1	KINGDOM FUNGI AND YOU Back to the basics Mycology 101
2	Mold and You Your speakers today are:
3	Mold and You Your speakers today are: The most knowledgeable in the field
4	Mold and You Your speakers today are : The most knowledgeable in the field Are very respected at the health department.
5	Mold and You Your speakers today are : The most knowledgeable in the field Are very respected at the health department. Very funny in real life.
6	Mold and You Your speakers today are : The most knowledgeable in the field Are very respected at the health department. Very funny in real life. Sometimes delusional ( but this makes for some great laughs )
7	Mold and You Unfortunately this is a very boring subject to some. I took plenty of mycology in college but I didn’t have to study because…… I will try to inject humorous pictures Gus on the other hand will thrill you with disease and danger. Don’t be fooled, his part of the talk is just as boring.
8	Objectives of this discussion Various types of damaging growths
9	Objectives of this discussion Various types of damaging growths Requirements for indoor growth
10	Objectives of this discussion Various types of damaging growths Requirements for indoor growth Identification
11	Objectives of this discussion Various types of damaging growths Requirements for indoor growth Identification Sampling
12	Objectives of this discussion Various types of damaging growths Requirements for indoor growth Identification Sampling Toxicological effects on humans Personal protective equipment Remediation
13	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is the fungus among us? Aspergillis Nigerà
14	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is fungus? Fungi are not plants. Living things are organized for study into large, basic groups called kingdoms. Fungi were listed in the Plant Kingdom for many years. Then scientists learned that fungi show a closer relation to animals, but are unique and separate life forms. Now, Fungi are placed in their own Kingdom.
15	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is fungus? Fungi are not plants.
16	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is fungi? Molds are Fungi
17	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mold? Molds are small organisms found almost everywhere, inside and outside, including on plants, foods and dry leaves. They can be nearly any color – white, orange, green or black. Molds are beneficial to the environment and are needed to break down dead material. Very tiny and lightweight, mold spores travel easily through the air.
18	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mold? Most building surfaces can provide adequate nutrients to support the growth of mold. When mold spores land on material that is damp – for example, walls, floors, appliances (such as humidifiers or air conditioners), carpet or furniture – they can begin to multiply. When molds are present in large numbers, they may cause allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen.
19	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mold? You are exposed to some mold every day, usually by touching, eating or breathing it. When mold is growing on a surface, spores can be released into the air where they can be easily inhaled. A person who ingests or inhales a large number of spores may suffer adverse health effects.
20	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY Why does mold smell? The musty odors produced by molds are known as Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds. (These compounds are abbreviated as mVOCs.) Some mVOCs produce musty and moldy odors, which result from the chemical changes taking place during the mold life process. They are waste products given off by actively growing molds.
21	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY Why does mold smell? Health effects such as headaches, dizziness and nausea have been linked to exposure to mVOCs, but research is only beginning. Odors from mVOCs are a sign that mold is actively growing and so may indicate a level of mold contamination requiring remediation.
22	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY How does a mold eat? Molds digest food by producing enzymes outside of their cells. The enzymes break down foods in their environment into small molecules, and then the mold brings back the molecules into its cells for continued digestion and energy.
23	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY How does a mold eat? This, of course, is the opposite of what people do - we eat foods from outside of our bodies, and the enzymes to break the food down are inside of our stomach. - they literally digest their way through the material!
24	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY Some molds make good neighbors- Penicillin, yeast, cheese, beer and wine Some molds are bad seeds- Stachybotrys, Aspergillis, Saddam Husseinillis
25	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mold? Beer– just making sure you understand the benefits of fungi.
26	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mildew? Mildew is Fungi
27	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mildew? "What is mildew?" The answer depends on whether you ask a scientist or a non-expert. Mycologists, who study fungi, use the term "mildew" only for fungi that grow on plants. When mycologists say "Mildew," they mean the white growth that causes diseases in plants.
28	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mildew? People who are not scientists use the term "mildew" differently. For them, mildew is the discoloration caused by mold in buildings. The molds that grow around windows or in bathrooms are called "mildew."
29	Molds, Fungi and Mildew, Oh MY What is a mildew? Is mildew different than mold? The mycologist would say they are different. Mildew only grows on plants outdoors. The non-expert, however, sees the effects of mold growing indoors and calls it "mildew."
30	TIME FOR A BREAK What is this?
31	TIME FOR A BREAK That was fecal matter from a spider and not a mold spore. Back to our discussion.
32	Requirements for Growth To be more specific, we should ask, "How long does it take for a mold spore to germinate?" Then we should ask, "How long does it take growing mold to colonize?"
33	Requirements for Growth To grow, molds need a food source, a certain temperature and moisture. Where these conditions are present, molds can germinate and colonize.
34	Requirements for Growth How fast growth occurs depends on the combination of conditions. Spores can germinate after only 12 hours in some conditions and some germinate in 24 to 48 hours.
35	Requirements for Growth Houses offer an ample food supply—drywall, wood, insulation, paper. When these materials become damp or wet, settled spores can become growing molds.
36	Requirements for Growth Molds may colonize in 1 to 12 days depending on the type of mold. Following are several types of molds and the number of days in which colonization may take place: Mucor sp. colonizes between 1 and 2 days. Rhizopus sp. colonizes between 1 and 2 days. Aspergillus sp. colonizes between 2 and 3 days. Penicillium sp. colonizes between 2 and 3 days. Stachybotrys chartarum colonizes between 8 and 12 days.
37	Requirements for Growth Reservoirs for spores: Carpet, furniture, upholstery, surfaces such as walls, ceilings and window sills Controlled damp surfaces such as shower curtains, air conditioning components.
38	Requirements for Growth Factors effecting growth Temperature – most mesophilic Light – dark areas usually mean moistness (once thought that spores loved darkness) pH – most like slight acidic environment Food – Not Pizza and Bud Light like once thought. H2O, Water, Clear gold, etc, etc. BIG ONE HERE. We will discuss later.
39	Identification FUNGI: How do we identify Fungi? Well
40	Identification FUNGI: WILL NOT Carry a driver’s license.
41	Identification FUNGI: WILL NOT Carry a driver’s license. WILL NOT Answer questions without a lawyer present.
42	Identification FUNGI: WILL NOT Carry a driver’s license. WILL NOT Answer questions without a lawyer present. WILL NOT Come out without a fight.
43	Identification FUNGI: WILL NOT Carry a driver’s license. WILL NOT Answer questions without a lawyer present. WILL NOT Come out without a fight. Will pretend to be beer making yeast.
44	Identification FUNGI: WILL INDUCE PANIC
45	Identification FUNGI: The official word is… The Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency say that some of the most extreme health risks of mold, such as brain damage and memory loss, have not yet been proven.
46	Identification FUNGI: BUT…Since January 1993, there have been 44 cases of unexplained pulmonary hemorrhage in Cleveland, and 140 nationwide. In all but two of the 29 cases, stachybotrys mold has been documented in the homes.
47	"On the other hand though" On the other hand though. Smoking family members may have skewed the results due to heavy smoking inside the home.
48	Identification Why are there no standards for mold exposure? Health hazards from exposure to environmental molds and their metabolites relate to four broad categories of chemical/biological attributes. These materials may be: 1) irritants, 2) allergens, 3) toxins, and rarely 4) pathogens.
49	Identification Why are there no standards for mold exposure? Different mold species may be more or less hazardous with respect to any or all of these categories. However, risks from exposure to a particular mold species may vary depending on a number of factors. Uncertainty is complicated further by a lack of information on specific human responses to well-defined mold contaminant exposures. Confounding factors and not enough research.
50	Fungi The next slide brings us to our second mental break.
51	Picture Break Another break Hint. When you run over a parking meter with your city car, don’t bring it back to the office and ride it like a horse with the Director in the same room. Oh and take the batteries out of the digital camera.
52	Identification So what do we do as health professionals concerning possible mold contamination and adverse health effects in citizen’s homes? Well, I have always used the inclusive method that all mold in the home should be treated as hostile. WHY though? It’s all in the indication.
53	Fungi Let’s move on to sampling. What is the general rule of sampling? DON’T DO IT WHY? What is Canton’s policy. What I always tell the complainant is..
