In the past we have heard many cases of tenants suing their landlords for mold growth. I believe there are very few (if any) cases of landlords suing their tenants for mold growth. Although we are not legal experts or building scientists there are probably instances where tenants are solely responsible for mold growth. First, what triggers mold to grow in a building? Everybody knows it is moisture! The key sources of moisture are often stated as:

• leaks from pipes and roof
• flooding
• rising damp
• condensation
• occupants activities that generate moisture such as cooking, laundry, and bathing.

If mold develops because the tenants never operated fans when cooking, doing laundry or bathing, then they, and not the landlord are responsible for mold growth. Also, I believe the tenant should be held responsible for mold growth if they have been having leaks and they don't report them to the landlord on time for repair.

So, if you are a tenant and you find mold growing in your house, be sure the landlord is responsible before you rush to a lawyer's office. You may find yourself being sued by your landlord for causing mold growth in their property!

(This discussion is the writer's opinion, it is not legal advice)

Did you know farmer's lung is an allergic lung disease that affects farm workers handling hay or other plant materials contaminated with mould and actinomycetes?

Did you know a single gram (dry weight) of hay could contain up to 102,000,000 (102 million) fungal spores and 1,200,000,000 (i.e., 1200 million) actinomycete spores?

Did you know that up to 1,600,000,000 (i.e.,1600 million) spores per cubic meter of air have been recorded in farm buildings while hay was being shaken for animals?

And did you know that on average a female worker performing yardwork inhales 18 liters of air per minute while a male worker inhales 29 liters per minute? That means a female worker in a farm building could be inhaling 1,728 million spores per hour while a male could be inhaling 2,784 million spores per hour!

Homes formerly used as grow ops drastically lose their market value. Are these homes a good deal for home buyers? I would say a number of these homes would definitely be a good deal. In fact some old homes may be worse deals than former grow ops. However, the fact that the house was used as a grow ops calls for you to be extra cautious.

As a buyer, the first thing you need to know is whether the house is structurally sound. If it is not, you would not want to continue with the deal. If it is structurally sound, the next thing you would want to know is the level of both biological and chemical pollutants. It is strongly recommended that you seek professional help before committing yourself to the deal.

Infection of toe and finger nails by fungi is referred to as onychomycosis. It has an overall prevalence of 2% to 13% worldwide, but the prevalence is much higher in elderly people and those with weak immune system. Toenails are affected in 80% of all cases of nail infection.

What Causes Nail Infection?
Over 90% of nail fungal infection cases are caused by the mould Trichophyton rubrum followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. There are other moulds that cause nail infection including yeasts such as Candida species.

What Are The Symptoms of Nail Infection?
Initial infection may go unnoticed but as the fungus damges the nail, the following symptoms may be observed:

• Discoloration of the nail plate or bed
• Nail thickening or deformity
• Crumbling of nails
• Pain, redness and swelling of the surrounding skin
• bad smell

How Does Infection Occur?
Nail fungal infection occurs when one gets into direct contact with an infected person or indirectly through sharing a shower, shoes, or nail clippers. One may also get infected by bathing in contaminated communal bathing facilities. Tiny cuts on the nails helps the fungus to get through.

Treatment of Nail Infection
Nail fungal infection may appear a minor cosmetic problem that does not merit treatment. However there are good reasons why one should seek treatment. So, if you suspected your nails could be infected, visit your doctor for advice.


References
Roberts DT, Taylor WD, Boyle J (2003). Guidelines for treatment of onychomycosis. British Journal of Dermatology; 148: 402–410.

Fungi is a group of organisms that includes the yeasts, moulds, and the mushrooms.

Harmful effects of fungi to humans
A number of moulds and yeasts cause human and animal diseases. For example, species of Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Sporothrix are opportunistic pathogens and easily infect individuals with weak immune systems.

A number of other moulds are well recognized causes of allergic reactions. For example Penicillium roquefortii and Aspergillus clavatus are causes of pulmonary allergy in the cheese and brewery industries respectively. Arthrinium casues skin allergies of cane harvesters.

Apart from infection and allergies, some moulds produce toxic compounds that are harmful to both humans and animals. The best known of these toxins is aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is mainly produced by some species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasitica. Aflatoxin is a powerful trigger of cancer (i.e., it is carcinogenic).


Harmful effects of fungi to plants
Majority of plant diseases are caused by fungi. The plant diseases caused by fungi range from tissue death to vascular wilting. Fungi cause both field and storage losses of agricultural products.