Q. I am the Employee Benefits and Workers’ Compensations Coordinator for a school district.  We have mold in our administration building.  We had it tested and received the results.  Many of the people in the building have experienced coughs, headaches, sinus problems, sore throats, stopped up ears, and generally not feeling well.  Most symptoms go away when they are not at work.  One person is recovering from throat cancer and has been experiencing shortness of breath and weakness.  Her doctors have run several tests and cannot find more cancer or any reason for it.  More tests are next week.  I told her to tell them about the mold so they could look at that issue.  The maintenance department does not take this very seriously.  They are now trying to decide what to do after getting the test results back.  My question I know is difficult to answer and it relates to the number of spores per million shown in the test.  Aspergillus/Penicilliun showed 173 out side and 288 inside the building.  Stachybotrys none outside and 96 inside.  Chaetomium none outside and 19 inside.  Other molds had a higher outside measurement.  The mold was covering a large wall and probably goes into other walls.  The question.  Should the building be closed moving the people out while it is checked completed and then the mold removed?  They are thinking about waiting until Christmas break to start removal.  I asked for better air filters for the air conditioner and then I sealed the wall off with plastic (they didn’t).   That has helped the symptoms some.  It just takes a little longer for them to start each morning and the coughing isn’t as bad.  Can you give me some guidance?  [Nov 12, 2005]
      A. Stachybotrys is the most deadly toxic mold---it easily causes permanent brain destruction. Aspergillus is the second most dangeorus mold and a known cancer causer. Penicillium is the third most serious indoor mold and it causes severe respiratory problems. Chaetomium is also highly dangerous. When your building mold tests show higher mold levels indoors than outdoors, that is proof positive that you are all working in a mold hell. The serious employee mold health symptoms are also a huge indication of the mold dangers of your workplace. Read the most common mold health symptoms. Your school needs to move its personnel out of the administration building immediately to a mold-safe place until the building has been thoroughly mold remediated in accordance with the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation. Do not move any files, papers, furniture, or equipment elsewhere until they have been thoroughly mold decontaminated to avoid mold cross contamination of where you move such items. You would also be helped to read the in depth ebooks Mold Health Guide, Mold Legal Guide, and Do-It-Yourself Mold Inspection, Testing, Remediation, and Prevention.

        Q. I have allergies, including to molds, and I have asthma, as well.  I have had terrible problem with my sinuses the past few months.  I have been on antibiotics for over 6 weeks and my sinuses are still not 100% cleared up. I have a co-worker that shares my office 3 days a week.  She has a very musty/moldy kind of odor coming off her/her clothes.  (This has been noticed by many other co-workers as well).  I am wondering if she has a mold problem in her home, is it possible that the mold spores/allergens could be carried on her clothing and affect me? I don't want to make trouble for someone, but if it is possible it could be affecting me, I need to know so I can take steps to protect my own health.  Your help would be greatly appreciated. This obviously is a very difficult situation! [May 3, 2005]
        A. Yes, it is very possible and likely that your moldy work associate is bringing lots of mold spores to contaminate your office through mold spores on her clothing, shoes, skin, and hair. Your even smelling the mold on your associate can make you very sick in view of your likely mold sensitivity [in which people vary significantly]. Your serious mold health symptoms tell you that your are being exposed to elevated levels of mold either at work and/or at home. One first step you should take is to mold test both your home and your office all around to determine whether your home and/or office is contaminated by elevated levels of airborne mold spores---that testing is something you should do periodically. Use do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store.

        Q. I am a maintenance person working in a Banana ripening plant in England. I would be interested to hear your observations on the types of fungi, moulds and microscopic spores that can grow in the confined spaces of the forced ripening rooms. ( There are 30 of these). In the voids above the ripening rooms are chiller units and extractor fans which attract a great deal of black mould. The function of a maintenance person is to maintain, repair and clean in this environment. Is this a safe work area and what special precautions should I be taking to protect myself or my colleagues? [April 22, 2005]
        A. Airborne mould spores from the mould growth will travel in air currents to mould cross contaminate the entire ripening plant and likely cause mould health damage to unprotected workers. Workers removing mould should be wearing full face breathing respirators with organic vapor filters [3M brand is the best], rubber gloves, and full body Tyvek protective suit [including built-in booties and hood].  The chillers and fans should be periodically cleaned and disinfected by your company's use of relevant remediation steps from the 25 steps recommended for safe and effective mold remediation To prevent mould build up in the chiller units and extractor fans, there need to be installed industrial scale hepa filters to filter out [remove] the airborne mould spores before the spores enter the chillers and extractor fans. The plant should be periodically inspected and tested for elevated levels of mold. Unresolved workplace mould infestation is considered to be an employer safety violation.

