Mold death scene

[Guest guest]

Mold death scene

iequality/message/11160

I was asked over the weekend to undertake an urgent apartment

investigation regarding mould because the owner a young man had died

of toxin poisoning. The apartment was 3 years old in England and

empty at the time of survey. Before entry into the property I used

level C protection including a PAPR respirator and non permeably

plasticized Tyveck, nitrile gloves. During the inspection which

lasted 1 hour my skin began to burn and when I came out my nose and

sinus displayed typical uncomfortable symptoms. My skin was red as

if I had just taken a hot shower.

There was visible blue/green and black mold growth visible to the

skirting on gyprock. I opened the wall and found colonies on the

backing paper.

The symptoms were severe considering the exposure time and PPE worn.

My explanation is that the activated carbon Hepa filters were out of

date, I had used them before in 5 weeks ago in different

circumstances and my gut feeling is that mVOCs passed through the

hepa and the carbon was not active.

Any thoughts or comments, excepting my stupidity for using old

cartridges.

PS for those interested I recovered within 6 hours

Regards

Jeff Charlton

London