Midwest Infectious Disease Expert Reminds People to be Wary of Airborne Fungal Pathogens

Nov. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- The environmental professionals at EC2 have worked for years to help ensure that the residents of Chicago and surrounding areas have safe indoor air quality in their homes, schools and businesses.  They have performed thousands of IAQ investigations and when problems have been found, they develop plans to ensure those properties are properly remediated.

A common IAQ contaminant that they often find in indoor environments is mold.  High levels of mold can cause allergies, trigger asthma attacks, and even lead to fungal infections in susceptible individuals.  

One commonly found type of fungus is Aspergillus.  Aspergillosis is an infection caused by this fungus. There are several different kinds of aspergillosis including bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).  ABPA is a condition where the fungus causes allergic respiratory symptoms. Invasive aspergillosis is a disease where the fungus invades body tissues and causes damage.

Histoplasmosis is another fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus lives in the environment, usually in association with large amounts of bird or bat droppings. The symptoms of histoplasmosis are similar to pneumonia, and the infection can sometimes become serious if it is not treated.

“Whenever you see high levels of these types of mold indoors it’s critical that people with weakened immune systems not be living, working, or going to school in these environments,” stated Ed Chambers, President of EC2.  “Both Aspergillus and Histoplasma capsulatum raise red flags for possible serious fungal infections due to airborne spores.  At EC2, when we perform air testing for fungal contaminants we look for all types of fungi because many can cause health concerns, but these two are of particular concern especially when there are immunocompromised people, children, or the elderly present.”

EC2 has sponsored an educational video about airborne fungal pathogens that can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/BMWFUqTu5w8



To learn more about mold or indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States.  Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to International Fortune 500 Corporations.