Moulds belong to the Kingdom Fungi. The term "mould" refers to those fungi (singular fungus) that are filamentous. Also belonging to the Fungi Kingdom are yeasts (which exist as single cells as opposed to multicellular filaments) and mushrooms. The term "mildew" is also sometimes used to refer to moulds. It has been estimated that there are about 1.5 million species of fungi but only about 76 thousand species are known.

Within the indoor environment about 200 species of fungi have been reported but only a few are most frequent. These include species of:

• Penicillium,
• Aspergillus,
• Chaetomium,
• Ulocladium,
• Stachybotrys,
• Cladosporium,
• Acremonium,
• Mucor,
• Paecilomyces ,
• Alternaria,
• Trichoderma.

Also, not all the fungi that occur indoors are of major concern to health. However, all moulds growing within indoor environment should be treated as potentially hazardous.

Do you have a mould question? Please call us at (905)290-9101.

Do you have mould (mildew) in your house? If you are not feeling sick already, do not panic! The mould can be cleaned up and further growth controlled. If you are already feeling sick, you may consider leaving the building temporarily while the mould problem is being investigated or the mould is being cleaned up.

Who should particularly be concerned about mould exposure?

• Infants and the elderly people
• People with a history of asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems.
• People with weak immune systems due to other health conditions such those with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant.

What are the health effects associated with mould exposure?
The health effects associated with mould exposure are varied and some are controversial. These include:

• Allergenic Reactions
• Non-inflammatory, unspecific symptoms, e.g., eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, wheezing, stuffy nose, nausea and vomiting.
• Asthma and Bronchitis
• Mycotoxin Poisoning
  The most recognized route for mycotoxin poisoning is through ingestion. Aflatoxins produced by various species of Aspergillus and Penicillium have a long record of poisoning humans and animals and in many cases causing death.
• Fungal infection
  People with weakened immune systems may develop invasive aspergillosis from infections by species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger.

What should you do when you notice mould?
Do not disturb it. Educate yourself on how to handle mould by reading some of the informational bulletins posted on the internet by reputable organisations. If you cannot handle the problem, seek professional advice.

Mould Guidelines And Other Useful Resources

• The University of Connecticut and USEPA has a document entitled "Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors". To obtain a copy click here http://www.oehc.uchc.edu/clinser/MOLD%20GUIDE.pdf.
  
• Health Canada has a revised version of "Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods". A copy can be obtained at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/air_quality/pdf/fungal_contamination.pdf. This document is a revision of an earlier version published by Health Canada and the Federal-Provincial Advisory Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health (CEOH)
  in 1995.
  
• Canadian Construction Association (CCA) recently released its newest mould guide
  - CCA 82 - Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry. A copy can be obtained from their web site at CCA 82 free for download or by purchasing hardcopies from your local construction associations.
  
  
• The New York City Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Mold in Indoor
  Environments is available at their website:http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html
  
  

Do you have a mould problem? Call (905)290-9101 or visit our website at http://www.moldbacteria.com for more information.

Some moulds and bacteria when found growing in indoor environment are indicative of the level of dampness in the building or potential health hazards.

Indicators of severe moisture damage in a building
Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichoderma spp, Exophiala, Stachybotrys spp, Phialophora spp, Fusarium spp, Ulocladium spp, yeasts such as Rhodotorula, Actinomycetes and Gram-negative bacteria and Phoma spp.

Indicators of moderate damp building environment
Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus sydowii, Emericella nidulans, and Cladosporium spp

Indicators of relatively dry building environment
Aspergillus versicolor, Eurotium spp, Wallemia sebi, Penicillium spp such as Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium aurantiogriseum.


Do you have a mould question? Contact Jackson at (905)290-9101

MBL is now offering One-day training seminars on how to recognize indoor mould, how to develop effective sampling strategies, how to interpret laboratory results and how to perform effective mould remediation/abatement. If you have been considering attending a similar course, do not delay to register as we have limited spaces left!

Course Dates

• November 1, 2005: Register
• November 15, 2005: Register
• November 29, 2005: Register

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 to some of the difficult situations or questions you encounter while doing mould investigations.
• You will have an opportunity to learn from others experience.

Who Can Benefit From Indoor Mould Training Seminars?

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

What Topics Will Be Covered In The Mould Training Seminar?

• An Overview of Various Types of Moulds.
• What is mould and what makes it grow?
• Which moulds are more prevalent in outdoor environment?
• Which moulds are more prevalent in indoor environment?
• What health effects are associated with indoor mould growth?


• How to Recognize Indoor Mould Growth.
• Factors favouring mould growth.
• Signs of mould growth.
• Conducting a visual inspection and categorizing the extent of the mould contamination.


