Clean air is vital to the survival of all living organisms. Presence of airborne microorganisms in animal housing facilities affects the quality of air in those facilities. The quality of air directly affects all livestock, poultry production, workers and neighbouring areas. Farm animal housing contains a variety of airborne microorganisms from soil, dust, manure storage facilities, feed, water delivery system, fans, heaters and coolers. Combining animals, equipment and manure sources, lead … [Read more...]
Airborne bacteria and mold in slaughterhouse facilities
April 18, 2013 by
Contamination of meat products by microorganisms such as airborne bacteria and mold is a major economic problem in the meat industry. In the past it was thought that food products were contaminated when they came in contact with contaminated surfaces, but now it is known that additional product contamination occurs from contact with airborne bacteria. There are several pathways in which pathogenic airborne bacteria and spoilage organisms can be introduced to products. It is known that … [Read more...]
MBL Among The CDC ELITE Certified Labs in Legionella Testing
February 4, 2013 by
Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) has certification in the analysis of Legionella bacteria by the prestigious Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program of the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). MBL is one of the only 3 Canadian independent laboratories having this industry-leading certification. MBL is also accredited by the Canadian Association For Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) for analysis of fungi and bacteria including … [Read more...]
Indoor Mold And Bacteria and Their Health Effects
January 31, 2013 by
Indoor mold has become a household name. We have all heard or seen on advertisements phrases like toxic mold or black mold. These phrases create fear, panic and confusion. People have spent thousands of dollars in indoor mold remediation or disposed of household items including clothes because of mold contamination. Are these decisions based on facts or fear? It is a difficult question to answer. The objective of this article is to provide some basic facts about indoor mold and bacteria and the … [Read more...]
Canadian Asbestos Regulations
October 25, 2012 by
Production and use of asbestos was at its highest in Canada in the 1970s and declined in the 198os. Due to health concerns, asbestos production and use has become a hot topic with governments in developed countries being accused of poisoning poorer countries that still use asbestos. Below are the Canadian abestos regulations by provinces and territories. Alberta: ≥1% Guidelines for the Disposal of Asbestos Waste - Env. Protection Services Alberta Environment August, 1989 British … [Read more...]
Legionnaires’ Disease and Symptoms
October 18, 2012 by
Legionnaires' disease (LEE-juh-nares) is a form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. A mild form of the disease is called Pontiac fever. Unlike Legionnaires' disease, which affects only a small percentage of people who are exposed, Pontiac fever will affect approximately 90 percent of those exposed. In addition, the time between exposure to the organism and appearance of the disease is generally shorter for Pontiac fever than for Legionnaires' disease. Symptoms of Pontiac … [Read more...]
Mold Allergy
August 18, 2012 by
Mold spores, the main cause of mold allergy are present in the air year-round, particularly indoors in damp areas like basements, washrooms, bathrooms and garages. Mold spores are tiny particles that can easily evade the natural protective mechanisms of our nose and upper respiratory tract. The spores attach themselves to the lining of our nose, which then causes the various allergy symptoms. Mold spores are usually not a problem indoors, unless there is actively mold growth on wet or damp spots … [Read more...]
Mold in Homes
August 17, 2012 by
Mold in homes is unsightly and could create serious health problems. Small airborne mold spores or particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Inhalation of mold spores can lead to respiratory problems. Mold spores could be both toxigenic (i.e., have toxic effects) and allergenic. Mold in homes is apparently quite common especially in basements of old homes where moisture levels are high. Discovering mold in homes causes panic in many people. Since you're reading this now, you're probably … [Read more...]
How to distinguish mold growth from other discolorations
July 21, 2012 by
The first step in any mold growth investigation is a visual inspection of the building and documentation of the area covered by mold growth. This requires the ability to recognize mold growth as opposed to dirt, stains or other discolorations. mold investigators sometimes come across discolorations or stains that they suspect to be mold growth, only to receive a report from the lab indicating there was no mold detected. Commonly, black discolorations on insulation material and wood … [Read more...]
Aspergillus-Penicillium and Unidentified Spores: What Should You Know?
July 21, 2012 by
Indoor sampling for airborne mould spores may be conducted to help in evaluating occupants ill health complaints, determining the effectiveness of remediation procedures, or assessing health hazards or proactive indoor air quality monitoring. Mould spores enter a building from outdoors through: air intakes for the heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system (HVAC), doors and windows contaminated building materials and contents. The common practice in mould investigation is … [Read more...]