Environmental Biological hazards occur from a variety of conditions. Indoor water intrusion caused from a drainpipe overflow can have E-coli. E-coli is a toxic bacteria that only grows in fecal matter. All indoor drainpipes ultimately lead to the sewage drainpipe; therefore, even if clear water came out of a drain, it is considered “black water” because of the association with sewage.
E-coli bacteria is transferred by surface contact and can contaminate hands and food. If E-coli bacteria is digested, it can cause painful stomach cramping, dysentery, and in rare cases can develop into a form of “toxic shock syndrome”, leading to death.
E-coli is not an airborne bacteria. E-coli bacteria, much like Anthrax bacteria can be found in soil naturally and is generally non-hazardous in its natural isolated state. However, because Anthrax bacteria contains toxins, it can be weaponized, but only by mixing it with a powder allowing it to become airborne. E-coli thrives inside sewage pipes; however, once the E-coli bacteria leaves the pipe, the environment is then changed, and the bacteria begin to die. If exposed to dry conditions, E-coli will die in two weeks.
AdamLabs can help provide testing of soil or on indoor surfaces that may have been exposed to black water. In addition, AdamLabs can help provide testing to establish safe occupancy from a varity of biological hazards such as, Legionella, and Staphylococcus in the workplace or at home. AdamLabs can help confirm if an environment has been adequately cleaned from a variety of biological hazards such as, pigeon droppings, bat guano, rodents, blood, and the deceased.
