Comparison of Two Methods Used By Industrial Hygienists to Evaluate Mold

Health Effects In Buildings

September 21, 2016

Wendell Rahorst, CIH, Wendell Rahorst Inc. &

Michael J. Richen, CIH, Boulder County Public Health

Todays Outcome

Industrial Hygienists will become familiar with two methods used to evaluate and control mold health

risks and will also be able to compare and contrast both methods

We’ll Cover • Review of Mold Health Effects and Remediation

• Mold Health Evaluations With Sampling – Wendell Rahorst

• Mold Health Evaluations Without Sampling - Mike Richen

• Questions and Answers

Mold Health Effects

• In the healthy allergic symptoms, bronchitis, rhinosinusitis, cough

• Significant health effects in immune compromised, the old, the young and those with chronic respiratory conditions – Mold infection – Worsens asthma – Children colds last longer

• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Mold Health Effects Science Consensus

• “Clearing the Air” National Academy of Science (NAS) 2000

• “Damp Indoor Air Spaces & Health” NAS 2004

• “Position Statement on Mold and Dampness in the Built Environment” American Industrial Hygiene Association 2013

• “Alert: Preventing Occupational Respiratory Disease from Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools, and Other Nonindustrial Buildings” National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 2013

Mold Health Effects Remediation

• Fix the root cause of water damage (WD)

• Remove water damaged porous material

• Protect the house and occupants during remediation

Wendell Mold Health Evaluations With air and surface sampling

Mike Mold Health Evaluations Without Sampling

Co-Inspection with Code Enforcement Roles

• Public Health (PH), that’s me – Provides expertise – Email report

• Code Enforcement (CE) – Provides expertise – Uses PH inspection to write mold related Code Violation if they have

adopted the International Property Maintenance Code – Follow up after building material removal and after completion

Co-Inspection Process

1. Either receive mold health concerns from the public, agency referrals, homeowners

2. Jointly schedule (CE, PH, Owner or Property Manager, Tenant)

3. Co-Inspect 4. PH writes report

5. CE writes a Notice of Violation

6. CE follows up on corrections 2 times

Co-Inspection PH Identify (Id)

• Amount of mold growth or persistent water damage (WD) – visible mold growth, dry rot, water stains, moisture meter

readings, etc. – assume mold growth if wet for > 48 hours or in

cases of continuous or persistent water damage • Identify (Id) WD cause(s) like ground water, improper

drainage, a leaking roof or pipe(s) • Id potential causes like blocked gutter discharges • Take pictures

Co-Inspection Moisture Meter Readings

Search Mode 0 to 1,000 relative number

Wood Moisture Equivalent 0 to 100 %

Compare to same dry material

FEMA 15% or greater

Co-Inspection How to Quantify Risk (Evaluate)

Risk based on amount of visible mold growth or persistent water damage in square feet

– Low: 10 square feet (ft2) – Medium: 10 to 100 ft2 – High: Greater than 100 ft2 – See NYC Department of PH and Mental Hygiene

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/epi/epi-mold-guidelines.pdf NIOSH references NYC US EPA uses Low, Medium and High categories AIHA Handout “ …health assessment is primarily based on the nature and extent of the mold and water/moisture damage and the type of reservoirs present (e.g. carpets, soft furniture).”

Co-Inspection Public Health Report

• Simple format sent by email – PURPOSE/SCOPE – OBSERVATIONS – CONCLUSION(S) – RECOMMENDATIONS – LIMITATIONS

• See example

Co-Inspection CE Follow-up

• Notice of Violation requires property owner complete the recommendations on PH report

• Follow Up 2 more times (learned was necessary)

– After walls floors, ceilings etc. are opened – After completion

Co-Inspections How do you know if remediation is complete, Document

• The process with receipts & pictures before, during and after renovation

• Visual Inspection to Id WD cause and amounts and locations of water damage

• Extent of remediation: dry wall cuts, removal flooring and sub floors, rugs other porous materials

• Extent of repair to the cause of water damage

• Remediated surfaces cleaned from visible dust and debris

• Sanitization after sewage and some other situations with Quaternary Amines

• Dry, dry and dry some more before rebuilding

• Don’t cover remediation with Kiltz

• Air sampling not required, but if used employ a trained professional who gives opinions concerning the results

Dogwood Property a Water Damage and Tenant Abuse Case

Dogwood Property Initially in Basement

Bath

Bath

Directly outdoors Basement

Basement being fixed

Bath Being fixed

Outside Being Fixed

Basement Complete

Bath

Outside Back Fixed

Side Fixed

Don’t Need Air Sampling NIOSH (US CDC), AIHA, New York City Dept. of Public Health & Mental

Hygiene • No air standards to compare with • Hardware store settling petri plates are worthless • Relevant to dose only if side by side spore trap and A6 petri plate (live)

sampler comparison between outside and indoor air • Each sample is for 5 minutes and so not representative • Cost approximately $2,000 or more if by a qualified individual • Many consultants

– do spore traps but not A6 petri plate samples – don’t do enough inside and outside comparisons – don’t have the scientific background to interpret results – don’t give opinions of what samples mean

• Air samples can be useful to screen for hidden mold or for legal purposes, but never in place of a good inspection

Contact Information Michael J. Richen, CIH, Industrial Hygienist Boulder County Public Health 3450 Broadway Boulder, CO 80304 office 303-441-1566, mobile 303-859-8013, mrichen@bouldercounty.org Wendell Rahorst, CIH, President, Wendell Rahorst, Inc.

Extra Slides

Co-Inspection Use of Disinfectants

• After 2013 widespread flooding found bleach didn’t work well, “Quaternary Ammonium and some Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectants” were preferred

• Some products to consider are – ShockWave Fiberlock Technologies 150 Dascomb Road Andover,

MA 01810, 1-800-342-3775, www.fiberlock.com. See Shockwave and Shockwave Hydrogen Peroxide products.

– Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant, The Clorox Company, 1-800-537-1415, http://www.cloroxprofessional.com/products/clorox-broad-spectrum-quaternary-disinfectant-cleaner/at-a-glance/

– Zep’s DZ-7 Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner www.zep.com