Hypothesis: office mold

This past week, I started suffering an allergy reaction associated with work. I would start my day with only mild eye crusting. Washing the face, no problem and no difficulty. But by 2 PM, my eyes would be 'on fire' irritated and hurting. By the end of the day, I was having difficulty focusing on small object like small font print. So I picked up some over the counter, antihistamines:

• Benadryl - 125 mg at night (daily limit 300 mg) and I slept well and woke up without crusty eyes. Wash the face and off to work. Then 2 PM, I'm back in eye hell.
• Clariton (loratadine) - 20 mg for initial dosage at night, next morning no crusty eyes. Take a 10 mg that morning and head into work. Now by 3 PM, eye symptoms return, somewhat moderated. This morning, headed into work at 6:30 AM and by 7:20, eyes starting to hurt again. Just took a 10 mg at 8:20 AM but will only work half a day.

I spoke with our facilities coordinator and they checked the outside condenser tower, no problem. They also replaced the filters, still no problem. He speculated by the chemicals used to clean the carpet last weekend but the symptoms have gotten worse. So I started looking at a new hypothesis, mold in the duct work.

We know the building roof leaks and we are on the top floor. If a leak wet the duct work, it would be a perfect environment for mold. Then being exposed to the mold spores during the day . . . each afternoon . . . OWCH!

Lowes and Home Depot sell a mold detection kit. The Lowes version has a timer operated, fan and two filters. One for outside, the reference, and one for the inside. Samples are then sent to a lab for analysis (may be a lab fee.) So I'm picking one up today and will test my office and building.

I did a little Google search and it appears this is not a trivial problem. Search for mycotoxin and it will be quite sobering. Near as I can tell, there is no treatment other than eliminate the source. It makes me appreciate the efforts of our local fungi expert.

Bob Wilson

 

Correct. I have taken no more antihistamine since Friday morning and left the building at noon as the symptoms were coming on. Once home, our housekeeper noticed the eye puffiness had somewhat abated by 3 PM. I took a nap at 4 PM and when I got up at 8 PM, feeling much better. Walked the dogs about 11 PM, no problem except for stumbling in a parking lot, unrelated to anything else.

We have a three day holiday and I've got the laptop at home to monitor monthly production. Come the next work day I will be off antihistamines for 96 hours. I'll use a cell phone camera to document the symptoms. Meanwhile, I've ordered the mold detector:

It uses a timed, fan to pass the air samples through two filters, one for outside and the other inside. Both are sent to a lab for processing (extra charge.) I'm also ordering a second set so I'll have a home pair and office pair.

Well chores to run,
Bob Wilson

 

• Pat, NW corner office - reports 'black stuff coming from vent seen each morning'
• Two circuit coordinators, E offices - report symptoms for a year, facilities coordinator told me about them and I verified by talking with Joyce
• House keeper, former cleaning crew - reports 1st floor has a mold spotted wall and 2nd floor has several offices with problem

I was not aware of these data points until Thursday and Friday after I'd been suffering symptoms since a week ago, Thursday.

At first, I thought it might be the Fall pollen/mold season that usually means waking up with crusty eyes and in pain. Then frequent pillow case and sheet changes and treating the symptoms. Cotton country, in late September and early October, defoliants are sprayed on the cotton fields and it is irritating but short lived. This is similar symptoms but concentrated after being in the office during the work day.

The symptoms become most severe about 2-3 PM in the afternoon at work. I run weekend errands and outside of my office, no extra symptoms. Driving home after work is rough with 'foggy' vision spots, crusty eyelids and a lot of pain. But 2-3 hours later, the crusty washes away and does not come back and I can see well enough to post on PriusChat. Note this is not a diagnosis and we need metrics independent of mine or anyone else's symptoms. Mold in the duct work is a hypothesis and needs to be tested.

FYI, I've ordered two more sets of filters. First I'll test my home and do the same protocol at work. I'll have one more pair of filters and will test the circuit coordinators area.

Bob Wilson

 

I thought about a full face mask and swimmer goggles. But first, diagnosis.

One source claims the mold spores are too small for filters but the ion trap should work.

 

First diagnosis.

Looking for filters and air cleaning options, one web site reports penicillin is one such mold. I am allergic to penicillin. Also, I have developed allergies to a pair of blood pressure meds and possibly one antibiotic. I may be one of those folks who develops allergies easier than the average bear.

With an assay of the dust along with my symptoms confirmed by my family doctor, I can get an appointment with an allergists who can do a skin test. Once the active agent is identified, we can make a targeted remediation plan. A plan documented every step of the way.

Bob Wilson

 

I think they are . . . aware. I got an e-mail from the manager with an attachment:

DATE: July 27, 2015
. . .

SUBJECT Indoor Air Quality Investigation at 215 Wynn Drive

Summary

Based on data collected on July 24, 2015 there were no indications of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues in Room 3039 on the third floor of the NICS/NASA occupied spaces at 215 Wynn Drive in Huntsville, Alabama. At this time, there are no published exposure limits for mold; however, the standard practice for assessing potential mold contamination is by comparing indoor and outdoor particulate counts. Results of this comparison did not indicate interior counts inconsistent with exterior counts. Additionally, no volatile organic compounds were found.

Details

IAQ analysis including temperature, humidity, volatile organic compounds, and particle counts was performed during this investigation. The measurements were taken utilizing a Microtip IS-3000 Photovac (SN: VA930217) for volatile organic compounds (VOC), an Airy Technology P611 Handheld Particle Counter (SN: 6120108) for particulates, and a Fluke 975 Airmeter (SN: 1770018) for IAQ measurements.

Results of the readings obtained in Room 3039 of 215 Wynn Drive are presented in the tables that follow. In comparing indoor counts with outdoor counts, only an order of magnitude elevation above outdoor warrants concerns with potential indoor contamination. Since all readings taken in Room 3039 indicate indoor particle counts less than outdoor counts, no IAQ issue relative to mold is indicated. Visual inspection of the area indicated no active water intrusion at the time of this survey. All VOC samples were below the detectable level of 0.1 parts per million (ppm).

Results

	Location	Temp(F)	Humidity(%)	CO{2} ppm	CO ppm	VOC ppm
1	Indoor reference	70.7	70.1	495	0	0
2	Exterior 215 Wynn	96.0	49.7	530	0	0
3	Rm 3039 215 Wynn	77.9	53.0	900	0	0

	Location	0.3um	0.5 um	1.0 um	2.5 um	5.0 um	10.0 um
1	Indoor reference	121773	12524	811	54	19	0
2	Exterior 215 Wynn	148778	11468	1222	263	92	0
3	Rm 3039 215 Wynn	26223	3188	906	244	72	0

If there are any questions please contact me at ...​

My symptoms started in room 5067, August 27. I had no problems July 27 and avoid going to the 3d floor. I would observe that 2.5 um particles are mold spore size . . . hummmm.

Bob Wilson

 

GOOD NEWS - after 8 hours, left work without eyeball hell.

BAD NEWS - it remains a problem to diagnose. Intermittent problems have one defining characteristic . . . they will return. But next time, I will be ready. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

One alternate hypothesis is the carpet cleaning that was done over the previous weekend. The building facilities coordinator made that suggestion.

Bob Wilson