Shorter days and less daylight are our first signal that winter is upon us. Cooler temperatures drive us indoors for longer periods, but what if the quality of the air inside our homes and buildings is negatively impacting our health and well-being? Understanding how a closed environment affects indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial, especially for those focused on maintaining a healthy living space.
Commercial spaces, whether they are offices, retail stores, or restaurants, are always busy with activity. These environments can harbor various types of bacteria, potentially affecting the health and well-being of employees and customers. Regular testing and maintaining hygiene standards are essential to mitigate the risks associated with these bacterial contaminants.
Monitoring air quality is critical to ensure the safety and health of individuals. Two primary testing methods for mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms are viable sampling and nonviable sampling. Each method offers distinct approaches and insights into air quality and serves different purposes in environmental monitoring.
Viable sampling gives us a closer look at living microorganisms. It focuses on capturing microorganisms in the air that are alive and capable of growing under suitable laboratory conditions. This method allows for the collection, culture, and identification of living bacteria, fungi, mold spores, and yeast. The process involves using specific media that support the growth of these organisms, which are then incubated and analyzed.
Viable sampling is commonly used to identify species of mold or other particles in the air. It’s invaluable in industries where the presence of specific microorganisms can affect product quality, safety, and shelf life, such as in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and food production.
The advantages of viable sampling include the ability to:
Nonviable sampling involves collecting samples of non-living particles, which include dust, skin cells, and more. Unlike viable samples, which are living microorganisms, they do not reproduce or spread.
The collected samples are typically analyzed using microscopy or other analytical techniques to determine how contaminated the air in a location is. Nonviable sampling is useful for assessing overall air quality, especially in environments where the total concentration of particulate matter is of concern.
The advantages of nonviable sampling include:
The choice between viable and nonviable sampling depends on the specific objectives of the air quality assessment. Viable sampling is essential when the goal is to understand the potential for microbial growth and contamination, which is critical in controlled environments like cleanrooms, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities.
Nonviable sampling provides a broader picture of air quality, suitable for workplace safety evaluations, environmental impact assessments, and general air quality monitoring. If you need to identify the pollutants and level of contamination, both forms of sampling are required.
In many cases, integrating both viable and nonviable sampling methods offers the most comprehensive understanding of air quality. This combined approach allows for the assessment of total particulate levels while also identifying potential biological contaminants that could pose risks to health, product integrity, or environmental safety. By utilizing both methods, environmental consultants can develop a detailed profile of air quality, enabling more effective management and control strategies to protect human health and meet regulatory requirements.
Viable and nonviable sampling is crucial in the field of environmental and industrial air quality monitoring. Understanding the distinctions and applications of each approach is essential for effectively assessing and managing air quality.
Whether ensuring the sterility of pharmaceutical products, evaluating workplace exposure to particulate matter, or monitoring the environmental impact of industrial activities, these sampling methods provide the tools necessary for accurate air quality analysis.
We supply a range of sampling equipment and media that you can purchase online through our store.
Our full-service, accredited laboratory can test for a diverse range of environmental contaminants. For quick shipment of materials and reliable results, contact SanAir Technologies Laboratory at 1-888-895-1177. Our staff will be happy to walk you through the process.
Richmond, Va. (April 19, 2024) –SanAir Technologies Laboratories, Inc. (SanAir) is a six-time recipient of the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s (RTD) best workplaces award.
SanAir is an accredited, diversified environmental testing lab with more than 20 years’ experience providing specialized environmental testing, including: asbestos, microbiology, materials and forensics, lead and metals, Legionella, LEED® indoor air quality, biogas matrix analysis, volatile organic compounds and other environmental hazards. In addition to our Richmond location, SanAir has locations in Cincinnati, Ohio and Syracuse, New York (our subsidiary Centek Labs).
According to the RTD’s website, “All lists are based solely on employee feedback. There are no subjective elements to the process, making Top Workplaces the most credible, authentic employer recognition program.”
“We are dedicated to superior customer service and maintaining a reliable level of standard at every facet of analysis and reporting,” said SanAir’s President, Sean McGlynn. “That level of commitment is only attainable with a dedicated, engaged group of professionals working as a team. SanAir constantly strives to foster an environment that balances client deadlines while accommodating our employees’ needs. We are grateful our fantastic team appreciates our efforts.”
The combined laboratories represent a total of 80 employees in Virginia, Ohio and New York.
Sean P. McGlynn, SanAir
804.897.1177
Soil vapor intrusion (SVI) is an environmental issue that has gained considerable attention in recent years. Awareness and education have been raised after train derailments like in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023, which brought unfortunate but crucial attention to the threat that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose when released through toxic plumes.
Soil vapor intrusion occurs when volatile chemicals in contaminated soil or groundwater migrate into indoor air spaces of buildings, posing potential health risks to occupants in residential and commercial properties.
Soil vapor intrusion refers to the process by which volatile organic compounds (VOCs), certain semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and other hazardous gases seep from contaminated soil or groundwater through cracks in foundations, basements, or slabs into the indoor air of nearby homes or buildings. Common vapor-forming contaminants can include petroleum products, industrial solvents, pesticides, and radon. Train derailments aren’t the only potential source of these contaminants, others include gas stations, dry cleaners, industrial areas, and factories.
The health risks associated with soil vapor intrusion largely depend on the type and concentration of the contaminants, as well as the duration of exposure. Short-term exposure to high levels of VOCs can lead to headaches, dizziness, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure are typically temporary and go away once vapors are addressed.
Long-term exposure to chemicals, especially to carcinogenic VOCs like benzene, vinyl chloride, or trichloroethylene, may pose different health risks and increase the likelihood of cancer, neurological disorders, liver and kidney damage, and reproductive effects.
It’s critical that vapor intrusion sampling and testing be performed by knowledgeable environmental professionals familiar with TO-15 methods and protocols. SanAir’s Centek division has an extensive background in sampling and analyzing a broad range of air contaminants including volatile organic compounds. We have also worked throughout the United States conducting accredited vapor intrusion testing.
Our technical staff can modify our instrumentation according to your project’s needs to achieve low detection limits while maintaining the highest quality data for your vapor intrusion projects. We work with large conglomerates, government agencies, as well as smaller private firms and homeowners to ensure accurate, high-quality results promptly.
Assessment of soil vapor intrusion involves a multi-step process to identify potential sources of contamination. This can be conducted through historical site use analysis and examining the physical layout of the building and surrounding land or sampling and analysis by collecting soil samples.
Unlike soil samples, the surrounding soil does not need to be contaminated. The source can be off your property line, like a gas station with a leaking tank 1/10 of a mile away. An industrial plating or a dry-cleaning operation can be ½ mile away. If the solvent makes it to the water table and the table is flowing in the direction of your facility, gas vapors can settle under the sub-slab and migrate into your facility.
Indoor air samples, and sometimes groundwater samples are collected to analyze the types and concentrations of contaminants present as well. This allows for evaluation of the potential health risks based on the levels of contaminants found and the likelihood of exposure.
Soil vapor intrusion is a complex environmental issue that requires careful assessment and management to protect public health. Understanding the mechanisms of SVI and recognizing potential risks are critical steps in addressing this challenge. Property owners, environmental professionals, and regulatory agencies must collaborate to monitor and manage soil vapor intrusion, ensuring safe indoor air quality for all occupants.
Environmental professionals who need cost-effective independent third-party testing that enables agile sampling in the field and delivers stringent detection limit results can contact us at 1-888-895-1177 to discuss indoor air quality and vapor intrusion identification needs.
Contact your sales representative for details.
