Phrases like toxic mould or black mould are common on advertisements and the media. These phrases create fear, panic and confusion. It is a fact that exposure to mould can result to ill-health. However, some decisions on mould are based on fear rather than facts.

What You Should Know About Mould

• Mould is found everywhere. However, growth of mould at 60% relative humidity is highly restricted. We can therefore, control indoor mould growth by providing adequate ventilation and maintaining indoor humidity levels at 60% or less. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mould growth will often occur, if the moisture problem remains unnoticed or un-addressed for more than 48 hours. The key to mould control is timely maintenance and prompt repairs.
• About 150 different types of moulds occur in indoor environment. But not all these are harmful though to be safe it is better to treat all moulds as potentially harmful. The colour of the mould does not determine whether it is harmful or not. Therefore black mould is not necessarily bad mould. Mould related health effects depend on:
• types of mould present,
• amount of mould one is exposed to and for how long,
• individual health status or sensitivity. Children, elderly and sick people are more vulnerable to mould.
• It is difficult to eliminate all mould and mould spores in the indoor environment. However, the levels can be minimised by controlling growth. Monitor mould growth by looking for water stains or discoloration on the ceiling, walls, floors, and windowsills.
  

What You Should NOT Do When You Find Mould

• Disturb the mould without proper personal protection and the protection of occupants.
• Try to clean more than 10 square feet of mould contamination if you are not trained to handle mould.
• Cause panic among the building occupants.
• Use a chemical to control indoor mould if such a chemical is not registered for mould control in indoor environment.
  
  
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Chaetomium is a cellulolytic mould commonly found in soil, air, and decaying plant material. There are several species of Chaetomium. The most common ones are Chaetomium atrobrunneum, Chaetomium funicola, Chaetomium globosum, and Chaetomium murorum. In indoor environment the most common species of Chaetomium is Chaetomium globosum. Presence of Chaetomium species in indoor environment is a sign of serious water problem. Chaetomium may occur together with other water-loving moulds such Fusarium, Stachybotrys and Ulocladium. Species of Chaetomium are known to produce mycotoxins but to what extent these toxins contribute to poor indoor air quality or affect human health is not documented. In the medical literature some species have been reported to cause disease in immuno-compromised individuals.


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Non-biologists often find names given to moulds difficult. The current system of naming fungi (the kingdom to which moulds belong) and other living organisms including plants and animals was introduced by Linnaeus in 1753. In this system (referred to as binomial nomenclature) an organism is identified by 2 names, i.e., the generic name and a specific name. For example, for Aspergillus niger, the generic name is Aspergillus and the specific name (or epithet) is niger. These names may be descriptive or given to commemorate the work of researchers or benefactors, or the place where the fungus was found; thus Aspergillus chevalieri is named after the French mycologist F.F. Chevallier (1796-1840), and Aspergillus amstelodami was originally discovered in Amsterdam. Aspergillus niger is descriptive. It refers to a mould with conidiophores (spore bearing structures) which are swollen at the apex, which produces chains of conidia (spores) and that the fungus is black (Latin: niger), and that it has the appearance of a mop (Latin: aspergillum).


Sometimes a fungus (plural is fungi) may have more than one name. For example Stachybotrys chartarum is still called by some people as Stachybotrys atra. This happens when the name of a fungus is changed. Name changing occurs if the original description of the fungus was inadequate so that the fungus is not recognizable to others and subsequently given new name(s) or through recognizing spurious differences between individuals as taxonomically significant. Much of the duplication is due simply to the enormous body of literature which must be searched through to find previously-published names which may be applied to apparently new species. A fungus may also be referred by more than one name if it exists in different forms (or states). Each form may have a different name.



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Cladosporium is a leaf mould and one of the most common in outdoor and indoor air worldwide. Some species of Cladosporium cause serious diseases to plants. Species of Cladosporium are commonly isolated from air, soil, foodstuffs, stored fruits, cereal grains, groundnuts, paint, and textiles. Cladosporium is a well known allergic mould. The most common Cladosporium species in outdoor air are Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium herbarum. During summer there can be very high concentrations of airborne spores of Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium herbarum, and both contain allergenic proteins in their spores. Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium hebarum may be found colonizing painted metal surfaces of covering panels and vents of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems.


Cladosporium sphaerospermum is the most predominant species growing in buildings. Studies have shown it can outgrow Penicillium chrysogenum because of its ability to re-initiate growth from the hyphal tips much faster than Penicillium species. Cladosporium sphaerospermum and occasionally Cladosporium herbarum is frequently isolated from indoor surfaces such as in bathrooms, windowsills and damp painted surfaces. It is also commonly found colonizing wood.


Species of Cladosporium are not known to produce any serious mycotoxins.


