Effectiveness of Spore Trap Only Sampling Richard Billups Laboratory Director Air Allergen & Mold...

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?


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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?)


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%


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)


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


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

[email protected]


http://www.mold-testing-lab.com/

mailto:[email protected]

Effectiveness of Spore Trap Only Sampling Richard Billups Laboratory Director Air Allergen & Mold...

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