Indoor Air Quality Webinar Mold: • What it is • Health Effects • Sampling • Data Interpretation EMLab P&K Will begin at 9:00 a.m. (PST). Participants will be in listen only mode. Download the PDF of this presentation (case sensitive): http://www.emlab.com/m/media/CET-webinar-day1.pdf
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Indoor Air Quality Webinar - EMLab P&K · 2013-02-05 · Indoor Air Quality Webinar Mold: • What it is • Health Effects • Sampling • Data Interpretation EMLab P&K Will begin
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Indoor Air Quality WebinarMold:
• What it is
• Health Effects
• Sampling
• Data Interpretation
EMLab P&K
Will begin at 9:00 a.m. (PST). Participants will be in listen only mode.
Download the PDF of this presentation (case sensitive):http://www.emlab.com/m/media/CET-webinar-day1.pdf
• Excrete enzymes into the environment• Enzymes aid in digestion of carbohydrates and proteins into soluble
units• Soluble sugars and amino acids are absorbed into the fungal cell• Cell uses these foods to produce energy. • Steps in the production of energy lead to the production of
Soft-Rot Fungi• Degrade cellulose and hemicellulose• Early stages of wood decay• High moisture and increased nitrogen content• Wood affected by soft rot may appear wet, spongy, or pitted. • 300 species of known soft-rot fungi. • Cephalosporium, Acremonium, and Chaetomium
Wood Rot Fungi
Major Components of Wood• Cellulose 40-50%• Hemicellulose 25-40%• Lignin 20-35%• Fungal spores do not germinate
readily on wood that has a moisture content below the fiber saturation point, around 25-30%.
Brown-Rot Fungi• Degrading cellulose and hemicellulose• Lignin remains intact and appears as a brown, crumbly matrix• Less than 6% of all wood-decay fungi• Basidiomycota (the mushrooms)
Wood Rot Fungi
Major Components of Wood• Cellulose 40-50%• Hemicellulose 25-40%• Lignin 20-35%
White-Rot (Dry Rot) Fungi• Degrade all the major components of wood (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin).• Wood to become progressively more fragile over time.• Most are macro fungi that produce visible reproductive structures such as mushrooms.
Wood Rot Fungi
Major Components of Wood• Cellulose 40-50%• Hemicellulose 25-40%• Lignin 20-35%
Information on other fungi is available online at: www.EMLab.com
Ceratocystis/Ophiostoma Group
Distribution Allergen Growth Indoors Characteristics: Growth/Culture
Ubiquitous; cosmopolitan. Approx. 56 species, both genera.
Not studied. Persons most likely to be affected would be lumberyard workers or carpenters.
Most homes built with lumber have areas of growth on wood framing inside walls.
Some species may grow on specialized laboratory media. Asexual forms grow on general fungal media.
Where Found Potential Opportunist or Pathogen
Industrial Uses Notes on Spore Trap Recognition
Commercial lumber, tree and plant pathogen.
Not reported to infect humans or animals. A connection between Ophiostoma and the human pathogen Sporothrixschenckii has been proposed but not confirmed.
None known. Not identifiable on spore trap slides. On rare occasions the spores of Gonatobotryum, which grows parasitically on Ceratocystis, are seen on spore trap samples (an indirect indication of the presence of this group of fungi).
Mode of Dissemination Potential Toxin Production Other Comments Notes on Tape Lift Recognition
Wet spore. Insects. None listed. Ophiostoma ulmi is the cause of Dutch Elm Disease.
Distinctive fruiting bodies with long necks are identifiable on tape lifts.
Ascomycetes with multiple asexual forms: Graphium, Leptographium, Sporothrix-like anamorphs, Chalara.
• Comments– Medical groups should not rely on reviews
for position papers, only the published peer reviewed research literature.
– Courts should not decide scientific relevance of scientific literature. Position papers are consensus documents of experts in the field, and should be considered authoritative.
– Just because scientists are often defense witnesses does not mean they do not know the facts. Experts are hired because they do know the facts. These same experts would be used by the plaintiffs if the facts fit their cases.
– The fact remains that the exposure models are relevant and there is no good evidence for mycotoxin inhalation disease
• Kim et al., Indoor Air 2007; 17: 153–163• Pini et al.,2008• Tucker et al., Indoor Air 2007; 17: 153–163• Burr et al., Thorax 2007;62:767–772.• Fisk et al., Indoor Air 2007; 17: 284–296• Holck et al., 2007 Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology 101, 455–
695–704• Wang et al., Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2007: 18: 441–447• Park et al., Environ Health Perspect 116:45–50 (2008). • Glass et al., Gen Dent. 2007 Sep-Oct;55(5):4a36-40 • Sautour et al., J Hosp Infect. 2007 Dec;67(4):367-73.