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If a water problem in a building is not repaired and the water dried out within 48 hours, growth of mould and other microorganisms would naturally occur. The types of moulds predominant at anyone time would be determined by the level of moisture in the building material. This level of moisture is usually referred to as the water activity and it determines the order in which different categories of moulds appear. The first group of moulds to appear (at water activities less than 0.85) is referred to as the primary colonizers, the second group (at water activities of 0.85-0.90) is secondary colonizers and the third group (at water activities greater than 0.90) is the tertiary colonizers.

Primary colonizers
The primary colonizers are capable of growing at water activities below 0.85. This group may include Alternaria citri, Eurotium amstelodami, Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus penicillioides, Aspergillus repens, Aspergillus restrictus, Aspergillus versicolor, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium commune, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium griseofulvum, and Wallemia sebi.

Secondary colonizers
Secondary colonizers grow best at water activities of 0.85 to 0.90. Secondary colonizers may include Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Mucor circinelloides, and Rhizopus oryzae.

Tertiary colonizers
At water activities greater than 0.90, tertiary colonizers appear. These may include Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Epicoccum spp., Exophiala spp., Fusarium moniliforme, Mucor plumbeus, Phoma herbarum, Phialophora spp., Rhizopus spp., Stachybotrys chartarum, Trichoderma spp., Ulocladium spp., Rhodotorula spp., Sporobolomyces spp., and Actinomycetes.


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The health effects due to the mould Stachybotrys chartarum are controversial. Stachybotrys chartarum, also known by an old name as Stachybotrys atra, is a cellulose degrading fungus commonly found in soil and on materials rich in cellulose such as hay, straw, cereal grains, plant debris, wood pulp, paper, and cotton. Although Stachybotrys chartarum mainly survives as a saprophyte (i.e., by feeding on dead organic material), it has also been reported to cause root lesions on soybean.

Why is Stachybotrys chartarum so feared?
The first reports associating Stachybotrys chartarum with ill-health dates back to the 1930s. Horses and other animals fed with straw and grains in Ukraine and other parts of eastern Europe were found to develop disease symptoms such as irritation of the mouth, throat, and nose; shock; dermal necrosis; a decrease in leukocytes; hemorrhage; nervous disorder; and death. Russian scientists, in 1938 conducted intensive studies and demonstrated that these symptoms were due to mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys chartarum that had grown on the cellulose rich straw. The disorders were subsequently named stachybotryotoxicosis. Stachybotryotoxicosis has also been reported in farm workers who handled contaminated straw. Recent studies have shown spores of Stachybotrys chartarum to contain high concentrations of highly toxic mycotoxins. In 1993-1994 an outbreak of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants in Cleveland, Ohio,USA, was initially attributed to Stachybotrys chartarum. Since this incidence, this mould has received a lot of media attention in North America and has been given various names such as “toxic mould” and “black mould”. Although studies associating the outbreak with this mould were later reviewed and thought not to provide enough evidence to associate the disease with Stachybotrys chartarum, there are still no studies to date to prove or disapprove this claim.



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An air quality investigation may require determining airborne mould (spores and hyphal fragments) concentration. Air can either be sampled onto some growth media for culture analysis or on a sticky surface or a filter membrane for direct microscopic examination. It is sometimes debated as to whether one should take non-viable samples, viable samples or a combination of the two. Either method can be used without the other or both can be used together (at the same time) depending on the objectives of the investigation.

Due to lack of standardization some terminologies used in air sampling are technically incorrect or misleading. Let's discuss these terms first.

Non-viable Air Samples
"Non-viable air samples" refer to samples that are taken on some sticky media or on a filter membrane or tape and subsequently examined directly under a microscope for enumeration and identification of mould spores and hyphal fragments without culturing. In other words, the samples are taken for analyses by direct microscopic examination (DME). Results are presented as a listing of various categories of moulds and the corresponding number of spores or hyphal fragments per cubic meter of air (Spores/m3). This term is technically inaccurate since viable and non-viable propagules are indistinguishable under the microscope and hence both are enumerated.

Viable Air Samples
“Viable air samples” refer to samples that are taken on some growth media and subsequently incubated for mould propagules (spores and/or hyphal fragments) to germinate and form colonies. The resulting colonies are then enumerated and/or transferred to other media for identification to genus or species. Results are presented as a listing of the recovered moulds and their corresponding number of colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3). That is, the analysis of viable air samples involves culturing. The term is also technically inaccurate because some (sometimes most) of the propagules impacted on the growth media may not germinate not because they are not viable but because of the selectivity of the growth media used, competition from fast growing moulds or that some moulds can only grow on living hosts.

Spore traps
“Spore traps” is commonly used to refer to non-viable air samples. However, whether sampling is done for culture analysis with an RCS, Andersen or for DME with Air-O-Cell or other similar cassettes it involves spore trapping. “Spore traps” is therefore applicable to both viable and non-viable samples.

When should one use viable, non-viable or both sampling methods?

The easiest way to decide on this is first to define the objectives of air sampling, data required from sample analysis and the questions these data are meant to answer. The objective might be broad or very specific.

