Cosmetic Black Mold on building framing - Daniel Friedman 04-11-01

Can Mold Make You Sick? Fear of Mold - Mycophobia - Can Lead to Unnecessary Expense

Can Mold Make You Sick? Fear of Mold
Comparing mold-related illness, or pathogenic mold exposure with mold related allergies and mold as an asthma trigger
Mycophobia - Can Lead to Unnecessary Expense
BBMS - Basketball Mold Syndrome: sudden attention to pre-existing clues in buildings
The normal pattern of rise and fall of public fear for most environmental hazards, real or imagined
Mold Allergies and Mold Exposure Impact on People with Mold Allergy or Asthma: common, can be serious
Questions & Answers about mold related illness, fear of mold, and serious versus harmless mold conditions in buildings.
References

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Fear of indoor mold & mold contamination: this article discusses mycophobia - fear of mold and its effects on individual health, stress, and expenses. We live in a sea of mold, and other stuff in the air we breathe, on cushions we sit on, clothes we wear, pools we swim-in, and so on. Most mold is not hurting anyone, and some of it makes us well when we're sick (Penicillium notatum, for example). Nevertheless, a combination of mold allergies and asthma sensitivities of some individuals mean that the exposure of some individuals to mold in buildings can be quite serious. While large areas of problem mold indeed need proper cleanup, fear of mold (mycophobia) and in our opinion the ENVIRO-SCARE - PUBLIC FEAR CYCLES which in some cases (such as the moldy framing shown at left) risks leading to price gouging of consumers. More details about mold related illness, building related illness, and what to do about mold in buildings can be read in the articles listed below.

What is Mycophobia and What Causes Fear of Mold? When is Mold Fear Justified?

A healthy person walking through a room of moldy air is not likely to die or even get very sick from mold exposure. On the other hand, nearly 30 years of field and lab investigations of buildings with environmental illness and occupant health complaints has provided a wealth of less rigorous empirical data matching occupant complaints with indoor mold and allergens, particularly where there is chronic exposure to problematic mold.

Some people may have a genetic predisposition to mold related illness just as some do to allergies and many other health issues. Short term very high exposure to toxic mold (one client killed her dogs by tearing down moldy drywall), or for people who are particularly sensitive or vulnerable, protracted toxic or allergenic mold exposure, even at what we consider rather low levels, can be a serious problem. It's probably an overstatement by some experts who assert that "... there are no proven links between mold and illness."

Comparing the Appearance of Cosmetic Mold versus Potentially Harmful Mold

Black mold on this building floor framing had so frightened the building owner that he had scheduled a $685,000. building demolition and re-framing project - an expense which was completely unnecessary.

First, if this had been a problem mold it could have been cleaned from these framing surfaces.

Second, our test showed that the scary-looking black mold on this framing was a member of the Ceratocystis/Ophistoma group of blue-stain fungi which often is found on framing lumber. This is only a cosmetic mold, which is not harmful to humans nor to the lumber.
Black mold in the laundry room may look like this extensive case. In cases of large areas of visible mold, unless the mold proves to be only cosmetic mold, professional cleaning would be needed.
Black mold in this laundry room also required demolition. But although the visible mold was Stachybotrys chartarum and Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Ulocladium on these walls, the airborne and dust mold levels were dominated by Aspergillus sp. which was not so easy to see by visual inspection.

The Aspergillus reservoir in this building was in the fiberglass insulation in several areas.

Also see Enviroscare: Electric Power Lines, Electromagnetic Fields, Cancer Risk, & "Enviro-Scare"

Mold Allergies and Mold Exposure Impact on People with Mold Allergy or Asthma: common, can be serious

Kopf and Fillhart reported that the focus of indoor mold contamination investigation strategies, a procedure that usually focuses on water-intrusion-related molds in buildings and perceived health risks to occupants should consider re-focusing their attention to include mold as a cause of [or trigger for or contributor to] allergies. Both water intrusion-related mold species and [many] other mold species may be allergenic. [1]

In fact the authors agree that building occupant complaints of allergic reactions to buildings and the experience of asthma attacks in buildings are the instigators for mold investigations in many cases. 3 to 10 percent of people suffer from mold allergies [2] or from mold-related asthma attacks [4]. Interesting in Kopf/Fillhart's report is that they point out that

Reactions to mold, including water intrusion species considered to be the most dangerous, are limited to rhinitis or asthma in most individuals who are allergic.[3] ... Allergic individuals may respond to airborne spores of water intrusion species in a manner that is indistinguishable from other molds.

The authors continue to point out that individual health risks from mold exposure cannot be stated precisely from airborne mold levels, and they add that in some circumstances certain molds can produce high levels of mycotoxins. That is consistent with our own field and lab experience. The same fungus, growing on two different substrates, can behave quite differently.

The authors also note, and we agree emphatically, that [for these reasons] a building can have a water-intrusion mold problem even though its occupants are asymptomatic.

