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.

Show your support for a greener working environment by becoming a follower of this blog.

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

Mold irks office workers, who won’t move back into building

Exposure to mold has been
linked to health problems.

The Colbert County Board of Education offices are infiltrated with mold.

But even after the renovations recommended by an environmental consultant, one official isn’t sure he would let the staff move back into the building.

Instead, they are asking for a new building to be provided or built.

The employees knew there was a problem with the current building because they saw water leaking into it.

Mold can start growing after 24-48 hours, and in this case it had already spread by the time a new roof was installed.

While the mold in these offices was not toxic, it is recommended that people with allergies or respiratory problems stay away from it.

Mold was found behind vinyl wall covering, growing between the wallpaper and the wall board, and around block walls as well as air conditioning vents.

According to the environmental consultant, renovating the building by removing the moldy materials and fixing or controlling the moisture levels inside the building would prevent a mold problem from recurring.

The office workers exposed to the mold complained of skin rashes, sores, hair loss, headaches when inside the building, metallic taste in the mouth and stomach problems.

Source: Times Daily

Reduce mold and other indoor air pollution at the office

Mold can be a serious problem, and the key to controlling mold includes prevention (proper building maintenance, fixing problems right away), remediation (mold removal) and air cleaning.

An air cleaner with activated carbon, HEPA and UV germicidal filtration can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including the mold mycotoxins, musty odors and spores associated with mold.

Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners for mold and asbestos remediation and the most relevant filtration media.

For more information, contact Electrocorp.
  

Former grow-op houses a risk in real estate transactions

Illegal marijuana grow-ops often lead to
mold problems and structural damage.

Experts say new homeowners may be in for a rude awakening when it comes to houses that have been used as marijuana grow-ops.

That’s because cannabis production in residential homes is often linked to moisture problems and structural damage and may lead to mold infestations as well as electrical and chemical contamination, according to an indoor environmental consultant interviewed for the Chronicle Herald in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Remediation and reconstruction may be a costly expense for unsuspecting homeowners.

With hundreds of grow-op busts each year, there are often no rules or regulations requiring sellers to declare that the house was used for illegally growing cannabis.

In some jurisdictions in Canada, health authorities, municipal building inspectors and municipalities become involved and have recognized the problem as a serious public health issue.

Experts recommend having a home properly inspected before buying it and to hire professionals to deal with any mold problems, electrical and structural damage.

Portable industrial air cleaners for on-site protection

Electrocorp's 5000 Pro

Breathing in airborne mold spores and mold mycotoxins, chemicals, VOCs, tiny particles and other pollutants may affect the health and well-being of contractors and workers.

Electrocorp has designed powerful and portable air cleaners for mold and asbestos remediation, construction and renovation work and for chemical and odor control.

Designed with an efficient multistage filtration system containing activated carbon and HEPA, the air cleaners remove the widest range of pollutant from the air, including chemicals, gases, VOCs, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold, allergens and more.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations.