Damp and mould in homes have been established as risk factors for respiratory health. There is a need for a relatively straightforward assessment of the home that quantifies this risk. Methods Using data from 891 New Zealand houses, the utility of a Respiratory Hazard...

Are biocides useful or required in remediation projects? Biocides are disinfectant chemicals used to kill germs. In most mold remediation projects, biocides are not a substitute for thorough cleaning. Biocides are of limited use in remediation of indoor mold...

Introduction For more than a decade, mold has been in the news. People are talking about the effect on population health and damage to the building. But what are the risks and issues? The available science on molds and their potential health effects remains under...

Opportunistic fungal infections Many fungi are opportunists and are usually not pathogenic except in an immunocompromised host. Causes of immunocompromise include AIDS, azotemia, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, leukemia, other hematologic cancers, burns, and therapy with...

In recent years, mold and so-called "toxic mold" have become the subject of mounting health concerns as well as numerous lawsuits. Because the scientific explanations of mold are both complex and technical, numerous misconceptions have crept into the popular...

The term “toxic mold” is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same...

Black mold poisoning is a form of mycotoxicosis, which may occur if a person breathes in too many mycotoxins over an extended period. Mycotoxins are the toxins that some molds release. The symptoms of black mold poisoning can appear similar to those of an upper...