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How Dangerous Is Mould In Your Basement?

Basements tend to be damp thus encouraging mould growth. Some of the common moulds in basements include Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium spp. However, the types of moulds present in a basement would depend on how damp the basement is. For example, under extremely damp conditions the dominating moulds would be those that require high levels of moisture for growth such as Ulocladium, Stachybotrys, Fusarium, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Under relatively dry conditions, the dominating types of moulds would be those that can grow at low moisture levels such as Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum, Eurotium species and Wallemia sebi.

Are These Moulds Dangerous?
Allergenic and toxic hazards of common indoor moulds are dependent on the quantity of mould present and the health status of individual person. However, regardless of the amount of mould present or the health status of occupants, mould should never be allowed to grow indoors.

Testing For Black Mold Growth

Black mold and associated health effects are frequently on the news making the public more concerned about mold health effects. People are worried whenever they see black mold growth either in their home, school or office. We often get questions such as “Is black mold or toxic mold making me sick?” or “How can I tell if black mold in my house is toxic or not?” As we have mentioned before, the colour of mold does not determine whether a mold is a health hazard or not. Not all molds (regardless of colour) are toxigenic or allergenic. The only way to tell if a mold is toxigenic or not is to have it tested by a qualified mycologist (someone who has specialized in mold biology).black mold on ceiling

Health Effects Associated With Black Mold

Some of the illnesses associated with mold growth in homes or offices include:

  • lower respiratory symptoms
  • respiratory infections such as aspergilloses
  • allergic diseases, including allergic asthma and bronchitis
  • non-inflammatory, nonspecific symptoms, such as eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting.


An Inexpensive Method to Test if You Are Exposed to Toxic Black Mold or Not

If you see mold growth you may want to have it tested so that you are sure of the type of mold you are dealing with. It doesn’t have to be black mold. Testing for visible mold growth is easy and inexpensive. To have the mold tested you can use the Mold Tape Slide™. The procedure for taking the samples is simple and takes very little time. If you would want to order these tape slides and test the mold growth in your home or office, click Mold Tape Slide™.


Taking mold samples using the MOLD TAPE SLIDE™

Mold Tape Slide

  • Wear suitable gloves. If you are likely to disturb the mold, you should also wear a mask since you don’t want to inhale excessively high amounts of spores.
  • Record the sample number on the slide label. For example:
    • Sample #1 or Tape #1.
  • Peel off seal from slide to expose adhesive (see the words “Peel Here”).
  • Place sticky side of slide onto the surface with visible mold growth and press gently.
  • Place slide back into plastic snap-case (remember you don’t need to replace the seal).
  • Repeat the same procedure for any other sample you wish to take.
  • Once you have taken all the samples, complete the Mold Analysis Request Form.Provide information on where the samples were collected, for example:
    • Tape #1: Basement, west wall
    • Tape #2: Windowsill, kids bedroom
    • Tape #3: Ceiling tile, kitchen
    • Tape #4: Under counter, bathroom.
  • Enclose samples in an envelope for sending by post or courier. Click Mold Testing Laboratory for more details about the Mold Tape Slide™ and for where to send the samples.

Mould Recognition, Control and Remediation Workshop

There is a significant increase in mould-related litigation. As the public and the workforce develop knowledge on this subject, the provision of appropriate information and training relating to mould becomes an integral part of all health and safety programs and is a key component in achieving Due Diligence.

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc. is pleased to present an 8-Hour Mould Recognition, Control and Remediation Workshop.

Who Should Attend Mould Recognition, Control and Remediation Workshop?

  • Home inspectors;
  • General contractors;
  • Cleaning and disaster restoration contractors;
  • Property managers;
  • Industrial hygienists;
  • Environmental consultants;
  • Insurance, financial, and legal professionals who deal with mould issues; and Other professionals or anyone interested in increasing their knowledge or developing their decision-making skills related to indoor mould.

 

 

Mould Recognition, Control and Remediation Workshop Topics:

  • An overview of various types of moulds;
  • How to recognize indoor mould growth;
  • How to develop effective sampling strategies;
  • How to interpret laboratory results;
  • How to perform effective mould remediation.

Click Mould Recognition, Control and Remediation Workshop for details.

