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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Mold Symptoms

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.

Black Mold Symptoms

When it comes to indoor mold, “Black Mold” is one of the most searched phrases on Google, Yahoo and MSN. According to the SEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool, daily total search for “black mold” from Google, Yahoo and MSN is about 710 and if we include all phrases that contain the phrase “black mold”, the total daily search from the 3 search engines comes to about 1700.

But what is “Black Mold”? It refers to a mold known by the scientific name as Stachybotrys chartarum. It is not the only mold that appears black. Stachybotrys species thrive well on wet cellulose containing materials. Since it requires extremely wet conditions to grow, it’s one of the molds used as indicators of moisture damage.

The Controversy Regarding Black Mold symptoms

Scientists generally agree that exposure to damp, moldy home and workplace environments has serious health effects. However, clear causal relationship between individual or groups of mold and ill health is yet to be established. However, despite lack of proven evidence, the detection of Stachybotrys in the indoor environment has led to fear and panic and subsquent closure of office buildings and schools, and even burning of houses and household belongings in some situations.

Stachybotrys was first associated with a toxic response in horses in Eastern Europe and the Ukraine in the 1930s. Horses consuming contaminated straw or hay showed shock, dermal necrosis, leukopenia (a decrease in the white blood cell count), nervous disorders, and death. What fueled the fear for Stachybotrys was an outbreak, between 1993 and 1998, of idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding of lungs) in the Cleveland, Ohio, area where 37 infants were affected (see Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Suburban Home with Water Damage and Mold (Stachybotrys atra) ). An investigation led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention originally linked the outbreak to household exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum, and other molds (see Overview of Investigations into Pulmonary Hemorrhage among Infants in Cleveland, Ohio).

Most of the symptoms attributed to black mold still remain controversial since none of them has scientifically been proven. These symptoms include:

  • Asthma and other respiratory problems
  • chronic fatigue,
  • Skin irritation
  • lung bleeding

Mould Growth

Dampness and mould growth are recognised as major problems affecting a
significant proportion of houses in the North America. Apart from health problems associated with dampness and mould growth, wood decay is also significant problem.

Mould growth in houses is unsightly. But most important, there is considerable evidence to support the view that mouldy housing has a detrimental effect on the health of occupants residing in such environments. This is a cause for concern, considering that many individuals spend most of their time indoors especially during winter. Respiratory problems and allergic reactions are the common health problems associated with mould. Generally, indoor moulds affect people through inhalation of airborne spores. High levels of airborne spores may occur due to growth of mould on walls and furnishings.

Requirements For Mould Growth
Requirements for mould growth in buildings include:

  • nutrients: found in the materials which make up or are deposited on indoor surfaces
  • oxygen. Like most other living things, common indoor moulds require air (oxygen) for growth.
  • suitable temperature (around 25 degrees Celcius)
  • moisture: the relative humidity (RH) at a surface is the best indicator of moisture available for mould growth.

In most cases, mould growth in homes is caused by condensation. Condensation in buildings occurs where moist air meets a cold surface. For example if air meets cold water pipes, window glasses or other cold surfaces and is cooled below its dew point temperature, the vapour close to the surface becomes saturated and excess vapour turns to liquid.

There are two types of condensation:

  • Surface condensation. Surface condensation occurs at the surface of the material.
  • Interstitial condensation. Interstitial condensation occurs inside a material. If vapour passes through porous building materials and the dew point temperature occurs within that material then the vapour will condense. Interstitial condensation is responsible for mould growth in building envelopes.

The major factors influencing condensation in buildings include:

  • Moisture production from sources inside the building. Moisture sources include respiration, cooking, washing and drying of clothes.
  • Air and structural temperatures
  • Ventilation. Proper ventilation helps to reduce condensation.