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Black Mould In My House

Close to 200 species of moulds have been reported from indoor environments. However, only a small percentage of this is commonly found indoors. A significant number of these moulds may appear black or greyish and hence the common term “black mould”.

How do I know if the black mould in my house is “toxic mould”?

Since many moulds may appear black, it’s only through laboratory identification of the mould that one can tell whether the mould is known to be toxigenic (“toxic”) or not.

How do I clean up black mould in my house

The key to preventing black mould growth is to eliminate moisture. Once mould has grown in a building it has to be removed. Regardless of the type of mould, the procedures used to remove mould are the same. However, the amount of mould present, the type of mould and the sensitivity of the occupants determines the level of remediation required. For example, in a hospital environment the safety measures taken in mould removal are more stringent than say in an industrial environment.

For more information regarding black mould, please call 905-290-9101.

Mold Training Schedule

A comprehensive one-day mold training course on indoor mold. The topics for this unique mold training course include:

  • how to recognize indoor mold,
  • how to develop effective sampling strategies,
  • how to interpret laboratory results and,
  • how to perform effective mold remediation/abatement.

For details and current course schedule please visit our mold training webpage at http://www.moldbacteria.com/training.html.

Certification Maintenance (CM) Points
The mold training course has been granted approval for CM points by the following organizations:

For registration, course dates or more details click mold training.

Mold Removal Guidelines

Once mold has grown in a building, it has to be removed (also referred to as mold removal, mold remediation, or mold abatement). There are various mold removal guidelines:

  • Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry (2004): by Canadian Construction Association.
  • Mould Abatement Guidelines (2004): by Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO).
  • Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments (2008): by the New York City Department of Health.
  • Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation (IICRC S520): by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
  • Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (2001): by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Some of these mold removal guidelines can be obtained free online. When determining appropriate mold remediation level, one has to consider the total area affected (the perimeter of affected materials) and the density of the mold growth. The Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry recognizes 3 remediation levels for building finishes and components (e.g., drywall, ceiling tile, carpet, etc.). These are:

  • Level 1 (Small Scale): Areas less than 1 square metre (10 square feet)
  • Level ll (Medium Scale): Areas between 1-10 square metres (10-100 square feet)
  • Level lll (Large Scale): Areas greater than 10 square metres (≥100 square feet)

For more details about mold removal consult the various guidelines and/or consult a professional. For those working in the fields of mold investigation and remediation, you may want to register for our mold training course entitled “How To Recognize Indoor Mould, Develop Effective Sampling Strategies, Interpret Laboratory Results, And Remediate Mould Contamination“. For the course details and available dates click http://www.moldbacteria.com/training.html

For more information regarding mold removal please contact us at 905-290-9101 in Ontario or 604-435-6555 in British Columbia.

 

Indoor Air Quality: Testing for Mold Contamination in Buildings

Testing for mold contamination in buildings may involve collection and analysis of the following types of samples:

Air Samples

Air samples may be collected for total spore/hyphal fragment count (non-culture analysis) or for culture analysis. The analysis includes enumeration and identification of significant species. Both non-culture and culture analyses have some limitations. For example with non-culture analysis, identification of mold spores to species is difficult and for culture analysis only the viable spores/hyphal fragments are detected. In some situations, a combination of the 2 types of samples is recommended.

Tape, Bulk, Swab, Dust Samples for Direct Microscopic and Culture Analysis

Tape, swab, and dust samples are taken from surfaces suspected of mold contamination. For bulk, a piece building material such as a piece of carpet, drywall, insulation material or wood is collected. The analyses of these samples by direct microscopy allows identification to genus but experienced mycologists may identify some molds to species.

If identification to species is required, the samples are cultured in some suitable media. However, as was mentioned for air samples, only viable mold would grow in media. It is therefore recommended that both direct microscopy and culturing are used when identification of species is required.

For details on types of mold testing, click Services.

What Type of Black Mold is Growing in My Home?

If a house is constantly damp due to leaks or condensation black mold can sometimes be found growing on paper of dry wall, windowsills, wood, behind wall paper, baseboards, carpets or on ceiling tiles. A number of molds are potentially toxic fungi and have been associated with adverse health effects in some individuals. Current Canadian recommendations advise building occupants to clean-up and/or remove visible mold growth. The Canadian Construction Association has provided guidelines on how to deal with indoor mold growth. The key to control mold growth is to reduce or eliminate moisture.

If you see visible mold growth, you may submit tape or bulk samples directly to the laboratory to determine what type of black mold is growing in your house. The laboratory report will include health effects (if known) associated with the identified mold. It is also recommended that you contact a mold professional or a public health inspector in your area who may help to assess the level of mold contamination and advise on clean-up.

For information on how to collect and send a tape or bulk sample to the lab click Mold in Home. For a list of mold testing companies in your area, click Mold Testing Companies Directory.

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

Salmonella food poisoning has been a growing concern in recent news. It has frequently lead to recalls of beef, salads and organic products and, even peanut butter products. Salmonella food poisoning occurs when one eats raw or undercooked foods such meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Properly cooked food can get contaminated with Salmonella if […]

Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram negative, aerobic bacteria that is characterized as an opportunistic pathogen. It is the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia and, it is the cause of Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic form of L. pneumophila infection. Legionella spp.’s mode of transmission is through aerosols or aspiration of contaminated water. The Public Health […]

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]