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The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

Mold Growth On WoodThe mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. If you love cheese, wines such as Auslese, Sauternes and Tokaji or the protein rich meat-like product called quorn, you can thank the mold for that, too. The mold is a network of thread-like filaments. Some molds are good, some are bad. Some of the undesirable types of mold grow in the indoor environment. Apart from being a potential health hazard, indoor mold is unsightly. You usually find them in damp sections of the building such as the attic or basement, or in the kitchen and bathroom. The mold is also likely to raise its unsightly presence in parts of the home that have been flooded or have poor ventilation.

Indoor mold is a health hazard

The indoor mold can cause health problems, especially with those suffering from asthma. A greenish-black, slimy variety known as Stachybotrys chartarum has earned the name “toxic mold” and grows on wet organic material rich in cellulose such as wood or paper (but not on concrete or tile). It may cause severe problems for humans as well as pets, and is one of the causes of “sick building syndrome”. This indoor mold can produce allergic reactions like watery eyes, headaches, frequent sneezing and coughing.

Indoor mold is an early warning device

The upside is that an indoor mold can serve as an early warning device. It tells you that an area of the home is not properly ventilated, has excess moisture and that the air quality is inferior. You can then take steps to reduce moisture in the area and remove materials that cause mold growth.

Cleaning up indoor mold

The mold is everywhere and can survive under all sorts of conditions, even in places like the refrigerator. Some molds are resistant to anti-fungal soap or highly-acidic solvents. Therefore, when cleaning up a mold-infested area, you should always wear proper protection like a respirator mask, rubber gloves and the right clothing.

The key to cleaning up an area with indoor mold is to solve the moisture problem. Dry up the excess moisture and remove all the materials that have been infested by the mold. Get rid of items like carpets and wallpaper that cannot be cleaned and dried. First spray the area with water to keep down the dust and debris while you are removing the items. The materials should then be sealed in a double-bag and the bag wiped clean to prevent the mold from spreading to other areas.

If the area with indoor mold cannot be removed, it should be cleaned with soap or detergent. After that, it helps to disinfect the area with a diluted bleach solution (care should be taken when using bleach. It is a hazard too). Do not sand or scrape the surfaces and avoid using a hammer to remove drywall that is mold-infested.

If the affected area is larger than 10 square feet, you may need to turn the job over to a professional mold remediator. You can find companies that specialize in restoring homes damaged by fire and water whose services include indoor mold remediation.

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What Is Deemed Acceptable Indoor Airborne Mold Spore Levels In Ontario?

Question: Is there any government or industry standard as to what is deemed an acceptable indoor airborne mold spore levels in Ontario? The electrical inspector refuses to come on our property even though we have had several air test performed. The qualified tester says we have samples of mold but found them to be acceptable. I was hoping for some clarity on this matter.

Answer: Currently there is no government or industry standard as to what is deemed acceptable indoor airborne mold spore levels. However, it’s generally agreed that mold in indoor environments is a health hazard. However, the higher the airborne mold spore levels in a building the higher the health risk. In 2007 Health Canada published the Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines: Moulds.

This is what Health Canada’s Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines say about exposure limits:

Health Canada considers that mold growth in residential buildings may pose a health hazard.
Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on allergic sensitization. However, the
large number of mold species and strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability
in human response to mold exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits. Therefore, Health Canada recommends:

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

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

Further, in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of building occupants.

So currently there is no acceptable or unacceptable indoor airborne mold Spore levels in Ontario.

How Long do Mould Symptoms Typically Last?

Question: My question regards how long mould symptoms typically last. I have found what appears to be a mould growing on my window. It is gooey in texture and clear in colour. The window is often wet with condensation to the point it drips down continually for hours on end.

