can anyone help on mold test interpretation?

June 16, 2007

Hi, our workplace has had constant steady leaks for years now and

the employees have been complaining for a long time of symptoms. In

2005 we finally got them to take mold tests, only to find out later

that they threw them out (we're guessing for fear of what they would

find and not wanting to find new work premises for the employees).

After getting a Union involved, they finally took samples again and

we received the results yesterday. Im wondering if there is anyone

here that can help me interpret the results? They are supposedly

going to issue an official report but are really dragging their

feet.

In my office alone these are some of the results:

CMA

Penicillium 806 CFU/g

Phoma 9,270 CFU/g

Trichoderm harzianum 403 CFU/g

yeasts 28,600 CFU/g

MEA

Cladasporium cladasporioides 403 CFU/g

Exophiala jeanselmei 5,650 CFU/g

Penicillium brevicopactum 403 CFU/g

Penicillium corylophilum 403 CFU/g

Phoma herbarum 3,360 CFU/g

Rhodotorula glutinis 27,400 CFU/g

yeasts 26,200 CFU/g

Can anyone tell me what this means? These were from surface

scrapings. I have read up on some of these molds and it doesnt sound

good but at the same time I dont know how high these levels really

are as I dont know the range values, ext. Note this was just in my

office. In other offices they have found such things as Mucor,

Aureobasidium pullulans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Stachybbotrys

chartarum. The air samples said only basidiomycetes and cladosporium

was found in the air (at least that one air sample they took). Can

anyone help or refer me to someone that could help with interpreting

these? Thank you,

Recommended Posts