• When to use non-viable sampling

If the objective of air sampling was to have an idea of how contaminated the air is, then the data required would be total counts. Non-viable samples would then be the best to take because counting includes both those propagules that can grow on laboratory media and those which cannot grow either because they are dead or would not grow on the selected media. Non-viable sampling may also be selected when the objective of air sampling is to determine the total counts for airborne spores prior to and after remediation to assess the effectiveness of remediation. In this case viable air samples would not be necessary.

• When to use viable sampling

If the objective of air sampling was to find whether the air contains a specific species of mould e.g., Aspergillus fumigatus, then identification to species would be required. Since non-viable analysis would not distinguish A. fumigatus from other Aspergillus species and not even from Penicillium species and related genera, then sampling for viable analysis would be selected. For detecting a specific species, a selective media that would support the growth of the mould of interest would also be selected. If identification to species was required for a broad range of moulds, then media that support growth of a wide range of moulds would be selected.

• When to use both non-viable and viable sampling

If the objective of air sampling was to determine the total airborne mould concentration and at the same time determine the proportion of viable propagules, then both sampling methods would be used. This would possibly be the case in hospitals where concern is not only the total concentration of airborne mould but also the viable species present.

Conclusion
These are not the only reasons why one may sample for non-viable, viable or both non-viable and viable analysis. It all depends on the objectives of air sampling, the data required and the questions these data are intended to answer.

To see the guidelines for interpreting non-viable air sample results click Guidelines for Interpreting Non-viable Air Samples. To see guideliness for interpreting viable air sample results, click Guidelines for Interpreting Viable Air Samples. To get hands-on experience on the application of these guidelines register for our Mould Training Seminars today!



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(Article from Medical News Today)

07 Mar 2005


Exposure to mold and dampness in homes as much as doubles the risk of asthma development in children, according to a study published today in the March issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Researchers studied 1,984 Finnish children aged 1 to 7 years over a six-year period to see if they developed asthma. Data collection included a baseline survey administered in March 1991, as well as a follow-up survey in March 1997, asking questions about the child's health, parents' health, parent's highest education level, and details of the child's environment including exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and presence of feathery or furry pets.

The study focused particularly on four indicators or moisture or mold in the home, including mold odor, visible mold, visible moisture, and history of water damage. The presence of mold odor proved to be the only significant indicator of asthma development.

A a total of 138 children, or 7.2% of the study population, developed asthma during the study period. Having a parent with a history of allergies increased susceptibility in children. Mold odor increased the risk, the study found, independent of parents' medical histories. In fact, children living in homes with mold odor during the initial study period were more than twice as likely to develop asthma in the following 6 years.

“These findings strengthen evidence that exposure to molds increases the risk of developing asthma in childhood,” says lead author Jouni Jaakkola, director of the University of Birmingham's Institute for Occupational and Environmental Medicine. “They also show the importance of heredity-children of parents with asthma have a two-fold risk of asthma compared with children of nonasthmatic parents.”

Children who were exposed to moisture or mold in the home were also slightly more likely to be exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, to have feathery or furry pets, and to have parents with a lower education level. The study adds to the body of evidence linking asthma with exposure to cigarette smoke.

“This study is important for families everywhere,” says Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for EHP. “Anyone with young children in the home should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of long-term exposure to mold and this potential link to asthma in children.”

In addition to Jaakkola, contributing authors included Bing-Fang Hwang of the Environmental Epidemiology Unit at the University of Helsinki in Finland, and Niina Jaakkola of the Department of Health Care Administration at Diwan College of Management in Taiwan. The article is available free of charge at CLICK HERE.

Funding sources for the research as reported by the authors included the Ministry of the Environment, the National Agency for Welfare and Health, the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland, and The Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation.

EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP is an Open Access journal. More information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org.

Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS)
PO Box 12233, MD EC-15
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233
USA
Phone 919-541-2359
niehs.nih.gov/drcpt/ehpb/home.htm


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Use of residential houses for marijuana growing operations (simply referred to as grow ops) is increasing at an alarming rate. Buyers of houses across the country want to know if their potential properties were ever used for grow ops. The question I have been asked several times is, “if a house was renovated after these operations, is there a simple test that can be conducted to tell if the house was ever used for these operations?” Their major concern is mould. Unfortunately there no mould test that I know of that can tell whether a property was ever used for marijuana growing. As a potential buyer my concern would not be whether the property was used for grow ops or not, unless the fact that it was ever used for grow ops would bother me or my family. I would be concerned about 2 things:

1. Whether the property was structurally sound and met all the building codes. Grow ops may involve tempering with some of the building systems thus violating the building codes. Also, due to high humidity, mould growth may damage and weaken the wooden structure of the building.
2. Whether there were abnormally high concentrations of hazardous contaminants such as pesticides, biological contaminants (mould, bacteria, mites, etc.), and other well known indoor contaminants.

If I am happy with 1 & 2 above, only other considerations would stop me from buying the property if I liked it.



