Law Enforcement Center attacked by mold

A badge won't help protect
officers from mold exposure.

The Douglas County Courthouse and Douglas County Services Center in the Alexandria area have been infiltrated by mold, according to recent reports, prompting air quality tests and causing concern.

The mold may be a result of the heavy rainfalls that have come down on the region this summer, an article in the Alexandria Echo Press said.

Mold was found in the license area and in the library, where walls with vinyl wallpaper were still wet. Water had also entered the child support offices, causing the subfloor to buckle and leading to a musty smell, one of the obvious signs of mold.

The Law Enforcement Center (LEC) also suffered from poor air quality caused by a foul smell, and mold was visible on several walls on the first floor.

Two Stachybotrys spores were found in the crawl space beneath the LEC.

Health effects of mold exposure

Commonly referred to as “black mold”, some strains of Stachybotrys mold are believed to produce mycotoxins that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including headaches, sore throats, fatigue, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, dermatitis, immune suppression and possible fatal pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, according to many experts.

Federal standards regulating mold concentrations in the air do not exist, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Most typical indoor air exposures to mold do not present a risk of adverse health effects,” according to an OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued March 2010.

“Molds can cause adverse effects by producing allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions). Potential health concerns are important reasons to prevent mold growth and to remediate existing problem areas.”

Symptoms associated with allergic reactions to mold may include red eyes and sinus drainage, respiratory illnesses, skin or mucus infections, asthma attacks, irritation in eyes, skin, nose, or throat. Immuno-compromised individuals may experience infections associated with mold.

Mold needs to be removed, not just killed

OSHA recommended cleaning water leakage within one to two days to prevent mold growth.

“As a general rule, simply killing the mold, for example, with biocide is not enough,” the bulletin stated. “The mold must be removed, since the chemicals and proteins, which can cause a reaction in humans, are present even in dead mold.”

The officers and employees at the LEC had reported sore throats, scratchy eyes and respiratory issues after the July rain.

However, the complaints stopped after some air scrubbers, HEPA filters, and dehumidifiers were employed in the area and adjustments were made to the air-conditioning units for dispatch. Existing ductwork was changed and new ductwork installed.

The discussion is ongoing whether they should stay in the building or find another location.

Source: Alexandria Echo Press


Industrial air cleaners for law enforcement centers and evidence rooms

Electrocorp offers high-value, portable air cleaners for law enforcement applications that may involve Aspergillus and other mold spores and mold mycotoxins, heavy odors, airborne chemicals, fumes, particles and pathogens.

The air cleaners feature a multistage filtration system with the deepest activated carbon beds, the largest circumference adsorbent area, the most relevant filter media at the best price and the most customizable options and features.

RAP Series: Around-the-clock
chemical and particle removal.

Featured units:

• RAP Series, which includes a variety of sizes and models, a 360-degree air intake, optional UV germicidal filtration and a deep bed of granular activated carbon
• I-6500 Series: Ideal for larger law enforcement centers and areas where heavy odors, chemicals or mold is a concern
• AirRhino Series: Versatile industrial air cleaner with interchangeable carbon and HEPA filters
• Numerical Series: The most efficient air purifiers for smaller spaces, offering a large activated carbon filter, HEPA filtration and optional UV lamp; consider the 5000 Exec or 6000 Exec, among others.

Contact Electrocorp today for more information and suggestions uniquely suited to your needs.
  

Mold wreaks havoc on material stored in evidence rooms

Law enforcement officers have a dangerous job – even when their primary responsibility is to guard the property evidence and storage rooms. One of the biggest hazards they face is mold, and more specifically, the Aspergillus fungus.

Marijuana attracts the Aspergillus fungus.

Aspergillus grows on any biological item, but it really likes marijuana and it doesn’t need much moisture to prosper and grow. When marijuana is stored in plastic, even minute amounts of moisture that is held by the plastic can support the growth of Aspergillus.

Aspergillus can affect law enforcement officers' health

The problem is that even perfectly dried marijuana plants still contain 10-15% water. When property evidence officers handle the decaying material, they can be exposed to mold spores that enter the human body through the ears and nose. Reported health effects are stuffiness, a feeling of being unwell, coughing, wheezing and lung damage.

Another issue with plastic is the destruction of evidence. When officers use plastic to hold evidence, the retained moisture can cause it to mold, corrode or rust, and plastic is often blamed for destroying latent fingerprints. Some law enforcement officers ask that plastic is only used for drug-related items, except marijuana, and jewelry.

To stave off mold infestations, evidence storage rooms need to

• Install adequate ventilation systems and make regular filter replacements
  
• Implement an improved storage system: Don’t store copious amounts of marijuana, especially after a case has been adjudicated. Document and photograph excessive amounts of marijuana, and only keep samples. The samples must be cleaned and sealed appropriately
  
• Ensure good housekeeping procedures: discard all materials that are visibly affected by fungi, clean all surfaces and disinfect the area, supply workers with protective equipment
  
• Recognize the hazards and the best ways to deal with them
  
• Look into other air cleaning methods to protect law enforcement officers. Electrocorp’s industrial air purifiers, including the RAP and RSU series are powerful air scrubbers that can help provide better air in storage rooms
  
• Consider each case individually for marijuana storage. Burlap or paper bags let the moisture escape, but they also won’t hold off mold spores. Impermeable bags made out of plastics can cause the contents to turn into a mushy soup of questionable evidential value. The best choice is dependent on the amount of time it is stored, the quality of the material and the existing situation in the evidence room.

RAP Series

Electrocorp offers a variety of stand-alone, industrial-strength air purification systems that address not only live airborne bacteria and fungi, but also provide superior particle and chemical filtration capabilities. An air purifier provides better, cleaner and more breathable air. To learn more about Electrocorp’s powerful air cleaners for evidence storage rooms, click here.

Sources: Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, International Association of Property and Evidence

Air Cleaners for Law Enforcement: Military technology meets modern day evidence protection

Electrocorp’s RAP air cleaners are the latest evolution in must-have high-tech equipment for law enforcement. Designed for a broad spectrum of dangerous airborne contaminants, RAP air scrubbers protect stored evidence and evidence handlers from aspergillus mold spores, microorganisms, chemicals, gases, odors, and particles.

These tough industrial units are designed for 24/7 continuous use and feature technology originally developed by the military for hazardous airborne toxins. The units work by continually drawing in a large volume of contaminated air through a 360º air intake system. The air then passes through three stages of filtration including a pre-filter, advanced electrostatic particle filter and a deep-bed activated carbon filter with the largest available surface area. This point is key to the superior protection of the RAP units, as a large carbon surface area is vital for permanently eliminating complex pollutants.

Currently used by law enforcement agencies across America, units in the RAP series can also be custom-built to address specific air quality concerns in various departments.

For a custom product recomendation contact air quality expert Michael Graham, presenter at the 2010 convention for Texas property and evidence technicians.