2011 Air Quality Study

Indoor Air QualitY lnvestigation

Bay Pines VA Medical CenterBuilding 47 - 3'd Floor - File Room

10000 Bay Pines BoulevardBay Pines, Florida

On Site: August 17,2011

Prepared for:

Mr. Larry JonesGEMS Coordinator

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterP.O. Box 5005

Bay Pines, Florida 33744

Alex A. Cerekwicki, M.S., .1.H., c.t.A.Q.P.

Project #AD-29839

Prepared by.

APOLLO ENVIRCINMENTAL, INC"

P.O. Box 239Gibsonton, Florida 33534

(Boo) 348-3181

o*e Setrf 2, tutt

Date SeFf. L,zo llMichael Williamsrjfr , Microbiologist

Gibsonton, Florida

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.P.O, Box 239 TEL:81 3'671-3999FAX:81 3-677 -3422

I. INTRODUCTIONOn August 17 ,2011, Alex Cerekwicki, of Apollo Environmental, lnc- conducted anlndoor Air Quality lnvestigation at the Bay Pines V.A. Medical Center, Building 47,3d Floor - File Room, located at 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard, St. Petersburg,Florida. This study represents an assessment of air quality conditions withinselected locations and included the following air quality parameters: temperature,relative humidity, carbon dioxide, bioaerosol samples, biological surface samplesand Air-O-Cell samPles.

II. BACKGROUNDThis investigation was conducted in response to a request from Mr. Larry Jones,lndustrial Higienist, GEMS Coordinator, Office of Safety & Emerg^ency Manag"Ig!t(002SEM), U.S. Departmentof VeteransAffairs, Bay Pines VAHCS, P'O' Box 5005'Bay Pines, Florida 33744-

III. EVALUATED AREASMeasurements of temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and bioaerosolswere made within twelve (12) selected locations. ln addition two (2) outdoorbioaerosot samples were collected for comparison. Also collected was one (1)biological surface swab sample and twelve (12) Air-O-Cell sample for analysis'

IV. EVALUATION METHODDuring the site visit, measurements for temperature and relative humidity weremade using a Bacharach Modet 12-7011 Sling Psychrometer. The AmericanSociety of"Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE),recommends that humidity Ievels be maintained between 40% and 600/0, withtemperatures ranging from 68 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Carbon dioxide levels were measured with Gastec-Sensidyne carbon dioxide tubesmodel2LL. ASHRAE recommends that carbon dioxide levels be maintained below1000 ppm. Carbon dioxide levels in excess of 1000 ppm, are indicative ofinadequate ventilation.

Bioqerosols were collected on malt extract agar plates and_ sampled for 1 minute at28.3 liters per minute using a single stage Andersen Impactor. The collection plateswere transported to the lab and 'tircuba[ed for five to ten days at room temperature'

August 17,20111 ClData\WPfiles\bioreprtVABldg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg. 47, 3'o Floor - File Room

1o112

Gibsonton, Florida 33534

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.P.O. Box 239 TEL:813-671-3999FAX:81 3-677-3422

August 17,2011I C:\Data\WPfiles\bioreprtVABldg4TFileptrea'iaq wpd

V.

Bioaerosol testing is limited to the detection of viable, airborne species culturableon the selected media. Bioaerosols are normally reported in colony forming unitsper cubic meter of air (cfu/m'1. Surface samples were collected in CultureSwabs,iransported to the laboratory, then streaked onto malt extract agar plates andincubated at room temperature for five to seven days. organisms were identifiedusing standard mycological techniques and taxonomic references. surface swabsamples

"r" qruntifiedas "Few" 11'-5 cfu's per plate), "Moderate" (6-20 cfu's per

plate), and "Hegvy" (Ereater that 20 cfu's per plate)'

N,on;viable particulate sampling w?s accomplisl"q oV the use sf Zefon Air-O-Cell;#;tt";. $ur"pf"r were collected for a ten minute period, with a flow rate of 15ffir per minute. Samples were stained using Lacto-Phenol Cotton Blue andexamined at 600X using a light microscope'

TEMPEMTURE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND CARBON DIOXIDE MEASUREMENTS

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg. 47, 3'd Floor - File Room

CARBON DIOXIDE PPM(+l-25Yol 1:OO:.LOCATION TEMPEMTURE DEGREESF (+t-2):

RETATIVE HUMIDITYo/o (+l-5o/o)'.

