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How to Get Rid of Mildew

Do you have mould (mildew) in your house? If you are not feeling sick already, do not panic! The mould (mildew) can be cleaned up and further growth controlled. If you are already feeling sick, you may consider leaving the building temporarily while the mould problem is being investigated or the mould is being cleaned up.

Who should particularly be concerned about mould (mildew) exposure?

  • Infants and the elderly people
  • People with a history of asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems.
  • People with weak immune systems due to other health conditions such those with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant.

What are the health effects associated with mould (mildew) exposure?
The health effects associated with mould exposure are varied and some are controversial. These include:

  • Allergenic Reactions
    • Non-inflammatory, unspecific symptoms, e.g., eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, wheezing, stuffy nose, nausea and vomiting.
    • Asthma and Bronchitis
  • Mycotoxin Poisoning
    The most recognized route for mycotoxin poisoning is through ingestion. Aflatoxins produced by various species of Aspergillus and Penicillium have a long record of poisoning humans and animals and in many cases causing death.
  • Fungal infection
    People with weakened immune systems may develop invasive aspergillosis from infections by species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger.

What should you do when you notice mould (mildew)?
Do not disturb it. Educate yourself on how to handle mould by reading some of the informational bulletins posted on the internet by reputable organisations. If you cannot handle the problem, seek professional advice.

Mould Guidelines And Other Useful Resources

  • The University of Connecticut and USEPA has a document entitled “Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors”. To obtain a copy click here http://www.oehc.uchc.edu/clinser/MOLD%20GUIDE.pdf.
  • Health Canada has a revised version of “Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods”. 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.
  • Canadian Construction Association (CCA) recently released its newest mould guide
    – CCA 82 – Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry. A copy can be obtained from their web site at CCA 82 free for download or by purchasing hardcopies from your local construction associations.
  • The New York City Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Mold in Indoor
    Environments may be available online.

Do you have a mould problem? Call (905)290-9101 or visit our website at http://www.moldbacteria.com for more information.

Dampness, Mould, Mites and Allergy

Dampness in buildings is believed to increase asthma and allergy risks. Studies have shown that the risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis is higher in damp homes. This is partly because dampness encourages proliferation of micro-organisms such as moulds, bacteria and mites, some of which are well established and documented toxin producers or allergens. Dampness in homes and workplaces should therefore be controlled in order to reduce the risk of occupants developing respiratory problems.

Are Mould Related Illnesses Real Or Imagined?

Mould associated illnesses have been explained by some experts as hysteria, describing the mould situation as a hoax that begin in the 1970’s following several cases of legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease) caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The media, including the internet have been blamed for highlighting claims of building related illnesses and hence fanning the hysteria. There might be some truth in this which, however, does not mean mould is harmless.

While it is true, some of the illnesses cannot be attributed to mould exposure for lack of scientific data or even by any logical reasoning, there is enough evidence, though in some cases circumstantial to support claims of mould related illnesses. Reactions of human beings from mould exposure differ from one individual to another. While majority of the population may not have problems with common indoor moulds, a certain percentage will react and show symptoms of mould related illnesses when exposed to mould.

As someone who identifies moulds, I have found myself developing an instant running nose when I inhale spores and odours of certain strains of Penicillium spp.

In my opinion, the extremists (those who attribute any imaginable illness to indoor mould exposure and those who believe mould has nothing to do with any building related illness) have not helped the public to understand the truth about mould.

Do you have a mould question? Send it to My Question.

Indoor Mould: What are Mould Spores?

Chaetomium and Penicillium/Aspergillus spores from indoor airMould spores are tiny structures produced by moulds for the purpose of propagation. The term spore is general. There specific terms used for spores depending on how they are produced or the group of fungi producing them. Ascospores for example are spores produced by a group of fungi called Ascomycetes while Basidiospores are spores produced by Basidiomycetes which include the mushrooms.

How would spores affect human health?
Spores are tiny (range between 2-100 micrometers) and therefore are easily inhaled into the lungs. Susceptible individuals react to the protein component of the cell wall of the spores. Some moulds such as Aspergillus fumigatus may also grow in the lungs causing what is referred to as Aspergillosis.

How would you tell if you are inhaling potentially harmful levels of spore concentration?
The way to tell if occupants of a building were inhaling potentially harmful levels of spore concentration is to take air samples. Air may be taken to be analysed by culture methods or by direct microscopic examination. Culture methods may significantly underestimate the total airborne mould concentration in the air because only the viable spores or fragments of the mould can be detected in culture. The spores/fragments may also not be detected if the media used for culturing were not suitable for the types of moulds present in the air. Samples taken for direct microscopic examination (also referred to as non-viable air samples) allow the analyst to count all the spores and fragments regardless of whether the spores were viable or dead. Since susceptible individuals can also react to dead spores, non-viable samples would be the best to give an idea of whether occupants were inhaling potentially hazardous levels of mould spores.

Ulocladium and Stachybotrys spores from indoor airThe pictures show spores trapped from highly contaminated indoor air. The first picture shows spores of Chaetomium and Aspergillus/Penicillium. The second photo shows Ulocladium spores and Stachybotrys spores. Chaetomium, Stachybotrys and Ulocladium species are indicators of serious water damage. Spores of these moulds and those of Aspergillus and Penicillium pose inhalation risk.

Do you have a mould question? Send it to us at Contact Us.

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. […]