Sample mould report SPECIMEN REPORT
29
th
April 2013
Dear
Sirs,
Following
my inspection at the above property I write to confirm my findings.
1. Objective of
survey
To assess the presence of mould, its potential
health hazard and exposure risk. Assess the likely causation of bio
amplification and increased moisture
level.
2. Summary
The occupants are alleged to suffer health effects
and symptoms which may be associated to exposure to water damaged
buildings and
from associated biological and chemical agents.
3. Investigation
Following internationally accepted guidelines on
investigation I undertook the following procedures:
3.1. History
of illness or relevant information
From
informed facts it appears occupants may be exposed to neurotoxins
often
associated with toxic mould which are capable of producing T2
Toxins.
3.2. Historic
markers of water damage
The
property has substantial markers of moisture damage caused by
condensation and
resultant mould growth.
3.3. Building
defect issues
3.3.1.
Window frames are aluminium frames without thermal break and
single
glazed. These are major heat loss factors and would make heating the
property
extremely costly and in my opinion current heating installation is
completely
in appropriate and incapable of providing a reasonable heating
regime within
the property.
3.3.2.
Paint is delaminating to front door surround indicating moisture
pooling
from window above presumably caused by condensation
3.3.3.
Corrosion runs from aluminium window vents are noticeable on the
glass
and indicate uncontrolled substantial condensation through vents
which cannot
be regulated.
3.3.4.
The extract fan in the right
hand shower room is clogged with dust and debris and not working
effectively
thereby causing moisture build within the property during use. 3.3.6.
The shower extract fan in the left hand bathroom is located next
to a
supply grill. The installation of a supply adjacent to extract is
extremely
poor practice and will result in a laminar air flow across the tow
points
resulting in little or no actual extract of moist air during use.
3.3.7.
Condensation and mould growth is visible on all outside walls and
especially window reveals and this indicates poor insulation,
thermal bridging
and lack of heating which under the circumstances would have been an
extremely
substantial cost if not impossible.
3.4. Moisture
measurement 3.4.1.
Walls were slightly
elevated in moisture content around the areas visible affected by
mould and
staining. This is not confirmed as water ingress or penetrating damp
but
suspected as being caused by Dew Point Condensation
3.4.2.
The front door frame
is
saturated and although well covered from the weather it is suspected
that this
area too is affected by condensation running down a window unit
above the
result of warm air condensing on or around gaps.
3.4.3.
The humidity ratio
often
referred to as absolute or specific humidity was measured and this
is the
quantity of moisture in the air and is a calculation made in
psychrometry
against temperature and relative humidity.
3.4.4.
The air within the
property
was found to have .008 g/kg of moisture per kg of dry air and the
ambient was
found to be at .005g/kg.
Area
Temp
C.
Rh %
Humidity
ratio g/kg
Flat
generally
21
55
.008
Ambient
18
44
.005
3.4.5.
This means the air
inside
the property was very wet and although a family of four can be
expected to
create 15 litres of water per day from normal lifestyle this
property was only
habituated by Harry alone for over 1 week.
3.4.6.
This amount of
humidity in
a poorly ventilated property with inadequate insulation or heating
is most
likely to result in dew point condensation and biological
amplification.
3.5. Development of
sampling hypothesis 3.5.1.
The WHO and other internationally recognised bodies accept that
wet or
damp buildings are an increased health hazard and likely affected by
off
gassing VOCs, bacteria and mould growth. As mould growth was visible
it is the
most cost effective to measure.
3.5.2.
The WHO in their Guidelines on Dampness and Mould 2009 recommend
measuring the inhalation risk of mould as surface mould is no
indicator of
exposure risk. The WHO also recommend Total Spore Counts in
preference to the
historic process of culture based sampling due to serious
limitations. The WHO
also recommend PCR-DNA sampling where species and genus may be
required
especially where health issues exist and the medical profession may
find
detailed results useful.
3.5.3.
I have therefore undertaken the following sampling protocol based
on the assumption that airborne inhalation risks exist due to
uncontrolled removal and bleaching of visible
mould growth coupled to the likelihood of non viable spores being
present. I should point out here I am not testing for other likely
contaminates due to the cost restrictions and general focus on mould
growth and associated symptoms.
Sample No
Area
Type
1
Bed room 1
TSC
2
Lounge
TSC
3
Bedroom 2
TSC
4
Shower
TSC
5
Ambient
TSC
6
Bedroom 1
PCR-DNA
3.6.
Lab analysis
3.6.1.
Tables 1&2 show the lab analysis of total spore counts. The
results
shows bedroom 1 to be the most affected by airborne
contamination and this
may be the result of long standing mould issues or the result of
cleaning. The
results should be viewed against ambient levels and Pen/Asp in
particular is
below detection levels in ambient air
3.6.2.
Most importantly Stachybotrys was at high levels too.
3.6.3.
Table 3 shows extremely high levels of Penicillium Brevicompactum,
Cladosporium, Eurotium and Aspergillus versicolor
4.0 Conclusion
The
property although in good condition suffers from poor insulation,
poor
ventilation and inadequate heating. The lack of insulation would
make heating
extremely costly. The poor ventilation especially in the shower
areas would
cause even greater condensation and mould issues if a better heating
regime was
installed as a standalone solution. This is identified due to the
high humidity
ratio and potential for dew point condensation.
The
high levels of mould taxa known and recognised as capable of
producing toxins
and allergens is in my opinion a health hazard. Considering the
reported health
issues of building occupants and their previous good health prior to
moving into this property
it is my opinion the hazard has a high risk too.
Report Ends
Jeff Charlton