Attachment 2 - Indoor Air Quality Letter Agar Plate Results - 14 November 2025.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE

SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 45

5 January 2026 MEMORANDUM FOR First Air Force, Detachment 3

FROM: 45 OMRS/SGXB

SUBJECT: Indoor Air Quality Assessment for Bldg. 559

BLUF: A comprehensive fungal analysis of Bldg. 559, conducted by NASA Environmental and Medical Contract (NEMCON), found indoor mold levels to be within acceptable parameters.

1. BACKROUND: NEMCON conducted mold sampling in Bldg. 559 to determine if any areas exceeded recommended comfort levels. While no regulatory limits exist, indoor levels exceeding ten times outdoor levels would be a cause for concern. The goal of this assessment is to support effective health risk management and help provide a work environment that meets recommended comfort parameters.

2. ASSESSMENT: Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates in conjunction with an SAS180™ Microbial Air Sampler was utilized for this assessment. This device operates on the principle of inertial impaction;

wherein ambient air is accelerated through a series of precision-engineered nozzles. The high-velocity air stream propels airborne particles—including viable microorganisms—onto the surface of a solid agar medium, typically housed in a petri dish or contact plate. This method ensures efficient capture and quantification of culturable airborne microbes for subsequent incubation and analysis. Multiple rooms throughout Building 559 were sampled.

3. RESULTS: Indoor mold levels were lower than outdoor levels. While some variation existed between rooms, none of the sampled areas had indoor levels exceeding ten times outdoor levels. See Attachment 1 for the complete laboratory analysis.

4. INFO: Mold is common and tends to proliferate in warm, humid environments. Individual responses to mold exposure vary; some individuals sensitive to mold may experience allergy-like symptoms, while those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to respiratory issues. Additionally, Mold sampling, especially air sampling, provides a "snapshot in time" of airborne mold spores, capturing the types and amounts present at that specific moment. Levels can vary hour-to-hour, requiring multiple samples and professional interpretation for a full picture, as hidden sources or intermittent problems could be missed. Seasons changing and stagnant air could be an additional cause for symptoms.

5. We look forward to working with you to ensure workers are safe and healthy while completing the mission. Copies of this report and applicable supporting documentation are available for your review in our office, building 1366, during business hours. If you have any questions or concerns about this report, please contact BE at (321) 494-5435 (DSN 854) or usaf.patrick.45sw-mdg.mbx.bioenvironmental-engineering-flight@health.mil.

KEVIN A. MOY, Capt, USAF, BSC Bioenvironmental Flight Commander

Attachment:

1. KSC Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Results

PSFB BUILDING 559

INDOOR AIR QUALITY SURVEY

MICROBIAL SAMPLING REPORT

Task Number: T202511-64543

Sampling Date: November 14, 2025

Report Date: December 12th, 2025

Prepared for:

TSgt. Octaevia Hutcherson / PSFB USAF DHA Patrick 45th MDG (USA) Patrick Space Force Base, FL 32925 Email: octaevia.r.hutcherson.mil@health.mil

Prepared by:

Jason Johns & Juan Melendez-Andrade, Herndon Solutions Group KSC Environmental Microbiology Laboratory NEM-3000, Building M7-0355

KSC, FL 32899

321-867-7471/7695

Microbial Sampling Report PSFB, Bldg 559 IAQ Survey, Sample Date: 11/14/2025 ii

Contents

AIR TESTING METHODOLGY (SN1220)

Viable Air Method:

Calculations:

REFERENCES & MORE INFORMATION

Table 1. Air Sampling Results (SN 1220)

Acronyms

Acronym Definition

CFU Colony Forming Units

HSG Herndon Solutions Group

IESO Indoor Environmental Standards Organization

IAQ Indoor Air Quality

ISO International Organization for Standardization

KSC Kennedy Space Center

KSCEML Kennedy Space Center Environmental Microbiology Laboratory

LD Limit of Detection

MRL Minimum Reporting Limit

NASA National Aeronautics & Space Administration

NEMCON NASA Environmental & Medical Contract

PSFB Patrick Space Force Base

RH Relative Humidity

SABDex Sabaraud Dextrose Agar

AIR TESTING METHODOLGY (SN1220)

Viable Air Method:

➢ Airborne microbial sampling was conducted using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates in conjunction with an SAS180™ Microbial Air Sampler. This device operates on the principle of inertial impaction, wherein ambient air is accelerated through a series of precision-engineered nozzles. The high-velocity air stream propels airborne particles—including viable microorganisms—onto the surface of a solid agar medium, typically housed in a petri dish or contact plate. This method ensures efficient capture and quantification of culturable airborne microbes for subsequent incubation and analysis.

