The blog covers issues broadly related to sustainability in Minnesota and the world both from an environmental perspective and from an interpersonal perspective. It also covers issues related to mycology (the study of fungi) with a specific emphasis on the interaction with fungal organisms and buildings.
Suspected mold growth on drywall in a records storage area (photo - N. Carlson)
Close-up view of suspected mold growth (photo - N. Carlson)
Previous problems with leaks in this space caused suspected mold growth on the wall and pipe insulation in this records storage space. 3M Scotch Transparent Tease tape samples were taken from the surface. The tape was placed on a microscope slide using clear fingernail polish as a mounting fluid. Photos were taken with Foldscope microscope attached to a Samsung S-5 Cell phone. Photos were cropped using Adobe Photoshop Elements 12. Click to enlarge photos.
Uncropped photo of Chaetomium spp. (N. Carlson
Cropped Foldscope image of Chaetomium spp. from wall (N. Carlson)
Cropped Foldscope image of Aspergillus spp. from wall (N. Carlson)
Suspected mold growth on pipe insulation in records storage area (photo - N. Carlson)
Cropped Foldscope image of Stachybotrys spp. (N. Carlson)
Suspected mold growth on sheetrock after repeated water events - N. Carlson
A rental property had sustained repeated water damage from a roof leak. Suspected mold growth was noted behind the vinyl baseboard. Tease tapes were taken from the surface and clear nail polish was used as a mounting fluid for clear transparent tape on a microscope slide. Click on any photo to enlarge.
Foldscope image of Chaetomium spp. spores from Samsung S-5 camera -click to enlarge - N. Carlson
Cropped photo of Chaetomium spp. spores with Adobe Photoshop elements - N. Carlson
Foldscope photo of Chaetomium spp. perithecia - N. Carlson
Cropped photo of Chaetomium spp. perithecia with Adobe Photoshop Elements - N. Carlson
Suspected mold growth in the adjacent room behind the vinyl baseboard - N. Carlson
Foldscope image of Stachybotrys spp. using Samsung S-5 camera - N. Carlson
Cropped photo of Stachybotrys spp. using Adobe Photoshop Elements - N. Carlson
These samples were taken after a weekend water event. These particular organisms typically growth on paper products receiving repeated water damage. The growth observed is unlikely to be as a result of a single water event.
The Foldscope images were clear enough to allow me to identify the organism to the genus level. After taking the picture, I used the zoom feature of the camera to make the field identification. I used an overhead fluorescent light bulb to back light the microscope slides.
Research on sleep patters from our paleolithic ancestors found that an 8 hour sleep pattern was not the norm. This according to CNN - Sleep like your ancestors.
According to the Washington Post, three of the existing hunter gatherer tribes slept an average of 6.5 hours per night. This is very similar to the average measured hours of sleep for the UK. The British sleep times average 6 hours and 39 minutes per night according to the Great British Bedtime Report - 2013.
From the Washington Post, the paleolithic ancestors were much healthier on measures of chronic disease indices of BMI, and blood pressure. The authors speculate that the we are unhealthy because we are unhealthy and it may not be due to lack of sleep.
Conclusion:
Cut yourself a bit of slack if you aren't sleeping 8 hours. It is important to sleep as fatigued individuals have more accidents, it allows people to reduce toxins in the brain and allows the brain to work on diffuse learning wiring connections while you sleep. It is a myth that our ancestors slept more.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has an AIHA online mold resource center. The page provides links and general facts about mold and includes past references to articles in the Synergist for AIHA members. The articles about proper health and safety precautions after the cleanup after Hurricane Sandy are useful. The site provides good information useful for first responders and safety professionals after a water related natural disaster. .
Mold in homes - 5min.
The discussion in the video mentions keeping the relative humidity (%RH) between 40% and 60% in the home. This is acceptable for summer time but indoor humidity levels above 20 to 30% in winter climates can cause problems with moisture condensation on cold surfaces.
Soot damage from a small fire in a building - Another reason to stay low in a fire.
Soot damage after a fire is common. Soot particles have been linked to health problems in chimney sweeps as far back as the 18th century (AIC News 09-2010)
Sampling the soot can be done with a swab or an air sampler with later chemical analysis done by a laboratory. As a preliminary test, an Air-o-cell cassette air sample can be taken from the area. The soot particles have a fairly easily recognizable shape. The individual soot particles are often less than 2.5 microns but will be attracted together in larger masses as seen in the photo below.
Air-o-Cell air sample of a soot particle - microscope photo: The distance between 0 and 1 is 25 microns.