Site #1 6B 87 700

Site #2 66 90 700

Site #3 68 B9 800

Site #4 67 90 750

Site #5 69 85 750

Site #6 68 B9 750

Site #7 67 87 700

Site #8 70 BO 750

Site #9 70 80 800

Site #10 70 87 750

Site #11 67 B4 600

Site #12 70 80 750

Outside B3 8B 350

2of 12

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC,P.O. Box 239 TEL.B13-671-3999FAX:81 3-677-3422Gibsonton, Florida 33534

VI. BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg.47,3" Floor - File Room

August 17 '

2O111 Ct0ata\WPfiles\bioreprwABldg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

Species Present---.CFUs'/PlateSamplel Location Test

PenicilliumAlternariaPaecilomYces,-..-Bacteriaf/east.. - - -Total CountCFUs/m3

.42

..1

..1

..1

.451589

Site #1 ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #81 1-0542)

PenicilliumAspergillus sYdowiiTotal CountCFUs/m3

.65

..1

.662330

Site #2 ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #Bl 1-0543)

Site #3 ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #81 1-0544)

Penicillium.,...Aspergillus flavusBacteria./Yeast . .Total Count .. . -CFUs/m3......

.45

..1

..1_47,t659

Site #4

Site #5

ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #Bl 1-0545)

Penicillium 262ra'ururrl)'wo

---....,.1AlternariaTotalCount '"'"''29cFuslm' " 1024

ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #B1 1-0546)

Penicillium......Geottichum.....TotalCount....-CFUs/m3

.48

.. 1

.491730

Penicillium.,-.-.Paecilomyces ...SterileFungi --..Bacteriaffeast . . -Total Count .. ...GFUs/m'

-46..1-.3-. 3.531871

Site #6 ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #81 1-0s47)

Site #7

Site #8

ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #8114548)

Penicillium """'-62TotalCount '"""'62^rrr^r-r . . 2189

ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #8114549)

Penicitlium """-' 52TotalCount '""'" 52cFUsIm3 " ' 1836

ANDERSEN IMPACTION(single stage)(Lab #811{550)

Penicillium ..PaecilomycesTotal Count .CFUs/m' .. -

.53,

.551942

Site #9

3of12

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.P.O. Box 239

TEL:81 3-671-3999FAX:81 3-677-3422


Aeroallergenic fungi such as C/adosp orium, Penicittium, Aspergillus' Altemaria'Geotrichum, Paec;ilomyces and Sterile Fungi, as well as bacterial agents such

as

baciuus which are all inttuded in the results ale routinely isolated ln Tilo.'-!1Till::from Florida insidl air samples. Cladosporium has a low potential for caustnghearth probrems. rt is commonry encounteied mord in normal indoor/outdoor air

and

substrata samples. Penicitlium have been reported to be responsible forhypersensitivity pneumonitis. Aspergi//us has been associated with three

distinct

illnesses. These ln"tro" allergic froncho-pulmonary aspergillosis' , pulmonaryaspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis- Attemaia occasionally causesphaeohyphomycosis. Geotrichum ciuses disease in compromised patients

but is

also found as normal flora in humans. Paecilomyces has been associated with

keratitis, endocarditis, sinusitis, nephritis, cutaneous and subcutaneous infections'

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)gbg. az, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17' 201 11 ClData\wPfiles\bioreprtVABldg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

4of12

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL' INC.P.O. Box 239

TEL:813-671-3999FAX:813-677-422


but is commonly considered a contaminant'

High levels of yeast, Gram positive bacilli and other bacteria could representpotential agents of disease, or manifestations associated with constant

exposure

io such agents in high quantities'

According to osHA (OSHA Technical Manual, chapter 6'.lndoor Air Qualitylnvestigation, Part D,3,i,5; CD-ROM- A94-1), coniamination indicators for airbornemicroorganisms are:

.1000viablecolonyformingunitsinacubicmeterofair

- 1,000,000 fungi per gram of dust or material

- 10,000 bacteria or fungi per milliliter of stagnant water or slime

The AIHA in the Assessment, Remediation, and Post-n"r-"-d]?lion Verification ofMold in Buildings states, "ln most healthy building environments' the airbornespecies of mold should be similar to, and the concenirations of mold

should be less

than the ambient environmeniortriO" the building", AIHA Guideline 3, Fairfax' VA''

2004.

