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You are here: Home / Archives for basement

Could These Illnesses Be Related To Mold Spores?

Jackson Kung'u

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.

Filed Under: Fungi, Indoor Air Quality, MBL Answers Tagged With: air quality, allergy, asthma, basement, bronchitis, dampness, mold spores, pneumonia, tonsillitis

Can I Install New Drywall?

Jackson Kung'u

Question: I have just purchased a house in which the basement wall had what looked like mold behind it and dryrot in the 2x4s supporting the drywall. I removed all 50 ft of drywall, 2x4s and insulation back to the cinder blocks and trusses. I have bleach washed the cinder blocks twice and sprayed the trusses with mold removal/prevention solution. I believe I have removed the reason for the moisture (grading and evetroughs). Can I install new 2x4s and drywall or might there still be an issue?

Answer: As long as the moisture problem has been corrected, all the contaminated material removed and the place is dry, you can install new 2X4s and drywall without a problem.

Hope this helps. Should you have more questions or need more information please contact by phone or use our online form to send your questions. Thank you.

Filed Under: MBL Answers Tagged With: basement, dryrot, drywall, mold removal

Mold Development Within Home

Jackson Kung'u

Question:

My question regards mold development within home resulting from delayed response to correct water leak. We had a pipe leak in the manifold of a room in our home which was also under the slab and resulted in water damage to carpeting, drywall, furniture, x-ray film, various paper documents, retail goods, decor and other personal items which were immediately moved to the living room and family room.  The damaged room is joined to the kitchen and bathroom.  Both of these rooms were also affected. The kitchen cabinetry and toe touch had an 97%-99% moisture ten plus days after the repair to the drywall in the opposing room. Upon the opened toe touch area being dried-out, it still had 19-27% moisture detected that had remained without being dried-out.

The originating room was never dried out. Upon the insurance contractor coming to dry-out the wall had dried but the kitchen area affected had not. Meanwhile the toe kicks were removed and area dried out.

However, the carpet and all other damaged house hold furniture redistributed to other rooms, as well those within the room and other household items and paper documents remained as well the open slab and drywall in the office where the repair was done.  Approximately three weeks later, I had testing done in the home as I had been experiencing health problems which had reoccurred and advanced to bilateral skin rashes on full limbs from upper respiratory, eyes, flu-like symptoms with fever, weakness, head and fatigue…

 The testing after a three week period of the repaired piping showed elevated levels of spores which were greater than five times the amount outdoors.  For instance in the room/office, Aspergillus/penicillium had a raw score of 261, at 86% and spores/m3 of air at 1749. Other fungal spores were ascospores, Cladosporium, smuts/myxomytcetes which were present. Total fungal spores/m3 was 2044, 305 raw and 100%.

The kitchen had 275 spores/m3 for aspergillus/penicillium, 147 spores/m3 for Cladosporium, 13 rusts spores/m3, 7 smuts/myxomycetes spores/m3, with total fungal spores at 456.  There was one area under the cabinet that had a dark spot which was sampled. The spot was located at the edge near where the toe kick would connect. The spot tested as “major” Aspergillus/penicillium while there were no visible signs in the office of spots.  However, there were two strips of molding that were in the bathroom which had been removed from the office upon repair to the pipe weeks prior, one tested showed an “abundant” aspergillus/penicillium-like fungi.

The week of Thanksgiving, I looked under the cabinet where my pots/pans glass cookware are stored-which would be the wood in the area of the toe kick which holds the cookware’s shelf. I noticed spots from end to end on the full board.  I have not looked since.  However, I covered the registers of the office and kitchen.

In the living-room I noticed items acquire mold that were sitting on top of the file cabinet which was a piece of wood furniture affected and in front of the dry wall with moisture and on top of the carpet. These items were placed in plastic bags tied together and put back on the file cabinet. On the 11th of November, canvas bags which are full of documents and other items were in the living-room in a large plastic tub. Fungal mold-like growth was present and removed to the garage.

Last week, Tuesday we had a visit from an adjuster(claim transferred to a different county and rep after complaints of contractors from Insurance company not following through nor getting started beyond photos, diagrams, and measuring in removing and cleaning etc.) who saw the areas. She was to send someone out that day to remove the carpet, remaining things in the room, clean, remove powder from results of work with wet saw in the room and to have someone come and put a suction unit in the room to remove spores and exhaust them outside of home-(is this appropriate, could they not re-enter with open windows or the like?). How about the other rooms which could highly likely have colonies as a result of location to the contaminated rooms and the pieces from those rooms disbursed in other places.

