Mold Bacteria Consulting Services
Serving Ontario and British Columbia
Question: I have been sleeping in a damp room with a large amount of mold on the walls for about 4 months (which is in the process of being cleaned). Is this dangerous, should I seek medical attention even though I am in good health?
Answer: If you’re feeling OK then you don’t have to worry. However, I would suggest you have the mold cleaned up as soon as possible. Prolonged (long-term) mold exposure could cause health problems, including asthma, allergies or respiratory problems.
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:
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.
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.
Mold exposure through inhalation of airborne spores may affect human health in many ways. Symptoms of mold exposure may vary from individual to individual. Some of the severe diseases associated with mold exposure include infection of the respiratory system (including the lungs) by species of Aspergillus. Aspergillus fumigatus, for example, is a common cause of Aspergillosis in individuals with weakened immune system.
A variety of other health problems have also been associated with airborne mold spores, such as chronic respiratory infections, dry cough, eye irritations, skin symptoms, asthmatic symptoms and allergy. Non-specific symptoms include headache, fever, and lack of concentration. Some of these symptoms of mold exposure can also be caused by other indoor contaminants.
Indoor air quality is compromised by both biological and non-biological pollutants. Sources of biological pollutants include microorganisms, animal, insects and related organisms.
The most common biological pollutants of indoor air quality include molds and their byproducts, dust mites, pet dander (scales from hair, feathers, or skin), droppings and body parts from cockroaches, rodents and other pests or insects, viruses, and bacteria. Due to their small size, many of these biological pollutants are airborne and easily inhaled deep into the lungs.
Health Effects From Poor Indoor Air Quality
Some biological pollutants may cause serious health problems including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis, and some types of asthma. Other health problems attributed to biological pollutants are sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever, and digestive problems.
It is believed allergic reactions occur only after repeated exposure to a specific biological allergen. The reaction may occur immediately upon re-exposure or after multiple exposures over time. It’s important to regularly monitor the indoor air quality.
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 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 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. […]