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Home My WebLink AboutFile Documents.805 Roaring Fork Rd.0019.2018 (47).ARBK 1 HealthSafe Inspections Inc 390 Apple Drive Basalt CO 81621 970-920-2100 Jim Baker, ACAC Board Certified CMRS, CSDS CDPHE Asbestos Building Inspector Certification #13437 CDPHE Lead-Based Paint Inspector Certification #23607 MOLD-FUNGUS INSPECTION COMMENTS DATE: 06/30/2017 CLIENT: Charlie Moss PROPERTY ADDRESS: 805 Roaring Fork Road, Aspen, Colorado 81611 VISUAL INSPECTION FINDINGS: Jim Baker of HealthSafe Inspections, Inc. (hereinafter, HealthSafe) inspected the property on June 27,2017 for mold-fungus, as requested by the contracted buyer, Charlie Moss. The request was for a mold-fungus inspection and verbal consultation only, no report. The interior of the house and crawl space were inspected at the time. The attics were not accessible at the time, but can be inspected another time, as this inspector did not have a ladder tall enough at the time. • All spaces of the interior of the house appeared fine without any visible surface mold growth. • All spaces of the interior of the garage and related laundry and mechanical rooms appeared fine without any visible surface mold growth. • The house interior did have a notable odor, but this inspector believes it is the odor of a stagnant house without any air exchanges from open doors and 01/22/2018 2 windows. Some of these odors are from the house building materials, but others are from the stale air rising from the crawl space. • The crawl space overall was dry, with the exception of dampness in the soil in the southeast corner and the northeast corner. There was filamentous fungus established on the very northeast corner of the rim joist underneath the office location. This is believed to be from dampness of soil outdoors, as the soil and vegetation are quite damp in this area due to over watering. The vegetation is too close to the house and does not allow airflow or evaporation very well. The same is true in the crawlspace. The following photos reveal this location. HealthSafe recommends that the vegetation be replaced further away from the house and that the sprinkler system be controlled better, now allowing the house to be watered or the soil to be over-saturated. The interior rim joist will require remediation using abrasives and an industry-related hydrogen peroxide solution. An application of an anti-fungal sealant is also recommended once remediated/cleaned of the fungus. 01/22/2018 3 01/22/2018 4 The other locations of dampness in the southeast corner where the water main enters the crawl space and the northeast corner of the crawlspace are below. 01/22/2018 5 Sincerely Submitted, Jim Baker Current Certifications: Colorado Asbestos Building Inspector (#13437) http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/index.html American Council for Accredited Certifications Board Awarded Certifications: 1. Council-Certified Mold Remediation Supervisor (CMRS), current 2005-2017 2. Council-Certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDS), current 2005-2017 3. Council-Certified Microbial Investigator (CMI), former 2005-2013 4. Council-Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), former 2005-2013 01/22/2018 6 http://www.acac.org IICRC former Certifications 1990s-2006: 1. Master Textile Cleaner 2. Master Water Restorer 3. Master Fire & Odor Restorer 4. Applied Microbial Remediation Technician MOLD & FUNGUS SUMMARY: Molds are ubiquitous spore-producing fungal organisms which grow on the surfaces of organic materials and bio-films when there is sufficient water activity (the term “water activity” is available water in any form above freezing: vapor or liquid. Symbol: aw ). Filamentous fungi otherwise known as destructive wet and dry rot fungi are fungal organisms that do not necessarily need water activity on the organic nutrient they are feeding on; the source of water can be several feet/meters away. Mushrooms and puff balls are fungal organisms that typically get established on the nutrient source as it decays (e.g., rotting wood or decaying organic soils). Yeasts are also part of the fungal kingdom of biological organisms. Water activity is necessary for all fungal organisms to germinate spores, develop and grow structures, metabolize nutrients, and sporulate or populate. Fungal organisms typically propose no problem to human health with the exception of high concentrations of aerosolized mold spores and fungal particles like hyphae or mycelial fragments which can be respirated. In certain individuals these fungal particles cause allergy-like symptoms, sinusitis, rhinitis, headaches, asthma attacks, etc. Fungal organisms may or may not contain harmful mycotoxins; some mycotoxins are very toxic or poisonous to the human body. Microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) are the musty odors associated with metabolizing molds. Both mycotoxins and mVOCs can cause adverse neurological symptoms in high concentrations such as headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea. mVOCs are present only when the mold has sufficient aw to excrete digestive enzymes and metabolize nutrients, producing the gas or musty odor. Ingestion of toxic levels of fungi is rare in humans. Dermal or yeast conditions can be acquired by healthy individuals. In extreme cases those with compromised immune systems can acquire serious fungal infections in living tissues in the respiratory system or cutaneously. ALLERGY SUMMARY: 01/22/2018 7 In simple terms of a very complex cascade of events, allergens are typically proteins or chemical compounds which cause an immune cell response. Allergens, particular protein chains or chemical compounds, can be in many things: animal saliva, animal fur and hair, plant and animal oils, insect parts and fecal pellets, mold spores and fungal structures, pollens, cosmetics, metals, foods, enzymes, man-made products and chemicals. A very reactive immune cell is called a mast cell. Mast cells are found in great number in connective, subcutaneous, gastrointestinal and mucous membrane tissues. Once the allergen comes in contact with the sensitized cells, among other things mast cells release a cytokine called histamine (hist=tissue; amine=amino acid, histidine). The pre- programed cells (inherited genetically or mass-produced during an infants' first exposure to an allergen) are immunoglobulin E (IgE – antibody of allergy) primed cells. When an allergen presents itself by way of ingestion, inhalation, injection or contact in a Type I Allergy response, a cascade of histamine is released causing inflammation to tissue cells. This inflammation of cells can restrict tissues in the respiratory system (sinuses, throat, bronchi and smaller bronchial tubes, and lung tissues). It can also cause inflammation in other tissue cells, such as the skin or intestines. This allergic response often causes secretions of fluid from glands in the eyes, nasal passages and other respiratory tissues. It can produce many hyper-reactive responses from hives to headaches. Allergic reactions can cause sneezing, itching and pain. One common hypersensitivity is an asthma attack, a restrictive dilation of the bronchial tubes causing wheezing and difficulty in breathing. In individuals with compromised immune systems, the elderly or infants, those on anti- rejection drugs from transplant surgeries, AIDS victims or other certain conditions, some fungal spore exposure can result in lung infections: Aspergillosis, Histoplasmosis, Crypstococcosis, Blastomycosis, Coccidiodomycosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia, Mucormycosis or Zygomycosis. IAQ SUMMARY: Individuals in developed countries occupy indoor environments the majority of their lives. Therefore, indoor air quality (IAQ) is of great concern, as the time of exposure is quantifiably much more than any outdoor environment for most adults, especially those whose jobs or careers are performed in buildings. Those in underdeveloped countries deal with poor IAQ mostly by the burning of fuels inside their abodes which have poor ventilation and fresh air exchange. IAQ is a term used to denote the quality of the respirable air as typically compared to the outdoor ambient air. Poor indoor air quality can affect humans in adverse ways resulting in illness, disease, allergy and asthma response, compromised immune systems, neurological problems and poor quality of life. Organic or inorganic gases, organic or inorganic solid particles or bio-aerosols and odors can all contribute to the matrix of respirable air indoors. There is much to be said about sick buildings and building related diseases—oftentimes attributable to poor IAQ. The smaller the particles, the more deeply they reach the recesses of the lungs, some reaching the alveoli and the gas exchange directly into the blood stream. Radon, an inert odorless gas can cause lung cancer due to its atomic particles impacting lung and esophageal tissue with such force that it kills or alters the DNA of those cells—thus taking away the 01/22/2018 8 normal defensive or attritional mechanism of cells which will divide into other damaged cells eventually resulting in the development of cancer cells. A building with a matrix of contaminants in the air can affect several different individuals in different ways, depending on the sensitivity of each individual to whatever that contaminant might be. The obvious concern would be the concentration of each contaminating particle in a given amount of air and that translated into the dosage of exposure to whichever contaminant each individual may be sensitive to. Some individuals in a house or commercial building may be quite sensitive to a given contaminant, whereas others may have no sensitivity at all. It is the job of the IAQ professional to investigate and sample for those contaminants based on developed hypotheses following all the information gathered and after confirmation is concluded to provide a remediation protocol. 01/22/2018