In our own experience as a field and laboratory investigator of indoor air quality & mold related health complaints there is no question that we have encountered

occasional individuals who were highly sensitive to very low levels of airborne Aspergillus sp. in homes, at less than 500 spores/M³ of air
occasional individual whose mold-exposure symptoms included skin irritation, hives-like response, particularly in homes where Stachybotrys chartarum was disturbed by demolition and sent airborne at high levels - a condition that is not normal for this sticky, large spore
individuals in whom a very severe asthma attack was triggered by mold exposure - this symptom has been observed to increase in severity and in sensitivity in individuals who are either chronically exposed to airborne mold of a variety of species at moderate but higher than outdoor levels, or who suffer one or more individual exposures to very high concentrations of indoor mold

More significantly, airborne levels of mold spores produced the same fungus, Aspergillus sp., for example, growing in the same building on the same surface, vary enormously from time to time as a function of

changes in the indoor environment such as in temperature and moisture level
mechanical disturbance such as during demolition or cleaning efforts, or by the operation of a building HVAC system, fans, or even local dehumidifiers or heaters.

Making a series of airborne mold level measurements in a college library basement where we observed a very large reservoir of mold growing on books that had been exposed to high moisture and some wet conditions, it was Aspergillus sp., not Stachybotrys chartarum (both were present) that became airborne at very high levels after a mold remediator placed multiple commercial dehumidifiers into the space. It was quite apparent that the Aspergillus colony responded to the drop in humidity by releasing its spores.

Because of these variations, and because of variations in spore trap use and procedures among individuals, we argue at AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY that reliance on air tests of spore levels, used alone to characterize mold exposure risk in a building is so unreliable as to be nonsensical in the case of apparently-negative mold test results.

What to Do About Mold and Other Indoor Environment Worries

Action: The Mold Action Guide - will help you discover if you have a costly mold problem or not.
BASKETBALL MOLD SYNDROME - BBMS- sudden attention to old clues in buildings makes them seem brand new to some observers
Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Enviroscare: Electric Power Lines, Electromagnetic Fields, Cancer Risk, & "Enviro-Scare"
Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ list to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
Gas Sampling Plan for Residential Buildings lists a number of toxic indoor gases which we test for, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
Harmful mold:An Online Mold Atlas of Indoor Clinical Mold - Medical Health Effects of Specific Molds found in environmental or pathological samples
Harmful mold: clinical reference books for mold related illness
Harmful mold: Mold Classes & Classes of Mold-Related Illness - some simple categories
Illness,, Mold Related: Symptoms List both medical diagnoses and individual complaints
Investigators, professional mold: When do I need to hire a professional?
Looking for Mold: Mold Risk Levels in Buildings: Based on Visual Inspection.
Other environmental risks: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, environmental illness, fiberglass, MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity, toxic gases, etc
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
Bibliography of Extensive Mold and IAQ Technical References
Identifying Filamentous Fungi, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7
Fundamentals of Diagnostic Mycology, F. Fisher, N.Cook, W.B. Saunders, 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., G.S. de Hoog, J. Guarro, J. Gene & M.J. Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2000 ISBN 90-70351-43-9.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] "Consider Allergies in Mold Investigations", Richard F. Kopp & Ronald C. Fillhart, The Synergist, July 2004, The American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2700 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax VA 22031, 703-849-8888, Email: synergist@aiha.org
[2] "Fungal Allergens", W.E. Horner, A. Helbling, J.E. Salvaggio, & S.B. Lehrer, Clin Microbiol Rev 8:161-179, 1995.
[3] "Adverse human health effects associated with molds in the indoor environment", B.D. Hardin, B.J. Jelman & A. Saxon, J Occup Med 45:470-478, 2001
[4] "Indoor fungal exposure", C.A. Rogers, Immunol Allergy Clin 23:501-518, 2003
[5] "Mycotoxin production by indoor molds.", K.F. Nielsen, Fungal Genet Biol 39:103-117, 2003
[6] "Isolation and identification of Aspergillus fumigatus mytoxins on growth medium and some building materials", S.M. Nieminen, R. Karki, S. Auriola, M. Toviola, H. Laatsch, R. Laatikainen, et als., Appl Environ Microbiol 68: 4871-4875, 2002
[7] "Stachylysin may be a cause of hemorrhaging in humans exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum", S.J. Vesper & M.J. Vesper, Infect Immun 70:2065-2069, 2002
[8] "Indoor health: background levels of fungi", R.E. Gots, N.J. Layton, S.W. Pirages, Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 64:427-438, 2003
[9] "Fungal fragments as indoor air biocontaminants", R.L. Gorny, T. Reponen, K. Willeke, D. Schmechel, E. Robine, M. Boissier, et al., Appl Environ Microbiol 68:3522-3531, 2002
Allergens: what they look like in buildings
Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
"Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
"Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Photos of what mold looks like in buildings
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD Photos of NOT-mold material that is sometimes mistaken for mold
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE Mold under the microscope - photo identification of the most common indoor molds found in buildings
Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
Most Common Indoor Molds Found in Buildings, A Table of
Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
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