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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.

What Are The Health Issues We Face?

Question: We rent a 2 bedroom basement apartment in North Vancouver, BC. It does rain a lot, and a wet puddle forms in my son’s bedroom. This house is 60 years plus, but we just found mould growing under my son’s bed, black and brown mushroom looking, and we have only lived here for 10 months. We have a small dog, what are the health issues we face? I am 56 and I have a heart disease. My son is 24 and has breathing problems. We have a small 7 year old bichon frise that sleeps a lot.

Answer: There are a number of health effects associated with exposure to indoor moulds. Exposure to indoor mould mainly occurs through inhalation of airborne spores. Therefore, people exposed to indoor mould are likely to experience respiratory problems. Health effects, however, depends on the amount of mould present, individual’s sensitivity to mould and the type of mould. In an indoor environment hundreds of different kinds of mould are able to grow wherever there is moisture and an organic substrate (food source). Mould can grow on building and other materials, including: the paper on gypsum wallboard (drywall); ceiling tiles; wood products; paint; wallpaper; carpeting; some furnishings; books/papers; clothes; and other fabrics. Mould can also grow on moist, dirty surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass insulation, and ceramic tiles.

I would suggest you ask the landlord to hire a professional who could assess the extent of mould contamination, the cause and then recommend how to correct the moisture problem and get rid of the mould.

Is There A Way To Estimate Length Of Time A Fungal Colony Has Been Growing?

Question: Is there a way to estimate the length of time a fungal colony or colonies have been growing? I’m sure that is based on the type of mold, water availability, temperature, food availability, etc. However, in the district we have found several mold growth areas that appear to have been active for several weeks (based totally on assumptions), not a matter of days as is relayed in the information provided.

Answer:. It’s difficult to tell the length of time a fungal colony or colonies have been growing. As you mentioned the rate of fungal growth will depend on water availability, temperature, food availabity, presence/absence of
growth inhibitors and most important the type of fungus. If we know the type of fungus and if it’s still actively growing,
then we can estimate the length of time the fungal colony has been growing. Under laboratory conditions, most fungi will
produce visible colonies in 3-5 days (some fast growing ones within 2 days) and produce spores within 5-10 days.

Should I Panic And Move Out Of The House Or Clean The Mold?

Question: Hi, I have a family of 4 and currently living in a basement home. Last year in August, we had a leakage right above of one the windows. I would say the amount of water that came is between 2-4 Litres of water. I had no idea and ignored the fact that mold could be a problem in the future. All I did was dried the water with cloth and never paid attention behind the drywalls. My problem is that I now see mold growing just right above the frame of the window which I believe is metal. My family has been sick for the past few months with fever and constant coughing. I’m not sure if it’s just the weather but I suspect it could be the mold in our room. I am now in the process of cleaning the window with moldcontrol which I purchased at homedepot. I also planned to look further and open the drywalls around the molded area. I was just wondering if I should panic and move out of the house OR simply clean the mold. I am also inquiring in how much does it cost to get an air sample to test for mold right after the cleanup.

Any of your input would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: It’s possible that you had a major leak or even slow leak that has been there for some time. It’s likely that there is more mold growth than what you see. Instead of trying to clean the mold yourself, I would suggest you ask the homeowner to deal with the problem themselves. While you should not panic, you should ensure the mold is properly cleaned by qualified professionals.

Do You Know Of Specific Blood Tests For Molds?

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, ovaries). Do you know of specific blood tests available in Canada to test for the molds listed above. We have been tested for Cryptococcus gatti but realize that this is not for all mold types. Our doctors are unwilling to accept the idea that the molds in our home caused our symptoms or made us sick. Please, can you help?

Answer: Were the spore counts reported as parts per million (ppm)? Mold spore counts are usually reported as spores per cubic meter of air and not as parts per million (ppm). That’s beside the point. You wanted to know whether there are specific blood tests available in Canada to test for the molds Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, Penicillium, Chaetomium, and Cladosporium. I believe there are, although I don’t know who is doing it. The tests may not be available for some species.

The test is based on mold-specific antibodies. The presence of antibodies in the blood only indicates that one has been exposed to mold at some time. It does not indicate when one was exposed, where the exposure took place, or how much of mold one was exposed to. Therefore, a positive test for mold-specific antibodies alone is generally not enough to prove that health effects reported by individuals in moisture-damaged buildings are caused by exposure to mold.

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. […]