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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allergy

Mold Exposure Limits

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 remediation. Thank you.

Answer: Due to the large number of mold species and strains commonly found in buildings and the large inter-individual variability in sensitivity to mold exposure it has been difficult to set mold exposure limits. In other words there are no safe or unsafe levels of airborne mold spore counts that have been established. In absence of mold exposure limits, results from tests for airborne fungal spores cannot be used to assess risks to the health of building occupants. However, individuals who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of mold exposure than healthy individuals.

To minimize the risks of mold exposure it’s recommended to:

  • control humidity and diligently repair any water damage to prevent
    mold growth; and
  • clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mold growing in
    residential or office buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the type of mold found to be growing in the building.

Asthma and other Mold Related Illnesses

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 in the building beginning in Fall, around September. Then by end of year, when I finally went to the doctor, I was told I was suffering with breathing problems. The doctor diagnosed that I had asthma, which I could not believe. I had been running for over 20 years at that time, and could not believe that asthma came on just like that.

When I did my graduate practicum in the building, I was congested all the time. Later, when I started working in the building on June 9, 2003, by Friday, June 13, 2009, I was sick. I went to my doctor, and was again told by the doctor that I had asthma….

My story continues,…. But, to make it short, I have been to medical doctors, specialists, naturapathic doctors, etc., etc., etc., who continue to treat the symptoms, and have not been able to tell me the cause of my ailment.

I have submitted to two allergy tests: one early on, and the latest completed in December 2009, which showed I tested high for several types of mold, including Stachybotrys. I have been on sick leave, and decided to look on line to research the molds, other allergens I appear to be highly sensitive to, and came to your site.

On that note, too, when I was working in the building, I used to clean my work area. I kept some of the paper towels used to clean and dust, which were soiled with blackened dusts. My question is: can those towels be tested even though much time has passed, since I last worked in that building at end of 2003?

I just want to be cured, and to be able to run again.

Answer: Thank you for your email. I can feel for you having experienced something similar to what you have described. Fifteen years ago I had what doctors called bronchitis and others called Asthma. No doctor was able to tell me the cause of this problem. I was not sure whether the cause(s) of my asthma was from home or my place of work. At work, I was working as a plant pathologist and used to culture a lot of fungi (yeasts and molds).

Almost 15 years ago when I left my place of work and the house where I used to live, I have not had even a single attack. I still work with molds including Stachybotrys almost every day.

As for your question regarding testing of paper towels, I am not sure if that would be of any help. First, are those paper towels still there? Secondly, what would the towels be tested for? If mold, 7 years is a very long time!

Mold On Books

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:

  1. 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?
  2. 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 the mold was found. Can my comics be in danger? I was told mold has a sweet smell….these comics seem to smell fine. It would be a shame to have to get rid of them.
  3. Another batch of comics I placed in storage does smell funny, though they were never wet while in storage and I don’t live in a humid environment (I live in California. It’s really hot and really dry, high humidity is rare). Should I be worried?

Mold on books

Sorry about all the questions, thanks for taking time to read this.

 

Answer: As you pointed out, it’s hard to say whether you’re save or not. I would suggest you consult a qualified local professional who may come to your home and assess the level of mold contamination and then recommend an appropriate level of mold remediation. Wiping out mold on books is a temporary solution if the underlying cause (moisture problem) is not addressed. If mold growth was extensive, it’s possible you’re inhaling millions of airborne fungal spores.

As for your second and third questions regarding the comics, I suggest you keep the books in a dry environment. Damp books will develop mold over time. Remember that mold produces chemicals (enzymes) that break down the material on which the mold is growing. So, eventually you may have to discard the books if they are badly damaged. Mold on books can be removed if the books are not damaged.

If you have further questions regarding mold on books please call 905-290-9101 in Ontario or 604-435-6555 in British Columbia.

Black Mold Question

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 the black mold tested as soon as possible. Since the black mold is in the concrete wall, how would we extract samples?

Thank you for your help.

Answer: To get a sample of the black 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). Put the sample in an envelope and send it to us by mail or you can bring it to the lab. If the concrete surface is wet, use a cotton swab to get the sample since the mold may not stick to the tape. To use a swab, roll the tip of the swab several times on the surface with visible mold. Put the swab in a plastic bag and mail it to the lab.

If you suspect that you have a serious mold problem, I would suggest you get a professional to come and assess the extent of mold growth, determine the underlying cause(s) and then recommend the best way to remove the mold. You may find a mold testing company near your area listed on the following web pages:

1.  https://drjacksonkungu.com/business-directory/
2.  http://www.moldbacteria.com/servicelist/index.html

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.