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
Mobile: 437-556-0254

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Public Questions

Former grow ops home

Question:  A contractor bought a former grow house. He has it up and now wants to sell it privately.  I have an interest in this home. Is there anyway to ensure that it is safe to live in and will not pose any future health risks? The house was cleaned off mould by a professional company, but because the contractor has done renovations to the home can you still get samples for testing the air, insulation, drywall etc?  I guess my concern is that he may be covering up something, and that even though the mould was cleaned up can it re-grow?

Answer: If the house is structurally sound and the mould was properly cleaned up, then it’s unlikely that mould could pose future health risks. You can hire an independent professional to assess the house for mould.

Mould can only re-grow if there are moisture problems that are not corrected on time.

Mold in home

Question:  My questions regards mold in home. My father resides in Newfoundland. He has been in a nursing home for the past 2 winters.  His house has been unheated for the past 2 winters. The neighbours have advised me that the roof over the back porch has leaked and now the ceiling tiles have gone moldy (along with the insulation). Mold is also on the walls. I am planning a trip to Nfld next month. What do I need to do to get rid of this mold (kill it) and how do I handle it and protect myself? Thanks for your help.
Answer: It sounds like there is mold in the home which you may not be able to handle on your own. Mold in home is due to excessive moisture. My suggestion is that you find a mold testing company in Newfoundland that can assess the extent of mold growth and prepare mold remediation specifications. Mold remediation specifications require intensive work (at times involving destructive sampling) which can only be done well by a qualified professional. For a list of mold testing companies in Newfoundland please click Listing of Mold Testing and Remediation Companies in Newfoundland.

Mold in basement

Question: We think we may have mold in our basement. Is there a company in Manitoba to contact to have our home checked?

Answer: You can check our online directory for mold testing companies in Manitoba. Click Listing of Mold Testing and Remediation Companies in Manitoba.

Calgary Health Region Mould Guideline

Question: My house just got tested for mould. The outside test was 67 spores per cubic meter of air. The inside was 24,000 spores per cubic meter of air for Aspergillus/Penicillium type.

I heard the city of Calgary has a standard that says you double the counts for control/outside and add a hundred for acceptable limits of the inside. Do you have a link for this?

What health problems can this be associated with in the long term?

Thanks.

 

Answer: Yes, the Calgary Health Region has developed a mould guideline entitled “Fungal Air Testing, Investigation and Reporting Requirements for Residential Marihuana Grow Operations” which provides guidelines on how to interpret air sample results. They have also developed “MARIHUANA GROW OPERATION REMEDIATION GUIDELINES.”

The long term effects of mould exposure varies with individuals. Some people may develop sensitivity to mould.

Penicillium-Aspergillus in basement

Question:  I purchased a home here in Hamilton in July ’06. I found out from neighbours that my home had been a grow-op. This was never disclosed to me. I have had air quality testing done and I am showing high levels of penicillium/aspergillus spores in the basement (2800). Outside is over 11,500.

There is no visible mold and alot of renovation was done to the home. I just don’t know how to get rid of something that is not visible. I also do not know of the dangers involved in living here. Please advise.

Answer: Most basements are damp and majority of them will show high counts of airborne Aspergillus/Penicillium spores. Some species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus versicolor require relatively very little moisture for growth and that’s why basements will almost always have some Aspergillus/Penicillium spores. It’s possible that the growth of Aspergillus/Penicillum in the basement of your home is not due to the grow-ops. 

From the information you’ve provided, it doesn’t sound like there is any mould related danger in your home. The basement had 2,800 spores per cubic meter of air compared to over 11,500 spores from the outside. In this case I would think your basement is not terribly bad (compared to the outside!) but you may want to find a way of keeping it relatively dry if it’s already damp. Also, keep monitoring for any visible mould growth, musty smell, and excessive moisture.