Indoor Air QualitY lnvestigation

Bay Pines VA Medical Center

Building 47 - 3'd Floor - File Room
10000 Bay Pines Boulevard
Bay Pines, Florida

On

Site: August 17,2011

Prepared for:

Mr. Larry Jones

GEMS Coordinator
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
P.O. Box 5005
Bay Pines, Florida 33744

o*e Setrf
Alex A. Cerekwicki, M.S.,

2, tutt

.1.H., c.t.A.Q.P.

Date
Michael Williamsrjfr , Microbiologist
Project #AD-29839
Prepared by.

APOLLO ENVIRCINMENTAL, INC"

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534
(Boo) 348-3181

SeFf.

L,zo

ll

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O, Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida

I.

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

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

II.

BACKGROUND

This 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 AREAS

Measurements of temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and bioaerosols

were made within twelve (12) selected locations. ln addition two (2) outdoor
(1)
bioaerosot samples were collected for comparison. Also collected was one
analysis'
for
biological surface swab sample and twelve (12) Air-O-Cell sample

IV.

EVALUATION METHOD

were
During the site visit, measurements for temperature and relative humidity
made using a Bacharach Modet 12-7011 Sling Psychrometer. The American
Society of"Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE),
with
recommends that humidity Ievels be maintained between 40% and 600/0,
temperatures ranging from 68 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
tubes
Carbon dioxide levels were measured with Gastec-Sensidyne carbon dioxide
below
model2LL. ASHRAE recommends that carbon dioxide levels be maintained

of
1000 ppm. Carbon dioxide levels in excess of 1000 ppm, are indicative

inadequate ventilation.

for 1 minute at
Bioqerosols were collected on malt extract agar plates and_ sampled
plates
28.3 liters per minute using a single stage Andersen Impactor. The collection
'tircuba[ed for five to ten days at room temperature'
were transported to the lab and
Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)
Bldg. 47, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17,2011

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

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

culturable
Bioaerosol testing is limited to the detection of viable, airborne species
units
on the selected media. Bioaerosols are normally reported in colony forming
per cubic meter of air (cfu/m'1. Surface samples were collected in CultureSwabs,
plates and
iransported to the laboratory, then streaked onto malt extract agar
identified
incubated at room temperature for five to seven days. organisms were
swab
surface
using standard mycological techniques and taxonomic references.
qruntifiedas "Few" 11'-5 cfu's per plate), "Moderate" (6-20 cfu's per
samples
"r""Hegvy" (Ereater that 20 cfu's per plate)'
plate), and
Zefon Air-O-Cell
N,on;viable particulate sampling w?s accomplisl"q oV the use sf
$ur"pf"r were collected for a ten minute period, with a flow rate of 15
Samples were stained using Lacto-Phenol Cotton Blue and

;#;tt";.
ffir per minute.

examined at 600X using a light microscope'

V.

TEMPEMTURE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND CARBON DIOXIDE MEASUREMENTS

LOCATION

TEMPEMTURE DEGREES

CARBON DIOXIDE PPM

(+l-25Yol 1:OO:.

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

F (+t-2):

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

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)

Bldg. 47, 3'd Floor - File Room

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC,

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

VI.

TEL.B13-671-3999
FAX:81 3-677-3422

BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES
Species Present---.CFUs'/Plate

Samplel Location

Test

Site #1

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

.42

Penicillium
Alternaria

..1
..1
..1

PaecilomYces,-..Bacteriaf/east..

--

.45

Total Count

1589

CFUs/m3

Site #2

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

.65

Penicillium
Aspergillus sYdowii
Total Count

..1

.66
2330

CFUs/m3

Site #3

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

Site #4

.45

Penicillium.,...

..1
..1

Aspergillus flavus
Bacteria./Yeast .

Total Count

.. .
CFUs/m3......

ANDERSEN IMPACTION
(single stage)

Penicillium

(Lab #Bl 1-0545)

Alternaria

_47

,t659

26
2

ra'ururrl)'wo

---....,.1

'"'"''29

TotalCount

"

cFuslm'

Site #5

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

.48
..
.49

Penicillium......
Geottichum.....
TotalCount....-

1730

CFUs/m3

Site #6

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

-46

Penicillium.,-.-.

..1
-.3

Paecilomyces ...
SterileFungi --..
Bacteriaffeast . . Total Count .. ...

-.

ANDERSEN IMPACTION
(single stage)
(Lab #8114548)

Site #8

ANDERSEN IMPACTION
(single stage)
(Lab #8114549)

Site #9

ANDERSEN IMPACTION
(single stage)
(Lab

#811{550)

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)

Bldg.47,3" Floor - File Room

.53

1871

GFUs/m'
Site #7

1024

Penicillium
TotalCount
^rrr^r-r

"""'-62
'"""'62
. . 2189

Penicitlium
TotalCount
cFUsIm3

"""-'
'""'"
" '

52
52
1836

.53

Penicillium ..
Paecilomyces
Total Count .

