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Effectiveness of Spore Trap Only
SamplingRichard Billups
Laboratory Director
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Atlanta, Ga.
SPORE TRAPS
main tool used by most investigators in the field
to diagnose indoor air quality complaints too much reliance upon spore trap testing
only?
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Basis of Experiment
compare use of spore traps alone and then
in conjunction with carpet dust culture
from homes and businesses with
compaints of allergies or asthma
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Basis of Experiment spore traps give information for the current
condition of the site spore traps DO NOT provide species ID of
Aspergillus / Penicillium carpet dust provides the history of the site carpet dust culture can provide species ID of
Aspergillus, Penicillium
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
ParametersSpore Trap > 1,000 Total Spores > 500 spores Aspergillus / Penicillium Combination of any high water activity
spores
Dust Culture Bulk dust from vacuum of carpet < 10,000 CFU / gram = Low 10,000 -50,000 CFU / gram = Moderate 50,000 – 100,000 CFU / gram = High > 100,000 CFU / gram = Very High
Air Allergen & Mold Testing11
Parameters Samples collected during June, July, August in the
Atlanta, Ga area, 2010 Allergenco D spore traps Dust samples collected with a portable Dyson Dust collection units from Indoor Biotechnologies Dust cultured in dilutions on MEA 2%, DG18,
Cellulose agars
Air Allergen & Mold Testing11
Parameters
Identified dust culture organisms to species
where possible Used Group I list from ERMI as indicators of
high water activity Added additional organisms known to be
associated with high water activity Did not subtract out phyloplane organisms
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Organisms of Interest
ERMI Group IAspergillus flavus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus ochraceus
Aspergillus penicilloides
Aureobasidium pullulans
Aspergillus restrictus
Aspergillus sclerotiorum
Aspergillus sydowii
Aspergillus uniguis
Aspergillus versicolor
Chaetomium globosum
Cladosporium
sphaerospermum
Eurotium amstelodami
AdditionalAcremonium sp
Aspergillus usuts
Chaetomium sp.
Eurotium herbariorum
Penicillium chrysogenum
Rhizopus sp
Rhodotorula sp
Trichoderma harzianum
Trichoderma sp
Ulocladium sp
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Paecilomyces variotiiPaecilomyces variotiiPenicillium brevicompactumPenicillium brevicompactumPenicillium corylophilumPenicillium corylophilumPenicillium crustosumPenicillium crustosumPenicillium purpurogenumPenicillium purpurogenumPenicillium spinulosumPenicillium spinulosumPenicillium variabilePenicillium variabileScopulariopsis brevicaulisScopulariopsis brevicaulisScopulariopsis chartarumScopulariopsis chartarumStachybotrys chartarumStachybotrys chartarumTrichoderma virideTrichoderma virideWallemia sebiWallemia sebi
RESULTS
spore traps with > 1,000 Aspergillus/ Penicillium = 5
spore trap with > 500 Aspergillus / Penicillium = 1
23%Median Total Spores = 784 spores/ m3
Median with total < 1,000 =
471 spores / m3
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Results
carpet dust < 10,000 CFU /g = 6 26% 10,000 50,000 CFU /g = 7 30% 50,000- 100,000 CFU/g = 3 13% > 100,000 CFU/g = 7 30%
Combination of > 10,000 and above = 73.9 %
Samples with no resolution = 3 11.5%
Median = 38,149 CFU / g
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Results Organisms Recovered from dust culture
Penicillium sp 16 Aspergillus sydowii 5
Aspergillus versicolor 16 Cladosporium cladosporioides 4
Cladosporium sp 15 Aspergillus ochraceus 4
Curvularia sp 13 Aspergillus ustus 4
Rhodotorula sp 12 Bipolaris sp 3
Acremonium sp 11 Phoma sp 3
Eurotium amstelodami 11 Aspergillus flavus 3
Aspergillus niger 10 Pithomyces sp 3
Stachybotrys chartarum 9 Trichoderma harzianum 2
Epicoccum nigrum 8 Aureobasidium pullulans 2
Rhizopus sp 8 Penicillium chrysogenum 2
Fusarium sp 7 Aspergillus fumigatus 2
Mucor sp 7
Yeast 6
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
What Did We Learn
Spore trap action level of 1,000 not reliable if
Aspergillus, Penicillium or high water activity
organisms absent Spore trap only sampling not reliable as a
method to determine fungal contamination of the
indoor air (fall, winter?)
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
What Did We Learn
analyzing carpet dust provides an increased
ability to solve indoor air quality issues due to
fungal contaminants identification of organisms to the species level
for Aspergillus, Penicillium helpful in assessing
possible contamination number of CFU’s may not be as important as
the type of organisms recovered, especially if
the organisms indicate high water activity Aspergillus versicolor dominated the number of
times recovered as a species 66.7%
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
What Did We Learn
38,149 CFU/g median -- what number should provide the best information for action ?
Dust carpet culture should utilize multiple plate agar methodology to include:
MEA 2% DG18 Cellulose Other agars as needed, depending on the site
and information provided by the investigator
(ie PDA, SSA, etc)
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
What Next
Analyzing culture carpet dust direct, dilution, bulk, refined More culture from HVAC supply Physician analysis of blood bio markers Building materials, especially carpet Vacuum cleaner comparisons and use
Air Allergen & Mold Testing
Entire paper will be available on our web site by June 1
www.mold-testing-lab.com
Will also be discussed on our blog
Can reach me by Email
Air Allergen & Mold Testing