Allergen / Bacteria / Legionella
Allergens
Common allergens include mold spores, pollen, pet dander, cockroach, rodent and dust mite droppings. Millions of people are affected by allergy symptoms caused by indoor allergen concerns. The immune system is responsible for controlling how the body protects itself and so it may detect a specific substance (the allergen) as harmful and overreact. Allergy symptoms vary from person to person and may include difficulty breathing, sneezing, runny nose, headaches, burning, tearing or itchy eyes, mucous production, decreased energy, poor appetite, skin rashes, hives and other symptoms.
For more information, visit the website of Medline Plus: A service of the National Institute of Health (NIH), produced by the National Library of Medicine.
Bacteria
Bacteria are living things that are neither plants nor animals, but belong to a group all by themselves. They are very small–individually not more than one single cell–however there are normally millions of them together, for they can multiply really fast. Bacteria can infiltrate a living environment as well as the water supply from sewage, septic tank drainage, feedlot manure, flood waters or from surface runoff. Bacterial contamination can only be detected through testing, as it cannot bee seen, smelled or tasted.
Three types of bacteria include total coliform, fecal coliform and E.coli. Water is first tested for total coliform when it is sent to the lab. If total coliform is found, the sample will also be tested for either fecal coliform or E. coli. Additional bacterial testing services include iron bacteria analysis, sulfer bacteria analysis, bacterial enumeration and gram staining.
Legionella
A.E.S. provides water testing for Legionella. Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause Legionnaire’s disease (Lee-Juh-nares). Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia and infection in one or both of the lungs. It is usually contracted by breathing in mist or vapor that contains high levels of Legionella bacteria. The bacteria tend to grow in warm water, such as water found in hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, reservoirs or cooling units of air conditioning systems. Some symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and sometimes muscle aches and headaches. Legionnaires’ disease can be life threatening. Individuals who are more susceptible to getting sick from Legionella are individuals 65 and older, smokers and those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease.
Healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection.
For more information, visit the website of Medline Plus: A service of the National Institute of Health (NIH), produced by the National Library of Medicine.