       Q. I work in a building where the basement always has water in it when it rains. Recently the heat has not been working and a repair man was called. When I looked down the stairs the stench hit me in the face and I thought I was going to be ill. There was at least 2 inches of water on the floor that I could see from the top of the stairs, possibly more. The repair man said the heat did not work for it was submersed in water and parts needed to be ordered for the heater in order to get it running again. The repairman said the reason it was not working is because it was submerged in water and that there should be a sum-pump in the basement. Also, there was a box spotted in the basement with something growing on it by a co-worker. The air conditioner is also emitting an odor also. I suffer from allergies and at times do not feel well after being in this building for a period of time. My co-worker also complains of not feeling well and that the building stinks. Some of our customers also comment on the smell of the building. Our manager is well aware of the complaints she receives and does nothing. The building is leased and I am sure the landlord is aware of the basements current state as my co-worker says it's been this way for years. I have only been in this office for about 4 years. Can you imagine breathing this in for over 10 years? My co-worker has. Over the summer I noticed black mold growing on a windowsill and around a few pains of glass in the lobby. What can be done about this? My head and lungs cannot take to much more for on top of the mold there are still asbestos floors in the place also. Your reply is greatly appreciated. [Oct. 22, 2004]
        A. You and your associates can permanently ruin your health by continuing to work in an unsafe workplace. Workplace mold infestation is usually a safety violation of most states' occupational safety and health administration laws and regulations. Because, as you have already discovered, most employers and landlords don't care about the mold health safety of their employees/tenants, you and our associates should be the ones to initiate mold testing by using do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store, or by using the Scotch tape lift tape sampling technique. After collecting mold samples of visible mold growth [especially in the yucky basement area], air mold tests from the basement, each room above, and the outward air flow from each heating/cooling duct register, you would submit your collected mold samples to an experienced mold lab analysis and mold species identification.. When you have the mold lab results that document a mold health threat [especially greater than your outdoor mold control test], you or your attorney should send a certified letter to your employer and to the employer's landlord to demand what items you wish to demand---such as a mold-safe place to work temporarily while your building is thoroughly mold inspected, tested, and remediated by a Certified Mold Inspector. If your employer and landlord don't take of the problem in a safe and effective way [see the 25 steps for mold remediation, your attorney should consider filing a complaint with your state's occupational safety and health administration and in possibly making a legal claim [see our in depth book Mold Legal Guide, available at our online mold products catalog]. Please note that it is a separate and major violation of OHSA [Occupational Health and Safety Administration] laws for an employer to fire or otherwise discipline an employee for making an OSHA complaint against the employer.       

