Question: I have had a Kidney transplant. In the building that we rent we had a test done for mould and found high levels of Penicillium and Aspergillus. With a weakened immune system, are these moulds harmful to me? Answer: People with weakened immune system (i.e., immuno-compromised or immuno-suppressed individuals) are highly likely to be infected by opportunistic pathogens (disease causing organisms). Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger, for example, cause a disease called … [Read more...]
Could I Save My Clothing, Books, etc After Mold Contamination?
January 27, 2011 By
Question: Hi, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. It is so hard to get any advice on this subject. My apartment had toxic black mold (Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Penicillium). It was a small area under a window. I was very sick and still do not know if I was just "sick" (flu like) or if it was the mold. Anyhow I moved out in May, and have been trying to salvage what I can from my apartment. I was wondering if I could save my clothing, books, etc? I have a microbial cleaner … [Read more...]
Any Input Relative To The Spore Levels Identified?
January 22, 2011 By
Question: My daughter and her room-mate have been housed in a room that has an elevated mold count. The outside mold count on the day of the test was 2,600 spores per cubic meter of air while the count in the dorm in the dorm room was 10,300. The preliminary test identified three different types of mold spores with readings elevated above outdoor readings. These spore types and readings were as follows: Penicillium/Aspergillus: Outdoor count: 907 spores/cubic meter of air Dorm room … [Read more...]
Do You Know Of Specific Blood Tests For Molds?
January 12, 2011 By
Question: My husband and I were exposed to extremely high levels of Aspergillus (indoor count 33,000 ppm-outdoor count 400-500 ppm), Stachybotrys, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Cladasporium and a few others... This exposure was over a period of 2 1/2 years. We didn't know the mold was in our home and we and the doctors could not explain or diagnose our symptoms (ie: bleeding noses, flu like symptoms, chronic fatigue, aches and pains...just to name a few). We both have tumors (lungs, liver, … [Read more...]
Do I Vacate The Property Until The Mold Is Remediated?
January 11, 2011 By
Question: If penicillium/aspergillus-like spore counts are 4,700 and outdoor is 100, does this warrant vacating the property until the mold is remediated? I believe the mold has been there for close to 2 years and I have symptoms such as chronic yeast infections of armpits and rash on face, open sores on arms and severe chemical sensitivities. Answer: Currently there is no set safe or unsafe number for airborne fungal spores. You have indicated that you have symptoms such as chronic yeast … [Read more...]
Are These Levels of Spores Considered Hazardous?
January 9, 2011 By
Question: The crawlspace in our condo has the following readings for spores/m3 : Aspergillus/Penicillium type-16000; Chaetomium- 67; Cladosporium- 227. Are these levels spores considered hazardous? It is going to cost a very high amount to have vents, sensors and spores removed to correct the situation and there is no guarantee. Please give me your comments on this. Answer: There are no published standards for acceptable exposures to indoor mold spores. And there is no agreement among the … [Read more...]
Seed Pathogen Testing
January 1, 2010 By
Question: Hello, I represent a very important agro-industrial group in Mexico. We have several roles such as wheat mills, fruit, and vegetable processing. Right now we have a situation in one of our facilities that we want to resolve. We have a hydroponic greenhouse where we produce lettuce, mainly 3 different varieties (Boston, Lollobionda, Lollorosa). We have had several problems in the production of lettuce. We did some analysis and we have found that the root cause of the problem is in … [Read more...]
Mold On Books
December 7, 2006 By
Books are prone to dampness if the relative humidity is not maintained below 60%. Prolonged damp conditions results to mold growth on the paper and on the bindings. Mold growth on books leads to damage of books through staining and or breaking down of paper and other book components. Besides the damage, many molds isolated from books are a health hazard capable of causing serious respiratory diseases and allergies of various degrees. Molds commonly isolated from moldy books include species of … [Read more...]
How Dangerous Is Mould In Your Basement?
November 15, 2006 By
Basements tend to be damp thus encouraging mould growth. Some of the common moulds in basements include Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium spp. However, the types of moulds present in a basement would depend on how damp the basement is. For example, under extremely damp conditions the dominating moulds would be those that require high levels of moisture for growth such as Ulocladium, Stachybotrys, Fusarium, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Under relatively dry … [Read more...]