The adjuster assured us of action being taken that day and would contact her contractors to come out that evening. In addition, she would talk to her manager and review file as it was reported they do not cover mold-but she was told the insurance contractors delay from mid October to well into November is an issue.

Here we are in December and items are still unchanged nor removed. Carpet should have been gone among others.  Therefore the insurances contractor is liable and should be responsible for those areas related to microbials.  She did say the insurance can help out up to 5k’s. Again, we were assured in the meantime work would get going that evening or in the morning.  That late afternoon she phoned and left a message that no one will be out that evening.  She had not been able to receive contact from her manager either.  However, she needs to ask me a question.  I have not heard from her since returning her call.

On Saturday, the 11th of December, I went to the insurance office expressed my frustration of this situation in which the agent was amazed and reported this should not be like this.  They never get complaints on home insurance and it should have been taken care of within a few days not a few months and nothing has happened. The agent sent an urgent notice to the adjuster and her manager. Needless to say there has not been any contact yet.

 I have been having further health problems as a result of the contamination/fungal environment. This would make the fourth time I have sought medical attention.

I have made every effort to remove myself from the mold contaminated areas while I try to limit my time in the kitchen and family room with an exception on Sunday morning.  I try to remain upstairs which is open to downstairs except for the bedrooms.  Could the colonies multiply throughout the house with the conditions described and find their way upstairs?  I think that they may have not only affected my health, but me physically. I have inflammation, advanced edema, muscle/joint pain, red eyes, and enlargement of my mid-section. Could colonies have developed within my body? I am active and work out four times a week-1.5hrs, but I’ve been noticing physical challenges of things usually included in my work out and some involve respiratory. How can these symptoms/conditions be corrected or can they be permanent? How about the other health conditions?

 What precautions, actions, remediation and additional evaluations should be taken as a whole? Thank you.

Answer:

I would like to summarize and answer your questions as follows:

  1. The adjuster was to send someone out to remove the carpet, remaining things in the room, clean, remove powder from results of work with wet saw in the room and to have someone come and put a suction unit in room to remove spores and exhaust them outside of home. Your question is whether this method was appropriate and whether the spores could re-enter through the open windows. To me this sounds like it was an appropriate method of cleaning up the mold. Most remediation companies follow mold guidelines such as “Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments” developed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In Canada, contractors may use the Canadian Construction Association’s Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry or the Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario’s Mould Abatement Guidelines. These guidelines are available online so you want you can refer to them.
  2. Your other question is whether the colonies could multiply throughout the house given the damp/wet conditions you have described. The answer is yes. If the moisture problem is not corrected mold will continue growing.
  3. You have experienced symptoms/conditions that you think are due to mold exposure and you wonder how these symptoms/conditions could be corrected. Generally symptoms associated with mold exposure should disappear once a person is no longer exposed to mold. However, permanent symptoms may develop if the individual was exposed for many years.
  4. You also wanted to know what precautions, actions, remediation and additional evaluations that should be taken as a whole. Since you’re not feeling well, I think the first thing for you is to move out of the house. Then hire a qualified professional to assess the extent of mold contamination and recommend the appropriate level of remediation.

I hope this helps. If you need more information, please contact us again.

Dr. Jackson Kung’u.

Filed Under: MBL Answers Tagged With: basement, fungal, Fungi, moisture, spores, water damage

Mold In The House And Air Quality

Jackson Kung'u

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.

Filed Under: MBL Answers Tagged With: air quality, allergy, asthma, basement, mould, spore, spores

How Dangerous Is Mould In Your Basement?

Jackson Kung'u

Basements tend to be damp thus encouraging mould growth. Some of the common moulds in basements include Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium spp. However, the types of moulds present in a basement would depend on how damp the basement is. For example, under extremely damp conditions the dominating moulds would be those that require high levels of moisture for growth such as Ulocladium, Stachybotrys, Fusarium, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Under relatively dry conditions, the dominating types of moulds would be those that can grow at low moisture levels such as Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum, Eurotium species and Wallemia sebi.

Are These Moulds Dangerous?
Allergenic and toxic hazards of common indoor moulds are dependent on the quantity of mould present and the health status of individual person. However, regardless of the amount of mould present or the health status of occupants, mould should never be allowed to grow indoors.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: Aspergillus, basement, Fusarium, mould growth, penicillium

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March 2023
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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

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