Often we get questions from homeowners who want know what the black mould growing in their bathrooms, baseboard, window sills or drywall is likely to be. Black mould is often erroneously thought to be Stachybotrys and also to be the most dangerous mould. However, not every mould that appears black is Stachybotrys. There are a number of other moulds that may appear black. These include Pithomyces, Stemphylium, Ulocladium, Aureobasidium, Alternaria, Memnoniella and even some species of Aspergillus for example Aspergillus niger.

Some mould species may be very common in the bathroom, kitchen, basement or on certain building materials such as the drywall, damp paint, carpet, wood, etc. Moulds that produce large amounts of the enzyme cellulase are commonly found growing on wet cellulose containing material. The best examples of moulds in this category are Chaetomium spp and Stachybotrys spp.

Generally the type of mould growing on any substrate (material) is determined by the composition of the substrate and the water activity of the substrate. For some more details on common indoor moulds visit the web page http://www.moldbacteria.com/common_molds.html.




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

Some members of Aspergillus group are recognized health hazards and are of great concern if they appear in built environment. The most important species as concerns health are Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus versicolor. Aspergillus clavatus is often associated with allergic diseases in workers of malt-houses. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important and well known potential pathogen for humans with weak immunity. It is of great concern in hospital environments. Spores of Aspergillus fumigatus are allergenic and have the ability to bind on lung epithelium in asthmatic individuals, causing further complications in the health status of these patients. Due to their small size, about 70% of Aspergillus fumigatus spores are able to penetrate into the trachea and primary bronchi. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus are often associated with a disease condition called invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus versicolor is one of the most common Aspergillus species found in damp indoor environments and is a major producer of one of the liver damaging and carcinogenic Mycotoxin.



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This is one of the questions we received recently from one of our web visitors. Phoma is one of the moulds that may be found in water damaged buildings. Other common fungi in water damaged buildings include Chaetomium globosum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Ulocladium chartarum, Trichoderma spp such as Trichoderma harzianum, Aureobasidium pullulans, and the yeast fungus Rhodotorula spp.

In nature, Phoma is widespread in soil and a wide range of plants and plant materials. It is one of the most important plant disease causing agents. In indoor environment, Phoma is common on wet/damp paints, wood, wall papers, window frames, and caulking especially in bathrooms. Species of Phoma are also commonly isolated from house dust. The common species in indoor environment are Phoma glomerata and Phoma macrostoma.

Phoma species are mainly contaminants, though may rarely cause infections in humans particularly to individuals with weak immune system. They are not known to pose an inhalation hazard to humans. However, any mould growing in human occupied environment should be treated as potentially hazardous.




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It is a fact that we spend most (some people say 90%) of our time indoors. During winter we probably spend more. While mould is not the only contaminant that can compromise our health, it is one of the most important ones. People who may be at risk of mould exposure during the winter include young children, the elderly, people with allergic problems or those with low immune systems following medical treatments or due to other disease conditions such as HIV AIDS.

We can reduce exposure to mould growth by reducing the spore concentrations in the air.

Steps To Reducing Indoor Mould Spore Concentrations

• Monitor regularly for early signs of mould growth. Pay particular attention to basements, bathrooms, windowsills, ceilings, under kitchen and bathroom sinks and any other area that is likely to be damp. Damp hidden places are particularly prone to mould growth.
• Promptly fix plumbing leaks, drain clogs, roof leaks, condensation problems or poor ventilation that can lead to mould growth.
• Regularly vacuum clean (preferably with a HEPA vacuum cleaner) surfaces that tend to collect dust such as the floor, furniture etc. Settled dust is a reservoir not only for mould spores but also for other allergens.
• If mould is found, refer to the following mould guidelines and call a mould specialist immediately.

1. New York City Department of Health "Guidelines on assessment and remediation of fungi in indoor environments". This may be obtained at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml
2. CCA 82 - Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry. This can be obtained at: http://www.cca-acc.com/documents/electronic/cca82/cca82.pdf
3. Health Canada’s "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.

Do you have a mould problem? We can help. Call us at (905)290-9101.