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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.

Mold In The House And Air Quality

Question: My question regards mold in the house and air quality. I have a tenant complaining about the air quality in a house I own. It’s a very clean 15 year old home and the basement carpet is 4 years old and in excellent condition. There are no damp conditions and the climate is very dry here. I think this is a frivolous complaint giving him reason to vacate and break our lease agreement. There are no noticeable smells or signs of mold in the house or moisture anywhere in the house. In September clean water entered the basement from a broken sprinkler that was just next to the window. Within 3 hours we had thoroughly shop vaccumed about 3 gallons out of the carpet and pad, sprayed the concrete, pad and carpet with Pinesol. We then separated the layers with 2X2’s and paint cans, set up fans and opened the windows. We relaid the dry pad and carpet on the 4th day. There was no mildew stains and the musty carpet smell was minimal and had dissipated completely within 2 weeks. My tenant’s wife has Asthma and allergies. They had the house inspected and 7,553 Aspergillus/penicillium spores per cubic meter of air were shown in the basement on the report and 2071 on the main floor. Are these spores a health risk? Does this mean there is excessive mold in the house? Is this an uncommon condition for a basement? Do you think this condition was caused by the wet carpet from 4 months ago? Since there is no musty smell would these spores be dormant? Should I replace the carpet? Is the source of these spores likely to be from somewhere else in the house? Should I hire another test from a different company? I appreciate your input.

Thanks.

Answer: Thank you for your question(s). It’s common to have mold in the house. Currently there are no permissible levels for airborne mold spores. The large inter-individual variability in human response to exposure to different mold species and strains makes it difficult to set exposure limits. Therefore, 7,553 aspergillus/penicillium spores per cubic meter of air could be a problem to some people and not to others. Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on allergic sensitization.

You have mentioned that your tenant’s wife has a history of asthma and allergies. This suggests that she could be at risk. Growth of mold in the house is due to presence of moisture. It’s possible that there were some areas that didn’t get completely dry within 48 hours and hence the growth of species of Aspergillus and/or Penicillium. These molds do not require a lot of moisture for growth. You may consider hiring a qualified professional with experience in mold investigation to come and try to determine the source of those spores and also determine whether there are still some moisture issues that you’re not aware of. They should also be able to advise you whether it’s necessary to replace the carpet or not.

Spores of Aspergillus and Penicillium species could remain dormant for many years. It’s known that even dead spores can cause allergic reactions to those who are sensitive to mold. As for your tenant, I would suggest you let them go. While the tenant’s asthma and allergies may have nothing to do with mold in the house, it’s perhaps better to let them go for their peace of mind and as a show of good will on your part.

I hope you found my comments useful. Please feel free to contact me again if you have any other questions.

Dr. Jackson Kung’u.

Testing For Mold Requires Training

Testing for mold is not difficult. But you need to know not only where to look for it but also which species are toxigenic or allergenic. One also requires to have a clearly defined objective for the testing. If the objective of testing for mold requires that samples be taken, it is important to know what types of samples to take and the limitations or disadvantages of different types of samples. The type of samples to take is determined by the type of data the mold investigator requires. The type of data required, on the other hand, is determined by the objective(s) of the investigation.

There are some mold training courses out there that can provide you with basic skills necessary for mold investigation. You may want to review the Mold Training Course offered by MBL. This unique, comprehensive one-day training course focuses on how to recognize indoor mold, how to develop effective sampling strategies, how to interpret laboratory results and current guidelines on mold remediation. Course dates are found at http://www.moldbacteria.com/training.html.

Moulds commonly found in carpet and mattress dust

A number of moulds are frequently found in carpet and mattress dust. Eurotium repens is the most frequently detected mould in mattress dust. Others include Aureobasidium pullulans, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus penicilloides and Aspergillus restrictus.

More than 100 species of moulds have been recorded from carpet dust. As with mattress dust, the most frequently isolated mould in carpet dust is Eurotium repens. The others are Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans and Phoma herbarum.

Concentrations of these moulds in carpet and mattress dust can be as high as 70 million colony forming units per gram of dust. Such high concentrations of moulds are likely to cause respiratory allergy or irritating symptoms. Therefore, it is import to regularly HEPA vacuum the carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture to reduce the dust and spore concentration. If people are suffering from reoccurring respiratory allergy or irritating symptoms in a building where there is no visible mould, it is suggested that dust be tested for the types and concentrations of mould present.

It’s The Allergy Season!

While we are enjoying the summer, it can be a tough time for allergy sufferers. The concentrations of pollen and mold spores in outdoor environment is highest in summer months. Since mold spores and pollen tend to infiltrate into indoor environment their concentration indoors can also be very high in summer. Molds and pollen capable of causing allergic reactions in sensitive individuals are said to be allergenic. Allergy follows inhalation of large amounts of spores or pollen grains. The amounts capable of triggering allergy depends on the specific allergen and the sensitivity of the individual.

Types Of Mold Allergy
Molds as causative agents of respiratory allergy and asthma have been known since the 18th century. Allergic reactions to molds may be either immediate, developing within minutes of exposure (Type I), or delayed, occurring 4 – 8 h later (Type 111). Two of the most important allergenic molds are Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum. Concentration of these two molds are usually highest outdoors from June to October.

Fungi produce huge amounts of spores. In his book, “The Fifth Kingdom”, Dr. Bryce Kendrick, gives the following examples:

  • One specimen of the common bracket fungus discharges 30,000,000,000 spores per day every day from beginning of May to the end of September
  • A 2.5 cm diameter colony of the green mold, Penicillium, can produce 400,000,000 spores.

Fortunately, these huge numbers are diluted by air and we inhale far much less spore concentrations.

Allergenic Pollen
Among the well known allergenic pollen is the ragweed pollen. Individuals sensitive to ragweed pollen are also sensitive to other pollen grains such as those of poverty weed and false ragweed. Concentrations of these pollens are highest within the months of June to September depending on the flowering time of the particular weed.

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. […]