CFUs/m'

..

.55
1942

August

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

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

Aspergillus' Altemaria'
Aeroallergenic fungi such as C/adosp orium, Penicittium,
as bacterial agents such as
Geotrichum, Paec;ilomyces and Sterile Fungi, as well
routinely isolated ln Tilo.'-!1Till::
baciuus which are all inttuded in the results ale
potential for caustng
from Florida insidl air samples. Cladosporium has a low
in normal indoor/outdoor air and
hearth probrems. rt is commonry encounteied mord
to be responsible for
substrata samples. Penicitlium have been reported
associated with three distinct
hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Aspergi//us has been
aspergillosis' , pulmonary
illnesses. These ln"tro" allergic froncho-pulmonary
occasionally causes
aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis- Attemaia
patients but is
phaeohyphomycosis. Geotrichum ciuses disease in compromisedassociated with
has been
also found as normal flora in humans. Paecilomyces
subcutaneous infections'
and
keratitis, endocarditis, sinusitis, nephritis, cutaneous
Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)
gbg. az, 3'o Floor - File Room

August 17' 201

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL' INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

TEL:813-671-3999

FAX:813-677-422

but is commonly considered a contaminant'

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

potential agents
io such agents in high quantities'

chapter 6'.lndoor Air Quality

According to osHA (OSHA Technical Manual,
indicators for airborne
lnvestigation, Part D,3,i,5; CD-ROM- A94-1), coniamination
microorganisms are:

.1000viablecolonyformingunitsinacubicmeterofair

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

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

Verification of
The AIHA in the Assessment, Remediation, and Post-n"r-"-d]?lion the airborne
environments'
Mold in Buildings states, "ln most healthy building
of mold should be less
species of mold should be similar to, and the concenirations
AIHA Guideline 3, Fairfax' VA''
than the ambient environmeniortriO" the building",
2004.

VII.

AIR-O-CELLANALYSES
techniques and references'
organisms were identified using standard mycological
Air-O-Cell AnalYses
Location:

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD'29839)

Bldg. 47, 3'o Floor - File Room

16332715

16332709
Site #1

Sample lD:

SIte

#2

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

TEL:B 1 3-671-3999
FAX: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 17,2011

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Ir

APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

TEL:813-671-3999

FM:813-677-3422

Sample lD:
Location:

16332798
Site #11

Sample ID:
Location:

Sample lD:
Location:

Total Counts Per meted

air- At present,no,governmentagencies
Air-o-cellvalues are expressed in counts percubic meterof
of
the parameters m.easured in Air-o-Cell
have pubtished guidelines for acceplrni"Lon."ntrations
U" equal or less than outdoor air and
analyses. General industry guideliles suggest indoopi'
q

VIII.

ualitativelY similar-

SITE INSPECTION
ceiling tiles due to
Visual inspection revealed sporadic wet and mold contaminated

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)

Bldg.47, 3'o Floor- File Room

August 17'2011

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Flor!49 J9!91

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

and drying

HVACcondensateleakagethroughoutthefileroomarea.Wetcarpet
mold
of shelving' occupants reported musty

fans were present along severat ,o*t

odort particularly after weekends'

IX.

OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS

MeasurementsforcarbondioxideWerewithintheacceptableASHRAE
recommendedstandardofl000ppmor.lessatallsamplelocations(seeTableV.).
r'u*ioitv revealed elevated humidity
Measurements for temperatu;; fu relative
levelsabovetheASHME,""o*,endedstandardof60%RHorlessatalltimesat
RH'
levels ranged from B0% RH to 90%
allsample locations (seeTableV.)' Humidity

the outdoor concentration and above

greqtglthan
concentrations.were
Bioaerosol
of
1000 cotony-fslming units per cubic meter
the osHA contamination indicatJr of
M')' Th;'[,""ttn"J of signiflcantly elevateda
air at a-ll sample locations (see iaure
samples without
penicittium species concentrriions on the indoor bioaerosol
inoicative of interio. fungar contamination'
corresponding outdoo,
"on""iiiuiionl= a risiUfydamaged.ceiling tile (see sample
The biologicaisurface swab collected.from
peniciiliumspecies rnJ n"ruv Aspergittus species with
heavy
revealed
map)
location
concentrations reveared significanfly
a few sterire fungi (see Tabre vr.l. nir-o-beil p"ed with. the outd oo r e nvi ron m e nt
ele.vated P e ni ci t t iu m/Aspe rg i l t u sspecies
"o'n
found in outdoor samples'
(see Table vlt.) . species identified are commonly

"

X.

