Aspergillus is a micro-organism that can be found during demolition and construction works and is a health risk to humans. Aspergillus is a fungus that can cause significant health problems when breathed in during certain construction work.

It is typically 2 – 3.5 μm in size, small enough to enter the airways.

Aspergillus is a mould commonly found in many indoor environments such as old & dilapidated building. Construction/demolition activities on sites such as these can release the fungal spores into the air increasing the exposure. It is possible that Aspergillus can also be found outdoors in damp and garden environments.

It is critical on construction and demolition projects that we control the risks and exposure to workers on site while they work. There are prevent measures which can be carried out to control the exposure to Aspegillus.

First, carry out risk assessments and controls to ensure workers & visitors are protected and a plan is in place.

Secondly, we must ensure the particle doesn’t become airborne by using dust control along with real-time dust monitors to monitor the levels of air particles and sizes throughout the project.

Thirdly, install proper ventilation systems which are maintained, and contamination free.

Workers with damaged lungs or a weakened immune system can get several diseases (called Aspergillosis or farmer’s lung) if they inhale these spores. The symptoms of ASPGILLOSIS are a cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. More symptoms can be found on the NHS website.

Dust particles of 2 – 10  μm can be measured using dust detection analysers. Campbell Associates offer several solutions for this.

Such as our Aeroqual Ranger using a PMX dust monitor module which will measure TSP, PM10, PM4, PM2.5 & PM1. This handheld device allows the operator to walk around the site and establish the level of dust particles in each cubic metre of air as the unit μg/m3.

If continuous monitoring should be carried out then we would deploy our MCERTS Certified (by the Environment Agency) PM10 & PM2.5 dust monitor.

The DustSens DM30 monitor provides real-time data alerts and mean average readings into a cloud platform. SMS & Email alerts are setup when exceedances have been hit, alerting workers on site to take action.

What can I do to stop mould growth in the first place? 

The EniSens DL40 is a low power, automated data logger for measuring temperature and relative humidity. 

Mold thrives in humid, warm environments, typically when relative humidity is over 60% and temperatures are between 20-30°C (68-86°F). By using a logger, you can monitor the conditions and take steps to keep the humidity and temperature within ranges less favourable for mold.

Using a logger enables us to monitor patterns and detect spikes in humidity and temperature, especially in mold-prone areas. By setting threshold limits, such as 60% relative humidity, we can send email or SMS alerts to workers or environmental managers when levels exceed safe limits.

This allows site supervisors to take corrective actions, like increasing dehumidification or improving ventilation, to prevent mold growth. When water suppression is used to control dust levels, it may raise relative humidity and lead to damp areas where mold could develop later.

Our health is incredibly important to us; without it we have nothing. If we can prevent ourselves from becoming unwell, wouldn’t we all take that opportunity? With increasing construction works around the country the importance of air quality and it’s health implications has become a prominent feature in the media. You might have heard of PM10, but what exactly is it and how does that affect our air quality?

PARTICULATE MATTER – ALL THE ANSWERS!

Air pollution or air quality is a very wide concept and can mean various things but are all related to our heath. When we talk about particulate air pollution we talk about an air-suspended mixture of both solid and liquid particles and these are all related to size and the possible harm they can do to the human body.

The size of the particles defines three classifications:

1. ultrafine particles: <0.1µm in diameter;
2. Fine: 0.1 to 2.5µm in diameter;
3. Coarse: between 10µm and 2.5µm in diameter.

Local councils in general will only be interested in PM10. When monitoring PM10 all particles smaller than 10 µm are logged – which includes fine and ultrafine particles. These particles include dust, pollen and mould spores (PM10) and combustion particles, organic compounds and metals (PM2.5). The table below sums it all up and shows where particulate matter comes from.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes particles are affecting more people worldwide than any other pollutant. Damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular are one of the primary health effects. The small particles can easily penetrate in to the deepest parts of our lungs as well as access the gas exchange regions of the lung via diffusion.

As a result of the damaging health effects from PM10 the WHO recommend the exposure limit below – which is commonly the limit values that local councils use in their Code of Practice:

PM10: 50 ug/m3 24 hour mean

To control this limit on site, local councils demand higher limits in shorter time periods to make sure daily exposure limits won’t be exceeded. Often, they will ask for a 200 or 250 ug/m3 per 15-minute RED alert.

These guidelines can be hard to follow because of the many activities going on in all our mayor cities. The limits are therefore hard to meet in a whole but the understanding and seriousness of the issue is a great step forward. Monitoring certain activities that have a higher risk of producing these particles, like construction & demolition, will eventually lead to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

Local governments don’t always acknowledge higher particle sizes are a threat because there is no direct health risk involved. As the table above points out these particles are visible to the human eye and therefore will end up in the nuisance category. This size is called Total Suspended Particles (TSP) which is everything above 10µm but can still affect health.

HOW CAN CAMPBELL ASSOCIATES ASSIST YOU?

When it comes to monitoring particulate matter (PM), Campbell Associates provides a complete and reliable solution designed to give you peace of mind. Our range of dust and air quality monitors, which form part of our NVD suite, are engineered to accurately measure PM levels, including PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅.

This crucial data is sent in real-time to our web-based platform, Sonitus Cloud, enabling you to view live readings, access historical data, and receive instant alerts if levels exceed set limits. With our monitors, you not only ensure compliance with environmental regulations but also gain actionable insights to protect your site, your workers, and the surrounding community from the harmful effects of airborne particles.