Industrial Hygiene Associates
|
359 DRESHER ROAD HORSHAM, PA 19044 (215)672-6088 (215)443-0899 FAX kcrawford@eagleih.com |
Mold Testing
Eagle Industrial Hygiene, a Philadelphia, PA based company, is an AIHA accredited laboratory, and provides mold testing services for a variety of industrial, commercial, realtor and residential clients. Eagle can provide the mold testing for industrial hygienists or analyze mold samples collected by yourself or other sources. The following mold testing protocols should be used if you are collecting the samples and shipping them to our on-site accredited mold laboratory.
Surface
A surface sample may be collected by using clear scotch tape. Using a piece approximately four inches long, gently press the tape to the surface. Pressing hard will only damage the mold spores, and it will make the sample unreadable by the microbiologist. Place the tape with the mold test sample into a zip lock bag, adhering the tape to the inside of the bag.
Record the sample onto the chain of custody that can be obtained on the chain of custody page on this web site.
Air
Settle plates are not a valuable way of identifying mold problems.
The current guidelines for mold testing are to use a high volume sampler and draw a certain volume of air through and onto a media. Then deliver the collected sample to our laboratory.
Bulk Materials
Collect a piece of material that you would like analyzed, approximate a four inch by four inch piece of material. Place sample in a zip lock bag. Place in a second zip lock bag. Record on Eagle’s chain of custody, and mail the sample into our laboratory.
DIRECTIONS FOR FILLING OUT CHAIN OF CUSTODY
FOR MICRO AIR SAMPLES AND MICRO SWAB SAMPLES
- CLIENT – PLEASE FILL IN YOUR COMPANY NAME, ADDRESS, ZIP CODE
- POINT OF CONTACT - NAME OF PERSON TO CONTACT WITH RESULTS AND/OR QUESTIONS
- PHONE NUMBER – PHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBER OF CONTACT
- PROJECT ID – LOCATION OF SAMPLING, IF DIFFERENT THAN CLIENT’S ADDRESS
- REPORT NUMBER -N/A-GIVEN BY EAGLE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
- LAB NUMBER - N/A-GIVEN BY EAGLE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
- FIELD SAMPLE NUMBER – INITIAL OF PERSON TAKING SAMPLE, MONTH, DATE, AND BEGINNING SAMPLE NUMBER (ie, MH030501, MHO30502, ETC.)
- ANALYSIS REQUESTED – PUT E&S FOR BOTH AIR SAMPLES, TAPE, BULK AND SWAB SAMPLES
- DESCRIPTION – PUT A THOROUGH DESCRIPTION OF WHERE SAMPLE WAS TAKEN
- RESULTS – UNDER RESULTS PUT HOW MANY MINUTES SAMPLING WAS DONE AND AIR FLOW (ie. 3 MINS @ 24 LPM (AIR FLOW FOR SAMPLER). FOR SWAB SAMPLES PUT AREA TESTED (ie. 2in2 )
- COLLECTED BY – NAME OF PERSON TAKING SAMPLES
- RECEIVED BY/CHAIN OF CUSTODY INITIATED BY – NAME OF PERSON FILLING OUT CHAIN OF CUSTODY
- DATE&TIME – DATE AND TIME SAMPLES ARE TAKEN
- RELINQUISHED BY/DATE – NAME OF PERSON RELINQUISHING SAMPLES AND DATE (TME/RECEIVED BY NA)
- SUBMITTED TO LAB BY/DATE – METHOD OF SENDING SAMPLES (ie. US MAIL, FEDEX, UPS, ETC., INITIALS OF PERSON SUBMITTING SAMPLES AND DATE
THE REST OF CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY TO BE FILLED OUT BY EAGLE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
DO NOT SEND PLATES BACK FOR TESTING ON A FRIDAY! THE BEST WAY TO SHIP IS PRIORITY OVERNIGHT SO PLATES AND COLD PACK WILL STILL BE COOL, OTHERWISE THEY WILL HAVE GROWTH WHEN RECEIVED BY EAGLE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE, AND SAMPLES WILL BE VOIDED.