RECOMMENDATIQNS

1.

ApolloEnvironmentallnc., recommendsrepairingallHVACcondensateleaks
or less at
within ine fifJ Area to 60% RH
i'ir*idity
,"f"tiu"
the
lowering
and
standard. consultation with an
alltimes as per the ASHME recommenJed
HVnc contractorshould be undertaken
HVAC Professional Engineer (PE) or
intrusion and humidity
to provide a permane"nt "otrtion to t"-moisture
Lu uncomfortable and may create
pr"[i"*. rt"r"tuo rrumioity levels ""nir;;ri
to
orowtJr ln addition elevated
environments that
and files to
"ondrcive
"r"
building
uilo*
may
levels
humidity
"o*[on"-nts,.furnishings
microbial grovuth and odor
become wet resulting in material o"giririion, witlr digital data logging
problems. Long ter"m humidity *"nitoring
accepiable humidity levels' Persons
hygrometers is ,""o**"nJ"O to''"tity
asthma'
issues (i.e. immunocompromised'
who may have pru-"*irlini health
spectes
or may havL an allergy to Penicillium
or other respiratory
"if*"ntil
should be relocated to other locations'

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

August 17' 2011

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534
2.

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

items (i'e' carpet' carpet

All wet, water damaged or mold contaminated
prp"rs) should be disposed by
padding, ceiling tiiur]."iling insutaiion, oi
waste' Personnel
placing in plastic b# ,t d diiposing as normalconstruction
personal
mateiials should have appropriate
removing mold
"on-trminrted
protectionequipment(i'e'eyeprotection'gloves'andminimumNgS
be wiped down with a 1oo/o
respirator). At accesriuL nrro "r.rrllr inoifi porous surfaces should be
All
clorox solution or other acceptable cleanerHEPAvacuumed.Airscrubbingwithmultipt"HEPAequippedairmachines
for the oveiail volume of the file
capable of providing 5 air chang.es p"i no..it
ne nenefLial in reducing in" present fungalload.

#;;y

to verify that the indoor

Follow-up bioaerosol sampling is recommended
within acceptable industry
bioaerosol concentrations an"o species are
griO"iinl" as compared with the outdoor environment'
OF STANDARDS QUOTED IN THIS
APPLICATION
AND
USE
THE
ON
STATEMENT
REPORT
with general
has been conducted in accordance
1 This indoor air quality assessment
p'"pa'.0.1o.,.1|" sole use of the
o""n
has
,,,"",*"nt
This
guidelines.
industry
express
Oy otner p.."t',"" without the
client. tts contents should noi U" i"iieO upon
frvironmental, lnc., and the client.
written
""nI""i'oinp"fi"
in his report are valid only for the
presented
conclusions
and
information
2 The
described in this report as they existed
circumstances of the sites investigated as
during the time period of the investigation'

3.

guaranty' or representation (a) of the

warranty,
a
constitute
not
does
report
This
harmfulsubstances orconditionsfound
absolute absence of hazardor. orotherwise
onthesitesor(b)ifsucrrsubstances,noconoitionsareonthesites,thatthe
possible contamination of
investigation accurately defined the degree
the sites.
or
be construed as medical advice
should
herein
contained
information
None of the
*irir"1o medicar significance should
a car to action for evacuation. nny decision
be made bY a qualified PhYsician'
and completeness of all
reasonableness
the
evaluated
lnc.,
of
Apollo Environmental,
,."rp"o,iliiiitv tot the-truth or accuracy of
relevant information, but does not assum"
lnc.',oy others or for the lack
any information provided to-nporro EnvironmJntat

'"i;;;;ttf

4
5

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

August 17'2011

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL' INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Flo4da 33591

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

withheld from Apollo

or negligently
-gitnering
information that is intentionally, unintentionally,
and evaluating the
in
by others. piotessional judgement was exercised
the risualcare, thoroughness and
information obtained, and Apollo commits itself to
profession.
ot the industrial hygiene/environmental

;;;"t;;""

at the time of the inspections'

This report is based on information made available
training and experience of the
The opinions expressed draw;p;" the background,
information become
personnel involved in the investigation. should additional
right to determine the *.",i9!1.119
available, Apollo Environmentri,-tn".., reservesthe
and conclusions, and to revtse
impact, if any, of the new information on our opinions
by the discovery of the
the opinions and'conclusions if necessary and warranted

additional information.

that it believes warrants

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

any environmental laws or

This report is neither a legalopinion nor compliance with
,,due diligence inquiry." Onty'tegal
ietained by the Client is competent to
-cou-nsel
conclusions contained in this
determine the legal impticaiionl of information or
report.
or others' legal rights'
Apollo is not responsible for any e-regt upon the client
ability, marketability' or
obligations, or liabilities or for any effect upon the finance
of any transaction
value of the property or for the occurrence or non-occurrence
in this report'
involving tn" brlbettv based upon the information stated