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A person was exposed to mould in an office and they have developed bad breath which they didn’t have before. Could this be due to mould infection in their lungs? This is not a ‘yes/no’ question because whatever answer one gives should be supported with facts derived from documented evidence or tests conducted to such as person by a qualified person. The first answer that came to my mind was to say no. But then I realized there is still a lot that is not known about mould and their health effects. I was imagining that if mould was actively growing in somebody’s lungs to the level of causing or producing odour, such a person would be critically ill. But my thinking is not based on any facts. It is just thinking.

The most well known lung mould infection is aspergillosis caused by some species of Aspergillus (hence the name aspergillosis). Moulds that are known to cause aspergillosis are Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and occasionally Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus niger. These moulds are widespread in the environment. They are found in soil, decomposing organic matter, household dust, building materials, and air. The people at risk of infection by these moulds are mainly those undergoing certain medical treatments that affect their immune system. In these people the disease is manifested as invasive pulmonary infection, usually with fever, cough, and chest pain. In healthy people, the disease is manifested as localized pulmonary infection. Aspergillus species also cause allergic reactions.



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Penicillium species are very common moulds. About 200 species have been described. They are commonly called the blue or green moulds because they produce enormous quantities of greenish, bluish or yellowish spores which give them their characteristic colours. Spores of Penicillium are found everywhere in the air and soil. Penicillium species are one of the most common causes of spoilage of fruits and vegetables. For example, Penicillium italicum and Penicillium digitatum are common causes of rot of citrus fruits, while Penicillium expansum is known to spoil apples. Most Penicillium species are active producer of toxins.

The most common Penicillium species in indoor environment is Penicillium chrysogenum. It is widespread and has a wide range of habitats. In indoor environment, it is extremely common on damp building materials, walls and wallpaper, floor, carpet mattress and upholstered furniture dust. It produces a number of toxins of moderate toxicity. It is allergenic and can infect immuno-compromised patients.


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They say “the dose makes the poison”. But what’s the dose for indoor mould? Currently there is no answer to this question. Determining this dose would be a difficult task for a number of reasons:

• There are several species of moulds with differing health effects.
• People are not just exposed to mould but also to other environmental pollutants including bacteria, protozoa, dust mites and non-biological compounds.
• Some people are highly sensitive to mould even at concentration levels that may be considered ‘normal’.

It is generally accepted that no amount of mould should be allowed in occupied dwellings. However, it is impractical to get rid of all the mould in a building. A number of organisations have provided some guidelines in the past on what levels of mould would be considered a problem in occupied dwellings. But none of these guidelines have been accepted widely and some have even been dropped as more information concerning indoor mould became available. Below is a summary of some of these guidelines.

In 1989, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) had considered fewer than 100 colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m³) as of no concern. For duct insulation, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS) of the University of Minnesota, considers 10,000 CFU/gram as low, 10,000 to 100,000 CFU/gram as medium, 100,000 to 1,000,000 CFU/gram as medium to heavy and > 1,000,000 as heavy contamination. The Health Canada Technical Guide, 1993, states that if more than 50 CFU/m³, of the same species other than Cladosporium or Alternaria were detected in indoor air, there may be reason for concern. It also states that up to 150 CFU/m³ would be acceptable if there was a mixture of species reflective of outdoor air. Also, up to 500 CFU/m³ would be acceptable in the summer, if the species present were primarily Cladosporium.

There are other guidelines. The German Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt, 2002) has probably the most comprehensive guidelines. Unfortunately the guide is only available in German language.



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In recent years we have been hearing a lot concerning the health effects associated with mould. Few people would think of the numerous benefits we get from mould.

First, mould contributes immensely to the decomposition of organic matter hence helping in recycling of nutrients. Imagine the mountains of garbage we could be having (unless we burn it) without the help of mould and other soil micro-organisms. Moulds also play an important role in waste treatment and the breaking down of pesticides.

Mould Contribution to Food Industry

Hardly do we think the mushrooms that we so much enjoy eating belong to the same group as the moulds, i.e., the fungi. As a small boy, we used to eat the smutted inflorescence of sorghum. I can only imagine the billions of spores of the fungus we ate and probably helped in spore dispersal. We never got sick! What about our favourite blue cheese? Some people may not be aware that it is made with the help of a mould called Penicillium roquefortii. Other cheeses such as Camembert and Brie are ripened by Penicillium camembertii. Some sweet wines such as the Sauternes are made from grapes infested by a mould called Botrytis cinerea. In the Far East there are a number of popular foods and sauces processed with the help of moulds. Tempeh for example is made by inoculating soybean with Rhizopus oligosporus and leaving the mould to colonize the soybean for some time. A high-protein meat-like product called ‘Qourn’ is made from a strain of Fusarium venenatum.

Mould Contribution to Human and Veterinary Medicine

Probably not many people know that the first antibiotic ever, penicillin, discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1927, is produced by moulds within the genus Penicillium (primarily Penicillium chrysogenum). There are other antibiotics, antifungal compounds, cholesterol-reducing drugs, immunosuppressant compounds, and important enzymes from moulds.