TSA FOR BACTERIA – MEA FOR FUNGI (WRITTEN ON EACH PLATE)
MICROBIAL EVALUATION AND REMEDIATION GUIDELINES
Microbial Growth in Buildings
Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) are a normal and essential component of all environments. They are needed to break down complex molecules found in organic matter. Microorganisms will grow in almost any environment if they are provided with water and a food source. they also are almost always found in outdoor air and in the soil. The types and population levels of microorganisms will vary from location to location depending on the local environmental conditions.
Microorganisms are also routinely found in the indoor environment. Doors, windows, and fresh air intakes provide easy access for microorganisms to enter the interior of buildings. People entering the building are another common pathway for introduction of microbes to the indoor environment. Under normal circumstances, the number of airborne microorganisms should be roughly the same or less than the number microorganisms found in the air outdoors.
The normal and expected population of microbial growth in the indoor air quality (IAQ) environment should not be apparent in a visual inspection of the building interior. Visible microbial growth on building surfaces is an indication of “out of balance” environmental conditions which require correction.
The presence of some microorganisms in large quantities in an indoor environment, also known as Sick Building Syndrome(SBS), may cause adverse health effects in some people. These effects may be the result of inhaling or contacting the microbes, their spores, or the toxins that certain microbes can excrete. The adverse health effects can include both illnesses, allergies or an allergic response. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, upper respiratory tract irritation and congestion, headache, malaise, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and fever.
Excessive moisture inside a building from leaks, floods, or other sources can create an environment in which the microorganism population will grow and exceed the levels found outdoors. The type and extent of the microbial growth will depend on the amount of water and available food, temperature, lighting, etc. Air and surface samples can determine the types and quantities of microbial growth in the building.
A species distribution inside a building that is different from the species distribution found in the outside environment is an indication of active microbial growth in the building. This is the result of water damage or other unwanted indoor environmental conditions.
Bio-Remediation Activities / Mold Clean Up
All of the currently available guidance documents agree that amplification, i.e. “growth” of mold on building surfaces, requires remediation. The guidance documents also agree that the sources of moisture or water damage that had permitted the growth of mold must also be eliminated. Remediation activities should be initiated if visible microbial growth is identified or when surface or air samples in the building find higher than expected microbial levels.
The goal of remediation is to remove or clean contaminated materials in a way that prevents the emission of microbes and dust contaminated with microbes from leaving the work area and entering other parts of the building. This work should be done in a way that protects the health of the workers performing the abatement and the occupants of the building.
The guiding principles in remediation are as follows:
- Identify and correct the original moisture problem that caused the microbial growth.
- Remove moldy, porous materials and remove semiporous and nonporous material whose integrity has been compromised.
- Clean contaminated surface layers of otherwise sound semiporous materials.
- Remove remaining dusts that may contain accumulated microorganisms, spores, and toxins.
Decisions to clean or remove contaminated materials are based on the type of material, the extent of the mold contamination, and the structural condition of the material. The amount of contamination and whether the material will be removed or cleaned in place determine the type and extent of controls and protection needed for the remediation work.
Nonporous (e.g., metals, glass, and hard plastics) and semiporous (e.g., wood, concrete, and plaster) materials that are structurally sound and are visibly moldy can be cleaned and reused. Cleaning should be done using a combination of a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) vacuum and a damp wipe with a detergent/disinfectant solution.
Porous materials such as ceiling tiles, insulation, and wallboard (drywall, sheetrock, or gypsum board) with more than a small area of contamination should be removed and discarded. Porous materials (e.g., wallboard and fabrics) with a small area or contamination can be cleaned, and it can be reused if the cleaning is successful. All materials to be reused should be dry and free from visible mold.
References
The following references outline guidance and additional information for the evaluation and remediation of microbial growth in buildings.- “Bioaerosals: Assessment and Control,” American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
- “Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples,” American Industrial Hygiene Association
- “Report of Microbial Growth Task Force,” American Industrial Hygiene Association
- “Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments,” New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental & Disease Epidemiology
- “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings,” U.S. EPA