Question: Is Aspergillus Penicillium spore count in the basement high? We have this smell in our house for some time. We have also arranged for the gas company to come to see if there is gas leak. Last week, we had an air sample taken from our house. The Aspergillus Penicillium reading from outside was 267 spores/m3 and the reading from the basement was 26,667 spores/m3. I do not know if these readings indicate any significance. Do you have any suggestions for the cause and solutions? Thank you … [Read more...]
How Toxic is the Mould?
August 16, 2011 by
I have a question regarding mould. Thank you first off for someone that is passionate about what you love to do; its great how much you share about all that you know. I've been contacted by a young lady that needs information. She lives in Vancouver, BC in a rancher home built in the late 80's, or early 90's and she is having mould problems. She just discovered on a window sill, a yellow golfball-sized fungus, that has orange dots on it. When she touched it to clean, it burst and had green goo … [Read more...]
Mold Exposure Limits
October 24, 2010 by
Question: My question regards mold exposure limits. I just had a mold count done in my home. The spore count levels in the basement were 5X and 6X outside air in the bedroom. Are these levels high enough to make someone sick? What are "high" levels? In other words are there mold exposure limits? Molds found were Penicillium, Aspergillus and ascospores. I spent a good deal of money on the testing and just would like someone else's point of view, other than the guy wanting to sell me the … [Read more...]
Evaluating Mold Contamination In A Building
September 20, 2010 by
Question: If I want to evaluate mold contamination in a building, should I use air sampling of molds or ergosterol in dust? Answer: The method to use to evaluate mold contamination in a building depends on the objective of the investigation and the resources available for the investigation. First let's see what kind of data each method yields. Air sampling For Mold There are 2 methods currently used for sampling for airborne spores. These are air sampling for total fungal spore count … [Read more...]
Crawlspace Mold Growth
September 15, 2010 by
Question: I have an 8 year old home in BC's Gulf Islands. On a recent trip into my crawlspace noticed some mold growth or fungus on the underside of the vapor barrier that is applied over the earth in the crawlspace. There is no sign of any mold growth elsewhere. The crawlspace has four vents that have been opened all summer, and I see no moisture in the crawlspace except some water droplets probably condensation under the vapor barrier. The concrete walls of the foundation are insulated and the … [Read more...]
Mold In The Crawlspace: Is It The Source of Strong Mold Smell?
September 14, 2010 by
Question: Could we be having mold in the crawlspace? I just moved into my apartment in June and I am surrounded by trees and I have a crawlspace. Well, I smell a strong mold smell in my Kitchen, bath and bedroom and they are along the same wall. I suspect the smell could be due to mold in the crawlspace. I have had several people tell me that they smell mold and I need to get it checked. My elderly mother lives with me and if I have a problem then I want to know how to deal with it. I am a … [Read more...]
Asthma and other Mold Related Illnesses
March 10, 2010 by
Question: Approximately 7-9 years ago, I worked in a building in which I may possibly have been exposed to mold and developed asthma. Prior to being in the building, I used to run up to 7 miles, almost every other day, almost religiously. In reviewing my health records, it appears that prior to being in the building, I never had a breathing problem, or went to the doctor much. It seemed that after being in that building, the breathing problems persisted. For my undergrad practicum, I was … [Read more...]
Black Mould
February 10, 2010 by
Question: My tenants are saying that there is black mould in my rental townhouse. I've replaced fixtures in the bathrooms, stopped leaks and spent thousands of dollars but they are still bringing in the local public health inspector. I'm allergic to black mould myself and have been in while damaged drywall was being removed. I handled it myself with no ill effects and observed the joist cavities being treated with mould inhibiting sprays and 'killex'. Should I be worried that my tenants … [Read more...]
Mold On Books
February 9, 2010 by
Question: My question regards mold on books. I'll try not to make this too long but I'm not sure how short it can be. Three questions: I found mold on books in my home and wiped it clean. It seems to have gone away and we feel fine. We do have allergies but these are due to the area we live in. It's probably hard to say but....are we safe? I'm a comic book collector and I'm worried about the mold we found spreading to my comics. The mold is gone now and my books are not near the spot where … [Read more...]
Tinea Capitis or Scalp Ringworm
February 7, 2010 by
Question: My friend has been to a dermatologist and a family Doctor due to the fact that she was losing hair in large areas of the scalp. I told her maybe it was Ringworm (Tinea Capitis) as I have seen it before in a class I took in Cosmetology. Well the Dermatologist finally told her to stop taking the Griseofulvin that the GP had her on and said it was Alopecia areata. She continued to lose large amounts of hair and is still losing it! Her pathology came back as Fusarium species. So...where … [Read more...]
