Mold in Toronto factory contaminates bladder cancer drug

Mold may affect the world's supply of ImmuCyst

Sanofi Pasteur’s Toronto plant is suspending production of ImmuCyst, a bladder cancer drug, until further notice.  This news comes one month after the company recalled its tuberculosis vaccine, BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin).

The vaccine and drug-making giant’s Toronto facility experienced a setback when its manufacturing plant was flooded last October. Sanofi Pasteur has since struggled to maintain Canadian health and safety standards there. 

Last week’s announcement comes on the heels of an inspection by Health Canada. The government agency discovered mold on the premises, leading to concerns about the safety of the drug.  

ImmuCyst is one of the leading drugs used for bladder cancer treatment and is made with the BCG bacteria.

There is concern that this latest blow will have a negative impact on the world’s supply.

Source: CBC

Mold: not a small matter

Mold is present all around us. Whether it is as innocuous as fruit going bad in your refrigerator, or as potentially dangerous as the permeating smell of mold coating your bathroom ceiling, mold can have varying effects on people and materials. 

Within a context where chemicals need to be produced and stored in a sterile environment, such as in chemical plants or hospitals, the presence of mold can have devastating effects, not only on the products, but also on the workers’ health and well-being. 

It is important to keep indoor air quality safe for all people working in their respective industries.

Indoor pollution in the form of mold (as well as chemicals, particles and other contaminants) can have many negative consequences.

Adverse affects to prolonged or acute contact with mold can range from sneezing, coughing and skin irritations to liver cancer, lung cancer and damage to your nervous system.

Air cleaner solutions for mold in the workplace

Electrocorp's AirRhino scrubs the air
of particles, chemicals, gases and odors

To purify the air in the best possible manner,Electrocorp has developed a series of air cleaners that are specifically designed to mitigate mold and asbestos.

These machines effectively ‘scrub’ the air of toxins, resulting in a safe and healthy work environment. 

The robust AirRhino series is best used in larger rooms and has the option for a 12-inch deep, 100-pound carbon filter which is geared toward ridding the air of chemical toxins.

These units can also be used for particle removal and have a 12-inch deep medical-grade HEPA filter, a one-inch prodense filter and a one-inch dust filter.  

Do you have any questions, comments or concerns about mold? Let us know by posting a message. We’ll be happy to respond.

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For more information on Electrocorp’s air cleaners, please visit our website.