Mould Contribution to Crop Protection

Some moulds have been used successfully in biological control of agricultural pests and diseases. Fusarium oxysporum fsp. cannabis, for example, is used as bioherbicide against marijuana plants while Beauveria bassiana is widely used in formulation of bio-insecticides.



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(This article is from Medical News Today)

Men have nipples to sooth crying baby until it can be fed

13 Jun 2005

A father's nipple is perfectly suited to soothing a crying baby until it can be fed, according to a major report published for Fathers' Day (June 19) on fatherhood across five continents, which identifies the world's best dads.

FatherWorld, published by Fathers Direct, the UK national information centre on fatherhood, details a worldwide increase in active fathering. It names as “Best Dads in the World” the Aka Pygmies, a hunter-gatherer tribe from northern Congo, in central Africa. When the mother is not available, the father calms his baby by giving him a nipple to suck.

Aka Pygmy men do more infant care-giving than fathers in any other known society, finds the report. On average, they hold or are within arms' reach of their infants 47 per cent of the time. They beat Swedish dads, the number ones in the Western world, who average 45 per cent of parental childcare. In typical British families, dads now average a third of the parental childcare, according to latest research from the Equal Opportunities Commission. Worldwide, fathers are estimated in today's report to contribute between a quarter and a third as much time as women to direct childcare. However, FatherWorld, springing from a week-long summit at Oxford University of the world's academic experts on fatherhood, reports that, of 156 cultures studied, only 20 per cent promote men's close relationships with infants, and only 5 per cent with young children.

Aka fathers often take the child along when they go drinking palm wine. They may hold the baby close to their bodies for a couple of hours at a time, says the report which highlights findings by Barry Hewlett, an American anthropologist, who has studied the tribe for more than 20 years. The dads, rather than mums, are often the ones who settle the babies if they wake at night.

Sebastian Kraemer, child psychiatrist at London's Whittington Hospital, said: “It is possible that, in prehistoric societies, this was a normal way of fathering. We should not assume from 10,000 years of history that our prevailing model is the right one.”

Caroline Flint, former President of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “I have come across cases of dads doing this. It's not a case of the man saying to the baby, ‘Here you are, have my boobie,' but usually of the baby snuffling along the father's chest, finding the nipple and sucking. The men are usually very surprised, but the babies seem content. They love to snuggle up to their dads.”

Wayne Hemingway, designer and father of four, said: “I'm not sure I could be an Aka Pygmy dad. Placing nipper on the nipple could be a big challenge to the British male. Ray Mears should take a group of British dads and their babies out to the Congo for a couple of weeks to meet the Aka Pygmies and see what our dads can manage. But I am one dad who won't be trying it out.”

Michael Lamb, professor of psychology at Cambridge University and the world's leading academic expert on fatherhood, said: “Internationally, over the past 20 years, we have seen fathers who live with their children spending more time with them and doing more diverse activities not just in Britain but in every known society. However, we are also seeing another trend - increasing numbers of children who are fatherless for much of the time because of factors such as migrant labour, fragile relationships and divorce.”

Duncan Fisher, chief executive of Fathers Direct, said: “We are beginning to recognise that a revolution in paternal involvement with children is sweeping not just Britain but the world with huge potential benefits for families and for eradicating poverty and ill-health.”

In FatherWorld, Dr Patrice Engle, who leads the UN's fatherhood programmes, describes how UNICEF has recently created new projects in dozens of countries to support fatherhood because of the latest evidence about its impact on child poverty, breastfeeding and education. Dr Engle said: “Perhaps the largest set of resources - money, time, food and caring - that could be directed to children are those controlled by men in families.”

Interesting facts from FatherWorld

-- Countries all around the world are showing increased levels of actual engagement by fathers (ie time spent actually doing things with kids). For example, in the US, in the 1960s, fathers did about 25 per cent as much as mothers - by the late 1990s that had risen to between 55 and 70 per cent. In Canada, the increase between 1986 and 1996 was from 50 to 65 per cent. In the UK, according to EOC research, father engagement has risen by eight times in the last 30 years.

-- Studies of 156 cultures found that only 20 per cent promoted men's close relationships with infants, and only 5 per cent with young children.

-- Few countries have provision for leave or financial considerations for fathers on the birth of their children. In Egypt, women receive leave to care for their children. Men are entitled only to leave to care for their parents.

-- In Nicaragua and parts of the Caribbean, a father's loyalty is primarily to his own mother and only then to his wife and family.

-- Between 10 and 30 per cent of developing country households are officially defined as female -headed. In countries with the highest rates of men's migration and/or low marriage rates, such as the Caribbean, the proportion can range up to 50 per cent.

-- In the Latino gangs of Los Angeles, becoming a father is almost the only way to leave the gang alive.

