Mold, Bacteria and other Microbiological Assessments

Click here to see the Mold Photo Gallery

Microbiological Assessments Mold Growth Assessments Water Releases Sewage Spills Endotoxin Contamination Allergen Sampling Odor-Cause Investigation Moisture Intrusion Assessments Mitigation Work Plans and Removal Management Litigation Support "We have hired 1Source for cause and origin assistance, preliminary and clearance testing for the presence of mold, and for help with damage remediation. In each situation, 1Source, and in particular, Harry Neill, CIH, has professionally and capably handled the situation. Harry always explains the science involved, often diffuses myths and calmly keeps all parties informed along the way."   - Regional Adjuster,  Major Insurance Company

Mold growth and amplification and water intrusion are typically associated together. As such, we utilize advanced infrared camera technology to assist in moisture detection. When present in the environment, molds and bacteria have been linked to specific symptoms and diseases. The IAQ professionals at 1Source have addressed mold and bacterial contamination, growth and amplification in various settings including schools, hospitals, commercial buildings and homes.  For more information about particular molds, please go to our Mold Photo Gallery. What immediate action steps must be taken? Conduct initial sampling and moisture assessment Interpret laboratory data, findings and potential for health issues Develop options for remediation and control Provide information to manage concerns Develop work plans and work with remediation contractor Clearance sampling 1Source Safety and Health professionals provide: Microbiological Growth Investigations and Assessments Moisture Intrusion Assessments Water and Sewage Spills Assessments Odor Cause and Source Investigations Health Issues and Disease Cluster Assessments Pre-Existing Loss Identification Remediation Work Plans and Removal Management Litigation Support and Expert Testimony Scientific Support for Insurance Claims Following the assessment, our staff develops site-specific plans and work plans for mitigation of the mold and bacteria and their potential hazards. For your protection, 1Source professionals oversee the entire mitigation process. Clearance samples are taken to confirm that the potential hazards have been effectively removed. The 1Source team of professionals can also provide consulting services to prevent the reoccurrence of mold growth. Click here to see the Mold Photo Gallery Need more information, or a proposal?  Please click on Information Request, or contact Harry M. Neill, CIH Vice President Indoor Air Quality and Industrial Hygiene at 888.873.9983, Ext. 15 or hneill@1ssh.com.

Featured Articles:

Mold – What You Need to Know

What causes mold growth and what kinds of problems can result from mold growth in a building?

Mold growth in buildings is caused by moisture: liquid flow (a leak), high humidity/condensation, and/or capillary action (moisture through a block wall). Excess moisture can deteriorate structural components, adversely affect HVAC systems, and cause mold (fungal) and bacterial growth. The mold and bacterial growth in structures and within HVAC systems is not hygienic and can cause health problems and impact building systems operations.

What are some of the common health symptoms associated with mold and bacterial exposure in buildings?

Health effects associated with mold (fungi) include infection, allergy, and toxic and irritant effects. Common complaints from occupants in problem buildings include headache, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, skin rashes, asthma, general malaise, and central nervous system effects. Some molds are pathogenic and actually grow in and on people.

What should be done if musty, earthy, mushroom, and other mold like odors are perceived?

1Source Safety and Health (1Source) can conduct a survey to check for recent moisture intrusion and materials that have been wet. Mold growth can be hidden in the structure of the building. 1Source will perform a visual inspection and sampling survey for the presence of microbiological contamination or growth and recommend a strategy and program to effectively solve the problem.

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Litigation Support for Mold Cases

The mitigating and controllable factor of mold growth in structures and HVAC systems is moisture. Moisture can be in the form of liquid flow (e.g., leaking pipe, inadequate flashing or window details, or floods), condensation/high-humidity conditions (e.g., due to subcooling of room surfaces or excessive outdoor air humidity introduction), capillary action (e.g., moisture through block walls in a basement) or vapor transmission (e.g., through wall assemblies due to negative pressure of the building envelope).

