BRADFORD-based Environmental and Occupational Hygiene Consultancy Envirocare is now accredited to undertake bioaerosol monitoring from stacks (such as chimneys).
The new capability, an extension to its UKAS accreditation for bioaerosol monitoring, addresses growing concerns about the potentially harmful effects of bioaerosol emissions which arise from biological processes that may contain micro-organisms.
Bioaerosol monitoring involves sampling for microorganisms including bacteria and mycotoxins in the airstream whilst capturing and storing them under conditions in which they are able to survive and form colonies. Following capture, samples are plated and allowed to form colonies under ideal conditions. Following exposure over a pre-determined period of time, the number of biological colonies are counted and applied to the volume of gas sampled to calculate a concentration in the sampled air.
With this kind of testing it is imperative to avoid contamination and maintain sterile conditions. The UKAS VDI 4257 Part 2 accreditation is an important indicator of the quality of sampling being undertaken, and the technical competence of those involved.
