Category Archives: Micro-Bella Asks

Blood is a marvelous fluid that circulates in the vascular system of humans and most multi-celled animals, it supplies nourishment and oxygen to all parts of the body, carries away waste products and plays a major role in safeguarding the body against infection. Blood, of course belongs inside our bodies but at times there is a blood spill due to a nosebleed or from a minor cut. What about a major blood spill? This can occur from a severe accidental injury, criminal assault, homicide, or suicide. 

Bloodborne Pathogens are infectious microorganisms that may be present in blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Anyone exposed to bloodborne pathogens is at risk for serious or life-threatening illnesses. 

Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted when contaminated blood or body fluids enter the body of another person. In the workplace setting, transmission is most likely to occur through: 

• Accidental puncture by a sharp object, such as a needle, broken glass or other “sharps” 





• Contact between mucous membranes, broken or damaged skin and infected body fluids 





• A splash of contaminated blood to your eye, nose or mouth could result in transmission 

What if the blood spill is from a family member? It doesn’t matter. Many people are unaware that they are infected so you should treat all blood as potentially infectious. 

DIY blood cleanup? If you want to take on the task yourself, check out this link to a CDC webpage on the proper procedure for blood cleanup. 

A safe alternative to DIY is to call ProClean Environmental, La Verne. They have over 20 years in bioremediation s and approach each unfortunate incident with compassion and science. 

Let’s talk about Crime Scene Cleanup. Who pays? CalVCB (California Victim Compensation Board) provides financial assistance to victims of crime and help them restore their lives. ProClean Environmental partners with CalVCB and will help you, very quickly, to help you with the application. Here’s a little info on the program: 

Eligibility Criteria 

Victims must be 

• A California resident at time of crime, or a non-resident victimized in California 

Crime must involve 

• Physical injury, 





• Emotional injury due to threat of physical injury, 





• Death 

Eligible Victims 

• Direct victim. Sometimes even a witness to a crime is considered a direct victim. 





• Derivative victim. 





• Spouse 





• Parent 





• Sibling 





• Child 





• Grandchild 





• Grandparent 





• Domestic partner 





• Roomate 





• Caretaker of a minor victim. 





• Good Samaritan. Someone who took direct action that benefited the public. 

Confidentiality 

The information you share with CalVCB is strictly confidential. ProClean Environmental also respects your privacy with biohazard cleanup, they never publish or share scene photos. Our technicians are discrete and respectful. 

Blood is precious. When a tragic event occurs causing loss of blood, it’s best to leave it not only to professional cleaners but also in the hands of those who care. At ProClean Environmental, we are both. Call us today. 

Cladosporium

In its natural outdoor habitat, this little guy hangs out in dead plant matter, straw, soil, woody plants and the like. So, what is it doing in the cabinet under my kitchen sink? Probably from when the icemaker’s copper tubing sprung a leak a few months ago and flooded half the kitchen overnight. Cladosporium’s mode of dissemination is by air; meaning this bugger was outside munching on the neighbor’s perennials then came flying through my window, did a water landing in the kitchen, decided (no it can’t really ‘think’) to stay and colonize; it has traded eating lilacs and crape myrtles for cabinet wood -and loving it, my 72* indoor temperature is far more appealing than the November outdoor temps.

But besides the physical damage to the kitchen, should we be worried about this mold spore? Yep. Not to be dramatic but here are a few concerns: Cladosporium has an allergic potential of Type 1 [asthma and hay fever]. In addition, it is an opportunistic pathogen with the potential to cause or exacerbate conditions of edema, keratitis, onychomycosis, sinusitis and pulmonary infections. The potential toxins produced include cladosporin and emodin. Ok, that is a lot of negative! A positive is that Cladosporium is used in industry to produce antigens; and of course, Cladosporium, like all molds play an important role in nature, speeding up the process of natural decomposition by breaking down organic materials, basically getting rid of natures trash. But that is where mold belongs: out in nature, and not in my kitchen cabinet!

ProClean Environmental provides affordable, professional microbiology and indoor air quality laboratory testing. Call us today, or use our online scheduler to book an onsite appointment.

-Bella Milan is busy in the local community actively promoting a quality lifestyle through health-enhancing exercise, diet, positive mental habits and behavioral change. She also happens to be a Certified Mold Inspector and Trauma Scene Waste Management Technician.