Spore-riddled buildings have sparked panic, but experts can't agree if we should worry. Stachybotrys, aspergillus and penicillium may sound like alien organisms from the X-files. But in fact they are moulds, which are infiltrating schools, day cares and nursing homes in Nova Scotia, leaving a wake of controversy behind them. The divide among experts about what moulds affect our health has mushroomed even larger than the mould.
Moulds are everywhere in the air and the ground, and make up a vital part of our ecosystem.
In healthy buildings mould spores circulate that are identical to those outside. But moulds that grow indoors in water-damaged buildings are a different story. As many as 260 different species can grow in a moist or water contaminated building, Mr. Rand says. Stachybotrys , which is black and slimy in appearance, commonly grows in buildings like schools, because it feeds on cellulose based building materials like drywall and ceiling tiles. In our modern environment, moulds can cause basically irritative type symptoms and allergy symptoms.