Black Mould
Question: My tenants are saying that there is black mould in my rental townhouse. I’ve replaced fixtures in the bathrooms, stopped leaks and spent thousands of dollars but they are still bringing in the local public health inspector.
I’m allergic to mould myself and have been in while damaged drywall was being removed. I handled it myself with no ill effects and observed the joist cavities being treated with mould inhibiting sprays and ‘killex’.
Should I be worried that my tenants are still pursuing this investigation? I’ve taken every remedial step I can think of and the only stuff I saw was dried up and the rest looked like shower mildew to me. All the discoloration spots on the bathroom ceiling stuff came off with a cleaner called BAM and the paint was unaffected once the ceiling was wiped down.
Answer: Shower mildew is actually mold. I would suggest you hire a qualified professional such as an industrial hygienist who is experienced in indoor microbial contamination. This person should be able to assess the extent of contamination, possibly determine the underlying cause, and then advise on the most appropriate level of remediation. They may also be able to advise you whether the tenants’ lifestyle could be contributing to mould growth. For instance, if they don’t switch the fan on (if there is one) when showering or bathing, then there will be mould growth due to condensation on the walls and the ceiling.
Mold On Books
Question: I’ll try not to make this too long but I’m not sure how short it can be. Three questions:
- I found mold 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?
- 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.
- 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?
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 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.
Tinea Capitis
Question: My friend has been to a dermatologist and a family Doctor due to the fact that she was losing hair in large areas of the scalp. I told her maybe it was Ringworm as I have seen it before in a class I took in Cosmetology. Well the Dermatologist finally told her to stop taking the Griseofulvin that the GP had her on and said it was Alopecia areata. She continued to lose large amounts of hair and is still losing it! Her pathology came back as Fusarium species. So…where did this come from and is it contagious? How is it treated? She was concerned as she lives in a recreational vehicle (RV) that she may have a problem in there or from her boyfriend who lives in a place where the water is really stinky and she has showered there. Please let me know your take on this as the Dermatologist said the water would not affect hair loss but from what I’m reading this fungus can be in water pipes or damp places. Thank you for your time!
Answer: The Fusarium species isolated from your friend’s scalp is highly unlikely the primary cause of the hair loss. Fungi that are well documented as causes of hair loss are species of Trichophyton and Microsporum. They cause a condition referred to as tinea capitis. Although primarily affecting children between the ages of three and seven years of age, tinea capitis also afflicts adults and more commonly women than men. Most cases of tinea capitis are caused by Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton violaceum, and Trichophyton verrucosum.
Tinea capitis is spread via infected persons, shed infected hairs, animal vectors, and fomites.
AIHce 2010-Mold Training
PDC 418: Denver, Colorado, May 23, 2010
Mold Recognition, Effective Sampling Strategies and Results Interpretation
Description: The PDC will enable participants to recognize indoor mold, develop effective sampling strategies and interpret laboratory results, all in the context of current mold-control and remediation principles. Participants will acquire a detailed understanding of the methods used to investigate mold growth in buildings and types of samples to collect. Discussions will explore the biology of molds, the causes of mold growth, as well as mold control and common indoor molds.
For more information, please visit http://www.aihce2010.org/aihce10/education/course.aspx?id=565