➢ Mold samples were taken back to the KSC Environmental Microbiology Laboratory for analysis and incubated at 26oC.

➢ Plates were examined for evidence of fungal growth (3 days, 5 days and 7 days) and monitored for 14 days (slow growers).

➢ All identifications were made through direct examination and the BIOLOG™ identification system.

Calculations:

➢ The number of colonies per plate (R) were counted and recorded for each genus-type. The Limit of Detection (LD) and Minimum Reporting Limit (MRL) are both a raw count of 1cfu.

➢ The analytical sensitivity (x) is the product of the Limit of Detection and 1000 divided by the sample volume. Analytical sensitivity was rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as “counts/m3”.

Formula for calculating air sample results:

X = R *1000/V where:

V- Volume of air sampled, R- Raw colony count, x- Colony forming units per 1000 liters (1000 liters =

1 cubic meter)

REFERENCES & MORE INFORMATION

➢ Sampling and analysis techniques were performed in accordance with IESO 2003 Standard, 2nd ED & ISO/IEC 17025:2005 International Standard.

➢ These results relate only to the items tested. This report shall not be reproduced except in full, without written approval of the laboratory. For any questions please contact the Lab at 867-7471 or 867-7695.

Table 1. Air Sampling Results (SN 1220)

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP1

E251248 (a)

AP1 – Room 100: Conference Room (Storage Room)

RoomTemp: 69.4˚F Relative Humidity: 58%

1015 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Cladosporium tenuissimum

4 22.2

Penicillium citrinum 4 22.2

Penicillium sclerotiorum 1 5.6

TOTAL COMBINED 9 50.0

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP2

E251248 (b)

AP2 – Room 100: Conference Room (Main Room)

Room Temp: 69.6˚F Relative Humidity: 58%

1022 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Cladosporium tenuissimum

6 33.3

Penicillium citrinum 5 27.8

Aspergillus aculeatus 1 5.6

TOTAL COMBINED 12 66.7

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP3

(E251249)

AP3 – Room 201: Office (Comparison Area #1)

Room Temp: 63.9˚F Relative Humidity: 63%

1030 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Penicillium citrinum 10 55.6

Cladosporium tenuissimum

9 50.0

Pithomyces sp. 1 5.6

TOTAL COMBINED 20 111.1

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP4

(E251250)

AP4 – Room 208: Office (Comparison Area #2)

Room Temp: 65.5˚F Relative Humidity: 58%

1050 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Penicillium citrinum 26 144.4

Cladosporium tenuissimum

5 27.8

Pithomyces sp. 4 22.2

TOTAL COMBINED 35 194.4

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP5

(E251251)

AP5 – Room 101: CSS Office

Room Temp: 69.6˚F Relative Humidity: 54%

1102 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Cladosporium tenuissimum

8 44.4

Cladosporium sphaerospermum

5 27.8

Pithomyces sp. 2 11.1

Penicillium citrinum 1 5.6

TOTAL COMBINED 16 88.9

LAB ID LOCATION TIME

SAMPLE

VOLUME

SAMPLE RESULTS

AP6

(E251252)

AP6 – Outdoor Sample

Room Temp: 74.1˚F Relative Humidity: 52%

1115 180L

Raw Count (CFU) CFU/m3

Cladosporium tenuissimum

33 183.3

Cladosporium cladosporiodes

5 27.8

Pithomyces sp. 3 16.7

Cladosporium sphaerospermum

2 11.1

TOTAL COMBINED 43 238.9

(END OF TEST RESULTS)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS & DEVIATIONS:

No sampling devations were made.

Air samples were collected using an SAS Microbial Air Sampler (Serial # 12-D-08032)

Note: For AP5 (Rm 101, CSS) the windows were open upon arrival and closed about an hour prior to sampling.

Results Certified By:

X Jason Johns

Environmental Microbiologist

X Juan Melendez-Andrade

Lab Technical Manager / QAO

This document is not a legal mandate and should be used for information purpose only. Currently there are no Federal regulations for evaluating potential health effects of fungal contamination. KSCEML is not able to make and does not make a determination as to the environmental soundness, safety or health of a property from only the samples sent to the laboratory for analysis. The client is solely responsible for the use and interpretation of these laboratory results. For more information on molds and fungi contamination visit: https://www.epa.gov/mold or https://www.osha.gov/mold/standards. The KSCEML participates in the AIHA

EMPAT program, Lab ID # 180018.

https://www.epa.gov/mold https://www.osha.gov/mold/standards