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You are here: Home / Archives for Fungi

Aspergillus Species: A Health Hazard In Indoor Environment

Jackson Kung'u

Some members of Aspergillus group are recognized health hazards and are of great concern if they appear in built environment. The most important species as concerns health are Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus versicolor. Aspergillus clavatus is often associated with allergic diseases in workers of malt-houses. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important and well known potential pathogen for humans with weak immunity. It is of great concern in hospital environments. Spores of Aspergillus fumigatus are allergenic and have the ability to bind on lung epithelium in asthmatic individuals, causing further complications in the health status of these patients. Due to their small size, about 70% of Aspergillus fumigatus spores are able to penetrate into the trachea and primary bronchi. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus are often associated with a disease condition called invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus versicolor is one of the most common Aspergillus species found in damp indoor environments and is a major producer of one of the liver damaging and carcinogenic Mycotoxin.

Do you have a mould problem or a sample of mould you would want tested? We can help. Call 905-290-9101 Today.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: allergy, Aspergillus

My Mould Test Results Said Phoma: Is Phoma dangerous?

Jackson Kung'u

This is one of the questions we received recently from one of our web visitors. Phoma is one of the moulds that may be found in water damaged buildings. Other common fungi in water damaged buildings include Chaetomium globosum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Ulocladium chartarum, Trichoderma spp such as Trichoderma harzianum, Aureobasidium pullulans, and the yeast fungus Rhodotorula spp.

In nature, Phoma is widespread in soil and a wide range of plants and plant materials. It is one of the most important plant disease causing agents. In indoor environment, Phoma is common on wet/damp paints, wood, wall papers, window frames, and caulking especially in bathrooms. Species of Phoma are also commonly isolated from house dust. The common species in indoor environment are Phoma glomerata and Phoma macrostoma.

Phoma species are mainly contaminants, though may rarely cause infections in humans particularly to individuals with weak immune system. They are not known to pose an inhalation hazard to humans. However, any mould growing in human occupied environment should be treated as potentially hazardous.

Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101 now!

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: Aureobasidium, chaetomium, Phoma, Rhodotorula spp, stachybotrys chartarum, Trichoderma spp, ulocladium chartarum

How To Reduce Indoor Mould Exposure During This Winter

Jackson Kung'u

It is a fact that we spend most (some people say 90%) of our time indoors. During winter we probably spend more. While mould is not the only contaminant that can compromise our health, it is one of the most important ones. People who may be at risk of mould exposure during the winter include young children, the elderly, people with allergic problems or those with low immune systems following medical treatments or due to other disease conditions such as HIV AIDS.

We can reduce exposure to mould growth by reducing the spore concentrations in the air.

Steps To Reducing Indoor Mould Spore Concentrations

  • Monitor regularly for early signs of mould growth. Pay particular attention to basements, bathrooms, windowsills, ceilings, under kitchen and bathroom sinks and any other area that is likely to be damp. Damp hidden places are particularly prone to mould growth.
  • Promptly fix plumbing leaks, drain clogs, roof leaks, condensation problems or poor ventilation that can lead to mould growth.
  • Regularly vacuum clean (preferably with a HEPA vacuum cleaner) surfaces that tend to collect dust such as the floor, furniture etc. Settled dust is a reservoir not only for mould spores but also for other allergens.
  • If mould is found, refer to the following mould guidelines and call a mould specialist immediately.
  1. New York City Department of Health “Guidelines on assessment and remediation of fungi in indoor environments”. 
  2. CCA 82 – Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry. This can be obtained at: http://www.cca-acc.com/documents/electronic/cca82/cca82.pdf
  3. Health Canada’s “Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods”. This document is a revision of an earlier version published by Health Canada and the Federal-Provincial Advisory Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health (CEOH) in 1995.

 

 

Do you have a mould problem? We can help. Call us at (905)290-9101.

Filed Under: Fungi, Indoor Air Quality Tagged With: mould exposure, mould growth, mould spore

Alternaria alternata as a cause of allergic diseases

Jackson Kung'u

Alternaria alternata Alternaria alternata is a fairly common indoor mould. In one study it was found in 87% of the homes examined. It is considered one of the most important fungal allergens. Alternaria alternata has been implicated as the cause of allergic diseases in people exposed to wood and sawdust during paper production in paper mills. It is regarded as the main cause of allergy and asthma in children aged 6–11 years.

It is known to produce over 70 various mycotoxins with tenuazonic acid being the most commonly known.

Do you have a mould question regarding Alternaria? Call us today at (905)290-9101.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: Alternaria, fungal allergens, mycotoxins

Should We Throw Away Our Furniture, Books, Photo Albums…After Mould Contamination?

Jackson Kung'u

We got this email from one of our readers…..
——————————————————————
Sir or Madame:
My asthmatic husband, 5 year old granddaughter and I were advised to vacate a rental house by a health inspector. We had been experiencing health problems – my husband was having serious respiratory problems, and my granddaughter had recurring body rashes. By the time we moved I also had to seek medical attention for cough and throat problems.

We subsequently found out that the house had been re-rented by the landlord without a follow-up inspection (after he did clean-up) after the previous tenants had been experiencing health problems and advised to move out by the same inspector. We sent mold samples from the basement to a lab. An engineer, a clean-up business and the health inspector all advised we remove our possessions from the house asap and put them in storage. Suddenly we found ourselves without a house and without furniture or belongings to move to another property while our retirement home was being built.

It has been several weeks since the upheaval and we just now have verbal results from the lab. The written report is in the mail. We are informed that there was a 15,000 count (whatever that means) and that Aspergillus and Penicillium were found. Can you please provide any information about what this means for clean-up of furniture, clothing, books, photo albums, etc. We are not willing to move anything into another house if it means contaminating another home. Any information and advice will be appreciated. We have just retired for health reasons!

Thank you.
————————————————————-
Dear Madam:
I can understand the situation you are in. Personally, I try not to create panic. Your dilemma is whether to throw away your furniture, clothing, books, photo albums, etc. I have no idea how contaminated these items are and so it would be hard for me to tell you to throw them away or not. However, in most cases, it is not necessary to throw away such items especially if they were not water-damaged. Do they appear like they have mould or damaged? Probably what you need is to have them HEPA vacuumed and those which can be cleaned (such as clothes), cleaned and dried before moving them to your new home.

Hope this helps,

Jackson.

Do you have a mould problem or do you want samples tested for mould? Call (905)290-9101 now.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: Aspergillus, mould contamination, penicillium

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July 2025
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Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

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