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Dr Jackson Kung'u- Mold Specialist

Dr Jackson Kung'u- Mold Specialist

Helping People Resolve Mold Problems

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Dr. Jackson Kung’u (PhD)- Mold Specialist.
Phone: 905-290-9101

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Home | Fungi

Fungi

Black fungus

The term “Black fungus” does not refer to a specific fungus. Any fungus that appears black is simply labeled as black fungus by the general public. Below are some of the fungi that people tend to consistently refer to as black fungus.

Black nail fungus

Fungi that cause nail infection are not necessarily black. However, since the nail tends to turn black, people talk of black fungus under the nail. Black fungus under the nails is about the last thing that anyone would want, yet fungal nail infection is not at all uncommon. Fungal nail infection happens when fungal spores get in under the nails and start to grow there. Public places like swimming pools or public bath stalls are a common source of infection. Also, for those who like getting a pedicure and manicure the places that do this can also spread nail fungal infection if they are using improperly sterilized equipment.

Black fungus on drywall

A number of fungi that appear black can grow on damp drywall. People will therefore talk of black fungus or black mold on drywall. Since fungi are potentially a health hazard they should not be allowed to grow in occupied spaces.
Black fungus that exists below the surface of the drywall cannot be removed without cutting the entire part of the drywall and replacing it.

Black fungus (sooty mold) growing on a citrus tree

Sooty mold is a black fungus that looks exactly like its name…black. The fungus grows on the limbs and leaves of trees, shrubs and even indoor plants.  Sooty mold occurs on trees that are infested with sap-sucking insects like aphids, white flies or scales. These insects produce a sugar-rich waste called honeydew. Sooty mold is attracted to, and thrives on, honeydew, which coats the leaves, branches and even fruit of an infested tree. The black fungus is targeting the honeydew rather than the tree.

So, the appearance of sooty mold is often a sign of insect infestation. Sooty mold is one of the few fungi that does not actually harm the plant, though it can affect photosynthesis. Control this fungus by controlling the insects.

Black fungus, aka cloud ear, wood fungus, mouse ear, and jelly mushroom.

The black fungus (Auricularia polytricha) is an edible jelly fungus. It is mostly sold dried but is also available fresh. It is very similar to another fungus called Jew’s ear (Auricularia auricula). Black ear fungus grows naturally on trees and rotting vegetation and is native to East Asia. They either grow wild or are cultivated and are gathered in summer and autumn. It derives its name from its black color and the fact that the convoluted surface of the mushroom looks like an ear. It’s also known as cloud ear, tree ear, mouse ear and black fungus. Although it’s traditionally used to improve circulation, the cholesterol-control aspects have been a more recent discovery.

Black fungus contains a range of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It also provides a range of important vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, folate and ascorbic acid. In addition, the mushroom also provides minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.

Black fungus is considered safe and nontoxic for the majority of the population. There is no research into the safety of black fungus during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so women during these times should consume black fungus with care. Consult with your doctor before eating wood ear mushrooms if you take prescribed medications, as these mushrooms may cause undesirable drug interactions.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: black fungus, Black mold

Air Quality Test Showed No Mold But Can See Visible Mold

Air quality test is often conducted to determine the level of airborne mold spores. Interpretation of air quality test results is often difficult as the levels of mold spores in the air vary greatly depending on the activity in the room, changes in temperature and relative humidity, ventilation rate and season of the year. During summer for example, indoor mold spore counts can be relatively very high even in homes with no visible mold growth due to infiltration of spores from outdoors.

It’s also possible to have very few airborne spores in buildings with visible mold growth. This is because there are biological differences between the fungi in terms of the way they produce their spores. The Aspergilli and Penicillia, for example, produce large quantities of dry spores that easily become airborne. On the other hand, Fusarium and some species of Stachybotrys (black mold) produce moist spores that are not easily released into the air. Some other molds such as Chaetomium and Phoma produce their spores in enclosed structures (fruiting bodies) and hence these spores may not be detected by air sampling until later when the material dries out or is broken on impact e.g., during renovation.

For viable samples, the spores and fungal materials present in the air may be dead or may belong to molds that cannot be cultured in artificial media. The mold may also be alive but may not be culturable on the detection media used. Therefore a combination of air sampling (both viable and non-viable), surface (e.g., tape-lift) and bulk sampling is recommended. An air quality test alone is not enough to rule out mold growth. See the article Non-viable Fungal Air Sampling Alone May Not Be Adequate.

Filed Under: Air Sampling, Fungi, Indoor Air Quality, Mold Testing Tagged With: air sampling, mold testing, visible mold

Aspergillus/Penicillium in the Basement

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 very much for your help.

