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You are here: Home / Archives for black mold

What Is Black Mold?

Jackson Kung'u

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.

Filed Under: MBL Answers Tagged With: black mold, stachybotrys

Any Test To Determine Long Term Effects of Mold Exposure?

Jackson Kung'u

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.

Filed Under: Fungi, MBL Answers Tagged With: antibodies, black mold, mold exposure

Do You Have Information On This Type Of Mold?

Jackson Kung'u

Question: Last night I developed what I named “brain burn”- my brain literally felt like it was burning and the symptom progressed into my eyes, ears and throat. I discovered today that I had ingested a black mold which was in a cayenne pepper solution that I make for congestion. Do you have any information on this type of mold? I do still have mild symptoms.

Answer: It’s difficult to know what type of mold you ingested without testing it. There are many different types of molds that look black. If you still have a sample of the cayenne pepper, you could send it to us for testing. The lab will be able to test and let you the type of mold present in the cayenne pepper. Learn more about molds at www.MouldFacts.ca.

Filed Under: MBL Answers Tagged With: black mold

How Do I Know If I Have Black Mold in My Home

Jackson Kung'u

The only way to know whether you have black mold in your house is to have the mold tested by a qualified mold laboratory. If you have visible mold growth, you can easily take samples for laboratory testing by using clear scotch tape. All you need to do is to cut 2-3 inches of clear scotch tape and stick it onto the surface with mold growth. Then remove the tape and stick it onto a plastic bag and then send it to a lab. For details on mold testing click Mold Testing Kits For Homeowners And Property Managers.

If the mold is not visible but there is musty smell, you can take air samples. While negative air samples do not necessarily mean there is no mold growth, air samples can help in detecting hidden mold growth. For details on how to take air samples, please call 905-290-9101.

Filed Under: Microbial Sampling Tagged With: black mold, mold in home

Black Mold Fungus Called Stachybotrys

Jackson Kung'u

Many people get concerned if the black mold fungus called Stachybotrys appears in lab results even if only a few spores were reported. Some people conclude the results are okay if Stachybotrys was not present even when counts of other mold spores are relatively high. But is Stachybotrys the most dangerous indoorblack mold? Possibly not. Species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger (A. niger is a black mold too) are well known health hazards. Personally I would not be concerned if a few spores of Stachybotrys are reported in air samples especially immediately after mold remediation.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: black mold, stachybotrys

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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

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. […]

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