Dr Jackson Kung'u- Mold Specialist

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Dr. Jackson Kung’u (PhD)- Mold Specialist.
Phone: 905-290-9101
Mobile: 437-556-0254

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Fungi

New indoor air quality guidelines on dampness and mould

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published it’s first indoor air quality guidelines on dampness and mould. The guidelines recommend the prevention or remediation of dampness- and mould-related problems to significantly reduce harm to health. According to the experts who compiled these guidelines occupants of damp or mouldy buildings, both private and public, have up to a 75% greater risk of respiratory symptoms and asthma.

A copy of the guidelines could be downloaded at http://www.euro.who.int/document/E92645.pdf

Stachybotrys

Question:  Hello there. I work in a boat and recently we discovered that we had a lot of mould on our ceiling. A company came and tested the mould and it came back to be Stachybotrys or some thing similar (sorry about the spelling…). They are planning to clean the area with air cleaners and filters etc. They say that the mould is only in two of the five crew rooms and nothing in the other rooms. Is it possible to have mould so confined, or is this just my superior’s explanation. Also, I have been living here for the past year. What effect can this mould have on me? Should I be worried about any thing..?? Thank you for your help…, It’s always hard to know the truth when you work in a boat. Every thing goes through the captain, and he decides what we should know.

Again thank you for your time.

 Answer: Yes, it’s Stachybotrys or what the general public refers to as black mould. As, to whether mould can be confined to some areas, yes, it can. Generally, mould, and especially the type that requires excessive moisture such as Stachybotrys will only grow in those areas that are extremely wet.

If you’re not feeling sick, I would think there is no need for you to be worried. Not everybody is susceptible to indoor mould. Also, the effect of indoor mould is only likely to persist if an individual who is susceptible to mould continues to be exposed. Exposure to molds such as Stachybotrys is mainly through inhalation. Fortunately spores of Stachybotrys do not become airborne easily unless they are disturbed.

Basement mold

Question: I suspect we have basement mold. We moved in to our townhouse almost a year ago. In the past several months I have noticed that my daughter’s allergies are acting up a lot more, especially when we are in the basement. I too have been experiencing a lot of congestion and sneezing etc. when in the basement. I can smell a musty smell (nobody else can, but I can) and I cannot locate it. I can’t see mold, I’ve torn apart the house. My only guess is it’s in the carpets or walls. I notice you have a mold test kit to measure mold in the air. How accurate is it at picking up positive results i.e. does there have to be a lot of mold to pick up a positive (as I am the only one who can smell this musty smell so it would have to be a very sensitive test). Do you know of any professional companies that can come in and determine if we have basement mold?

Thank you!

Answer: Thank you for your question regarding basement mold. Our mold test kit is basically a DIY kit using the same air sampling equipment that a professional would use. However, the kit is not intended to replace the services of a professional. By a professional we mean someone qualified who will not just come and take air samples (which anyone can take) but will also troubleshoot the problem and offer solutions even if air samples are negative. By “negative” we mean having very low fungal counts since very rarely would there be no spores in the air at all. Basement mold is very common due the dampness found in most basements.

The equipment samples for airborne spores (and other particulates) and not for Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). These are volatile chemicals produced by the metabolism of fungi and bacteria and are responsible for the musty smell. As for the accuracy of the equipment, there are a number of factors that can influence the results. For example:

  1. The type of mold present: some molds produce spores either enclosed in fruiting structures or in “wet” form which means these kinds of spores do not readily become airborne until disturbed during renovation or when they completely dry out. If these are the dominant types of molds present in your house the air samples could be negative.
  2. The time of sampling: the concentration of airborne spores at time of sampling could be low and hence the results could be misleading.

Basement mold can be controlled by reducing humidity in the basement. You can find professional companies listed on the following web pages http://www.moldbacteriaconsulting.com/business-directory/ and also http://www.moldbacteria.com/servicelist/index.html. You can also give us a call at 905-290-9101 for more information.

Black mold in the basement

Question: We have black mold in our basement along the wall where water damage occurred 5 years ago. It has been there for some time and the basement smells terribly musty.

I have developed an allergic reaction in my eyes and my father’s coughing has worsened. We would like to have it tested as soon as possible. Since the mould is in the concrete wall, how would we extract samples? Thank you for your help.
 
Answer: To get a sample of the mold, please get clear scotch tape. Cut about 3 inches and stick the tape on the surface with mold. Peel the tape and stick it on a plastic bag (e.g., ziplock bag). If the surface is wet, you can use a swab or Q-tip. Put the sample in an envelope and send it to us by mail or you can bring it to the lab. You can get more information on the web page http://www.moldbacteria.com/moldtesting_for_homeowners.html  Please contact us by phone at 905-290-9101 if you have further questions.

Penicillium aurantiogriseum

Penicillium aurantiogriseum is frequently isolated from feeds and food since it’s common in maturing crops, especially cereals. It is a producer of a number of mycotoxins. These include:

  • Penicillic acid
  • Roquefortine C
  • Xanthomegnin
  • Viomellein
  • Verrucosidin

The health effects of these mycotoxins has not been reported.

The growth temperature for Penicillium aurentiogriseum ranges from 15-40 oC with an optimum temperature at 25 oC.

 

References
Pitt, J.l. (1988). “A Laboratory Guide to Common Penicillium Species”. 2nd ed. North Ryde, N.S.W.: CSIRO Division of Food Processing.