• Tapes:– Very good for most surfaces– Very poor for cultures– Poor results on wet surfaces– Try to leave a “tab” or “handle” for the lab
• Bulks:– Keep small (2” x 2”)– Can do direct exam (generally recommended)– Good for cultures
• Swabs:– Good for places that are hard to reach– Last choice for direct exam (try tape or bulk first)– Good for cultures– Ship for overnight delivery– Ship with a cold pack (especially if sampling for
Note: It is important that the lab is achieving the primary and secondary purposes - i.e., they are differentiating between mold growth, odd distributions, and normal fallout.
Tape Surface Sampling with Microscopy
Primary purpose: Determine whether mold is or has been growing on the surface and, if so, what typesSecondary purpose: Note a skewing of the normal distribution of spore typesPros:
– Shows exactly what is there– Can be rushed (analyzed immediately)– Can differentiate between mold growth and normal fallout (important)
Cons:– Surface growth does not provide information on airborne spore levels– Cannot differentiate between some spore types– Cannot assess current viability (usually not important)– Areas with minimal growth may be missed if there is high background debris
Note: The most accurate results are obtained by using multiple media and multiple dilutions• Fungi do not have to be viable to cause allergic responses or cause other irritation• Surface growth does not provide information about airborne spore levels• It is important for the lab to use: Multiple media types and multiple dilutions
Culturable Surface Sampling
Pros:• Assesses viability• Differentiates Aspergillus and Penicillium• Permits further speciation if required
Cons:• Surface growth does not provide information on airborne
spore levels• Misses fungi that:
– Are not viable– Do not compete well– Do not germinate on the media provided
• Results may not reflect what was actually growing on the surface
Numerical Guidelines:• No widely accepted standards
exist for any type of fungal sampling (surface, dust, aerosol)
In 1986, 1987, and 1989, the ACGIH published proposed numerical guidelines for interpretation. In 1999, they took them back. It is unlikely that scientifically valid, widely accepted, numerical guidelines will exist in the near future.
Air samples:• It is helpful to compare the inside and outside
air if false positive and negatives are considered.
• The inside sample “should” have:– Generally lower quantities– Same fungal types– Same basic distribution– Look for an order of magnitude difference– Look for “indicator fungal types”– Consider exchange rates of the indoor air with
the outside– Consider activity levels, inside and out– Consider weather– Consider concentrations of the fungi present
• With limited outdoor sampling, one needs a database with which to evaluate the representativeness of data
• We have developed the MoldRangeTM, which is a database compiled from over 100,000 outdoor spore trap samples collected across the country and throughout the year.
• The MoldRangeTM data base is also useful for research on the outdoor aerosol– Geographic and seasonal prevalence of certain spore types– Factors influencing prevalence
• Because the data base is continually updated, we can also compare changes in prevalence by local, season, and taxonover time.
• Sampling and regulatory guidelines for: fungi, asbestos, bacteria, and allergens
• Updated MoldRange™ data from over 260,000 spore trap samples
• Data interpretation guidelines
To order a complimentary Pocket Guide, complete the survey after the webinar. The “Thank you” email (sent an hour after the webinar) will include a link to the survey to order your Pocket Guide.
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Accreditation: A formalized recognition that a facility meets the AIHA, or other accrediting authorities, policy requirements to carry out defined tasks or specific types of tests. See also Certification.
Accredited Laboratory: A testing laboratory that has been evaluated and granted accreditation covering a specified measurement or task, usually for a specific property or analyze, and for a specified period of time.
Accuracy: The degree of agreement between an observed value and an accepted reference value or statistically defined criteria. Accuracy includes a combination of precision and bias. See Precision and Bias.
Agar: Musilagenous substance (galactan) extracted from some algae used to grow fungi and bacteria.
Aliquot: See Subsample.
Analysis: A qualitative or quantitative determination of a substance or material.
Analytical Method: A standardized set of procedures required to prepare a sample for analysis and analyze a sample to obtain a qualitative or quantitative determination. See also Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Approved Signatory: A person who is recognized by the laboratory as competent to adopt SOP’s, approve change control documents and other internal QC documents, verify the integrity of results, and introduce policies related to Quality Assurance.