        Q. I work in a 2-yr-old bldg and have noticed mold for a year.  This has gotten worse and so has my health (I was diagnosed w/allergies to mold/mildew about 5 yrs. ago)   Our building tested 80 to 97% humidity recently.  An independent mold tester took samples about a month ago and he came and gave us the results today.  We had Cladosporium and Aspergillus, but were told that the environment is considered "safe". Could you give me your thoughts on this matter. [October 16, 2004]
        A. Your health problems alone tell you that you are working in an unsafe workplace. Mold easily grows when the indoor humidity is 60% or higher. The high humidity of your workplace will cause massive mold growth, including hidden mold inside walls, ceilings, floors, attic, basement, and the heating/cooling system. Aspergillus is the second most dangerous mold species and it is a known cancer causer. Cladosporium causes severe respiratory illnesses. You need to ask your boss to let you work at home or elsewhere in a mold-safe environment until your place of employment has been effectively mold remediated and it tests as mold-safe by an independent Certified Mold Inspector. Workplace mold infestation is an employer safety violation under most states’ occupational safety and health administration laws and regulations. Don't rely on mold testing done by your boss. Do your own mold testing of both your workplace and your home if you want to know the mold truth about your working and living environments. You may have transported elevated levels of airborne mold spores from your workplace to your car and home on your skin, hair, clothes, and shoes. You would be wise to use either a Certified Mold Inspector or our do it yourself mold test kits to mold test your entire home for mold infestation both before and after mold remediation efforts. Most mold removal efforts fail because of the failure to follow the 25 steps recommended for safe and effective mold remediation. Test the air of any attic/basement/crawl space, garage, each room, and the outward air flow from each heating/cooling duct register for the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mold spores, in comparison to your outdoor mold control test. Use do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store. You should also collect samples of any visible mold for mold lab analysis and mold lab mold species identification by using the Scotch tape lift sampling technique. Collect a different mold sample from each different mold growth location. Become your own effective mold expert to improve your personal home or apartment environmental safety and/or the environmental health of your investment properties by reading all three of our mold advice books [Mold Health Guide, $15; Mold Legal Guide, $15; and Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, & Remediation, $15].

       Q. I have been sick in my workplace since Feb 2004 and saw what appeared to be black mold fall out of a ceiling tile July of 2004 I  went to the doctor and have many symptoms I filed a complaint with OHSA and the results of the inspection today show inactive mold inside the office, active mold on the outside door jams I do not think that the ac unit on roof or ducts were checked, I am afraid to go back into work with inactive mold because I am feeling so much better, am I correct that the inactive mold there can be active again? [August 4, 2004]
       A. Inactive [dormant] mold can make people sick. Even the smell of mold can make mold-sensitive individuals sick. Dormant mold will renew its growth when it gets new moisture from high humidity, a roof leak, or a plumbing leak. In view of your serious mold-related health symptoms, you would be wise not to work in your employer's building until that building has been professionally mold inspected, tested, and remediated. Perhaps, your employer can assign you to work in a mold-safe building close by.  Your employer needs to find, kill, and safely remove ALL mold infestation in the workplace, whether visible or hidden inside heating/cooling equipment and ducts [very common infestation],  walls, ceilings, floors, attic, basement, and crawl space. You and your company can learn what is required for safe and effective mold remediation. Since you have already had to file an OHSA complaint against your employer, you may want to learn more about mold lawsuits in the in depth book Mold Legal Guide.

         Q. My husband was hospitalized for mold contamination at work.  They fired him for no specific reason about a month later.  He has pictures and a wallpaper sample.  What is our next step?  They’ve known about the problem for 4 years and haven’t done much with it.  Now they are starting to work on it since my husband’s illness. [April 9, 2004].
         A. Since your husband is already seriously ill from mold, you want to be really sure that your home has no serious mold infestation which could further aggravate your husband's already bad health situation. Three fourths of all homes and apartments have a serious mold infestation, but only one-sixth of homeowners and tenants realize that their particular home or apartment is mold-infested. Your first mold investigative step is to use do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store [self observation of results over a 5 to 7 day time period, or send in for mold lab analysis] to mold test the air of each room, attic, basement, crawl space, and the outward air flow from each heating/cooling duct register for the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mold spores, in comparison to an outdoor mold control test which you should also do. If you see any visible mold growth, from each moldy area, scrape some of the mold particles into a separate mold test kit per testing location for observation over a 5 to 7 day time period, and/or for mold lab analysis. When scraping mold into a test kit, you would be wise to use a breathing air respirator [Home Depot or Lowe’s or a safety store] so that you don’t breathe in extra mold spores that you put into the air by scraping some mold-like substances into each mold test kit. You should also put a piece of the moldiest wallpaper sample your husband collected at work face downward into one of our mold test kits so that the mold can begin growing [for mold identification] in the mold test kit.  You can also read online our copyrighted form “Mold Results Analysis.” To get more information or to buy our mold test kits, visit: Mold Test Kit  Workplace mold infestation is probably a safety violation of your state's Occupational Health and Safety Administration rules and regulations. Because your husband was fired because of the mold problem, he would be very wise to find out his possible legal rights against the employer. He can start by reading our indepth, 300+ page book Mold Legal Guide,  and by finding an environmental attorney [following the search function explained on Mold Lawyer.
      
