Published September 2, 2016
MONROE, La. — The University of Louisiana Monroe toxicology department asbestos analysis
lab expanded its existing testing capabilities to include airborne mold spore analysis.
The existing lab was designed specifically to evaluate workplace exposures to other
microorganisms detectable in air, fluids, and bulk samples during indoor air quality
studies. The additional ability to detect and analyze mold spores opens up areas of
research in medicine, industrial hygiene, and occupational health and safety.
Mold growth occurs when elevated surface moisture exists for long periods of time.
Most people associate mold growth with flooding, but it can also occur with plumbing
leaks, gaps in windows and roofs, moisture intrusion through sub-flooring, moisture
condensation in air conditioning systems, or intrusion from the outdoors.
The lab, located in Sugar Hall 201, will be staffed by Dr. Kevin Baer, head of the
toxicology department, and John Herrock, a toxicology professor at ULM, with Shannon
Banks serving as quality assurance officer. Banks brings prior experience in industrial
hygiene, air monitoring, environmental pollution, and occupational health and safety.
Herrock and Baer both completed the necessary course work and certifications in fungal
spore sampling and mold inspection and identification. Additionally, the laboratory
has gained proficiency in fungal direct examination from the American Industrial Hygiene
Association (AIHA).
The mold analysis will also serve as a local and regional resource for businesses,
home owners, construction companies, environmental consulting companies who can contract
directly with the lab for air concentration analysis.
Considering there are no existing federal guidelines for air quality concerning biological
aerosols (microorganisms transmitted by air that are from a living organism such as
mold), the lab cannot declare a sample to be “safe” or “not safe,” but Baer and Herrock
hope to set benchmarks to relate air quality samples through data quality objectives
and allow contractees to compare their sample relative to other samples.
Mold materials are known to illicit an immune response and are associated with allergy
symptoms and respiratory diseases in patients with compromised immune systems. The
exact cause of these respiratory irritations are not well understood, and the new
lab capabilities hope to shed new light on these mysteries and provide a valuable
teaching tool for students.
“In addition, our students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on training in
asbestos and mold analysis,” said Baer. “This will give them a significant competitive
advantage as they seek employment in occupational health and safety jobs."
For more information or for contract information, contact the ULM Toxicology Asbestos
and Mold Analysis Laboratory, 318-342-1812, or Mr. John Herrock, laboratory director,
318-342-1859.
