March 2007
Volume VI, Issue 1

Dear All,

We start another year of Trapped Air, our sixth to be exact.  It will be a busy Spring for us. Randall Fike will be giving a talk at the 2007 Maine Indoor Air Quality Conference entitled "Applications of Thermal Desorption Sampling Tubes (NIOSH 2549) for the Evaluation of IAQ" on Wednesday, March 28 in Augusta Maine.  Phil Kauppi will be delivering a poster session also in March at the Stationary Source Sampling and Analysis for Air Pollutants XXXI, entitled "Application of thermal desorption tubes to the testing of source emissions."   If you plan to be at any of these conferences be sure to stop by and say hello.

Do you ever wonder about what that "mold like" growth in the bath or shower at home really is?  Is it mold or is it mildew? Our guest author, Terry Baker answers this question in his article "Mold, Mildew or Fungi?."

I am pleased to announce that Alice Delia, Ph.D. joined PATI this last December.   Alice earned her BA, Chemistry from Kalamazoo College and her doctorate in Chemistry from University of Colorado.   Her background in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences will give further depth to our air testing abilities.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.   Please feel free to forward Trapped Air to others as well as to send any suggestions for future issues our way at trappedair@pati-air.com.

"Mold, Mildew or Fungi?"

By Terry L. Baker
Guest Columnist

I have been asked many times, "What is the difference between mold, mildew and fungi?"   Well, that got me to thinking. Fungi are found everywhere in nature, they are ubiquitous.

The terms mold and fungi are often interchangeably used.   The world of fungi is basically divided into yeasts, mushrooms and molds; which includes a plant disease condition known to mycologists as mildew.   Mildew is a plant pathogen that causes damage to many crops.  Mildew is divided into two groups; the downy mildew and the powdery mildew.

The downy mildews and the powdery mildews are plant parasites.  They grow mainly on the surfaces of leaves and on other tender aerial plant parts were they produce spores on welts or mats of white to lightly-colored mycelium.   The powdery mildews are true fungi that grow on plants like lilacs, fruit trees, oak trees, grape vines and Virginia creeper.   The downy mildews belong to different group of organisms once classified among the fungi.  They can be destructive to many field and vegetable crops, but on woody plants, the downy mildew of grapes and roses are economically significant.

The common term mildew, is what comes to our minds when we see dark or black growth around bathtubs, showers, the shower curtain, on damp cloth, or superficial discoloration of paint.   The first written description of mildew is in Leviticus in the Bible.  This may be the origin of the term mildew and the connotation that mildew is associated with wet-to-moist indoor sites.  Mildew is a complex ecological synergistic community of organisms made up of fungi, bacteria and algae.  These organisms are not "eating" the tile or plastics, but are growing and thriving on the organic materials found in the biofilm or soap scum that is on the surface of the tile, shower curtains, etc.   The community is very much like a small city, a symbiotic community, where one organism's waste product may provide the nutrients that another organism needs to grow.   This growth is usually controlled by using a commercially available tile or tub cleaner.   Cloth that has become wet and has not dried adequately may begin to smell musty or moldy because the microorganisms can make organic compounds that are released into the air.  Such compounds are referred to as VOCs, that is, volatile organic compounds.   These items may be salvaged if washed immediately and properly dried.

Fungi, and specifically molds, are a very important part of the outdoor environment.   These organisms help to break down decayed plant materials into soil and nutrients for plants and animals.  Without fungi the world would be covered in plant debris.   Mushrooms are molds that grow in association with plant roots and make large fruiting bodies above the ground.  They typically occur in the same location year after year following rainy days because their active growth form is permanently associated with the same roots.  Some species are edible and are prized for their flavor like truffles.

Fungi require moisture, food and a proper temperature to grow.   It is interesting to note that molds like the same living conditions that homeowners enjoy; a relative humidity of about 60%, nutrients in food and a temperature of 60 to 800F.   Mold spores may enter a building through open doors or windows, on shoes and clothing, pets and ventilation systems.  These spores will not begin to grow until enough moisture is present.   Water leaks from plumbing, a damaged roof, or inadequate ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens or dryers provides enough moisture for mold spores to germinate.  It is important for a homeowner, or a facilities manager, to maintain a dry, clean, structurally sound building.

Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that are ubiquitous in every habitat on Earth.   They can be found in soil, seawater, freshwater, hot springs and even in the mildew in your bathroom.   There are 10 times as many bacterial cells as human cells in the human body with large numbers on the skin and in the digestive tract.   As you shower or bathe these organisms are washed off in the soap film.   This residue is then combined with the fungi and algae that comprise the mildew. (1)

Algae encompass several groups of relatively simple living aquatic organisms that capture light energy through photosynthesis, using it to combine organic compounds into sugar.   They occur in most habitats. Some algae are considered to be plants, others similar to bacteria (Blue-green algae) and some being similar to be more animal-like (Protozoa).   As we see, the byproducts of metabolism provide food for bacteria and mold. (2)

Building materials such as wood, drywall, wallpaper, carpeting, fabrics, paint, paper products and other organic materials provide a source of nutrients for mold and bacteria.  The inorganic and organic materials are converted into useful nutrients for mold, bacteria and algae growth.  When surfaces become wet and remain wet for 24-48 hours, microbial growth may result.  The source of the water must be determined and the proper repairs made.   Moistened materials must be dried and inspected for possible damage.   In a major water event it may be necessary to contact the services of a professional investigator and remediation consultant to determine the extent of any hidden damage, or to determine the extent of microbial growth.

References:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae

Acknowledgement:
I would like to thank Michael McGinnis, Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas for his editorial comments and friendship.

Terry Baker is the President of T. Baker & Associates, LLC an environmental microbiology laboratory located in Flint, Michigan, (810)233-0390.   Terry earned his BS in Medical Technology from Michigan Technological University and his MS Hazardous Waste Management from Wayne State University.  He holds several Certificates and Licenses including Certified Medical Technologist and Certified Specialist in Microbiology from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Technical Forum
That Dead Animal Smell!

In The News

Prism Analytical Technologies, Inc., (PATI) is the leading specialty analytical laboratory in the United States that is devoted to the chemical identification and analysis of contaminants in the air.   PATI's expertise includes:

PATI News:
Phil Kauppi will be presenting a poster session at the annual Stationary Source Sampling and Analysis Conference in March entitled "Application of thermal desorption tubes to the testing of source emission."   Mr Kauppi specializes in Fourier Transform Infrared Applications.

Randall S. Fike will present at the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council's 2007 Conference, March 28, 2007 a paper entitled "Applications of Thermal Desorption Sampling Tubes (NIOSH 2549) for the Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality."   The conference will be held in Augusta, Maine.

pati will exhibit their IAQ AIR ANALYSIS services at the AIHce 2007 Conference in Philadelphia, June 2 - 7.   Plan to stop at our booth, Booth 517.

Featured services this year will include IAQ Check for home inspections along with TDT Air Scan®, MoldScanPlus^(TM), GreenScan^(TM), and TracScan^(TM).   Come see how MoldScan^(TM) has been enhanced to provide you more information which in turn benefits your client at NO ADDITIONAL COST.

For more information about AIHce 2007 Click Here

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To receive a copy of PATI Air Analytical Tool Box click here Tool Box

PATI is a consultative air testing lab which means we encourage you to ask questions whether you are in the planning stage of an air study or have questions regarding your analytical report.   When planning your next air project be sure to consult your PATI Tool Box. Quick easy to look up charts are provided for each analysis. Put our experience to work for you. 

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