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Could I Save My Clothing, Books, etc After Mold Contamination?

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 that says it can be used on paper. What do you think? There is no visible mold on any of my things. The mold was on the wall and in the air. Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it so much.

Answer: Yes, you could save your clothing, books and other belongings. If the apartment had only a small amount of mold, I don’t think your belongings are significantly contaminated with mold spores. However, if you’re still concerned you could have the items that cannot be washed, cleaned with a HEPA vacuum. I would not recommend use of microbial cleaners unless it’s something already approved for that purpose. Items that can be washed should be washed and then dried properly immediately. For additional information refer to the articles below:

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.

What Is Black Mold?

Question: We’ve been told we have “black mold” in our 2 bathrooms. We’re trying to replace the lino. What is black mold? What do we do or who do we call? We’re in Edmonton.

Answer: The term “black mold” could refer to any mold that appears black. However, one mold that appears greenish-black and that has had a lot of publicity since the 1900s due to it’s toxicity is Stachybotrys. Stachybotrys is therefore erroneously referred to as black mold by the general public. There are several species of Stachybotrys but the one commonly associated with ill health is Stachybotrys chartarum. For the purpose of this discussion, the term “black mold” will be used here to mean Stachybotrys.

Black mold  grows best in highly damp and moist conditions. It is very common on water damaged cellulose containing building material such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Growth of black mold occurs when there is excessive moisture due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. The basement, interior of wet wall cavities, bottom of carpets, and behind wet baseboards provide a perfect breeding environment. Conducting a  house inspection  can help locate and identify moisture problems that result from excess humidity or condensation, even if they occur behind walls.  If you have leaks from pipes or plumbing fixtures, their cause should be identified and fixed before addressing any cleanup of black mold.

Any type of mold is potentially a health hazard. Black mold toxins have been reported to cause lung bleeding which can lead to death among infants. It has also been shown to trigger asthma attacks and other allergies both in children and adults with compromised immune systems.

As for what to do, I would suggest you contact a qualified professional to assess the extent of mold contamination, determine the cause (or source of moisture) and advise on the appropriate way to correct the moisture problem and cleanup the mold.

Would Mold Develop Over Time?

Question: I am wondering if you have a foundation problem in a house and water comes in when the snow melts and when it rains would mold develop over time? We were going to move in a house and the landlord says that she removed the mold. It is a damp, old basement and the wood boards are rotting because of either mold or water. She says it only rained in there once but i don’t think so. Would there likely be mold in the walls, underneath the cardboard? When the landlord tells me it has been removed do I believe her or would a mold/air specialist have to come in? There is also insulation exposed. I heard mold can grow there. My mom had a bad reaction from being in the basement. Please give me your advice.

Thanks.

Answer: The conditions you have described would definitely support mold growth. Going by your description of the place, I would suggest you look for another house. Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health problems. People who are sensitive to molds may experience nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Those with weak immune system or with chronic lung illnesses and other respiratory diseases may get serious infections in their lungs when they’re exposed to mold.

Any Test To Determine Long Term Effects of Mold Exposure?

Question: Hi, my 16 year old son has suffered respiratory problems for years since living in a basement apartment full of black mold. I suspect that his problem is due to mold exposure.

Is there any testing that can be done on people to find out if long term effects have occurred after mold exposure? Please help me find someone, somewhere that either studies or tests for the effects of breathing molds as each time my son gets sick it is worse and I need some help with where to look or who to talk to. Please let me know if there is any testing, reports, groups, etc; out there on mold exposure.

Thank you.

Answer: I am not sure if there is any testing that can be done on people to find out if long term effects have occurred after they are exposed to mold. Some doctors have recommended testing for mold-specific antibodies. However, the presence of antibodies only indicates that one has been exposed to mold at some time. It does not tell you when you were exposed, where the mold exposure took place, or how much of the mold you were exposed to or whether the mold exposure caused long term effects. Also, a positive test for mold-specific antibodies alone is generally insufficient to prove that health effects reported by individuals are caused by mold exposure.

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

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Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

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The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

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