Walden provides health and safety as well as environmental consulting services to a local Housing Authority on an ongoing basis. This public housing authority operates 14 complexes for senior citizens and low-income residents. In February 2020, a resident of one of the complexes issued a complaint stating that mold was growing in the apartment and was impacting their health.
Walden promptly responded to the Housing Authority’s request for an IAQ evaluation of the apartment in question. Walden collected real time readings of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, relative humidity, and temperature throughout the apartment as well as from outside the building. Walden also collected tape lift samples and air samples to be analyzed for mold spores.
Upon receipt of the analytical results, Walden utilized various guidelines related to mold established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOH) to develop recommendations. Based on the laboratory analytical results, the air samples collected inside the apartment contained fewer spores than the outdoor ambient background sample, thus confirming acceptable air quality within the apartment. However, mold was present in the tape lift samples collected from the bathroom.
Based upon the inspection of the apartment, good housekeeping practices were recommended in order to prevent future mold growth. A report including these recommendations was issued to the housing authority and was to be provided to the resident of the evaluated apartment. Walden’s work in this case and on other IAQ projects has helped the housing authority avoid claims of indoor air quality issues by verifying that air quality in the apartments in question is safe and meets all applicable standards and guidelines.