Audit Trail: A process of documentation that allows for the tracking of a sample through the laboratory, including the time, date, and identification of the individual(s) responsible for performing an action during the receiving, log-in, sample preparation, and analysis of a sample. See also Sample Tracking.
Autoclave: A device that sterilizes using pressurized steam for a prescribed time period. Generally autoclaves run at 121º C and 15 PSI. Autoclaving allows for sterilization at lower temperatures than dry heat.
Bacterium (pl. bacteria): Heterogenous group of unicellular prokaryotic organisms.
Bacteriology: The scientific study of bacteria.
Bias: A systematic error manifested as a consistent positive or negative deviation from the known true value.
Bioaerosol: Airborne particles that are either alive or originate from living organisms. Bioaerosols include microorganisms (i.e. culturable, non-culturable, and dead microorganisms) and fragments, toxins, and particulate waste products from all varieties of living things.
Biohazard: An object that contains infectious or dangerous organisms, or any object that contains an inordinate amount of organisms.
Blank: An unexposed sampling media or reagent(s), not taken to the field or shipped, but carried through the complete sample preparation and analytical procedure. The blank is used to assess possible background contamination from the analytical process.
Blind Sample: A sample submitted for analysis with a composition and identity known to the submitter, but unknown to the analyst, and used toevaluate proficiency in the execution of the measurement process.
Bulk Sample: Any non-liquid, solid matrix submitted for analysis that cannot be categorized as a soil, dust, or spore trap. Some examples of bulks include carpet, drywall, carpet backing, particleboard, wood, etc. Ideally bulks samples should be reported as a surface area instead of a unit of mass.
Calibration: To determine, by measurement or comparison with a standard, the correct setting on a meter or other instrument. See Calibration curve.
Calibration Curve: A graphical relationship between the known values for a series of calibration standards and instrument responses. The levels ofthe calibration standards should bracket the range of measurements.
Certification: Procedure by which a third party gives written assurance that the process of testing and evaluating against specifications designed to document, verify and recognize the competence of a person, organization, or other entity to perform a function or service conforms to specified requirements. See Accreditation.
Certified Reference Material (CRM): A reference material that has one or more of its property values established by a technically valid procedure, and is accompanied by or traceable to a certificate or other documentation issued by a certifying body. See Reference material.
Chain of Custody: An unbroken trail of records that documents the location of samples, associated data, and records. See also Audit Trail.
Change Control (CC): The process by which changes are made to any controlled document that defines procedures, processes, products, etc. The process involves formally updating all associated documents and officially removing and archiving all the non-updated versions of the document.
Client: Any person or organization that engages the services of the laboratory.
Communications: Transmission of information by any means including verbal, mail, and electronic.
Computer Records: Files containing data that can be retrieved when needed and documentation of alterations to data. Computer records should not allow unauthorized access to data or the undocumented amendment of data.
Conclusion: A determination based on the analysis and interpretation of data collected from the testing of a hypothesis. See also Hypothesis Testing.
Contamination: The introduction of non-indigenous organisms or substances into an environment, or the introduction of organisms or substances into a previously sterile environment.
Control Chart: A graph of some measurement plotted over time or sequence of sampling, together with control limit(s) and, usually, a central line and warning limit(s).
Corrective Action: A process that addresses a Work Out of Specification, Client Contact, or Continuous Improvement event that is rated as significant by the management team and requires a change to the way a process or the work is performed, or an adaptation to the Quality Control System associated with the step or process.
Culturable Air Analysis: A technique that assesses the amount of viable organisms present in the air. The technique allows for the differentiation of Penicillium and Aspergillus species, and permits further speciation when required. The technique misses fungi that are not viable, do not compete well, or do not germinate on the selected medium.
Direct Examination (Surface) Analysis: A technique that assesses whether mold is growing on a surface, and if there is mold growth, what organisms are present. A direct exam also notes if there is skewing of the distribution of mold types. The technique shows exactly what is found on the surface and can differentiate between growth and normal fallout. The technique cannot differentiate between certain spore types, does not assess the airborne levels of spores, or give any information about the viability of organisms.
Document Control: A system of protecting the integrity of processes and systems in the laboratory by uniquely identifying and monitoring the alteration to documents within the laboratory. New documents and revisions or changes to documents are signed for authorization by a designated signatory before implementation in the laboratory. See also Approved Signatory.
Duplicate Analyses: The analyses or measurements of the variable of interest performed identically on two sub-samples of the same sample. The results from duplicate analyses are used to evaluate analytical or measurement precision but not the precision of sampling, preservation or storage internal to the laboratory.
