting soil Wet building materials

13 Fungal Contamination in Buildings Wallboard Ceiling tiles Carpeting Wood HVAC systems

14 Types of Fungal Exposures Spores & fragments Mycotoxins Glycoproteins MVOC s

15 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO MOLD PROBLEMS

16 Fungal Growth Requirements Spores Nutrient source (aka food ) Temperature Water/moisture

17 Fungal Growth Requirements

18 COMMON CAUSES OF WATER INTRUSION

19 Sources of Moisture

20 Causes of Moisture Problems Architectural design Construction Defects Materials Building maintenance Acts of God

21 Causes of Moisture Problems

22 Causes of Moisture Problems Indoor moisture sources Air leakage Humid air that condenses on cooler surfaces

23 Moisture Migration through Walls

24 MOLD INVESTIGATIONS

25 Qualifications of the Investigator

26 Qualifications of the Investigator

27 Qualifications of the Investigator

28 Qualifications of the Investigator

29 Qualifications of the Investigator

30 Developing Hypotheses

31 Developing Hypotheses Those which address only the environment.

32 Developing Hypotheses Those which address human exposure.

33 Null Hypotheses

34 Types of Error There are two types of errors that can occur when testing a hypothesis: Type I incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis. Type II failure to reject a false null hypothesis.

35 Types of Error

36 Testing Hypotheses

37 Testing Hypotheses

38

39

40

41

42

43

44 Field Sampling Methods Air Sampling Bulk Sampling Swab Sampling

45 Air Sampling Culturable Sampling Andersen sampling Settling plates (NO!) Non-Culturable Sampling Filter cassettes Spore traps

46 Spore Traps

47 Spore Traps

48 Spore Traps

49 Bulk and Swab Sampling Piece of moldy material. Wipe/swab surface of non-porous materials. Clear sticky tape. Vacuum up settled dust.

50 Mold Sampling and Analysis Basic Principles: Culturable vs. Non-Culturable Variable Concentrations Both temporal and spatial. Different methods yield different answers Particularly true for spore trap samples!

51 Sample Results Comparison 100,000 10,000 R² = Spores/m 3 1, CFU/m 3

52 Where to Sample Collect samples in both complaint and non-complaint areas. Collect outdoor air samples near HVAC intakes or upwind of the building.

53 Number of Samples?

54 Data Interpretation There are no generally accepted standards or guidelines!

55 Data Interpretation Compare indoor vs. outdoor and/or complaint vs. noncomplaint results. Compare both total counts and the genus/species present. Compare levels relative to those found in other, similar, environments.

56 Data Interpretation

57 Data Interpretation

58 Data Interpretation Common outdoor fungi should be seen indoors in equal or lower concentrations: Cladosporium Penicillium Aspergillus Basidiomycetes Yeasts

59 Data Interpretation Signature fungi indicating wet conditions: Aspergillus fumigatus Stachybotrys Chaetomium Fusarium Ulocladium

60 Counts/m3 Data Interpretation MICROBIOLOGICAL SAMPLING RESULTS NOVEMBER 14, Basidiospores Cladosporium Asp/Pen Other Apartment Terrace Outside building Master bedroom Bedroom closet Kitchen

61 NATIONAL ALLERGY BUREAU MOLD SCALE Concentration* Level 0 Absent 1 6,499 Low 6,500 12,999 Moderate 13,000 49,999 High >50,000 Very High *- mold spores per cubic meter of air Data from

62 COMMON ACTIVITIES & THE RANGE OF TOTAL MOLD SPORE EXPOSURE (spores/m 3 ) 1,000,000 Upper range Average Lower range 100,000 10,000 1,

63 Questions? Jack Springston, CIH, CSP Senior Project Manager Building Sciences and Industrial Hygiene P: E: TRC Environmental Corporation 1430 Broadway New York, New York 10018