Answer: I think the Aspergillus/Penicillium spore count in the basement suggests persistent humid conditions. You may want to hire a professional to come and assess the extent of mold growth in the basement, identify the cause (i.e., moisture source) and suggest the best method to fix the moisture problem and remove the mold safely. To control the growth of mold such as Aspergillus/Penicillium the humidity in the basement has to be reduced to a level below 60%. The following techniques can help control moisture in the basement:

  1. Fix leaks, drips, and seepage problems.
  2. Dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets and consider removal and replacement of items that appear to be permanently water damaged. Mold and mildew on hard surfaces can be washed and the surfaces dried completely.
  3. Do not finish a basement below ground level unless all water leaks are sealed. A finished basement should also have adequate outdoor ventilation and heat to prevent condensation.
  4. Operate a dehumidifier in the basement, if necessary, to keep relative humidity levels down. But keep in mind a dehumidifier can be expensive to operate.

Filed Under: Aspergillus, Fungi, Indoor Air Quality, Penicillium, Public Questions Tagged With: aspergillus penicillium, mold and mildew, mold growth, spores

Stachybotrys – The Black Mold Demystified

Since the 1993-1994 unusual outbreak of pulmonary hemorrhage (lung breeding) in infants in Cleveland, Ohio, that was then thought to be due to  exposure to Stachybotrys, the health effects associated with this mold have remained controversial. Frequently referred to as the Black Mold by the general public, Stachybotrys has probably caused more economic and psychological agony than ill-health. The mold has resulted in multimillion dollar remediations and litigations.

Stachybotrys was first associated with death of horses in Eastern Europe in the 1930s. Horses fed with hay contaminated with Stachybotrys were reported to surfer from a disease characherized by irritation of the mouth, throat, and nose; shock; dermal necrosis; a decrease in leukocytes; hemorrhage; nervous disorder; and death.

While Stachybotrys is so much feared the number of cases where it was the cause of ill-health or death are insignificant compared to some other toxigenic molds such as Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillus fumigatus. There are about 15 species of Stachybotrys but the most well known is Stachybotrys chartarum. Stachybotrys chartarum is sometimes erroneously referred to as pathogenic mold. When encountered in buildings it’s a serious problem for homeowners, building managers and remediation contractors who must deal with the human issues and remediation. The presence of a single spore in an air sample is enough for some professionals to declare the remediated building unfit for human occupancy. Currently there is no scientific evidence to support such a decision. Perhaps such decisions are driven by fear of liability, fear of being sued by someone who may later believe they were sick because the building was found to have a few spores of Stachybotrys when they occupied it. It’s time the scientific community demystified Stachybotrys, the black mold, for everyone’s peace of mind.

Should you have a question on Stachybotrys please contact us at 905-290-9101 in Ontario or 604-435-6555 in British Columbia.

References

1. Stachybotrys chartarum: The Toxic Indoor Mold.

2. Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, and Stachybotrys chartarum: Infectious Disease Perspective.

Filed Under: Black Mold, Fungi, Mold Symptoms, Stachybotrys Tagged With: aspergillus flavus, Black mold, health effects, ill health, remediation contractors, spore, spores, Stachybotrys, Stachybotrys chartarum, toxigenic molds

Mold Allergy Symptoms

Allergies can be caused by one or possibly a combination of many different things including an array of triggers such as food, medicine, environmental factors and inhalants.  Allergies are among the most common chronic conditions worldwide.

Mold allergy symptoms vary from one person to another and range from mild to severe.  Mold spores and very fine hyphal fragments trigger allergic reactions in about 20% of the adult population. The reactions are due to protein and polysaccharide components of molds. The smaller the spores and the finer the hyphal fragments the easier it is for them to penetrate deep into the respiratory tract. In humans mold allergy symptoms are of two types, the immediate hay-fever or asthma Type I and the delayed farmer’s lung Type III. Type I allergy occurs only in allergic individuals and may be caused by many types of molds including plant pathogens. Alternaria and Cladosporium spp., are two of the common molds causing seasonal mold allergies of this type.

Mold allergy symptoms can include sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy or watery eyes. People who suffer from Asthma may experience wheezing and shortness of breath. Some people may experience mold allergy symptoms all year round while in some others symptoms would flare up only during certain seasons of the year depending on what triggers the allergy or the amount of allergens present in the environment. Mold allergy symptoms are significant when the weather is damp, and when indoor or outdoor spaces have high mold spore concentrations.

People who are sensitive to mold can experience mold allergy symptoms both indoors and outdoors. For example in summer and fall several types of molds thrive on dead leaves and release spores into the air. On inhaling these spores, individuals who are sensitive to mold spores are likely to experience allergic reactions.

Controlling mold allergy means controlling your exposure to mold. That isn’t always easy outdoors. But you can limit exposure inside your home by controlling mold growth, cleaning up existing mold growth, and to some extent preventing outdoor mold from infiltrating indoors.

Filed Under: Allergy, Mold Symptoms Tagged With: allergy, alternaria, Asthma, cladosporium spp, hay fever, mold allergies, mold allergy symptoms, mold spores, molds, respiratory allergy

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