Health Effects Of Mold Growth In Buildings

About Molds in General:

Moulds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance when moisture is present. Outdoors, many molds live in the soil and play a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Without moulds we would all be struggling with large amounts of dead plant matter. Molds break down plant materials by digesting them, using the plant material for food.

The Difference Between Molds - Indoors vs. Outdoors:

In the outdoor environment there are often many different species of moulds all competing for space and food.  Through natural competition these different species keep each other 'under control' and this prevents any one species from becoming over dominant.  This means that the outdoor air that you breathe contains a small amount of a large number of types of spores.  In the indoor environment the fungal ecology is often very different.  Indoor mould growth is often limited to a much fewer number of species than outdoors, but in much larger amounts.  This means that the indoor air can be contaminated with a large number of spores from only a few species of moulds.  Remember, the dose makes the poison - if you rinse your mouth with mouthwash you will kill the bacteria in your mouth leaving you with fresh breath, if you drink the whole bottle, however, you will need to call poison control!  Mould is no different - if you are exposed to high levels of a particular type of mould you stand a much higher chance of having health related issues as a result.

Mold Spores:

Moulds produce tiny spores, that are invisible to the naked eye, as part of their reproduction, just as plants produce seeds.  Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot or wet area indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive.  There are moulds that can grow on wood, paper, plastics, carpet, foods, and even dynamite!

There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

Mold Spores and Your Health:

All moulds can cause health problems such as asthma episodes in individuals with an allergic reaction to mould, but the effects of mould on the human body are not fully understood. The Center for Disease Control in the USA, "The hazards presented by molds that may contain mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common moulds which can grow in your house". Even people who seem to be immune to the effects of mould can become sensitized and start showing symptoms after repeat exposures.

Mold Health Problems can be Broken Down into 3 Types:

1. Allergenic - Causing allergy and asthma symptoms. Up to 32% of all asthmatics are sensitive to moulds. A study performed by the Mayo Clinic found 93% of patients with chronic sinusitis was caused by mould.

3. Pathogenic - A disease caused by mould. Diseases associated with mould are usually caused by high exposure or found in immune compromised individuals.

5. Toxic - Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites (toxins not necessary for survival) produced to kill other fungi competing for the mould's food and water. Mycotoxins are highly carcinogenic and can cause serious health effects in almost anybody. They are neurotoxins (cause neurological damage) which can enter the body through digestion, skin or the respiratory system. There is an ever growing list of moulds that produce mycotoxins.  Four of the most dangerous types of mould that produce mycotoxins are:

Current evidence indicates that excessive moisture in buildings promotes mold growth and is associated with an increasing risk of symptoms due to irritation, allergy and infection.
 
Health Canada, based on a recent review of the medical literature, has concluded that living or working in a building with material mould damage is harmful to health.

Health complaints may include headache, cough, respiratory tract irritation, eye irritation, rash, sinus congestion and allergic responses, such as asthma and hay fever-type symptoms.

Not all occupants will react to indoor mold exposure.

More severe health effects are rare and typically limited to individuals with suppressed immune systems, infants and persons with high occupational exposure such as farmers and possibly remediation workers. There are no accepted numerical criteria for indoor fungal spore concentrations.

The accepted practice among leading authorities including Health Canada and The American Industrial Hygiene Association is the comparison of samples in areas of concern with reference samples.

An acceptable condition is indicated when concentrations of airborne fungal particles are not significantly elevated when compared to concentrations in the control samples, and the types of fungal particulate do not differ significantly from those present in the control samples.

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