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AMS performs
residential
and complete mold testing. See our
IAQ page for information on
sampling and analysis.
Unlike most bacteria and yeasts, molds are “spore” forming. Spores
allow molds to remain viable for long periods of time. This is true
even if conditions are not conducive to growth. In fact, adverse
conditions that would kill bacteria and yeast, can be survived by
spores. This allows spores to remain present while waiting for the
proper growth conditions.
Microbial contamination can be from a single species to complex
consortiums or groups with many different species. They can also
have a mix of bacteria, yeast and mold. As each contamination site
is different, the assemblage of organisms will also be different.
Black mold on surfaces can be worrisome to people due to the
coverage that Stachybotrys has gotten in the press. This
organism produces spores that contain toxins. Killing these spores
will ensure that the mold will not grow, but toxins will remain
until the spores are removed. Aspergillus, which can also be
black, is a notorious organism as well. Aspergillus niger is
actually a more well known opportunistic pathogenic than the others,
due to its’ ability to cause lung disease in debilitated people.
Cladosporium and Penicilium are known for causing
allergic reactions and are found many places. Histoplasma
capsulatum and Coccidiodes immitus can be very pathogenic
but are rarely seen and are not normally isolated from indoor air
samples. Coccidiodes is usually seen in desert environments.
It caused infections in hundreds of people after the Northridge
earthquake, evidently due to the upheaval of so much desert ground.
Cryptococcus neoformans is the yeast of most concern and is
usually associated with pigeon feces. Facility engineers should be
cautious when cleaning feces off equipment on roofs. |