House Mold

House mold is not only unsightly but also a potential health hazard. People with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems can have serious reactions to house mold spores. Also, molds produce digestive enzymes that help them utilize building materials as food. Therefore, apart from being a health hazard, house mold will also compromise the integrity of the materials it is growing on (see the picture on the right) such as wood, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpet, and baseboard.

White house mold growing from a basement ceiling
Photo courtesy of One Day Mold Removal

There are a number of factors that encourage house mold growth. By controlling these factors, we can subsequently control mold growth. The factors include: indoor humidity and moisture content of materials, temperature, air circulation, light, and the chemical composition of building materials. For an existing house we cannot change the chemical composition of building materials. Light and temperature would also not be practically possible to control in that we need light and warm temperatures in our houses. However, we can effectively control house mold by maintaining the levels of relative humidity indoors below 60% and also ensuring proper ventilation. Air circulation helps control moisture levels through evaporation.

What do you do if you see or suspect house mold growth?

If you see or suspect house mold growth do not panic. You may submit mold samples to a qualified mold laboratory to determine whether the mold present is hazardous or only a cosmetic concern. The MOLD TAPE SLIDE™ is a straightforward, inexpensive and effective method to sample visible mold found on any surface. From it you get information and guidance on what to do next. It is an easy way to determine if the mold is toxic and if it will require a professional to conduct more intensive investigation and remediation. Click MOLD TAPE SLIDE™ for details.

Peel off seal from slide to expose adhesive (see the words “Peel Here”)
Place sticky side of slide onto the surface with visible mold growth and press gently.

Place slide back into plastic snap-case.

 

If you can’t see mold growth but can smell “musty” or “earthy” odours you can also perform a preliminary air test (call 905-290-9101 for details) before calling in a professional.

Mold Training Course

Investing in a mold training course is crucial to those involved in mold related issues. An ideal course should cover the basic biology of molds, common indoor molds and their associated health effects, and factors that lead to mold growth. For those professionals who send their sample to a lab for analyses, it is important to understand the limitations of the testing methods that labs use and the meaning of some of the terms used on reports. Those investigating mold growth in building know how laboratory results can sometimes be difficult to interpret. The terms used in laboratory reports are sometimes very confusing. What, for example, do terms like “Aspergillus/Penicillium”, “unidentified basidiospores”, and “unidentified ascospores”, “unidentified spores” exactly mean?

When it comes to interpretation of laboratory results, lack of a strong background in microbiology can hamper the efficiency of a mold investigator. For instance, with air samples, indoor airborne mold concentrations are usually compared with outdoor concentrations or another suitable control sample. But, is it right to compare and draw conclusions based on indoor/outdoor concentrations of Aspergillus/Penicillium, unidentified basidiospores, unidentified ascospores and unidentified spores? The answer is NO since in many cases the “unidentified” spores indoors are diffrent from those outdoors. Without some basic knowledge of the biology of molds, one may not understand the fact that unidentified ascospores reported in an indoor sample could be different from the ones reported in an outdoor sample. Similarly, the Aspergillus/Penicillium reported indoors could be diffrent from those reported outdoors. In some cases the Aspergillus/Penicillium spores could even belong to molds other than Aspergillus or Penicillium.

Apart from those investigating mold growth in buildings, property managers, insurance adjusters and lawyers involved in mold issues need to invest in a mold course so that they are not at the mercy of “experts” even for simple issues, and that they know what questions to ask the experts they hire for their mold projects.

It is important to know that there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding mold and decisions based on misinformation can be very costly. An employer should consider investing in a mold awareness course for their employees. Although it is widely believed in the scientific community that mold can cause ill-health, sometimes this belief is overstretched by the public. It is therefore important that employees understand what mold can and cannot do.

Mold Training Course MaterialsFor the last 2 years, MBL has been offering a unique mold training course at their location in Mississauga. The objective of the MBL mold training course is to provide participants with skills and background information to enable them recognize indoor Mold, develop effective sampling strategies, interpret laboratory results and perform effective mold remediation. The MBL Mold Training Course provides insight into the causes of mold growth and control. It also provides up to date information on the most important indoor molds, including species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Cladosporium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Alternaria and Scopulariopsis. Mycotoxins that may occur in an indoor environment are briefly covered.

For details about this course and the course dates, please visit http://www.moldtraining.ca

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