54	Sampling There are three stages to the IAQ investigation. Initial Stage
55	Sampling There are three stages to the IAQ investigation. Initial Stage Sampling Stage
56	Sampling There are three stages to the IAQ investigation. Initial Stage Sampling Stage Follow-up Stage
57	Sampling The initial stage is used to gather information. Visual inspection of: Complaint area, surrounding areas and ventilation system
58	Sampling A questionnaire is distributed to occupants. (Health Dept.) The questionnaire is analyzed. (Health Dept.) Formulation of hypothesis (Health Dept.)
59	Sampling If sampling is done then it must be done by the health department or other qualified, trained, certified professional. The major issue here is sample integrity. Sampling will let us know what, how much, who’s dating whom…..etc. But it does not tell us if it is causing a problem or not. METHODS USED..
60	Sampling Follow-up done by the health department and the abatement contractor. This section is covered by funGUS
61	Scams Some current scams Insurance Adjuster Scammers Ozone generators House Cooking Fraudulent mold testing Mold remediation shortcuts Websites claiming they have the knowledge and suddenly suggest that chlorine can’t do the job but their product will.
62	Fungus There is no relationship between “fungus” and a Fun Gus
63	International Society of Chemical Ecology Trichome Constituents of Calamintha ashei
64	Molds Everybody is exposed to molds on a daily basis Some molds taste delicious Some molds are toxic Use common sense…don’t taste the mold to find out Dead or alive…still potentially dangerous
65	Routes of Exposure Inhalation – Respiratory system Dermal – Skin Ingestion – GI Injection – cuts, punctures
66	Exposure Time Acute 1-time Chronic Repeated
67	What makes mold toxic? Microbial volatile organic compounds: Body odor generated by live mold-depends on what they eat Odors- “earthy”, “weedy”, “musty”, “nutty” Good indicator that you have a mold problem Currently being researched Olfactory and nervous system stimulus Irritation, discomfort, nausea, vomiting, runny nose Psychosomatic
68	What makes mold toxic? Mycotoxins Secondary chemical products Produced as a defense mechanism Induced by environment- not always produced- why…we do not know Most are cytotoxic Humans are not the targets…but we are a large group of organized cells
69	Risk increases if… Mold concentrations are increased Exposure time is increased A person is hypersensitive A person has a compromised immune system
70	Effects of Mold on the human body No adverse effects Allergic reactions and or irritation Organic dust toxic syndrome Hypersensitivity pneumonitis System specific toxicity Cancer Death
71	Common Allergic Reactions and Irritation Symptoms Hay Fever like symptoms Coughing, fatigue, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, difficult breathing, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Burning or itching sensation in the eyes, nose, throat, skin and lungs.
72	Better Safe than Sorry Precautions should ALWAYS be taken when mold levels are elevated above outdoor levels. When mold is disturbed the risk of exposure is increased.
73	Personal Protective Equipment Respirator Goggles Rubber Gloves Protective Clothing
74	PPE Minimum : N-95 Respirator which filters 95% of particulates Limited : Full or half face air purifying respirator with HEPA filter Full: Full face powered air purifying respirator with a HEPA filter
75	PPE Eye protection that prevents the molds and particulates from getting into eyes. Full face respirators (GOGGLES)
76	PPE Regular household rubber gloves The use of biocide requires gloves made of natural rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, nitrile or PVC
77	PPE Limited: disposable paper overalls Full: Overalls made of breathable material such as TVEK, feet coverings Use duct tape to seal off at wrists and ankles
78	Containment Are other people in the building? What is the extent of mold contamination? What kind of barrier system erected? Does the containment area need to be under negative pressure? Do not forget to shutoff or seal HVAC system.
79	Limited Containment Recommended for mold areas that are 10-100 squared feet Single layer of 6 mil, fire retardant polyethylene sheeting Isolate HVAC system Maintain enclosure under negative pressure during cleanup.
80	Full containment Recommended for greater than 100 SQ ft. Double layer of 6 mil, fire retardant polyethylene sheeting Decontamination chamber/airlock at entry Isolate HVAC system Maintain enclosure under negative pressure during cleanup.
81	Remediation Fix the water problem…or all is lost Double bag and seal contaminated materials Clean with detergent and water Vacuum with HEPA Use biocides when necessary.