Duplicate Samples: Two samples taken from and representative of the same population and carried through all steps of the sampling and analytical procedures in an identical manner. Duplicate samples are used to assess variance of the total method including sampling and analysis.
Dust Sample: A sample matrix generally collected using a vacuum device and a cassette, or other collection device, containing a filter or filtering matrix. Typically dust samples are reported per unit of area vacuumed or per unit mass.
Endotoxins: Toxins that are confined inside the microorganisms and released only when microorganisms are broken down or die.
Environmental Microbiology: The area of microbiology that focuses on the biology, physiology, ecology and sampling and analysis of microorganisms inhabiting or affecting air, water, soil and other natural or man-made substances and/or systems in a variety of work environments, and that may contribute to adverse health effects.
EMLab P&K Accreditation Program (EMLAP): This AIHA program is intended for the accreditation of environmental microbiology laboratories.
Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing (EMPAT): Required proficiency testing program in the core business of an EMLabP&K .
Equipment: All physical items (including software and instruments) in a facility used in the process of analytical testing.
Equipment Log: A chronological record of preventive and emergency maintenance performed on an analytical instrument. The logs include a record of calls, service technician summaries, records of calibration by the manufacturer, and other information as required by these policies.
Facility: A permanent, temporary or mobile operation established for the purpose of performing laboratory testing.
Field Blank: An analyte-free matrix (i.e. spore trap cassette, media plate, tape, etc.) carried to the sampling site, kept sealed or un-exposed throughout the sampling process, returned to the laboratory, treated as a sample, and carried through all steps of the analysis.
Fungus (pl. fungi): Eukaryotic organisms without plastids, nutrition absorptive, never phagotrophic, lacking an amoeboid pseudopodial phase.
Hardcopy: Information or data recorded on a paper form or other physical document. See also Computer Records and Single Strike Out
Hypothesis Testing: The process of developing a tentative explanation that accounts for a set or facts that is either proved or disproved by subsequent investigation.
Incubation period: The time between inoculation and the development of visible symptoms
Industrial Hygiene Experience: A person’s history of onsite evaluation of a variety of occupational environments to include inspection, monitoring, laboratory analysis and control recommendations regarding actual or potential occupational exposure to conditions likely to result in adverse health effects.
Instrument: A device used for observation or measurement that yields test results.
Intra-analyst Comparisons: A method for measuring and improving analyst precision, and to a certain extent accuracy, by having multiple analysts analyze one sample. Raw counts are statistically analyzed to determine the degree of variance in counting amongst analysts.
Internal Quality Control: Routine activities and checks, such as periodic calibrations, duplicate analyses, and intra-analyst comparisons, that are performed during routine internal procedures to control the accuracy and precision of measurements.
Laboratory: A place within a permanent, mobile or temporary facility used for the purpose of analysis.
Laboratory Assessment: An onsite evaluation of a laboratory for the purpose of conducting a technical systems audit to assess compliance with AIHA accreditation requirements.
Laboratory Accreditation Committee (LAC): A group of qualified individuals responsible for carrying out the technical business of an AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP). Each individual LAP will have an LAC.
Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee (LQAC): General term referring to one or more committee(s) associated with any analytical program.
Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (LQAP): General term referring to any AIHA program or programs established to maintain the highest possible standards of performance for analysts and/or laboratories analyzing samples and evaluating exposures to hazardous agents.
Lot: A set of samples submitted together for laboratory analysis that can be treated as one or more batches. Lot may also refer to a batch of sampling media or reagents manufactured at the same time.
Matrix: The component or substrate (e.g., spore trap, air or bulk) that contains the analyte of interest.
Method Detection Limit (MDL): The minimum concentration of an analyte that, in a given matrix and with a specific method, has a 99 percent probability of being identified, qualitatively or quantitatively measured, and reported to be greater than zero.
Method Performance: A general term used to document the characteristics of a method. These characteristics usually include method detection limits, linearity, precision, accuracy and bias and uncertainty of measurement. See Acceptance limits.
Microfungus: A fungus whose morphological features are visible by high magnification compound microscope. e.g. Cladosporium, Aspergillus etc.
Mold: A microfungus having a well-marked mycelium or spore mass; a subset of fungi.
Mushroom: A fleshy basidioma, usually stalked and with a cap (pileus) beneath which gills or fleshy tubes are covered or lined with the hymenium.
Mycology: The scientific study of fungi.
Mycotoxins: Secondary metabolites (toxin) produced by fungi.