As an experiment a co-worker assisted me with sample soot particles on a floor some distance from the source of the fire. We noticed that the particles had a strong static charge and were easily sampled from a distance of 1/4 to 1/2 inch (approximately 1 to 2 cm).
This two day course offered April 13 - 14, 2016 by the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is designed to train individuals who are or who anticipate being employed at a mold remediation work site. Individuals in charge of building maintenance and public health officials inspecting water damaged buildings have also benefited. Past attendees have also come from Hospital Facilities Management.
Activities in this course include implementing the emergency response plan, identifying specific molds and associated health hazards, selecting protective equipment, and performing advanced control containment or confinement. Additional site-specific training for emergency response must be provided so individuals can carry out any role, which may be assigned during a response.
For more information sign up at the U of MN HazMat and Hazwoper Training site: Mold Remediation Course.
This past Thursday, October 8, 2015, I had the privilege or discussion several topics of interest with members the the University of Minnesota and Hennepin County at the Weisman Art Museum. The participants were able to choose from 21 discussion topics for approximately 45 minutes each. For the last topic, our group discussed the problem of physical structures that are attractive nuisances. Playing and exploring these structures frequently result in injury or death usually to youth and young adults.
Ideas:
Provide matching grants to communities or local neighborhood
groups abating attractive nuisance hazards.These include dangerous abandoned buildings and structures of heights
greater the 4 stories.
Skateboard damage prevention - N. Carlson
Examine how to generally apply the lessons learned from the
construction of skateboard parks. These added features make skateboarding less
practical have worked to reduce damage to public property and injuries to skateboarders.
We also explored the neurochemistry of risk taking in teenage youths
and young adults.What rights of passage
or other rituals can be used to provide the same thrill of danger and accomplishment. One person took up skydiving to experience the needed adrenaline rush. After 17 dives the person came away less than satisfied as the experience didn't have enough danger.
How can the energy of this fearless behavior
be channeled toward some positive benefit to society?Can we use the neurochemistry studies from Jane McGonigal’s
book, Reality is Broken, and create a positive addiction to behaviors that are challenging and
beneficial.
Examine the architectural features of German buildings that
prevent urban exploring.Apply these
designs to structures combining utility and architectural aesthetics.
Make the Call - Washington Ave. Bridge - N. Carlson
Redesign the railing on the Washington Avenue Bridge to make
it difficult to jump but not significantly limit the sight line and view of the
Mississippi River.
Several studies suggest that making the irrational behavior of jumping off a bridge more difficult will reduce deaths due to suicide as these individuals are less likely to try other means of suicide.
Suspected mold growth in an attic - flash on camera
I was asked by a home owner who was selling his property to determine if the white specks under the roof in his attic was mold growth. In this case, I chose to charge a flat fee that would allow me to take as many samples as I needed to make sure I identified the organism.
Safely sampling the material was a bit tricky. I attached clear double stick tape loop onto the end of a telescoping camera tripod. I taped the inside of the loop onto the tripod to prevent it from coming off during sampling. The homeowner stabilized the ladder while I took samples.
Suspected mold growth in an attic. - No flash on camera
I also took photos of the attic without benefit of a flash. The images were a bit blurry but more accurately depicted the light cream color of the mold growth.
Bathroom exhaust vent
At this point in time, we are not sure about the source of moisture in the attic. There were some leaks noted in the bathroom exhaust vent. Local abatement contractors were referred to the home owner for the remediation work.
Photo micrograph of Chrysosporium spp. taken from a tease tape of the attic roof- lacto fuchsin stain
The above photo was taken with a Samsung S-5 camera phone through the eyepiece of a Nikon microscope. There is a distance of 25 microns between the 4 and 5 on the ruler. The image was cropped using Adobe Photoshop. Some species of Chrysosporium spp. can be a rare opportunistic pathogen for individuals with compromised immune systems.
The organism, Chrysosporium spp., is causing health problems for Timber Rattlesnakes - 5 min.
As a test of concept, I wanted to determine if a Foldscope cellphone microscope could be used for field identification of fungal growth on hay. The answer is yes for the darker colored organisms. I took a tease tape of the suspected hay material. The 3M clear Scotch tape was attached to a microscope slide using clear fingernail polish as a mounting fluid. The Epicoccum spp. and Alternaria spp. spores can be seen. The Cladosporium spp. spores are tougher to pick out in the background.
Photo of Epicoccum spp. through Foldscope attached to Samsung Galaxy S-5 camera
Photo of Epicoccum spp. cropped and enlarged with Adobe Photoshop
Photo of Epicoccum spp., Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp. taken with Samsung Galaxy S-5 camera through the eyepiece of Nikon Microscope 400x. The distance between 5 and 6 is 25 microns.
