CASE STUDY #1
Apartment Complex
This case study was conducted on a 35 year old, forty eight unit complex in Southeast Missouri that had suffered flooding and leaks. The tenants were evacuated and the property had been closed for some time. When the new owners purchased the property they began extensive renovations and remodeling. Mold and water damaged ceiling tiles, insulation and sheetrock was removed. A professional cleaning service was hired to clean the apartments. The apartments were first cleaned with a concentrated hospital disinfectant. A professional indoor air quality specialist was hired by the owners and was given the task of being a third party, objective determination of the effectiveness of the treatment. Lift tapes, bulk and air samples identified heavy mold and toxic mold infestations still existing in several apartments.
After removal of additional wall and ceiling materials, cleaning with industrial fungicide and washing with a 3% chlorine bleach solution, re-sampling showed that viable species of Cladosporium, Stachybotrys, Aspergillus and several other mold colonies still existed. While the application extent on the Stachybotrys, Aspergillus actually increased in some locations during the treatments used prior to our test.
Outdoor and indoor spore trap and air samples were collected immediately prior to the test. The apartments consisted of two floors, with about 400 sq. ft. of floor space in each apartment unit and connected by an open stairwell. A cold air diffuser was set up in the center of the ground floor and run continuously for 24 hours using EOB2. Indoor and outdoor spore trap air samples were collected again immediately after diffusing. Remodeling was ongoing at this site, with doors and windows only partially installed and workers were going in and out of the test apartment. Workers were spending extended periods working inside the apartment during the 24 hour period of continuous diffusing.
Graph 1 and Table 1 found at the end of this case study depict the time line and sampling results. Notice Stachybotrys, Pennicillium, Aspergillius and Cladosporium species spore levels were dramatically reduced during the 24 hour diffusing of EOB2.
The owners of the apartment complex were understandably impressed with the results, but they raised an important question, “What if the mold comes right back?” To answer this question, the unit was left untreated for two weeks. During that time no further action was taken by us whatsoever. In addition workers continued going in and out to perform their tasks. This would result in an exchange of air between the inside and outside, allowing the introduction of additional mold spores from the outside.of concentrated hospital disinfectant, industrial strength fungicide and bleach had an impact on the Cladosporium and to a lesser When samples were collected at the end of two weeks, the levels of Cladosporium and Aspergillius were further reduced and Stachybotrys was reduced to ZERO! With this striking evidence of the effectiveness of the blend of plant extracts, the owners authorized treatment of all apartment units with any hint of mold and / or water damage. EOB2 was diffused for 24 hours or more and mold spores were reduced to acceptable levels in all apartments treated.
Table 1 records individual and total spore concentrations (spores per cubic meter) and indoor to outdoor ratios before diffusing and two weeks after diffusing. Indoor spore removal efficiency (SRE) was 100% for eleven species, nearly two thirds of the mold species found. Of these eleven species, nine were also present in indoor samples. This tells us that even with constant exchange of indoor and outdoor air, for these species, all available spores were removed. For the remaining six species outdoor concentrations were relatively high and the spores of these species are light and easily carried with air currents. Considering these facts, windy conditions during the test period, unfinished doors and windows and the workman traffic, the average available spores outside during the test period were added to the indoor concentrations to estimate the available spores per cubic meter in the calculation of SRE for these species.
Observations and Conclusions
Laboratory results indicated that nine species were growing inside the apartment. Indoor / outdoor ratios for these nine species were greater than one. The concentration of Basidiospores in the apartment was more than forty-two times the outdoor concentration. Three species, Stachybotrys Chartarum, Scopulariopsis and Polythrincium were found indoors, but not found in the outdoor samples, indicating their growth or presence inside the apartment.
Overall spore removal efficiency was calculated to be 98.6%. While this is impressive, it is more important to note that 100% removal was achieved for toxic mold species, including Stachybotrys Chartarium, Nigrospora and Torula. It is also important to note that direct examination spore-trap analysis does not distinguish between liv and dead spores. Common objections to the use of fungicides are:
1. Dead spores can still cause allergic reactions.
2. Most fungicides are toxic to humans, plants and animals.
3. The effects of fungicides wear off quickly
All these objections are overcome with the use of these plant extracts
1.Both dead and live spores are removed from the air.