The resulting mold growth can be obvious, such as in the case of dewpoint temperatures being reached on room surfaces due to sub-cooling causing visible mold growth in open-area surfaces. Mold growth can also be hidden, such as a slow leak of a pipe within a wall assembly or vapor transmission in a wall assembly being trapped and condensing behind vinyl wall covering due to building envelope negative pressure. In either case, mold growth will deteriorate building materials, cause wood decay, adversely affect HVAC systems, potentially expose building occupants, and ultimately increase your liability and risk.

The common causes of moisture incursion and ultimately mold growth include

• Construction defects
• Design defects
• Building system operational parameters
• Lack of maintenance
• Lack of building protection during construction
• Accidental water releases
• Weather

Other causes of mold growth include improper or incomplete remediation, lack of quick response, and insufficient response to a water release.

Mold growth in structures can result in

• Bodily injury claims
• Designer errors and omissions claims
• Property damage claims
• Negligence claims
• Business interruption and lost revenue
• Workers’ compensation claims

As you can see, mold issues are multifaceted. As such, the evaluation team needs to be as equally multifaceted. Team members and their roles include

Industrial Hygienists – Perform moisture tests and sampling, assess exposure potential, gather environmental information for medical analysis, define extent of mold impacts, provide opinions on causation, remediation plans, scope, and damages apportionment opinions

Mechanical and Structural Engineers – Perform forensic engineering analysis of structure, HVAC air and water-side systems for moisture sources/causes, pathways, and driving forces, and provide damages apportionment opinions

Occupational Health Physician – Provide medical opinion on health symptoms as they relate to environmental conditions

Remediation Contractor – Develop cost estimates for remediation and damages

Mycologist/Microbiologist – Provide analysis of samples and opinions on the ecology of mold-forming organisms for causation analysis

1Source Safety and Health has provided litigation support for both plaintiff and prosecutors in mold cases ranging from insurance-related residential basement hot-water tank releases to multistory hotel construction defects cases.

Depending on the case, one or all members of the evaluation team may be needed. Please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH, Vice President of Indoor Air Quality and Industrial Hygiene, if you would like to discuss your particular case at 888-873-9983, ext 15 or hneill@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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Sewage Contamination Evaluation

Sewage contamination can arise from pipe leaks or breaks, drain or toilet backups, and even flood waters. Sewage is often referred to as “black water,” which is grossly unsanitary and contains pathogenic agents such as bacteria and viruses, body fluids, feces, and possibly blood and other contaminants. As such, it is critical that no one comes in contact with sewage contamination unless he or she is fully trained and protected. Do not allow personnel to walk through the affected area as this will spread the contamination and increase the exposure potential.

Secondary contaminants can arise out of black water sources, affecting building materials in the indoor environment if the sewage contamination is not identified and addressed quickly, i.e., within 24 hours. These secondary contaminants include mold and bacterial growth on damaged building materials and endotoxin generation, which arises from the bacterial contamination.

When a sewage incident occurs, in order to evaluate the extent of the areas affected by sewage contamination and the secondary contaminants, an immediate response is critical – through visual observation, moisture content testing and sampling for “markers” of sewage contamination. Development of remediation plans for immediate cleanup are virtually mandatory.

Trained professionals should perform the cleanup activities using appropriate personal protective equipment, cleaners, disinfectants and sanitizers. In general terms, porous materials directly contacted by black water should be discarded. Nonporous surfaces and contents are typically cleaned and disinfected. Semiporous surfaces, such as concrete and finished wood furniture, can be cleaned although some harmless staining may remain. Valuable documents or contents can be addressed on a case-by-case basis to protect their integrity as well as those individuals who will handle them in the future.

Upon completion of the cleanup activities, we strongly recommend a post-cleaning evaluation that includes sampling for certain bacteria and other contaminants to check the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection processes.

1Source has the experience and the professionals to assist clients in addressing sewage contamination quickly and effectively, which reduces the potential for health concerns, property damage, business interruption and liabilities. For additional information, please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH Vice President at 888-873-9983, ext. 15, or hneill@1ssh.com.

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What You Should Know About Mold During Construction

The cost impacts when mold growth occurs during construction can be huge. A recent settlement in California for roof leaks was made for $33,000, and an $11.5 million claim was made against an architect, construction manager and subcontractors in Florida.