         Q. We had a mold investigation done on our place of employment Dec 11, 2001 to date nothing has been done to clean up the mold. Mold has been found behind baseboards, drywall paper backing, wood furring, humidifier and carpet. The types of mold that were found are the following: aspergillus, versicolor, stachybotrys chartarum, and penicillium. Could we please have your opinion on working in these work place conditions? [Jan. 14, 2003]
         A. First, when mold growth is discovered to be widespread in one's place of employment, the property has one or more major water problems [such as roof leaks or plumbing leaks inside ceilings, walls and floors], and a great likelihood of serious mold growth inside walls, ceilings, floors, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning [hvac] equipment and ducts. Second, if employees are regularly exposed to elevated levels toxic mold spores such as aspergillus, stachybotrys, and penicillium, they will breathe in such toxic mold spores, and then they can suffer serious health problems and diseases. If a workplace has a serious mold problem, the first thing that the employer should do is to move ALL employees [and the office furniture and equipment [after mold decontamination to avoid cross-contamination of where ever the items are moved] to mold-safe quarters. The second task is to have the building completely and thoroughly mold inspected and mold tested [including inside all ceilings, walls, floors, and hvac equipment and ducts]. The third objective is then to remediate and remove all mold infestation and have the place of employment tested as mold-safe before  moving people, furniture, and equipment  back to the mold-remediated building. Please note that it is a OHSA violation [U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration] for an employer to have employees working in an area known to be mold-contaminated.

          Q. I work for a toy distributor and I am concerned about working with mold that comes in on wooden toys from China...Specifically, my department is in the midst of cleaning hairy , furry mold off wooden toy..something that will take our department of 4 people at least 4-5 ... 8 hour days.. We are using a solution of Fantastic cleaner with lemon in front of an open dock door...My concern is how dangerous is it to us employees to continually breathe and handle this moldy toy.. we are cleaning about 3600 of these items.. What are the long term effects of being exposed to this type of mold.. Please respond as soon as possible .. I really would like to know as I cannot seem to get it through to my bosses that they MAY be putting our lives at risk.. I want to know for sure. [May 30, 2002]

         A. You are seriously risking your health. You need to wear full body tyvek suits with full face breathing respirators, and gloves and many other safety precautions explained at mold removal. You should also be working in a clean room with a large industrial hepa filter is constantly filtered mold spores out of the air into large hepa filters, and then directly vented to the outside. Fantastic is not a good mold cleaner. Instead, use the Borax laundry soap mixed one-half lb. per 1.5 gallons of water. It is also important that you or your employer mold test your workplace environment to identify the types of molds growing on the toys and the molds growing elsewhere in the workplace.

          Q. I work in a small older building. We have a water cooler that has leaked several times and the last time was 5/31/02. We had that area of the carpet cleaned and lit candles and the carpet was sprayed with some smelly cleaner. Recently one of our 5 workers had a small seizure. Well, starting on Monday another worker has had headaches everyday 4 days in a row. We also had a new worker begin in October and for the first couple of months she had sneezing fits. we were just wandering what this could be from and what precautions we should take. [June 7, 2002]

         A. With a known water problem area that may have started a mold infestation, and with several workers mysteriously becoming sick, it would be very wise to have the entire workplace tested for mold infestation. Tests must include room air, inside walls, ceilings, and floors, plus inside hvac equipment and ducts---and an outdoor control test against which to measure the laboratory test results. Ask your employer to pay for this testing---if he or she won't, contact OHSA [Occupational Health and Safety Administration] because workplace mold is considered a serious violation of the employer's duty of care to the employees workplace safety. If the boss won't pay, the employees should each contribute to paying for the testing themselves to find out if there is a mold infestation problem. Hire a Certified Mold Inspector.


Photograph of water damage and mold growth behind a baseboard in an office.