2.The plant extract blend EOB2 is non-toxic and our plant extracts are approved by the FDA for human consumption.
3.Finally, diffusing EOB2 is shown to have long- lasting residual effects.
When this case was discussed with professional cleaning and mold remediation people, they were impressed by the fact that diffusing EOB2 for as little as 24 hours efficiently eliminated toxic mold and airborne spores where bleach, hospital disinfectants and industrial strength fungicides failed.
CASE STUDY #2
Apartment with Highest Stachybotrys Levels
This case study involves another unit at the apartment complex in Southeast Missouri and was treated after the initial tests. It is presented as a separate case study because it is different from Case Study # 1. Sampling conducted before treatment with EOB2 and the samples taken after treatment were collected almost a month after Case Study # 1. Also the mix of mold species was quite different in this apartment.
The level of Stachybotrys Chartarum spores in the before treatment air sample from this unit was extremely high. More visible mold was found in this unit than any other on the property. For this reason it was decided to diffuse EOB2 continuously for 72 hours. The diffuser was set up in the center of the ground floor portion of the apartment. This test was limited to diffusing EOB2. (See Graph 2 at the end of this case study for the timeline plots of the spore counts for the species with the highest concentrations.)
Because the conditions relating to exchange of indoor and outdoor air (i.e., unfinished doors, windows, windy weather and construction worker traffic) were similar to those in Case Study # 1, the same approach was used for SRE calculations. (See Table # 2 for calculation results.) Indoor / outdoor ratios greater than one, indicating the growth in the unit are indicated by an asterisk.)
Observations and Conclusions
The concentrations of mold spores in this apartment were the highest found in any of the case studies. Stachybotrys Chartarum had a spore count of more than fifteen hundred times the outdoor concentration. Seventeen species of mold had indoor / outdoor ratios greater than one, indicating growth in the apartment.
The Stachybotrys Chartarum indoor spore count dropped from 10,667 spores per cubic meter down to 13 spores per cubic meter following treatment with EOB2. The total spore count in this unit was almost twelve times the outdoor levels before diffusing and was reduced to about seven-tenths the outdoor level after diffusing. Overall spore removal efficiency was 93.9 %, which is slightly lower than the SRE achieved in Case Study # 1.
While the diffuser ran three times longer than in Case Study # 1, it only dispersed about twice as much as plant extract EOB2 (approximately 22.5 ml) in this unit. The reason for the lower SRE for the first three mold species listed in table 2 is not known, however these mold species have very lightweight spores and are abundant in the outdoor ambient air. It is possible that spores were carried in by workers at the time of the post-diffusing sampling.
CASE STUDY #3
Apartment Providing First Residual Effects Data
This case study examines another unit in the forty eight unit complex, identical to the first two in floor plan and layout. This case study differs from the first two as follows:
1. It is located in a different building across a common area containing a lawn and trees.
2. The approach to sampling and treatment was altered based on information learned from the first two studies
3. Because diffusing EOB2 has been determined to be effective at this site, the clients approved use of our household cleaner containing EOB2 for removing visible mold.
Due to the large number of units requiring treatment, and in order to save time and money, six units were treated at the same time. The clients further decided that samples would not be collected before treatment beyond the first group of six and only the most heavily infested apartment of each set would be sampled after treatment. This unit is therefore the only one in the complex other than the units in case studies #1 and #2, where before and after, indoor and outdoor samples were collected.
SRE values were calculated using the same methods as case studies #1 and #2. The physical conditions, including openness windy weather, and worker traffic were similar to the first two cases. As with the first two cases, the diffuser was placed in the center of the apartment on the ground floor. EOB2 was diffused continuously for 24 hours, dispensing approximately 11 ml of EOB2. Visible mold was removed from sheetrock and other finishes using our household cleaner containing EOB2.