-- UK evidence indicates that high levels of father involvement early on predict more examination passes for their children at age 16 and lower likelihood of a criminal record by age 21 as well as long-term mental health and marital satisfaction in later life.

-- Evidence from many countries indicates that fathers' motivation to end violence towards their children's mothers is substantially enhanced when the impact of domestic violence on their children is explained and explored.

-- FatherWorld is published by Fathers Direct, price £5.95. For copies call 0845 634 1328 or go to www.fathersdirect.com The report springs from a week-long conference at Oxford University of the world's experts on fatherhood from more than 20 nations.

-- Fathers Direct, the UK national information centre on fatherhood, is a charity, working to support positive relationships between men and their children. www.fathersdirect.com Fathers Direct, Herald House, Lambs Passage, Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8TQ. Contact: Jack O'Sullivan, 01608 737125/ 07779 655585 or j.osullivan@fathersdirect.com http://www.fathersdirect.com




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Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc. is now offering half-day training seminars on how to recognize indoor mould, how to develop effective sampling strategies and how to interpret laboratory results. If you have been considering attending a similar course, don’t delay to register as we have limited spaces left!

Three Reasons Why You Should Attend

• The course equips you to fully deal with all aspects of indoor mould sampling and interpreting laboratory reports.
• You will have a chance to discuss and get possible solutions of some of the difficult situations or questions you encounter while doing mould investigations.
• You will have an opportunity to learn from others experience.

The course would benefit industrial hygienists, environmental consultants, general contractors, cleaning and restoration contractors, property managers, 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.

For course details, please visit their website at http://www.moldbacteria.com

MBL, Inc. has become one of the premier providers of quality laboratory testing services for mould and bacteria in Canada. MBL offers convenient, rapid turnaround time, competitive pricing and value-added services unavailable at other laboratories, such as free technical information, consulting with the client on the most appropriate test samples and test methods, provide help with the interpretation of results, provide services after working hours if required and provide free unlimited after sales consultation.

Please call (905)290-9101 or visit their website at http://www.moldbacteria.com for details of their services.

Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation (CMHC) has provided a series of steps you can take if your home has experienced extensive water damage. These are:

• First, call your insurance broker or agent and report the water damage within 24 hours or less, to allow for quick drying and repairs.
• Next, hire a professional contractor to clean up the water and make repairs as soon as possible. The contractor reports to and is paid by you, but your insurance adjuster can make recommendations.
• As the work progresses, make sure the adjuster and contractor follow the best possible procedures to look after your concerns. A fast, thorough cleanup will help avoid mold growth and significantly reduce cleanup costs. So when selecting a contractor, look for qualities like speed, competence in water cleanup practices and certification or training in water damage restoration and mold remediation.
• Make sure the moisture source is stopped, and all wet areas are completely dry. Wet items that can't be salvaged should be removed, and what can't be removed must be dried quickly, preferably within 48 hours to minimize the growth of mold. Be sure all cavities and crawl spaces are dry. And confirm that no refinishing is done until the entire area is thoroughly dried.
• If you have mold growth, make sure it is removed safely by the contractor, and that there is no remaining mold anywhere in your house, including behind wallpaper, in areas adjacent to the mold growth or where water may have seeped (such as wall cavities, basement subfloors and crawl spaces), and under carpeting.
• Finally, make sure that all repairs and cleaning have been completed thoroughly and properly before you tell your adjuster that you are satisfied.

You can read the whole article at this link http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2005/08/c9521.html or visit CMHC website at www.cmhc.ca

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Often, people wonder if it was possible to tell how old mould growing in a house was and/or whether the mould was actively growing and what the source of the mould was. The answers to these questions would help in situations where say somebody buys a house and some months later they discover mould. If they would tell the mould was there before buying the property, they would follow it up with the seller for not disclosing the mould problem. Unfortunately there are no simple tests that can tell us the age of mould growing in a house, whether it is actively growing and the source. We can only speculate on a range of number of days since the current growth appeared and whether it was likely to be actively growing. It would be difficult to tell the source of the mould and how long it has been there before the growth was seen.

How moulds interact in nature

Mould propagules are ubiquitous in indoor environments and are well adapted to inhabit this ecological niche if just sufficient water is available. Based on the water activity (or equilibrium relative humidity) requirements, moulds can be divided into 3 broad groups:

• Primary colonizers

Primary colonizers (also referred to as xerophiles) are the first to appear. They are capable of growing in relatively dry conditions at water activities of between 0.6-0.8. These kinds of conditions can be achieved through slow leaking pipes, condensation or other sources of moisture. At this low water activity viable propagules (spores and mycelial fragments) of species of Wallemia, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Eurotium would germinate and form growth.

• Secondary colonizers.

As the water activity of the building material increases to between 0.8 and 0.9, the secondary colonizers would proliferate. Secondary colonizers include species of Cladosporium, Phoma, Ulocladium, Alternaria and also some species of Aspergillus such as A. flavus and A. versicolor. If nutrients are still available on the substrate and the water activity remains unchanged the secondary colonizers would gradually become the dominant moulds.

