Issues: Health

Mold Results by Neighborhood

NRDC sampled for mold in October and November, 2005.

Note: Concentrations of some molds are typically higher at night. Some calculations, based on 6-hour continuous volumetric measurement during daytime hours, may underestimate the true 24-hour concentration.

Summary of Mold Results

Bywater

We collected one outdoor sample for mold in Bywater.

11/15/05

Bartholomew near North Claiborne, Florida Area (outdoor)
101,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 21 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
52% Cladosporium
29% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

Chalmette

We collected one outdoor sample for mold in Chalmette.

10/17/05

Jean Lafitte and Creole (outdoor)
77,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
54% Cladosporium
16% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

French Quarter

We collected one outdoor sample for mold in the French Quarter.

10/19/05

Esplanade and North Rampart
26,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
46% Cladosporium
33% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts between 13,000 and 49,999 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

Gentilly

We collected two outdoor samples and one indoor sample for mold in Gentilly.

10/19/05

Elysian Fields and Lombard, Gentilly Terrace (outdoor)
30,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
53% Cladosporium
29% Aspergillus/Penicillium

11/14/05

St. Roch near Filmore, Gentilly Terrace (outdoor)
63,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 20 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
76% Cladosporium
16% Aspergillus/Penicillium

St. Roch near Filmore, Gentilly Terrace (indoor, fully remediated)
45,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 24 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
38% Cladosporium
48% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts between 13,000 and 49,999 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

Lakeview

We collected two outdoor samples and one indoor sample for mold in Lakeview.

10/18/15

Mouton and Orleans (outdoor)
32,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
48% Cladosporium
31% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Canal and Porteus (outdoor)
40,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
29% Cladosporium
57% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Canal and Porteus (indoor, partially remediated)
638,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
6% Cladosporium
83% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts between 13,000 and 49,999 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "High." Indoor air mold counts above 1,300 spores/m3 indicate that a building is "moldy." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease. Indoor mold spore concentrations are typically far higher when dust is disturbed in a house. These samples were taken when there was no disturbance going on and may therefore underestimate the true spore concentrations.

Lower Ninth Ward

We collected one outdoor sample and two indoor samples for mold in the Lower Ninth Ward.

10/17/05

Tupelo near Bienvenue, Holy Cross (outdoor)
67,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
36% Cladosporium
40% Aspergillus/Penicillium

11/15/05

Douglas near Caffin, Holy Cross (indoor, partially remediated)
79,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 20 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
24% Cladosporium
67% Aspergillus/Penicillium
Stachybotrys was detected at less than 1%
(visible Stachybotrys chartarum growth detected on surfaces in other rooms but not in the one where air sampling was done)

Burgundy near Caffin, Holy Cross (indoor, partially remediated)
414,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 22 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
26% Cladosporium
65% Aspergillus/Penicillium
Stachybotrys was detected at less than 1%
(visible Stachybotrys chartarum growth detected on surfaces in other rooms but not in the one where air sampling was done)

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Indoor air mold counts over 1,300 spores/m3 indicate that a building is "moldy." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease. Stachybotrys , also known as "toxic mold" or "black mold," has been reported to be associated with a wide range of health complaints, including immune and neurologic problems and infant pulmonary hemorrhage, but these results remain controversial. Indoor mold spore concentrations are typically far higher when dust is disturbed in a house. These samples were taken when there was no disturbance going on and may therefore underestimate the true spore concentrations.

Mandeville

We collected one sample for mold in Mandeville, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This area is distant from the flooding and was used as a comparison site.

11/14/05

Near Intersection of Route 1088 and Route 59 (outdoor)
21,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 24 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
76% Cladosporium
8% Ascomycetes
4% Aspergillus/Penicillium
3% Basidiospores

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts between 13,000-49,999 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

Metairie

We collected two outdoor samples for mold in Metairie. These samples were collected in areas that were not affected by flooding and were used as comparison samples.

10/18/05

Elmere near Highway 10 (outdoor, not flooded)
25,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
41% Cladosporium
41% Aspergillus/Penicillium

11/13/05

Melody near Veteran's Blvd (outdoor, not flooded)
21,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 24 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
69% Cladosporium
8% Aspergillus/Penicillium
5% Ascomycetes

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts between 13,000 and 49,999 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "High." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease.

Mid-City

We collected two outdoor samples and one indoor sample for mold in Mid-City.

10/19/05

Telemachus and Canal, Mid-City (outdoor)
102,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
22% Cladosporium
71% Aspergillus/Penicillium

11/15/05 - 11/16/05

Hagan near Orleans, Bayou St. John (outdoor)
83,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 21 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
61% Cladosporium
27% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Hagan near Orleans, Bayou St. John (indoor, minimally flooded, inhabited)
11,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 24 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
39% Cladosporium
50% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Indoor air mold counts over 1,300 spores/m3 indicate that a building is "moldy." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease. Indoor mold spore concentrations are typically far higher when dust is disturbed in a house. These samples were taken when there was no disturbance going on and may therefore underestimate the true spore concentrations.

New Orleans East

We collected three outdoor samples and one indoor sample for mold in New Orleans East.

10/16/05

Aberdeen and Crowder, Little Woods (outdoor)
55,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
43% Cladosporium
20% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Eastover Subdivision, Read Blvd. East (outdoor)
53,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
51% Cladosporium
19% Aspergillus/Penicillium

11/15/05

Aberdeen and Crowder, Little Woods (outdoor)
75,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 15 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
56% Cladosporium
23% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Aberdeen and Crowder, Little Woods (indoor, fully remediated)
100,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 4 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
39% Cladosporium
39% Aspergillus/Penicillium
Stachybotrys detected at less than 1%

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Indoor air mold counts over 1,300 spores/m3 indicate that a building is "moldy." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease. Stachybotrys , also known as "toxic mold" or "black mold," has been reported to be associated with a wide range of health complaints, including immune and neurologic problems and infant pulmonary hemorrhage, but these results remain controversial. Indoor mold spore concentrations are typically far higher when dust is disturbed in a house. These samples were taken when there was no disturbance going on and may therefore underestimate the true spore concentrations.

Uptown/Carrollton

We collected two outdoor samples and two indoor samples for mold in Uptown/Carrollton.

10/16/05

Dublin near South Claiborne, Leonidas (outdoor)
81,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
18% Cladosporium
61% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Valence near St. Charles, Uptown (outdoor, not flooded)
68,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
46% Cladosporium
25% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Octavia and Fontainebleau, Broadmoor (indoor, unremediated)
645,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 6 hours of continuous volumetric sampling)
7% Cladosporium
82% Aspergillus/Penicillium
2% Stachybotrys

11/14/05

Dublin near South Claiborne, Leonidas (indoor, minimally flooded)
11,000 spores/m3 (daily estimated average based on 24 hours)
59% Cladosporium
31% Aspergillus/Penicillium

Note: According to the National Allergy Bureau, outdoor air mold counts over 50,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) are "Very High." Indoor air mold counts over 1,300 spores/m3 indicate that a building is "moldy." Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium are known to cause health effects in humans, including respiratory disease. Stachybotrys, also known as "toxic mold" or "black mold," has been reported to be associated with a wide range of health complaints, including immune and neurologic problems and infant pulmonary hemorrhage, but these results remain controversial. Indoor mold spore concentrations are typically far higher when dust is disturbed in a house. These samples were taken when there was no disturbance going on and may therefore underestimate the true spore concentrations.

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