March 12, Law on Mould Mold Residential

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Taken from the IEQuality board:

" The Annex is now law in Canada (as a Guideline that is seen by our courts

as just as god as a law), slightly strengthened from the proposed version. It

follows and is attached as a Word Document. "

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds

Pursuant to subsection 55(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,

1999, the Minister of Health hereby gives notice of the issuance of a

residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds. After reviewing the most

recent

scientific evidence regarding moulds and their effects on health, the

Minister recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

March 12, 2007

PAUL GLOVER

Director General

Safe Environments Programme

On behalf of the Minister of Health

ANNEX

RESIDENTIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINE

MOULDS

Physical and chemical properties

The word " mould " is a common term referring to fungi that can grow on

building materials in homes or other buildings. Mould growth can influence air

quality because both spores and mycelial fragments are dispersed into the air

and

can be inhaled. Their penetration into the bronchial tree depends on their

size. The smaller particles penetrate deeper into the lungs.

Three features of mould biochemistry are of special interest in terms of

human health:

Mould cell walls contain (1->3)-ß-D-glucan, a compound with inflammatory

properties;

Mould spores and mycelial fragments contain allergens; and

The spores of some species contain low molecular weight chemicals that are

cytotoxic or have other toxic properties (e.g. satratoxins and atranones

produced by Stachybotrys chartarum).

Causes of mould growth

Mould growth in a house requires the presence of nutrients, an adequate

temperature, and a sufficient amount of water. The first two requirements being

usually met in indoor environments, fungal growth usually results from a

moisture problem (CMHC 2003). Major causes of mould growth are

condensation of moisture on surfaces due to excessive humidity, lack of

ventilation, or low temperature;

water leakage, e.g. from a broken pipe;

infiltration of water from the outside, e.g. from a leaking roof or a

cracked basement; and

a flood.

Health effects

Health Canada has carried out two reviews of the scientific literature

pertaining to the health effects of indoor moulds (Health Canada 1995; 2004).

The

Institut national de santé publique du Québec also published a review on this

subject (d'Halewyn et al. 2003). The following conclusions were drawn:

Exposure to indoor mould is associated with an increased prevalence of

asthma-related symptoms such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms, and

non-specific symptoms; and

In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium

sp. and Aspergillus sp.) and fungal cell components [(1->3)-ß-D-glucan]

resulted in an inflammatory response in the lungs of rodents, while

instillation of

Stachbotrys chartarum spores resulted in severe histological and biochemical

changes.

These conclusions have been supported by more recent findings. In two cohort

studies (Wickman et al. 2003; Jaakkola et al. 2005), significant

associations were found between home dampness and the risk of developing

asthma. In

experimental studies, asthma-like responses were observed in mice following

exposure to a typical building-associated fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum

(Chung

et al. 2005), and inflammatory responses were seen in rats exposed to low

doses of toxins from the same species (Rand et al. 2005).

Residential Indoor Air Quality Guideline

Health Canada considers that mould growth in residential buildings may pose

a health hazard. Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on

allergic sensitization. However, the large number of mould species and

strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability in

human

response to mould exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits.

Therefore, Health Canada recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

Further, in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the

presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of

building

occupants.

References

CHMC 2003. Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses. Revised ed. Ottawa:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. ISBN 0-660-19227-6.

Chung, Y. J., Coates, N. H., Viana, M. E., Copeland, L., Vesper, S. J.,

Selgrade, M. K., Ward, M. D. W. 2005. Dose-dependent allergic responses to an

extract of Penicillium chrysogenum in BALB/c mice. Toxicology 209: 77-89.

d'Halewyn, M. A., Leclerc, J. M., King, N., Bélanger, M., Legris, M. and

Frenette, Y. 2002. Les risques à la santé associés à la présence de moisissures

en milieu intérieur. Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

105 p. + appendices.

Health Canada 1995. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: a Guide to

Recognition and Management. Ottawa: Health Canada.

Health Canada 2004. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects

and Investigation Methods. Ottawa: Health Canada. ISBN 0-662-37432-0. 47 p.

Jaakkola, J. J. K., Hwang, B. F., Jaakkola, N. 2005. Home dampness and

molds, parental atopy, and asthma in childhood: a six-year population-based

cohort

study. Environmental Health Perspectives 113: 357-361.

Rand, T. G., Giles, S., Flemming, J., , J. D., Puniani, E. 2005.

Inflammatory and cytotoxic responses in mouse lungs exposed to purified toxins

from building isolated Penicillium brevicompactum Dierckx and P. chrysogenum

Thom. Toxicological Sciences 87: 213-222.

Wickman, M., Melen, E., Berglind, N., Lennart Nordvall, S., Almqvist, C.,

Kull, I., Svartengren, M., Pershagen, G. 2003. Strategies for preventing

wheezing and asthma in small children. Allergy 58: 742-747.

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