• Tertiary colonizers.

At water activity of 0.9 and above, the water loving moulds (also called hydrophiles) would dominate as the tertiary colonizers. These levels of water activity are generally only met by incoming water as under flooding conditions and not just high humidity or condensation on indoor surfaces. Immediately after the flooding or serious water leakage, for example, all types of moulds would colonize the wet building material but with those that require higher water activity dominating. Presence of tertiary colonizers in a building is an indication of a serious water problem. Tertiary colonizers include moulds such as Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, Ulocladium, Trichoderma, Aureobasidium as well as actinomycetes and other bacteria.

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An alert has been issued on the spreading of Cryptococcus gattii from the Vancouver Island to Mainland British Columbia (CBC News, Friday, June 03). What is this Cryptococcus gattii? It is a yeast-like fungus belonging to a group of fungi called Basidiomycetes (where mushrooms also belong!). This fungus was thought to have a restricted geographic distribution in the tropics and subtropics. It is has been reported in Australia, Papua New Guinea, parts of Africa, the Mediterranean region, India, south-east Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay and Southern California. The BC report was the first outside the tropics and subtropics.

Cryptococcus gattii has an unusual association with trees. In Australia it is associated with some Eucalyptus trees. In British Columbia, however, Cryptococcus gattii has been recovered from multiple species of native trees, but not from any of the introduced Eucalyptus species. It has been isolated from soil, barks of trees and from the air.


Unlike indoor moulds and yeasts, Cryptococcus gattii is a true pathogen and therefore can infect even healthy people. It has a preference for respiratory and nervous systems of humans and animals. Exposure to humans is mainly through inhalation of airborne spores into the lungs.




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In one community a family purchased a mobile home. Shortly after they moved in, their 2 kids got sick. It was determined that the home was contaminated with some black mould. For over 2 years nobody had entered the home after the family moved out. Some neighbours were wondering if there was any health risk to them given that the mould was not cleaned up and the windows and garage door of this house were partially open.

Mould from a house is unlikely to affect the health of the people living in the neighbourhood. The concentrations of biological material escaping from such a house would be highly diluted by the outdoor air to have any significant effect on the majority of the population. Outdoor moulds growing on dead organic material and on plants release into the air huge amounts of spores daily. Only on some occasions do the outdoor spores reach levels that affect some people.

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The terms mildew, mould and fungus (plural is fungi) confuses some non-biologists. Mildew and mould are common names used to refer to those fungi whose body is made of a network of filaments (referred to as mycelium; plural, mycelia). Although the term mildew is occasionally used to refer to fungi that grow in indoor environment and on fabrics, it refers to a plant disease where the fungus causing the disease is seen as a growth on the surface of the host; for example, powdery mild and downy mildew.

Mould is sometimes combined with adjectives to refer to some common moulds. For example: black-mould (Aspergillus niger), blue-mould of citrus (Penicillium italicum), blue-mould of apple (Penicillium expansum); green-mould of citrus (Penicillium digitatum), bread-mould (Chrysonillia sitophila, Rhizopus, Mucor), grey-mould of snowdrop (Botrytis cinerea), white-mould of sweet pea (Hyalodendron album), tomato leaf-mould (Fulvia fulva), and pin-mould (Mucor and other related moulds). The term mould can be spelt with or without a “u” depending on whether one is using British or American English.

Fungi include yeasts (which are non-filamentous and therefore not moulds), moulds/mildew, tree bracket fungi, the truffles and the mushrooms.


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As you read this article there could be some mould growing silently somewhere in your house or in the office where you work. This thought may not have bothered you if you had not heard in the media phrases like "toxic mould" or "black mould"! These phrases create fear, panic and confusion. The objective of this article is to provide the reader with some basic facts about mould and the associated health effects.

Should One Be Concerned About Indoor Mould Growth?

Yes. Apart from mould being unsightly in a building there are 3 good reasons why people should be concerned about mould growth.

Health Risk

As mould grows indoors, it produces spores and/or chemical compounds that easily become airborne. The health effects associated with inhaling or getting into contact with these spores and chemicals may include runny nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion, aggravation of asthma and respiratory problems, headache, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, skin rash and other allergic reactions. Individuals with weak immune systems may also get infected by certain moulds as a result of exposure.

Legal Issues

Those responsible for building maintenance or health and safety of building occupants, contractors and other professionals involved in the building operations are at risk of being sued if occupants get sick from mould growth.

Material Damage and Impairment of Processes

Mould if allowed to grow, can impair the functioning of many processes from air conditioning units to electrical circuits. Surfaces of materials on which mould is growing get stained or discoloured and may disintegrate over time. Wood-rotting moulds are capable of weakening wooden structures.

Three Things You Should Know About Mould

• Mould growth is a fact of life for almost all industrial and indoor environments. However, mould growth can be controlled by providing adequate ventilation and maintaining indoor humidity at levels below 65%. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mould growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains unnoticed or unaddressed for more than 48 hours. The key to mould control is keeping the building dry and clean, timely maintenance and prompt repairs.