• How to Develop Effective Sampling Strategies.
• Sampling objectives.
• When to collect samples, which ones and where to collect them.
• Air samples: viable and non-viable.
• Bulk samples.
• Swab samples.
• Tape lift samples.
• Dust samples.


• How to Interpret Laboratory Results.
• Air samples: viable and non-viable.
• Bulk samples.
• Swab samples.
• Tape lift samples.
• Dust samples.


• How to Perform Effective Mould Remediation.


• Quiz and Discussions.


• Be ready to share with others difficult field experiences.

Registration and Other Information

Registration: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Course Duration: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Course Location:
1020 Brevik Place, Unit 1A,
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4N7.
To get directions call (905)290-9101; Toll Free: 1-866-813-0648.



Register today by phone at (905)290-9101 or toll free 1-866-813-0648. You can also register by e-mail at Course Registration.


If you know others who may be interested in receiving this invitation, please forward it to them.


Course Fee
Please call for the fee schedule. Registration fees must be paid at least two weeks before course date. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or by cheque. Please make cheques payable to Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc.

Information About Mould and Bacteria

Get more information about indoor mould and bacteria at http://www.moldbacteria.com/
Click Mould & Bacteria Reviews Newsletter to become a subscriber of our FREE newsletter.

Save Money for the Next Four Months on Laboratory Mould Testing

Send 5 or more samples and take advantage of our special offer for the following types of samples:

• Spore traps: $50.00 per sample.


• Bulk, tape-lift, swabs, etc for direct microscopic examination (DME): $35.00 per sample.

You will get your results in 1-3 working days!
To take advantage of this special offer download our Chain of Custody (Analysis Request Form).

Mould Testring Services

Our Services include analysis of:

• viable air samples (Andersen, RCS, etc) for mould and
  bacteria
  
• viable bulk and surface samples (Wipe, swabs, bulk,
  dust, etc) for mould and bacteria
  
• non-viable air samples (Air-O-Cell, Allergenco, Micro-5,
  Cyclex D, etc) for mould spore counting and identification
  
• bulk samples (tape-lift, bulk material, dust, etc) by
  direct microscopic examination (DME) for mould testing.

For information on how to collect and send mould samples to the laboratory please click Collecting and Sending Samples to the laboratory.

How to pay:

• By cheque: Send a cheque together with your samples (remember to include 7% GST). Cheques are payable to Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc.


• By VISA or MasterCard: Sign the credit card authorization form (it is attached to the Chain of Custody form) and send it together with your samples.

Send your samples by courier or bring them to:

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) Inc.
1020 Brevik Place, Unit 1A
Mississauga, ON L4W 4N7
Canada.
Attention: Dr. Jackson Kung'u.

Offer valid until December 31, 2005.

Cladosporium sphaerospermum has a worldwide distribution. It is a leaf mould (phylloplane) commonly isolated from air, soil, foodstuffs, paint and textiles. It is also very common on wet building material such as gypsum board, acrylic and soil painted walls, painted wood, and wallpaper; carpet and mattress dust; HVAC fans, and wet insulation in mechanical cooling units.

Cladosporium sphaerospermum is allergenic, i.e., its spores can elicit allergic reactions to susceptible individuals. In the medical literature, Cladosporium sphaerospermum has been implicated as the cause of human corneal ulcer, skin lesions and infection of nails.



Do you have a mould problem? Please call (905)290-9101.

Cladosporium herbarum is very common on dead plants, textiles, rubber, paper, foodstuffs and air. Its spores are often by far the most significant in air samples paricularly in summer. It has also been reported as a cause of meat spoilage in cold storage.

In indoor environment, Cladosporium herbarum has been reported in floor, carpet and mattress dust; damp acrylic painted walls, wallpaper; HVAC insulation, filters and fans. It is known to be allergenic.




Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101.

Species of Trichoderma are very common in soil and cellulolytic materials including decaying wood, wood products, textiles, stored cereals and plant foodstuffs. Many species are strongly cellulolytic (i.e., they are capable of degrading cellulose since they produce large quantities of the enzyme cellulase). For this reason, they are important spoilage organisms and also cause post-harvest rots of various fruits and vegetables. Trichoderma spp are also important producers of antibiotics and they have been researched extensively for biological control, especially of wood-rotting fungi.

In indoor environment, Trichoderma spp are commonly found on gypsum board and water saturated wood, wallpaper, carpet and mattress dust, paint, and air-conditioning filters. Human infection by species of Trichoderma is limited to individuals with severely weakened immune system. However, some species such as Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride are producers of potent mycotoxins.


Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101.