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Is This An Adequate Solution To The Mold Problem?

Question: I work in a 100 year old wooden building that suffered from flood conditions last fall. The basement is a dirt floor and has very high spore counts and visible mold. The upstairs suffered from visible mold and high mold counts. The remedial work that has taken place is to put a polythene vapour barrier between the basement and the upstairs. Is this an adequate solution to the problem.

Thank you.

Answer: The solution you’ve described sounds inadequate. Any material with visible mold should have been cleaned or replaced if it could not be easily cleaned. The cause of flooding should also have been investigated and corrected. Since there are no mold remediation standards most mold remediators and restoration contractors follow existing mold guidelines. All the guidelines outline procedures to be followed to clean up the mold. Below are some Mold Guidelines and other useful resources.

  • Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and
    Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and
    Moisture Indoors 

     

  • Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings:
    Health Effects and Investigation Methods 

    Health Canada – 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.

  • Mould Guidelines for the Canadian
    Construction Industry 

    Canadian Construction Association (CCA) – Recent
    rerelease of CCA 82. Hard copies can also be purchased from
    your local construction associations.

  • Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO) Mould Abatement Guidelines.
  • Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Mold in Indoor EnvironmentsNew York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Are These Moulds Harmful To Me?

Question: I have had a Kidney transplant. In the building that we rent we had a test done for mould and found high levels of Penicillium and Aspergillus. With a weakened immune system, are these moulds harmful to me?

Answer: People with weakened immune system (i.e., immuno-compromised or immuno-suppressed individuals) are highly likely to be infected by opportunistic pathogens (disease causing organisms). Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger, for example, cause a disease called invasive aspergillosis in the lungs of immuno-compromised individuals. This happens when immuno-compromised individuals inhale airborne spores which then start growing in the lungs. Penicillium marneffei causes penicilliosis in humans. This may involve skin papules that are acne-like symptoms and also diarrhoea and fever in HIV AIDS patients.

Healthy individuals are usually not susceptible to opportunistic infections from the common saprophytic fungi.

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.

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