Leading IAQ Consulting Firm Helps Educate People about Aspergillus

Aspergillus is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. It is commonly found in the environment and can also sometimes be found in household dust, building materials and even in some foods.

There are numerous types of Aspergillus, but the more common ones include Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger. Aspergillosis is the disease caused by an infection by Aspergillus. There are many different kinds of aspergillosis.

One kind is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (also called ABPA), a condition where the fungus causes allergic respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, but does not actually invade and destroy tissue. Another kind is invasive aspergillosis, a disease that usually affects people who have a deficient immune system. In this condition, the fungus invades and damages tissues in the body. Invasive aspergillosis most commonly affects the lungs, but can also cause infection in many other organs and can spread throughout the body.

“Since Aspergillus is so common to our environment, people breathe in Aspergillus spores at background concentrations every day. For most people with a healthy immune system, Aspergillus exposure does not cause them harm,” stated Derrick A. Denis, V.P. Indoor Environmental Quality at CSC, a leading indoor air quality (IAQ) consulting firm. “Breathing in Aspergillus spores can lead to infection and even death in extreme cases, such as overexposure of healthy individuals to elevated concentrations of spores and/or exposure to individuals with compromised immune systems,” he continued.

CSC has cosponsored an educational video on Aspergillus and aspergillosis that can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_de4qZpwP8Q

To learn more about Aspergillus or other molds found in indoor environments please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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