I am not sure if the jelly like characteristic of the mould is because of the water or because that is it’s composition. Recently the mould was disturbed by somebody in our room (they opened the window). My wife had just left the room for a while with our infant daughter (10 months) for medical reasons as this person had to come in. When she came back into the room fifteen minutes or so passed when her nose started running. Being allergic to mould she immediately told me it had been disturbed and she could smell it. She now has had for the last four days what appears to be cold like symptoms. Are these mould symptoms? What should we do? How long do mould symptoms typically last? Does my description of the mould sound at all like anything particularly dangerous? Would this be a danger to our daughter? We don’t actually have anywhere else we could live so this is important to us how we handle it. Could putting plastic window covering that seals with heat keep it from the room or would it disturb it too much? It wasn’t here in the summer but seems to have happened from the washing that we’ve hung in the room drying without any ventilation. We’re concerned for our daughter so if you could let us know asap we’d so appreciate it. As I said, we live in this room and she is in the room nearly 24 hours every day. Thank you for your time.

Answer: I haven’t found any scientific literacy that documents how long mould symptoms last. In my opinion, this could depend on the extent of damage the mould had done on an individual’s health or immune system. The extent of damage will depend on an individual’s resistant to mould exposure. Some people experience mould symptoms only when they are in a mouldy environment.

From the description you’ve given, it’s difficult to tell what type of mould it is and whether it’s dangerous or not. However, all moulds are potentially a health hazard.

Covering the mould with plastic is not a good solution since spores could still find their way into the air you’re breathing. You’ve already identified the cause of the mould growth on the window, that is, condensation due to poor ventilation and the washing that you’ve been hanging in the room.  The solution is to correct the moisture problem and to clean the existing mould. I would suggest you look for a qualified professional who could advise you on how to improve the ventilation, reduce condensation, and also how to remove the mould without spreading spores in the room. Read “ Mold Removal Guidelines ” to learn more about mould removal.

After mould removal the mould symptoms your family is experiencing are likely to disappear.

Am I A Victim Of Dampness, Mould And Bacterial Infection?

Question: I’ve always been a fit and healthy individual at the age now of 32! Two years ago I moved from a bedsit, into an apartment (ground floor), during my residence here. I discovered horrible black stained walls, and it seems to be multiplying! Ever since I have lived here, I have noticed a change in my appearance. My skin seems to be dry and flakey. My nose seems to be blocked, my throat feels like something is stuck in it, and I seem to be looking paler in the face and find breathing very difficult. Also I am getting pains in my chest (heart area) and in my back!! Now I am concerned about this! Am I a victim of dampness, mould and bacterial infection?

Many thanks!

Answer: My suggestion is that you consult with your doctor regarding your condition. If possible you may also consider moving out of your current apartment. Damp conditions and mould are known to cause various illnesses. For more information read the answer to a similar question: Could Mold Be Making Us Sick?

What Are The Health Issues We Face?

Question: We rent a 2 bedroom basement apartment in North Vancouver, BC. It does rain a lot, and a wet puddle forms in my son’s bedroom. This house is 60 years plus, but we just found mould growing under my son’s bed, black and brown mushroom looking, and we have only lived here for 10 months. We have a small dog, what are the health issues we face? I am 56 and I have a heart disease. My son is 24 and has breathing problems. We have a small 7 year old bichon frise that sleeps a lot.

Answer: There are a number of health effects associated with exposure to indoor moulds. Exposure to indoor mould mainly occurs through inhalation of airborne spores. Therefore, people exposed to indoor mould are likely to experience respiratory problems. Health effects, however, depends on the amount of mould present, individual’s sensitivity to mould and the type of mould. In an indoor environment hundreds of different kinds of mould are able to grow wherever there is moisture and an organic substrate (food source). Mould can grow on building and other materials, including: the paper on gypsum wallboard (drywall); ceiling tiles; wood products; paint; wallpaper; carpeting; some furnishings; books/papers; clothes; and other fabrics. Mould can also grow on moist, dirty surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass insulation, and ceramic tiles.

I would suggest you ask the landlord to hire a professional who could assess the extent of mould contamination, the cause and then recommend how to correct the moisture problem and get rid of the mould.

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The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]