I
10

based its conclusions on

To achieve the study objectives stated in this report, Apollo
and within the
the best information availabl" orting the period of the investigation
limits Prescribed bY the Client'
standards' threshold limit
Apollo Environmental, lnc., has included in this report
acceptable levels.for
values, time weighted averages, and oth-er recommended
and publiclli.ont of several U'S'
various indoor air pollutant, u"rt"o on the findings
organizations and other
government agencies, indep.nO"rt industrial lygiene
to assist in the assessment
bodies. These are intended to be used as guideiines be interpreted and applied
snoufOltherefore,
and control of indoor air qrufit,
onlY for these Purposes'

*J

taken from the most appropriate

standards and methods used in this report are
Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)
Bldg. 47,3'o Floor - File Room

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton, Florida 33534

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

given as acronyms and their full names

references available. sources quoted are
are given here for easy reference'
conference of Governmental lndustrial
The Bioaerosols committee of the American
outdoorfungus spore levels routinely
Hygienists states,'orring the.growinf *"rton,
levels shou6te less than one-third of
range from 1,000-100,000/m3 of air-"lndoor
and shourd be qualitatively
outdoor revers *n.ie'outdoor air is the onry source
Otten, J.; et al; Guidelines for the
similar,, (Burge, H; Chatigny, y.; Morey, P.;
in the lndoor Environment'
Assessment and Sampling of Saprof,nyi'9 Ai'"'erosols
Applied lndustrial Hygiene 5(2):R10, 1987)'
Post-Remediation Verification of
The AIHA in the Assessment, Remediation, and
environments' the airborne
Mold in Buildings states, "ln most f'*uftny building
co-ncentrations of mold should be less
species of mold should be similar to, anO the
Fairfax' VA''
outside the building, AIHA Guideline 3,
than the ambient
"nriron*"nt
2004.
Hygiene, Bureau of Environmental &
New York Gity Department of Health & Mental
6n Assessment and Remediation
Occupational OisJase EpiOemiofogyGriO"f in*.
of Fungi in lndoor Environments, 2002'
2001'
AIHA: Report of Microbial Growth Task Force'
AIHA: The Facts About Mold, 2002

contaminants in Environmental
AIHA: Field Guide forthe Determination of Biological
Surpr"*, i"i.d-, Hung, Miller, Dillon, Fairfax' VA' 2005'
D.K.. }4orey, P.R., Eds.' Bioaerosols:
Macher, J.,Ammann, H.A., Burge, H.A., Milton,
Arr"ru*"nt and Control, ACGIH, Cincinnati' OH' 19gg

and Prevention' ln Proceedings of

Morey, P.: Mold Growth in Buildings, Removal
Healt'hy Buildings- Washington, D'C', 1gg7 '
and Decontamination' Boss'
Biological Risk Engineering Handbook, lnfectioncontrol
2003'
rtlt..l."rno Day, D.iA/., teviis Publishers, Boca Raton'
Mold Remediation'
llcRc s520: standard and Reference Guide for Professional

1"t

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

Bav Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)

etd'g. az, 3'o Floor - File Room

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APOLLO ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

P.O. Box 239
Gibsonton Florida 33534
ACGIH:
ASHRAE:
EPA:
NADCA:
NIOSH:
NYC DOH:
OSHA:

TEL:81 3-671-3999
1 3-677 -3422

FAX:B

American conference of Governmental lndustrial Hygienists

American society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning
Engineers
Envi ronmental P rotection AgencY
National Air Duct Cleaners Association
National lnstitute for occupational safety and Health
&
New York city Department of Health- Bureau of Environmental
Occupational Disease Epidemiology
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

other common and scientific abbreviations are used in this report and theirfullforms
are given below:
AHU:
ADS:
A/S:
ETS:
HVAC:
MH:

o/A:
PEL:
R/A:
RSP:
STEL:
TLV:
TSP:
TWA:
VOCs:
cfm:
cfu/m3
ppb:
ppm:
ug/m3
mg/m3

Air Handler Unit

Atmospheric Dust SPot
Air Supply
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
Mobile Home
Outside Air
Permissible ExPosure Level
Return Air
Respirable SusPended Particles
Short Term ExPosure Limit
Threshold Limit Value
Total Suspended Particulate
Time Weighted Average
Volatile Organic ComPounds
cubic feet per minute
colony forming units per cubic meter
parts per billion
parts per million
micrograms Per cubic meter
milligrams Per cubic meter

Bay Pines VA Medical Center (AD-29839)

Bldg. 47, 3'd Floor - File Room

August 17'2011

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