VII. AIR-O-CELLANALYSESorganisms were identified using standard mycological techniques and

references'

Air-O-Cell AnalYses16332715

SIte #216332709

Site #1Sample lD:Location:

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD'29839)Bldg. 47, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17'20111 C:\Data\WPf iles\biorePrtWABldgSTFileArea'laq'wPd

5of12


TEL:B 1 3-671-3999FAX:B 1 3'677 -3422


Sample lD:Location.

Total Counts Per metef

Sample lD:Location:

Air-O-Cell AnalYses

Sample lD:Location:

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)eds. a7,3'd Floor - File Room

August 17,20111 C:\Data\wPfiles\bioreprtvABldg4TFileArea'iaq wPd

6o112

Ir


TEL:813-671-3999FM:813-677-3422

Sample lD:Location:


Air-o-cellvalues are expressed in counts percubic meterof air- At present,no,governmentagencieshave pubtished guidelines for acceplrni"Lon."ntrations of the parameters m.easured in

Air-o-Cell

analyses. General industry guideliles suggest indoopi' U" equal or less than outdoor air and

q ualitativelY similar-

VIII. SITE INSPECTIONVisual inspection revealed sporadic wet and mold contaminated ceiling tiles

due to

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg.47, 3'o Floor- File Room

August 17'20111 ClData\WPtiles\bioreprtWABldg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

16332798Site #11Sample

ID:Location:

Sample lD:Location:

Total Counts Per meted

7of12


TEL:813-671-3999FAX: B 1 3-677 -3422

Gibsonton, Flor!49 J9!91

HVACcondensateleakagethroughoutthefileroomarea.Wetcarpetfans were present along severat ,o*t of shelving' occupants

reported

odort particularly after weekends'

and dryingmusty mold

IX. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGSMeasurementsforcarbondioxideWerewithintheacceptableASHRAErecommendedstandardofl000ppmor.lessatallsamplelocations(seeTableV.).Measurements for temperatu;; fu relative r'u*ioitv revealed elevated humiditylevelsabovetheASHME,""o*,endedstandardof60%RHorlessatalltimesatallsample locations (seeTableV.)' Humidity levels ranged from B0% RH

to 90% RH'

Bioaerosol concentrations.were greqtglthan the outdoor concentration and above

the osHA contamination indicatJr of 1000 cotony-fslming units per cubic meter of

air at a-ll sample locations (see iaure M')' Th;'[,""ttn"J of signiflcantly elevatedpenicittium species concentrriions on the indoor bioaerosol samples

without a

corresponding outdoo, "on""iiiuiionl=

inoicative of interio. fungar contamination'

The biologicaisurface swab collected.from a risiUfydamaged.ceiling tile (see sample

location map) revealed heavy peniciiliumspecies rnJ n"ruv Aspergittus species with

a few sterire fungi (see Tabre vr.l. nir-o-beil concentrations reveared significanfly

ele.vated P e ni ci t t i u m/Asp e rg i l t u sspecies " "o'n p"ed with. the outd oo r e nvi ron m e nt

(see Table vlt.) . species identified are commonly found in outdoor samples'

X. RECOMMENDATIQNS1. ApolloEnvironmentallnc., recommendsrepairingallHVACcondensateleaks

and lowering the ,"f"tiu" i'ir*idity within ine fifJ Area to 60% RH or less at

alltimes as per the ASHME recommenJed standard. consultation with an

HVAC Professional Engineer (PE) or HVnc contractorshould be undertaken

to provide a permane"nt "otrtion

to t"-moisture intrusion and humiditypr"[i"*. rt"r"tuo rrumioity levels

""n Lu uncomfortable and may create

environments that "r" "ondrcive

to ir;;ri orowtJr ln addition elevatedhumidity levels may uilo* building

"o*[on"-nts,.furnishings and files to

become wet resulting in material o"giririion, microbial grovuth and odor

problems. Long ter"m humidity *"nitoring witlr digital data logging

hygrometers is ,""o**"nJ"O to''"tity accepiable humidity levels' Persons

who may have pru-"*irlini health issues (i.e. immunocompromised' asthma'

or other respiratory "if*"ntil

or may havL an allergy to Penicillium spectes

should be relocated to other locations'

August 17' 20111 ClData\vwfiles\bioreprtNABldg4TFileArea

iaq wPdBav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)gtdg. at,3'd Floor - File Room

