Re: We should be looking for more than mold

[Guest guest]

Here are some data I wish to share with the group. I am currently evaluating a

home in which the occupants became seriously ill. We (the owners and me) decide

to perform multiple testing on the home. We checked for molds using the ERMI

PCR-DNA as well as species of bacteria.

Note, that the ERMI test results varies according to area tested. Also note

that bacteria are very prevalent. The two groups of actinomycetes cultured from

bulk materials are Streptomyces and Microbacterium. These data demonstrate that

simple air testing for mold spores is a fallacy for determining the the extent

of microbial growth in a water damaged facility.

Table 3. This table summarizes the information regarding microbial growth and

mycotoxins present in various bulk samples (Real Time Laboratories).

Sample

Molds

Bacteria

Trichothecenes

Aflatoxins

Ochratoxin

Towel - Master bath

Asp. fumigatus - PCR

Bacillus

Present

Present

Present

Sandals Under Master Bed

Rhizopus Penicillium

(by culture)

Bacillus Proteus Pseudomonas

Present

N.P.

Present

Wood Truss Crawl Space

None Isolated

N.T.

Present

Present

Present

Gravel Crawl Space

None Isolated.

Bacillus Proteus Pseudomonas

Present

N.P.

Present

Dirt Crawl Space

N.T.

Bacillus Proteus Pseudomonas

Acremonium

Present

N.P.

Present

Plastic Sheet Crawl Space

N.T.

Streptomyces

Bacillus

Micobacterium hominis

N.P.

N.P.

Present

Key: N.T. = Not Tested; N.P. Not Present

Table 4. This table summarizes the results of the E.P.A. ERMI PCR-DNA tests

performed on 5 mg dust samples from basement and master bedroom carpeting and

master bedroom wall insulation

EPA 36 Species

Carpet Basement

Cells/mg

Carpet Master Bedrm Cells/mg

Insulation Master Bedrm cells/mg

Group 1

Asp. penicillioides

77

26

ND

Aur. Pullulans

189

20

ND

Ch. Globosum

ND

14

ND

Cl. Sphaerospermum

9

3

ND

Pae. variotii

ND

2

87

P. brevicompactum

ND

19

ND

P. crustosum

ND

ND

3

P. purpurogenum

ND

2

ND

P. spinulosum

15

ND

3

W. sebi

2

ND

ND

Sum of the Logs

6.6

6.2

2.8

Group 2

Asp. ustus

2

4

187

Cl. cladosporioides II

1

ND

ND

Ep. nigrum

15

17

ND

Mucor/Rhizopus group

9

21

ND

P. chrysogenum

5

4

8,738

Sum of the logs

3.3

3.7

6.2

ERMI Value

3

2

-3

ERMI Interpretation

Level 3

Level 3

Level 2

ND = Not Detected

Table 5. This table summarizes the identification and enumeration of culturable

air borne fungi collected by ______ cassette (including speciation of

Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Stachybotrys) by EMSL Method M0005.

Sample Location

Media

Temp (oC)

Sensitivity &

Dilution

Fungal Identification

Colony Count

CFU per

Cassette

Swimming Pool Deck

MEA

25

100 & 100

None Detected

0

0

Master Bedroom

MEA

25

100 & 100

100 & 100

Asp. sydowii

Cl. sphaerospermum

P. chrysogenum

Total

1

1

1

3

100

100

100

300

Crawl Space

MEA

25

100 & 100

100 & 100

100 & 100

1000 & 1000

1000 & 1000

1000 & 1000

Asp. ochraceus

Asp. sydowii

P. chrysogenum

P. citreonigrum

Phialophora sp.

Sterile (dark) sp.

Total

5

2

1

1

1

1

11

500

200

100

1000

1000

1000

3,800

Wall Space Master Bedroom

MEA

25

100 & 100

100 & 100

100 & 100

1000 & 1000

Asp. fumigatus

Asp. Ustus

Paecilomyces sp.

P. chrysogenum

Total

1

3

2

1

7

100

300

200

1000

1,600

Table 6. This table summarizes the bacteria and endotoxins identified in various

bulk samples taken from the home (EMSL Method M009) and by RealTime Laboratories

(RTL), Dallas, TX.

Sample

Media

Temp (oC)

Analytical Sensitivity CFU/g

Bacteria

Colony Count

CFU/g

Plastic Sheeting, Crawl Space

SBA

35

98,000

Bacillus sp

Streptomyces sp..

25

2,450,000

Moist Gravel, Crawl Space

SBA1

35

885

B. megaterium

Bacillus sp.

Total

10

7

17

8,850

6,190

15,000

Moist Dirt, Crawl space

SBA1

35

8130

B. megaterium

Bacillus sp.

Total

4

6

10

32,500

48,800

81,300

Swab of Wood, Crawl Space

SBA2

35

10,000

Microbacterium hominis

Staphylococcus sp (not aureus)

Total

972

2

974

9,720,000

20,000

9,740,000

Dirt Crawl Space

??

353

---

Bacillus sp.

Proteus sp

Pseudomonas sp.

ND4

ND4

Gravel, Crawl Space

??

353

----

Bacillus sp.

Proteus sp.

Pseudomonas sp.

ND4

ND4

Sandal, Under Master Bed

??

353

Bacillus sp.

Proteus sp.

Pseudomonas sp.

ND4

ND4

Endotoxins

Sample Type

Location

Concentration (EU/Swab)5

Swab

J-Tube, Under Sink

4930

Swab

Top, Kitchen Cabinet

24,800

Swab

Field Blank

None Detected

Swab

Laboratory Blank

None Detected

1These samples were tested to determine the major species of Bacillus.

2This sample was tested for Actinomycetes because of white mycelia type growth

on wood truss.

3These samples were tested by RealTime laboratories for the presence of bacteria

species on samples tested for mycotoxins.

4CFU was not determined.

5Endotoxins were analyzed by ESML using LAL Kinetic Chromogenic Assay.

Jack-Dwayne: Thrasher, Ph.D.

Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

www.drthrasher.org

toxicologist1@...

Off: 916-745-4703

Cell: 575-937-1150

L. Crawley, M.ED., LADC

Trauma Specialist

sandracrawley@...

916-745-4703 - Off

775-309-3994 - Cell

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