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Investigative services are needed when there are
individuals with similar health symptoms, a "cluster",
or a disproportionate number of diseases in a building
or a common workplace. Along with our partners, Board
Certified Occupational Health Physician, Elissa Ann Favata,
MD, building systems engineers, and PhD. microbiologists
to perform the evaluations, 1Source professionals will
identify or rule out the potential contributors or the
cause and origin of a building related disease or illness
clusters. 1Source also provides expert witness services.
Need more information, or a proposal? Please click
on
Information Request, or contact Harry M. Neill, CIH Vice President Air Quality and Industrial Hygiene at
888.873.9983, Ext. 15 or
hneill@1ssh.com. |
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Featured Articles:
Health Issues: What You Should Know About Birds and Bats
 Buildings are the preferred roosting and nesting spots for many types of birds such as pigeons, sparrows and starlings, as well as for bats. Interestingly, while these birds are typically solitary nesters and do not form and develop colonies, bats on the other hand do form colonies that can be very large and cause significant impacts on a building’s structure and on the health of its occupants from the following organisms:
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Chlamydophila psittaci
 Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) and is transmitted to humans by airborne spores from pigeon and starling droppings as well as bats. Infection occurs when spores, carried by the air, are inhaled.
Most infections are mild and produce either no symptoms or a minor influenza-like illness. On occasion, the disease can cause high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia and even death.
The disease-causing fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is primarily found in accumulations of pigeon droppings around roosting and nesting sites, for example, attics, cupolas, ledges and water towers. The fungus has been found in as much as 84 percent of samples taken from old roosts.
Even when old and dry, bird droppings can be a significant source of infection. Like histoplasmosis, most cryptococcosis infections are mild and may be without symptoms. Persons with weakened immune systems, however, are more susceptible to infection.
Chlamydophila psittaci is a bacteria that can cause infection when a person inhales organisms that have been aerosolized from dried feces or from the respiratory tract secretions of infected birds. Psittacosis is the disease caused by the Chlamydophila organism. This disease is rare and not as common as histoplasmosis or cryptococcosis. It is noteworthy that avian influenza viruses typically do not infect humans; however, several instances of human infections and outbreaks of avian influenza have been reported since 1997. No infections in humans have occurred in the United States. It is interesting to note that fungi and bacteria that grow on residue (droppings, food, feathers, etc.) left by birds and bats are more of a health hazard to the occupants of buildings than is the avian flu. This is primarily due to the fact that fungi, bacteria, dust mites and other organisms thrive in the residue.
 In addition to the specific diseases, droppings, feathers, food and dead birds and bats under a roosting area result in bacteria and mold growth, harbor dust mites, and can breed flies, and other insects that may become major problems in the immediate area and can result in significant air quality concerns and issues.
For more information on this topic please contact Chris Schneider, CIH, at 888-873-9983, ext. 14, or cschneider@1ssh.com.
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Endotoxins: Related to Water Damage
 Gram-negative bacteria are common in the environment, particularly in water or on water damaged building materials and in areas where mold growth has occurred. As part of their life cycle, gram-negative bacteria produce endotoxins during growth, division, death and lysis. Consequently, endotoxins are commonly found in water associated with floods and chronic leaks. Additionally, significant levels of endotoxins have been reported in contaminated ventilation systems, sumps, humidifiers, wastewater treatment plants and even in swimming pools.
Levels of endotoxins have been associated with indoor air quality complaints and certain respiratory diseases in many types of buildings. In addition, employees in occupational settings where organic dusts or water-containing endotoxins are aerosolized are at a greater risk of exposure and consequently of contracting certain respiratory diseases.
Inhaled endotoxins have been associated with many pulmonary diseases. Endotoxins have been thought to be responsible for the adverse health effects after inhalation of organic dusts. Some inhalation studies showed that endotoxins can cause fever, cough, dyspnea, headache, nose and throat irritation, diffuse aches, nausea, shortness of breath and chest tightness, acute air flow obstruction and airway inflammation. Endotoxin exposure may also result in reduced lung function. In the indoor environment, chest tightness, mild fever, and flu-like symptoms experienced by building occupants may be associated with endotoxin exposure.
Endotoxins can be isolated from air, water and dusts with air sampling being the most common way to assess exposure.
Endotoxins are very stable in the environment and are not destroyed by heat or chemical treatments. Therefore, controlling water sources and growth of gram-negative bacteria are the primary means of reducing exposure. Removal of contaminated sources and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuuming of dusts helps to reduce accumulated endotoxins and to minimize potential health effects.
Please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH at 888-873-9983 ext. 15 to discuss any questions regarding endotoxins.
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