Building Occupant Exposures to Alternaria and Other Microbial Contaminants

There are hundreds of species of Alternaria, a common type of mold. Many are ubiquitous in the natural environment, playing an important role in decomposing materials outdoors.

Unfortunately, spores from Alternaria can make their way inside buildings, impacting the indoor air quality. Properties that have suffered from water damage or elevated humidity levels resulting in mold contamination may also find Alternaria among the types of mold growing indoors.

“Indoors or outdoors, Alternaria is a frequent cause of allergies,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “Exposure to elevated concentrations could also trigger an asthma attack in some asthmatics. Inhaling Alternaria or other types of fungi could even act as a respiratory irritant or be a concern for those who already suffer from various respiratory diseases. Alternaria is also recognized as a human pathogen, although serious infections are not common. While these infections could occur in anyone, they typically impact those with weakened immune systems.”

To help building owners and managers optimize indoor conditions and mitigate exposure risks to contaminants in the built environment, the indoor environmental quality experts at CTSI offer testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services. Their professionals utilize decades of experience, and the latest tools and resources, to identify and reduce exposures to microbial pathogens, indoor allergens, respiratory irritants, and known asthma triggers.

CTSI also recently sponsored an educational video about Alternaria as a common indoor air quality contaminant that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/yPC7mrDpMso

To learn more about CTSI’s indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com, or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail