Mold: What Are Its Effects on Health?

Molds are fungi that exist almost everywhere in the outdoors – and inside, they’re a common component of household dust. But mold can become a nightmare when there’s a large amount and it’s busily forming colonies in your home. Like any pollens, dust and other airborne allergens, mold can cause a host of reactions in people who are sensitized, from itchy, watery eyes to sinus problems to full-blown asthma. But according to Dr. Ginger Chew, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, besides triggering allergic reactions, molds can also cause breathing problems and other irritant effects in people who are not allergic. In rare circumstances some molds can be infectious or toxic; and as they are growing, these spores can produce microbial volatile organic compounds, or mVOCs, which can trigger the same kinds of reactions as VOCs that off-gas from paints and other household chemicals. Those tiny VOCs can hitch rides around your home – and even slip right out of wall cavities and into your home. “VOCs can permeate through porous surfaces very easily because they are volatile,” Chew explains. “And a lot of the things we think are non-porous really aren’t – like drywall.” So how much exposure to these homewreckers is OK? There are guidelines and international standards, but Chew says levels that are deemed “safe” can still pose problems for those with mold allergies or sensitivities – and an individual’s condition can get worse with prolonged exposure. “People who are allergic or have asthma mount a quicker and more intense immune response and become sensitive to even smaller concentrations. “So it’s a moving target,” says Chew, who explains that the irritant-type reactions (such as pneumonitis or lung tissue inflammation) are usually associated with people who get big hits of mold on the job, and on a regular basis. But if a family keeps having to re-caulk a moldy bathtub or is ignoring a mold problem altogether, “it can also be happening in a home.” Source:http://allergicliving.com

Lettings agents and landlords warned about the cost of damp and mould in rental properties

Landlords and lettings agents in the UK that ignore tenant complaints about damp and mould, could lead to personal injury claims and even hefty fines of up to £5,000, it is claimed. In Britain, condensation and mould in residential property is mainly a winter problem, particularly where warm moist air is generated in areas like kitchens and bathrooms and then penetrates to colder parts of the building. When the air gets cold, it cannot hold onto all the extra moisture produce by everyday activities, so some of this moisture appears as small droplets of water, most noticeable on windows, or where there is little movement of air. If not properly dealt with, this extra dampness can lead to mould growth on walls, furniture, window frames and even clothes. Condensation and mould isn’t something that landlords and agents should ignore, according to Letrisks, a leading provider of landlord insurance and tenant referencing services. Mould spores need a moist environment in which to germinate, so many mould problems are caused by poor building maintenance and lack of ventilation, such as water leaking through windows or roofs; rising damp, which is often caused by breached, missing or damaged damp proof membranes; steam and condensation from showers, bathrooms, cooking or high air humidity; and inadequate ventilation or heating throughout the home. Older properties tend to suffer more than new ones, but rental properties are particularly prone. The problem is often a matter of degree from a small patch of mould or discoloured wallpaper behind the wardrobe in the very top corner of a bedroom, to serious amounts of mould growth across walls, inside wardrobes and on clothes, furnishings, carpets and in basements. Aside from damage to the property, mould spores are well documented as a health risk. The mould fungi have been identified as the source of many health problems, including infections, asthma, allergies and sinusitis. Moulds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, toxins that may cause reactions in humans. Michael Portman, managing director of Letrisks, pointed out that a recent case of a Council which failed to eradicate damp problems proved costly. ‘A Lambeth Council tenant moved into her flat during 2009 and at that time it was damp and mouldy. She told the Council, but they denied responsibility and said it was condensation. A year later the damp and mould was considerably worse, so the tenant sued the Council. The condensation was in fact a leak through the bathroom ceiling from the flat above, also owned and managed by Lambeth. In 2012, the tenant was paid compensation and repairs were carried out,’ he explained. ‘Unfortunately, by this stage, the tenant’s five year old son had developed asthma. A personal injury claim was started on his behalf, which is still ongoing. The damp problem continued and the council was fined £1,335 which shows how seriously the court viewed the offence,’ he added. The firm says that the best way to ensure the control of mould in buildings is to carry out good building maintenance and check there is adequate ventilation. Anywhere that is liable to allow water to leak in from outside the property, has a high degree of damp or condensation, or is not kept at a comfortable temperature is prone to a mould attack. ‘For properties that already have a serious mould problem, the best option is to call a professional who can diagnose the cause of the mould and remove it,’ said Portman. Letrisks advice includes not ignoring a problem. It says that if a tenant complains about mould or condensation, there should be a visit to the property and the problem should be fixed. Landlords and/or agents should check for leaks that may be causing damp, inside and outside the property. Bathrooms are a common culprit for escaping water and gutters could be blocked by leaves at this time of year. Landlords should ensure that bathrooms and kitchens are well ventilated by installing extractor fans and ensuring that there windows that can be easily opened. Extractor fans should be working efficiently. Source: http://www.propertywire.com

Damp buildings

often have a moldy smell or obvious mold growth, and some molds are known human pathogens. This has caused concern regarding potential health effects of moldy indoor environments. As a result, there have been many studies of moisture- and mold-damaged buildings. More recently, there have been a growing number of articles in the media and of lawsuits claiming severe illness as a result of indoor mold exposure, particularly to Stachybotrys chartarum. However, while many authors report a clear relationship between fungal contaminated indoor environments and illness, close examination of the literature reveals a much more confusing picture. In this review, we discuss indoor environmental mold exposure and mycotoxicosis, with an emphasis on S. chartarum and its toxins (due to the breadth of the topic, we will not discuss better understood areas such as invasive disease caused by Aspergillus). We also discuss specific organ effects, focusing on illnesses purportedly caused by indoor mold. These illnesses include pulmonary, immunologic, neurologic, and oncologic disorders. We discuss the Cleveland infant idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage (IPH) reports in some detail, since they provided much of the fuel for current concerns about Stachybotrys exposure. As we will see, while there is cause for concern about the potential effects of indoor mold exposure, particularly to Stachybotrys species, there is no well-substantiated evidence linking the presence of this fungus to health concerns elaborated in the scientific and lay press. As patients and society at large become increasingly concerned that illnesses may be due to the home or work environment, an understanding of mycotoxins by microbiologists and clinicians (especially infectious-disease subspecialists) is of growing importance. Such knowledge is critical to the diagnosis of potential fungus-related disease and is necessary to assuage fears instilled by extensive media coverage

Sausage with mould leads to €6,000 penalty

A mouldy batter sausage led to fines totalling €6,000 for an Enniscorthy takeaway as the HSE brought a prosecution to the District Court last Wednesday. Defendant Kenan Dzhavidov, trading as Denis's Kebab House of Castle Hill, was not present for the proceedings. Evidence was given by his customers Ray Healy and Suzanne Ryan of 11 Ashgrove in The Paddock. Healy told the court how he ordered a takeaway for home delivery on January 6 last year. Ms. Ryan described how she applied salt, vinegar and red sauce to the batter sausage which she began to eat while watching television. She applied more condiments after noticing that the sausage did not taste as normal but this had no effect and she then saw a hairy black mould. She threw the sausage on the floor and vomited. Her partner preserved the sausage in the fridge. When there was no satisfactory explanation or apology from the takeaway the following day, he put it in the freezer and notified the health service. In court, environmental health officer Avril Beaumont confirmed that the sausage was sent for analysis at a laboratory in Cork. The lab test suggested that the black mould was aspergillus and that it was on the food before cooking. The incident prompted Ms. Beaumont to pay a call to the premises in Castle Hill on January 17 last year. She discovered that batter sausages were being par-cooked and then cooled overnight. She reckoned that this was poor procedure and that that anything left longer than two and a half hours should either be chilled or thrown out, for fear that mould could form. She also noted that solid fat was being stored in the potentially unhygienic toilet. Judge Gerard Haughton felt that the offences described were serious, the more so as the accused did not attend court. For serving unfit food, he recorded a €2,000 fine. Similar penalties were imposed for the unsafe method of preparing the batter sausages and for inappropriate storage of the fat. Witness expenses of €100 were awarded and Dzhavidov was further ordered to meet the HSE's legal costs. Source: http://www.independent.ie

Mould in Library

Attending to an infestation Staff suffering from allergies or respiratory problems should not attend to mould infestations. Mould can be checked to see whether it is active or inactive. Generally, active mould is damp, slimy, and smears if touched. Inactive mould is dry and powdery and can be brushed off with a soft brush. If mould is discovered in large portions of a collection, isolate the area immediately and do not attempt to clean up without first consulting Library Conservation and Collection Care Service. Certain moulds can pose serious health risks, causing headaches, nausea, eye and skin irritation, and respiratory problems. Library Conservation and Collection Care Service may have to be employed or at least consulted on the treatment of infested items and on the return of the affected area to a suitable condition for housing material. If only a few items are affected, place them in a dry paper-based box until treatment. If possible, include a desiccant, such as conditioned silica gel packets. This enclosure will prevent spores from circulating and will not encourage the growth potentially created by the tightly sealed microclimate of a plastic bag. Alternatively, move the affected material (after it has been placed in a sealed container – DO NOT LEAVE THE MATERIAL IN THE SEALED CONTAINER) to a clean area with relative humidity below 45%, separate from the rest of the collection, and allow the material to dry. If immediate drying is not possible, or if many objects are wet, contact Library Conservation and Collection Care Service in order to use their freezer; later they can be thawed, dried, and cleaned in small batches. Material may also be freeze-dried and then cleaned. When dry, the items should be cleaned and stored under suitable environmental conditions. The storage environment is critical since even after cleaning, fungal residue will be present.

A WOMAN who claimed dampness in her council house caused her to develop pneumonia has been awarded €25,000 in damages.

Mother-of-seven Bea O'Neill of Ballinamanagh, Kilcummin, Co Kerry, had been seeking €38,000 in damages from Kerry County Council for personal injuries and damage caused to her furniture. Yesterday, at Tralee Circuit Court, Judge Thomas E O'Donnell found in her favour and awarded €25,000 and costs. Judge O'Donnell said he felt the conditions of the house were a contributory factor but not the main factor in her illness that resulted in Ms O'Neill being hospitalised for separate bouts of pneumonia in 2006 and 2007. During the course of the hearing, the court was told Ms O'Neill was a smoker. The council claimed that Ms O'Neill's actions and poor household management caused the dampness and mould. Speaking to the Irish Independent following the ruling, Ms O'Neill said she had waited 10 years for her "day in court" and was relieved it was all over. INSULTING "To be constantly told it was my fault for not opening widows or lighting fires was so insulting that I felt if I came out with one cent it was important to go ahead with the case," she said. Ms O'Neill said she had to take out loans to replace furniture that wa ruined. Ms O'Neill moved into the house, also at Ballinamanagh, Kilcummin, in August 2001 with two of her children who were aged three and two at the time. She was also pregnant. She said she first noticed the condensation that winter but it wasn't until the following winter that she noticed mould and mildew forming on the walls. Dr David Murphy of Cork University Hospital told the court that mould in a house would be a "significant contributor", combined with smoking, to the development of pneumonia and borderline kidney failure. Ms O'Neill said despite her complaints to the council that were backed up by letters from her GP, it wasn't until 2010 that she was rehoused. Consultant engineer William O'Keeffe told the court he didn't consider the house "fit for human habitation" and that Ms O'Neill should have been rehoused "as a priority". Kerry County Council said it would be appealing the matter because all tenants had a responsibility to maintain their house in good condition. Irish Independent

Health Risks of Black Mold from Flood Damage

Black mold is associated with a large number of medical and healthissues, especially in children, older individuals and anyone with a compromised immune system. Black mold is a fungus that grows anywhere dark and damp. Once it reaches a certain stage, it casts off spores which can be inhaled, eaten, or even absorbed directly through the skin. It is for this reason that many houses that have flood damage are condemned and made unlivable by the government until the mold can be removed. The major health effects of black mold generally result from fluid buildup in the lungs that leads to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an inflammation or infection in the lungs that causes the alveoli, or small sacs, to become filled with fluids, usually pus. When black mold spores get into the lungs through inhalation, the body mounts an immune response, and part of that response involves diluting the spores with water. This is what leads to the formation of the pus that fills the alveoli and causes the pneumonia. Another very common health problem associate with black mold is with the upper respiratory tract. Black mold, because of its structure, sticks to the mucus membrane of the nose and sinus cavities and causes an immune response there. The symptoms when this happens will mimic the common cold, but will progressively get worse unless the individual is removed from the environment. Over weeks, these will progress and will lead to symptoms like dehydration, headaches and nausea along with the URI symptoms of a runny nose and cough. Black mold has also been found to be extremely dangerous to babies, and produces a condition called Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhaging. In this condition, the lining of the lungs becomes so irritated by the presence of black mold, that ulcers develop that bleed into the lungs. This results in conditions similar to pneumonia and ultimately leads to the death of the child. Health problems related to black mold are easily prevented by making sure your home and workspace is free from the environment necessary to breed black mold. This includes making sure your basement is well ventilated and dry. It may be necessary to place a dehumidifier in the basement to make sure any excess groundwater does not feed the mold. It is also necessary to make sure any rugs and carpeting are completely dry before being placed back in the house, this includes after a water accident or flood, or with normal washing. In places like the basement where there is continuous dampness, it is best not to install carpet, but instead use a floor covering that does not absorb the moisture. Source: http://voices.yahoo.com