8of12


TEL:813-671-3999FAX:81 3-677 -3422


2. All wet, water damaged or mold contaminated items (i'e' carpet' carpet

padding, ceiling tiiur]."iling insutaiion, oi prp"rs) should be disposed byplacing in plastic b# ,t d diiposing as normalconstruction waste' Personnelremoving mold

"on-trminrted mateiials should have appropriate personal

protectionequipment(i'e'eyeprotection'gloves'andminimumNgSrespirator). At accesriuL nrro

"r.rrllr inoifi be wiped down with a 1oo/o

clorox solution or other acceptable cleaner- All porous surfaces should be

HEPAvacuumed.Airscrubbingwithmultipt"HEPAequippedairmachinescapable of providing 5 air chang.es p"i no..it for the oveiail volume of

the file

#;;y ne nenefLial in reducing in" present fungalload.

3. Follow-up bioaerosol sampling is recommended to verify that the indoorbioaerosol concentrations an"o species are within acceptable

industry

griO"iinl" as compared with the outdoor environment'

STATEMENT ON THE USE AND APPLICATION OF STANDARDS QUOTED IN THIS

REPORT

1 This indoor air quality assessment has been conducted in accordance with general

industry guidelines. This ,,,"",*"nt has o""n p'"pa'.0.1o.,.1|" sole use of the

client. tts contents should noi U" i"iieO upon Oy otner p.."t',"" without the express

written ""nI""i'oinp"fi"

frvironmental, lnc., and the client.

2 The information and conclusions presented in his report are valid only for the

circumstances of the sites investigated as described in this report as they existed

during the time period of the investigation'

3 This report does not constitute a warranty, guaranty' or representation (a) of the

absolute absence of hazardor. orotherwise harmfulsubstances orconditionsfound

onthesitesor(b)ifsucrrsubstances,noconoitionsareonthesites,thattheinvestigation accurately defined the degree '"i;;;;ttf possible

contamination of

the sites.

4 None of the information contained herein should be construed as medical advice or

a car to action for evacuation. nny decision *irir"1o medicar significance should

be made bY a qualified PhYsician'

5 Apollo Environmental, lnc., evaluated the reasonableness and completeness of all

relevant information, but does not assum" ,."rp"o,iliiiitv tot the-truth or accuracy of

any information provided to-nporro EnvironmJntat lnc.',oy others or for the lack of

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)gtd'g. aZ, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17'20111 CiData\WPfi lesworeprtvABldg4TFileArea'

iaq'wpd9ot12

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL' INC.P.O. Box 239Gibsonton, Flo4da 33591

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg. 47,3'o Floor - File Room

TEL:813-671-3999FAX: B 1 3-677 '3422-

August 17'20111 C:\Oata\WPfiles\bioreprlWABldg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

information that is intentionally, unintentionally, or negligently withheld from Apollo

by others. piotessional judgement was exercised in -gitnering

and evaluating the

information obtained, and Apollo commits itself to the risualcare, thoroughness and

;;;"t;;"" ot the industrial hygiene/environmental profession.

This report is based on information made available at the time of the inspections'The opinions expressed draw;p;" the background, training and experience of thepersonnel involved in the investigation. should additional information becomeavailable, Apollo Environmentri,-tn".., reservesthe right to determine the *.",i9!1.119

impact, if any, of the new information on our opinions and conclusions, and to revtse

the opinions and'conclusions if necessary and warranted by the discovery of the

additional information.

6 After acceptance of this report, if Apollo obtains information that it believes warrantsfurther exploration and dev.top*"nt, Agol]o will endeavor to provide that informationto the client, but Apollo will not be liable for not doing so'

7 This report is neither a legalopinion nor compliance with any environmental laws or,,due diligence inquiry." Onty'tegal

-cou-nsel ietained by the Client is competent to

determine the legal impticaiionl of information or conclusions contained in this

report.