Policy: An organization’s written statement of commitment to implement a management program element.
Precision: The degree to which a set of observations or measurements of the same property, usually obtained under similar conditions, conform to themselves. Precision is often expressed as standard deviation, variance or range, in either absolute or relative terms.
Preventive Action: A planned activity to identify, recognize and control potential sources of nonconformance.
Procedure: A written set of instructions that describes how to implement a policy requirement, or how to carry out a specific task
Proficiency Testing: Refers to any proficiency analytical testing program(s), such as the programs established under the
Quality: A characteristic of a high standard of service including reliability and traceability.
Quality Assurance: An integrated system of activities involving planning, quality control, quality assessment, reporting, and quality improvement to ensure a product or service meets defined standards of quality within a stated level of confidence.
Quality Assurance Coordinator: See Quality manager.
Quality Control (QC): Technical activities whose purpose is to measure and control the quality of a product or service so that it meets the needs of users. The aim is to provide quality that is satisfactory, adequate, dependable and economical.
Quality Manager: The manager of the quality system. The quality manager is independent of the analyst (for a specific sample set) and reports directly to the highest level of management.
Quality Manual: A document stating the quality policy, quality system and internal quality control procedures of the laboratory.
Quality System: See Quality assurance.
Record Control: The procedures used to identify, collect, index, access, file, store, maintain, and dispose of quality and technical documents.
Reporting Limits: The maximum or minimum levels, or quantities of a target analyze, that can be quantified with the certainty required by the data user.
Reference Material: A material or substance, one or more properties of which are sufficiently homogeneous and well established to be used to monitor instrument and method performance. AIHA PAT samples may be used as reference materials.
Relevant Degree: A program of collegiate study that is appropriate to the applicable accreditation program.
Reproducibility: The extent to which a method, test or experiment yields the same or similar results when performed on sub-samples of the same sample by different analysts or laboratories.
Revision Number: A system of tracking new editions to a document or form. See also Document Control.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA): A process used to identify the cause of a problem or error. The process involves identifying all of the portions of a problem and through the process of elimination, narrowing the field down until a cause can be agreed upon by consensus.
Sample Log: A document where sample identification, date received, client, etc., are noted when samples arrive at the laboratory. The log is part of the sample tracking system. See Sample tracking.
Sample Tracking: A document system of following a sample from receipt at the laboratory, through sample processing and analysis, to final reporting. The system includes unique numbering, or bar coding labels, and the use of a Sample Log.
Sporulation: Process by which spores are produced.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): A written document that details the procedures of an operation; an analysis or action whose techniques and procedures are thoroughly prescribed, and which are accepted as the procedure for performing certain routine or repetitive tasks.
Standard Reference Material: A certified reference material produced by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and characterized for absolute content independent of analytical method. It is accompanied by a certificate that reports the results of the characterization and describes the intended use of the material.
Standardization: The process of establishing the quantitative relationship between a known mass of target material (for example, the measurementsystem or instrument response). See Calibration and Calibration curve. The term may also refer to activities that establish provisions for common and repeated use of accreditation policies to achieve an optimum level of conformity.
Stock Solution: A concentrated solution of analyte(s) or reagent(s) prepared and verified by prescribed procedure(s), and used for preparing calibration standards. See Calibration standard.
Subsample: A representative portion of a sample; a subsample may be taken from any location or a field sample; in analytical chemistry, an“aliquot.”
Suspension: A temporary removal of the accredited status of a laboratory when it is found to be out of compliance with specific program requirements.
Technical Systems Audit: A thorough, systematic, onsite, qualitative evaluation of facilities, equipment, personnel, training, procedures, record keeping, data validation, data management and reporting aspects of a total quality system.
Test: A technical operation that consists of determining one or more elements in a sample according to a specified procedure.
Test Method: Specified technical procedure for performing a test.
Traceability: The process of documenting the value of a reference material or standard as related to NIST standards or equivalent through an unbroken chain of comparisons with stated uncertainties.
Training: A series of documented tasks related to learning
Uncertainty of Measurement: Result of the evaluation aimed at characterizing the range within which the true value of a test result is estimated to lie, generally within a given likelihood.
Validation: The process of confirming specified method performance criteria.
Verification: Confirmation by examination and provision of evidence that specified requirements have been met.
Work Out of Specification (WOOS): Work or processes that fall outside of the specifications of the internal Quality Control or deemed by the personnel performing the task as not meeting the requirements of normal operation.
EMLab P&K General Glossary (continued)
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