• Not all moulds are harmful but to be safe it is better to treat all moulds as potentially harmful. The colour of the mould does not determine whether it is harmful or not. Therefore, black mould is not necessarily bad mould. Mould related health effects depend on:
  • types of mould present,
  
  
  • amount of mould one is exposed to and for how long,
  
  
  • individual health status or sensitivity. Children, elderly and sick people are more vulnerable to mould.


• It is difficult to eliminate all mould spores in the indoor environment. However, the levels can be minimised by controlling growth. Monitor mould growth by looking for water stains or discoloration on the ceiling, walls, baseboards, floors, and window sills. Pay particular attention to the basement and the attic.

What Should You Do When You Find Mould?

If you are an indoor mould consultant

• Assess the extent of the mould problem.


• Discuss the problem with your client and reassure them.


• Have the dominant moulds identified preferably to species level. However, before sampling, prepare a sampling plan that details how and when samples
  would be collected, the type of samples to collect, collection requirements for each type of samples, the criteria to use to interpret results, and the benefits expected from sampling, i.e., what question(s) would be answered by the laboratory results and what actions would be taken. Share the sampling plan with the client.


• Discuss the lab results with the client. If the client is concerned about their health, advise them to seek medical opinion from their family doctors.


• Discuss the remediation plan (or options if any), the remediation costs and the expected results with your client.

If you Are a Property Manager or Homeowner

• Do not panic! The presence of mould does not necessarily mean that you or the building occupants could have adverse health effects or that they have even been exposed.


• Do not disturb the mould since this could help the mould in shedding more spores into the air.


• If what you suspect to be mould covers more than 10 square feet, seek the advice of a qualified consultant immediately. If unsure of how to handle mould covering less than 10 square feet, seek professional advice. Avoid exposing yourself or others to mould.


• Ask for the mould to be identified to reassure yourself or the building occupants that it is not among those that cause serious health effects.


• Discuss the problem with your family doctor or if you are the property manager reassure the occupants and let them know the actions you are taking.


• If you find a professional who seem to concentrate more on how the mould could or have affected you or the building occupants, seek a second opinion. A good professional should provide facts and avoid causing fear.

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As far back as 1924 Prof Dr Willem Storm van Leeuwen from The Netherlands suggested that inhaled mould spores could cause asthma. The types of moulds widely known to cause respiratory allergy in humans include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Alternaria. The allergic responses are mainly due to the inhalation of spores rather than mycelial/hyphal fragments. Allergic reactions to each spore type differ between individuals. Mould allergens also vary in the severity of the allergic reactions they induce. More people, for example, are more sensitive to Alternaria than to Cladosporium. Alternaria also produces more severe reactions, while Cladosporium generally only produces a mild reaction. Cladosporium and in particular Cladosporium herbarum, are often the major contributors to outdoor air-spora. Due to their high concentrations they are a major cause of inhalant allergy and allergic asthma in humans. Occupational pulmonary diseases are common in cheese industry (Penicillium roquefortii), breweries (Aspergillus clavatus) and in mushroom farms (Doratomyces sp).

Alternaria is cosmopolitan and ubiquitous in nature. It is currently comprised of about 40-50 species. Alternaria is a well recognized plant disease causing agent. Species of Alternaria are commonly isolated from dead plant materials, soil, food, and indoor air. Alternaria alternata has been isolated from numerous kinds of organic materials in damp situations, including textiles, stored food, canvas, cardboard and paper, electric cables, polyurethane, jet fuel, sewage and effluents. Airborne spores of Altenaria alternata and A. tenuissima are found in very high numbers in the outdoor environment during fall.

Alternaria alternata is a well recognized allergen with airborne spores and mycelial fragments being responsible for the allergic symptoms in individuals with rhinitis or bronchial asthma. Alternaria sensitivity can also lead to severe and potentially fatal asthma. Studies have shown that up to 70 % of mould-allergic patients have skin test reactivity to Alternaria. It has also been shown that prolonged heavy exposure to A. alternata spores and mycelial fragments mimics that of other allergens such as cat dander and dust mites. Since Alternaria is a seasonal mould then this type of allergy is more prevalent in the fall. A. alternata has also been recorded as an opportunistic pathogen causing skin diseases particularly in immunocompromised patients such as the bone marrow transplant patients.

The presence of Alternaria together with other moulds such as Ulocladium spp and Phoma spp, in indoor environment is indicative of humid conditions. Alternaria alternata is not commonly isolated from indoor building materials and in most instances spores found in indoor air environment may have originated from outdoor sources. A closely related mould, Ulocladium chartarum, which is very common in indoor environment is frequently misidentified in labs as A. alternata. U. chartarum is common on wallpaper and drywall, and has been isolated from emulsion paint, polyurethane, plywood and manila fibre.

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