B Apollo is not responsible for any e-regt upon the client or others' legal rights'obligations, or liabilities or for any effect upon the finance ability, marketability'

or

value of the property or for the occurrence or non-occurrence of any transactioninvolving tn" brlbettv based upon the information stated in this report'

I To achieve the study objectives stated in this report, Apollo based its conclusions onthe best information availabl" orting the period of the investigation and within thelimits Prescribed bY the Client'

10 Apollo Environmental, lnc., has included in this report standards' threshold limitvalues, time weighted averages, and oth-er recommended acceptable levels.forvarious indoor air pollutant, u"rt"o on the findings and publiclli.ont of several

U'S'

government agencies, indep.nO"rt industrial lygiene organizations and otherbodies. These are intended to be used as guideiines to assist in the assessmentand control of indoor air qrufit, *J snoufOltherefore, be interpreted and appliedonlY for these Purposes'

standards and methods used in this report are taken from the most appropriate

1O ol 12


TEL:813-671-3999FAX:81 3-677 -3422


references available. sources quoted are given asare given here for easy reference'

acronyms and their full names

The Bioaerosols committee of the American conference of Governmental lndustrial

Hygienists states,'orring the.growinf *"rton, outdoorfungus spore levels routinely

range from 1,000-100,000/m3 of air-"lndoor levels shou6te less than one-third of

outdoor revers *n.ie'outdoor air is the onry source and shourd be qualitatively

similar,, (Burge, H; Chatigny, y.; Morey, P.; Otten, J.; et al; Guidelines for theAssessment and Sampling of Saprof,nyi'9 Ai'"'erosols in the lndoor

Environment'

Applied lndustrial Hygiene 5(2):R10, 1987)'

The AIHA in the Assessment, Remediation, and Post-Remediation Verification of

Mold in Buildings states, "ln most f'*uftny building environments' the airborne

species of mold should be similar to, anO the co-ncentrations of mold should be less

than the ambient "nriron*"nt

outside the building, AIHA Guideline 3, Fairfax' VA''

2004.

New York Gity Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Environmental &

Occupational OisJase EpiOemiofogyGriO"f in*. 6n Assessment and Remediationof Fungi in lndoor Environments, 2002'

AIHA: Report of Microbial Growth Task Force' 2001'

AIHA: The Facts About Mold, 2002

AIHA: Field Guide forthe Determination of Biological contaminants in Environmental

Surpr"*, i"i.d-, Hung, Miller, Dillon, Fairfax' VA' 2005'

Macher, J.,Ammann, H.A., Burge, H.A., Milton, D.K.. }4orey, P.R., Eds.' Bioaerosols:Arr"ru*"nt and Control, ACGIH, Cincinnati' OH' 19gg

Morey, P.: Mold Growth in Buildings, Removal and Prevention' ln Proceedings of

Healt'hy Buildings- Washington, D'C', 1gg7 '

Biological Risk Engineering Handbook, lnfectioncontrol and Decontamination' Boss'

rtlt..l."rno Day, D.iA/., teviis Publishers, Boca Raton' 2003'

llcRc s520: standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation' 1"t

Ed., December, Vancouver, VUa', USA' 2003'

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)etd'g. az, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17'20111 C:\Data\WPfiles\bioreprtvABIdg4TFileArea'iaq'wpd

11 ot 12

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.P.O. Box 239 TEL:81 3-671-3999FAX:B 1 3-677 -3422Gibsonton Florida 33534

ACGIH:ASHRAE:

EPA:NADCA:NIOSH:NYC DOH:

OSHA:

American conference of Governmental lndustrial HygienistsAmerican society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioningEngineersEnvi ronmental P rotection AgencYNational Air Duct Cleaners AssociationNational lnstitute for occupational safety and HealthNew York city Department of Health- Bureau of Environmental &Occupational Disease EpidemiologyOccupational Safety and Health Administration

Air Handler UnitAtmospheric Dust SPotAir SupplyEnvironmental Tobacco SmokeHeating, Ventilating and Air ConditioningMobile HomeOutside AirPermissible ExPosure LevelReturn AirRespirable SusPended ParticlesShort Term ExPosure LimitThreshold Limit ValueTotal Suspended ParticulateTime Weighted AverageVolatile Organic ComPounds

cubic feet per minutecolony forming units per cubic meterparts per billionparts per millionmicrograms Per cubic metermilligrams Per cubic meter

August 17'20111 C:\Dara\WPfi les\biorePrtvABldg4TFileArea'iaq wPd

other common and scientific abbreviations are used in this report and theirfullformsare given below:

AHU:ADS:A/S:ETS:HVAC:MH:o/A:PEL:R/A:RSP:STEL:TLV:TSP:TWA:VOCs:

cfm:cfu/m3ppb:ppm:ug/m3mg/m3

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)Bldg. 47, 3'd Floor - File Room

12 of 12

2011 Air Quality Study

Documents

Transcript of 2011 Air Quality Study