Mold Bacteria Consulting Services

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Can Mold Sampling Give Us Information As To Health Risks?

Question: I am seeking information for a community hall regarding mold sampling. This hall is used for meetings and occasionally food is prepared and served. There has been a multi-year history of clean water seepage but the source has not been identified yet. Walls and surfaces have large areas of primarily black coloured mold, some green and some a peachy colour.

There is a musty odour too. My questions are:

  • With the limited exposure most people have to the environment, can mold sampling give us information as to health risks for public and for the cleaning staff?
  • If we send samples, and worst case scenario: mold is toxic, do you provide info on proper cleanup procedures?
  • Would tape method of mold sampling be adequate for assessing the above?
  • Areas mentioned have recently been bleached/washed and none are visible today; how long should we wait to do mold sampling?

Thanks for your help.

Answer: Mold Sampling on its own cannot provide information as to the health risks for public and the cleaning staff. This is because there are no exposure limits for airborne mold spores. Health Canada states that “in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of building occupants”. That does not mean mold sampling is not necessary.  Read the article “Is Sampling and Testing for Indoor Mold and Bacteria Necessary?” Regardless of the type of mold, i.e., whether toxigenic or not, the procedures for cleanup are the same. A mold cleanup procedure is determined by the amount of mold growth in square footage. You’ve mentioned that the contaminated area had recently been bleached and no mold is visible. Since the source of water has not been identified and corrected, mold growth will reoccur. I would suggest you consult a professional knowledgeable in building science to help in identifying the source of water and assess the extent of mold growth. It’s possible there could be more hidden mold growth than what was visible before bleach was used.

If you have further questions regarding mold sampling please contact us at 604-435-6555 in British Columbia or 905-290-9101 in Ontario.

Any Input Relative To The Spore Levels Identified?

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 count: 6,880 spores/cubic meter of air
  • Cladosporium:
    • Outdoor count: 533 spores/cubic meter of air
    • Indoor count: 3,150 spores/cubic meter of air

    • Both girls are experiencing some health issues. My daughter is currently in the hospital with some respiratory issues and an infection of the colon. Can you provide me with any input relative to the spore levels identified? Also, I realize that most problems associated with mold are of the respiratory nature, but I am concerned that the colon infection could also be a result of mold toxins. Is this possible? Any input would be appreciated.

    Answer: Currently there are no acceptable levels of airborne mold spores. However, it’s generally agreed that mold is a health hazard and should not be allowed to grow in occupied indoor environments. The common indoor molds are unlikely to cause infection to health individuals. People with weak immune system (immunocompromised), however, could be infected by opportunistic pathogens such as some species of Aspergillus and Fusarium. As for mycotoxins, it is not known whether the indoor air concentrations of airborne mycotoxins become high enough to cause any significant health effects.

Could These Illnesses Be Related To Mold Spores?

Question: My question regards mold spores. Our basement was flooded about 2 weeks ago. Most if not all of the exterior concrete walls and floor were affected as well as an inside wall. Although we have tried to clean everything up as best as we could, we noted a musty smell shortly afterwards. All four family members have been sick with what seems to be various allergic symptoms ever since. Could these illnesses be related to the flood? Could mold spores be the reason and should we have the air quality of our duplex tested?

Answer: It’s possible that your allergic symptoms are linked to dampness in your home. Excessive dampness is a health problem by itself. Indoor dampness also indirectly contributes to health problems by supporting the growth of molds and other microbial agents in addition to initiating the release of chemical emissions from damaged building materials and furnishings. Mold spores are also known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

Research has shown that living in damp homes not only increases the risk of asthma, but also leaves residents with a greater chance of repeated colds and skin allergies. People living in damp houses have been found to require more antibiotics than others and are more likely to suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis or tonsillitis.

You may want to test the air quality in your home to determine the levels of airborne mold spores. I would suggest you hire a professional to assess the situation in your home and give recommendations on remediation.

Mold Training Course and Booking Calendar

Mold in buildings is a major problem in North America. Mold damages buildings and and poses a health risk to occupants. Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories provides a mold training course entitled “How to Recognize Indoor Mold, Develop Effective Sampling Strategies, Interpret Laboratory Results and Perform Effective Mold Remediation.” This eight-hour mold training course provides detailed information about mold in buildings. The mold training course is primarily developed for professionals who conduct mold inspections. However, the course could help building and facility managers respond to occupants and residents complaints about mold in buildings. It could also help school personnel respond to complaints from teachers, students, and parents. The course could benefit insurance and real estate professionals in understanding the causes and control of mold in buildings. For course details click Mold Training.

To book for the mold training course online click Booking Calendar.

Legionella Training Course

Legionella Training Course – MBL has developed a practical Legionella training course specifically for those involved in the management and control of Legionella including health and safety managers, engineers, building and facilities managers, and water treatment professionals.

Our professional Legionella training course examines a range of Legionella related issues including:

  • Legionella: Terms, Definitions and General Facts.
  • History of Legionnaires’
    disease.
  • Potable Water Systems & Methods of Disinfection.
  • Cooling Towers: Water Treatment & Legionella
  • Cooling Tower Guidelines and Legionella
  • Statutory and advisory regulations
    (based around Health Canada).
  • Legionella risk assessments.
  • Legionella Sampling and Testing
  • Appropriate precautionary measures.
  • Practical implementation of a structured risk management system.

For more details about the course, please call 905-290-9101

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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. […]