The primary reason for mold growth during a construction project is uncontrolled moisture incursion in the form of liquid flow, condensation, high humidity and/or capillary action that dampens building materials. Inspections for moisture incursion and a quick response are necessary, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other sources have indicated that mold growth can start in as little as 24 to 48 hours after building materials become wet.

Some major causes of mold growth during construction include:

• Site Issues: poor site drainage, inadequate building protection, water buildup in basements and crawlspaces, and stored building materials that get wet.
• Product Issues: primarily wood members with “lumber yard” or sap-stain molds.
• Procedural Issues: the “shrug it off and build it” mentality when moisture incursion occurs.
  
• Design Issues: design flaws or construction defects that allow moisture incursion.

Site, product and procedural issues are immediately recognizable and can even be addressed proactively to prevent moisture incursion and mold growth from occurring in the first place. Design flaws, when discovered, should be immediately documented to the owner and designer. When construction defects resulting in moisture incursion are recognized they should be immediately addressed for liability reduction. The longer moisture incursion is allowed to occur the more extensive the mold growth will be. Remember, there is always the potential for hidden mold growth within wall, ceiling and floor assemblies, or in “layers” of construction (e.g., multiple layers of drywall or vinyl wall coverings) that may not be apparent after a water incursion event.

Proactive measures include developing moisture control strategies and response plans for the site and building. Having water pumps, fans, dehumidifiers and wet vacuums readily available to clean up after water events, or access to a professional drying contractor, will help reduce the potential for mold growth. Construction materials, particularly porous materials, drywall and wood, need to be protected and stored in a dry location. Contractual arrangements can be made with lumber suppliers regarding moisture content and what will be done with lumber showing visible signs of mold growth.

1Source has successfully managed active moisture incursion and mold growth during construction projects ranging from residential homes and hotels to multifloor healthcare buildings, and can assist building owners, contractors, construction managers and architects in developing proactive plans for the control of moisture and mold growth and reduce your liability potential. We can also perform proactive inspections, assess the potential for hidden mold growth and develop remediation plans should mold growth occur.

Remember, mold growth during construction can result in costly delays as well as future liabilities. Please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH, regarding this topic at 888-873-9983, ext. 15, or  hneill@1ssh.com.

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Proactive Building Moisture and Mold Evaluations

Buildings with moisture problems pose health risks for the occupants. Moisture not only degrades building materials but also can cause microbiological growth, including a wide variety of bacteria and molds. Mold growth is not necessarily the problem, it is the symptom – moisture is the problem. Moisture affects buildings and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in the form of liquid (pipe and water tank leaks, sewage backups, floods) but also in the form of high humidity/vapor (condensation and/or related to HVAC system operations) or capillary action (in below-grade areas). Liquid moisture is the most obvious, causing mold growth on impacted building materials. High humidity or vapor transmission is less obvious and can cause “hidden mold growth.”

The best defense against mold growth in buildings is moisture control. And in the event of a moisture release, a quick and thorough response is necessary to prevent mold growth. The thought process is that a quick response is simply a water restoration/cleanup project, but a delay that leaves building materials wet turns a water restoration/cleanup project into a mold remediation project.

First, 1Source Safety and Health, Inc., conducts building investigations for past or current moisture-related problems by gathering a “moisture history” of the structure through interviews with key building management and maintenance staff. Then, 1Source makes visual observations and boroscope inspections; takes photographs; records moisture content, temperature and relative humidity readings; uses an infrared camera to detect hidden moisture; and finally collects baseline air and dust samples for molds. If necessary, 1Source utilizes our partner structural and mechanical engineers and architects for building envelope, roof assembly or HVAC systems evaluations.

Training programs are also developed for facilities or maintenance staff for immediate response actions to moisture events to prevent mold problems and to have a clear identification of roles and responsibilities and the necessary outside resources.

In the event that a large moisture release or mold growth occurs, 1Source Safety and Health, Inc., also provides project management for water restoration and mold remediation and post remediation evaluation services.

For additional information or to request a proposal, please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH at 888-873-9983, ext. 15, or hneill@1ssh.com.

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