Observations and Conclusions
Ten species of mold were found growing in this unit. Indoor and outdoor ratios greater than one is printed in bold in Table 3. Cladosporium was more than twenty times the outdoor level and Penicillium / Aspergillius more than thirty-eight times outdoor levels. Stachybotrys Chartarum existed inside the unit 500 spores per cubic meter of air, while no spores were found in the outdoor air sample. The total spore indoor / outdoor ratio was slightly higher than that of case study #2.
After treatment samples were collected one month after diffusing was completed, yet overall SRE was 93.6%, almost identical to that of case study #2 even though diffusing took place for one-third the time and samples were taken one month after completion of treatment.
CASE STUDY # 4
Hospital and NICU
This case study took place in a hospital. Plant extracts have been used for years in hospitals and health care facilities throughout Europe, especially in France, where use of therapeutic-grade plant extracts is much more of a mainstream medical practice.
Hospital administrators requested that samples be taken in several areas, including operating rooms, intensive care units, x-ray rooms, break rooms and offices, specifically those frequented by a nurse who was having allergic reactions to something in the hospital. She would break out in a rash fifteen or twenty minutes after arriving at work. Her doctor was unable to determine the cause and suggested it may be a reaction to mold. Extensive sampling found mold spores in these locations but not sufficient concentrations or species types to cause such reactions. The cause was finally determined to be her extreme sensitivity to toxic chemicals in a solvent that was used to clean the operating rooms.
The story would have ended there, except for the fact that a few Stachybotrys spores were found in an air sample from a doctor’s station located adjacent to a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU). This concerned the hospital’s doctors and administration for several reasons: First Stachybotrys spores are suspected of being dangerous to persons with compromised or undeveloped immune systems, especially newborn babies. Second, Stachybotrys spores are rarely, if ever, found in air samples unless there is growth nearby, because Stachybotrys spores are heavy, sticky and easily airborne. Third, this was a clean-room area, in which air pressure and oxygen content were controlled, and anyone entering had to wear a breathing mask and disposable protective clothing and wash his or her hands with disinfecting soap upon entering the area. Furthermore, the air handling system was protected with HEPA filters that should have blocked mold spores from entering the building through the air exchange of the HVAC system.
After some detective work, including taking air samples from the overhead space above the ceiling tiles and from the overhead space above the ceiling tiles and from the HVAC return and measuring the air flow into and out of the NICU, we found that the spores were coming into the area from the overhead space, due to an ineffective seal put into place during remodeling of the NICU room. The spores were then traced to a stairwell. A leak had developed where the flat roof abutted with the stairwell, allowing water to run down the inside of the stairwell wall. When the drywall was removed from the stairwell wall, large areas of black mold were exposed. The water damaged and mold infested drywall was removed, and EOB2 was diffused continuously for 24 hours in the stairwell and in the NICU.
Observations and Conclusions
This was an interesting case study from the standpoint that while solving one problem, that is, finding the cause of the nurse’s allergic reactions to the solvents used to clean the operating rooms and a potentially more serious problem that was uncovered. Some intermediate samples were taken; diffusing in the NICU, but before the stairwell and overhead area was treated and resealed. Those results showed a high level of exchange between the indoor and outside air. The overall spore removal efficiency of the protocol utilized was 99.3% overall, after the project was completed. While mold spores were still found in every room tested, the levels were extremely low (10 to 60 total mold spores per cubic meter), with NO Stachybotrys spores detected. The indoor/outdoor ratios in the before samples are almost all less than one for all but three species which had very low counts. Under most circumstances, this would not indicate a cause for concern over potential mold exposure. However, under these particular circumstances, in a hospital where patients typically have weak immune systems, finding even one Stachybotrys spore is cause for concern. We would be negligent if we did not point out that the same is true any where there are infants, elderly, or people recovering from surgery, antibiotics or other drugs.
The overall efficiency of the plant extracts protocol proved to be very good at 99.3% removal. The three spore types with SRE values less than 100% are light, easily air-borne spores that are abundant outside and are often carried inside on clothes and hair.
