Midwest Flooding - Beware of Tricothecenes Mycotoxin (Mold Toxins)

WINONA, MN -- In the aftermath of June’s devastating floods in the Midwest, world renowned microbiologist Dr. Rajiv Sahay, Director of Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab), a division of  Pure Air Control Services reminds residents to be wary of what floodwaters leave behind—specifically, potential tricothecene mycotoxins (toxic mold) growing on walls, behind walls, in the ceilings, under the carpets, or in their ductwork..  Also, he warns of what unqualified disaster restoration firms leave behind…trouble.

Common manifestations of trichothecene toxicity are depression of immune responses and nausea, sometimes vomiting. The first recognized trichothecene mycotoxicosis was alimentary toxic aleukia in the USSR in 1932; the mortality rate was 60%.

In several cases, trichothecene mycotoxicosis was caused by a single ingestion of bread containing toxic flour or rice. In experimental animals, trichothecenes are 40 times more toxic when inhaled than when given orally. Trichothecenes were found in air samples collected during the drying and milling process on farms, in the ventilation systems of private houses and office buildings, and on the walls of houses with high humidity. In addition, there have been some reports showing trichothecene involvement in the development of "sick building syndrome". The symptoms of airborne toxicosis apparently disappeared when the buildings and ventilation systems were thoroughly cleaned.

EDLab and Pure Air Control Services recommend that consumers and business owners use the following minimum guidelines to qualify and quantify any contractors they hire:  

1. Obtain references from your health department, insurance company, friends and neighbors
2. Know your contractor (check references)
3. Check with the Better Business Bureau
4. Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured (including professional liability insurances) 
5. Obtain a copy of their license and insurance certificates. Make sure their liability/general liability covers mold.
6. Hire contractors certified by reputable trade organizations such as AEE, IAQA, IIRC, ASCR, AIHA, NADCA
7. Differentiate between a “Restoration contractor” and a “Remediation contractor.” Most restoration contractors are not knowledgeable in environmental remediation techniques and protocols.
8. Certified contractors should follow a strict code of ethics (ask for a copy of their respective “code of ethics” they plan to work with)
9. For mold/bacteria damaged buildings, request pre-remediation (baseline study) and post-remediation environmental testing be performed.
10. Request a post remedial environmental clearance study. This is essential to assure good indoor air quality (health and safety) and may be required when you sell your home.
11. Request that the microbiology laboratory used is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program (EMLAP).  Be careful that the lab of record is accredited and that the consultant and the remediation firm have not forged laboratory data.   Call the laboratory directly for confirmation if you have any questions.  See related article: (Fla. Couple Charged with Faking Mold Remediation Lab Results )

Contractors who perform mold cleanup services should do so according to established industry standards and guidelines, including but not limited to:

*  ACGIH Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control
*  EPA Mold Remediation for Homeowners
*  New York City Department of Health - Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments
*  EPA Mold Remediation for Schools and Commercial Buildings
*  IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration, Guide for mold remediation
*  NADCA ACR 2005, Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC Systems

About Pure Air Control Services, Inc.

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm. Today, the work distributed from its offices in Tampa, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Houston and Washington D.C. sets the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis and remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 500 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

Pure Air’s nationally performed services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory; Environmental Project Management; and Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services. The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air a reliable industry leader.

For more information on Pure Air Control Services, Inc and its indoor environmental IAQ services offering please contact Ed Ziegler, VP of Business Development, at (800) 422-7873 x804, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.

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