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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Mold from marijuana grow ops

Question: My tenant was growing marijuana in the basement bedrooms of our rental house, with plastic on the walls and ceilings. He was there for a month before being evicted. Do I need to worry about any mold from his growing operation? Need rent the house in a couple of weeks.
 

Answer: I would suggest you have the basement tested for possible mold and other hazards before renting it out again. If cleaning is required, hire a qualified professional. This way, if any of your future tenants sues you (for mold that presumably was caused by the marijuana operation), you’ll be able to defend yourself.

Air sampling for Airborne Mold Spores

Question: I’ve looked at the report and I’m very surprised. There is hardly any results. Have I done something wrong when I did the air sampling?

 We had a company selling air cleaners offer to test our air. They did air sampling for for two viable air samples. Then they said we had Aspergillus versicolor. Is it possible that a mold will show up on a viable test and not on a non-viable test?

Thank You

Answer: I don’t think you did anything wrong in your air sampling. The analysis of the air samples indicated there were some mold spores in your house BUT that is normal for almost every home. Air in every home or building is highly likely to contain some amount of mold spores and other fine particulates. Therefore, air sampling is not used to determine whether there is mold in a building but it is rather used to determine the amount of mold spores present in the air. The reason why one would want to know how much mold is there is because it’s the amount and the types of mold that the building occupants are exposed to that matter.
 
The air sampling you did and the one that other company did are different in many aspects and hence results from the two tests can be difficult to compare. Unlike the viable sampling method, the test you did does not allow for identification of moulds to species. That’s why we did not report Aspergillus versicolor. However, this method generally gives a better idea of how contaminated the air is because identification and enumeration of spores does not depend on whether the spores are viable (i.e., alive) or not.
 
I would like to know a little bit more about the viable air sampling conducted by the other company. Did they use an air sampler or just opened the agar plates and left them open for some time? The latter (called the settle plate method) is generally not a very efficient method for air sampling but it’s less expensive to perform and can at times provide useful information regarding the air quality in the home. The second question is, if they used the settle plate method, how many colonies were reported and how long were the plates exposed? The amount and not the presence is very important when it comes to indoor molds. Aspergillus versicolor is one of the most common molds indoors and presence of a few spores/colonies is not an indication of a mold problem. If you have not experienced any moisture problems in your home, it’s very unlikely that you have a mold problem worth worrying about.

As to whether a mold can show up on a viable test and not on a non-viable test, yes, it’s possible.

PLEASE HELP ME!

Me and my babies have been exposed to Mold Toxins for approximately 5 years (I believe 99% chance that I’m correct). I have all the severe serious level symptoms, plus have been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning for approximately 8-9 months. I have been deteriorating very quickly. My 2 babies who are Lovebirds also have been deteriorating with severe symptoms which have gone to partially blindness. Please advise me on all the Medical Tests that can be done to confirm and determine my suspicions to Mold Toxin Poisoning Exposure.

Thank you in advance for your quick response as I’m in a desperate need of this information ASAP. I am in a crisis and I have no support. In addition, due to my destabilizing health conditions my finances have been exhausted and I have been unable to work for months or hardly functions at home with no income support.  The Doctors are baffled so I need to inform them what steps to take immediately. Note: EEG, MRI tests have been completed however MRI results are not known at this time and EEG apparently was normal.

Sincerely,
P.S. An elderly woman has already died in this rental unit with similar symptoms. Autopsy results concluded death by natural causes.

Answer: Your story is rather sad. Perhaps the first test that should be performed is to assess the building for both biological and chemical pollutants. While presence of mold does not necessarily mean you have been exposed to mold toxins (mycotoxins), its absence could suggest that the possibility of significant mycotoxin exposure is very low. For medical tests, I would suggest you discuss this with your family doctor or request them to suggest other medical professionals who could help you.

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.