The Danger of Mould!

Mould can produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Some mycotoxins adhere to the mould spores while others can be found within the spore itself. Air movement and the handling of contaminated material can release spores containing mycotoxins into the atmosphere. Once released, spores must contact the skin or be inhaled before symptoms can develop.

 Exposure to toxic moulds may irritate skin, eyes, nose, and throat, resulting in symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, runny nose, and watery eyes,

 Other symptoms such as fatigue and headache have also been reported,

 Workers who are allergic to moulds could experience asthmatic attacks upon exposure,

 Workers exposed to Stachybotrys have additionally experienced burning in the nose, nosebleeds, severe coughing, and impairment of the immune system. Stachybotrys does not cause infection and is not spread from person to person.

 People with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to mould-related illness and should not be involved in removing mould or investigating areas that may be mould-contaminated.

Stachybotrys chartarum

Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra) is a black greenish mould that grows on materials with high cellulose content such as diywall, wood, paper, and ceiling tiles. Like some other moulds, this one produces chemicals called mycotoxins under certain environmental conditions. Health effects of breathing mycotoxins are not well understood.

 Stachybotrys appears as black slimy patches and grows well on water-soaked cellulose material such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, drywall, and insulation containing paper.

 Not all black moulds are Stachybotrys, and not all types of Stachybotrys produce mycotoxins.

Numerous types of mould exist. In buildings with water damage or ongoing moisture problems, certain types of "water-loving" moulds may reproduce to higher than normal levels and potentially cause adverse health effects. Stachybotrys chartarum {also known as Stachybotrys atra) is of particular concern because it can be found in large colonies and can cause adverse health effects.

In addition to Stachybotrys, personnel working in water-damaged buildings may he exposed to other types of moulds such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium.

How can mould growth be prevented?

Indoor Mold and Children's Health

Reactive airways disease in children is increasing in many countries around the world. The clinical diagnosis of asthma or reactive airways disease includes a variable airflow and an increased sensitivity in the airways. This condition can develop after an augmented reaction to a specific agent (allergen) and may cause a life-threatening situation within a very short period of exposure. It can also develop after a long-term exposure to irritating agents that cause an inflammation in the airways in the absence of an allergen.

Several environmental agents have been shown to be associated with the increased incidence of childhood asthma. They include allergens, cat dander, outdoor as well as indoor air pollution, cooking fumes, and infections. There is, however, increasing evidence that mold growth indoors in damp buildings is an important risk factor. About 30 investigations from various countries around the world have demonstrated a close relationship between living in damp homes or homes with mold growth, and the extent of adverse respiratory symptoms in children. Some studies show a relation between dampness/mold and objective measures of lung function. Apart from airways symptoms, some studies demonstrate the presence of general symptoms that include fatigue and headache and symptoms from the central nervous system. At excessive exposures, an increased risk for hemorrhagic pneumonia and death among infants has been reported.

The described effects may have important consequences for children in the early years of life. A child's immune system is developing from birth to adolescence and requires a natural, physiologic stimulation with antigens as well as inflammatory agents. Any disturbances of this normal maturing process will increase the risk for abnormal reactions to inhaled antigens and inflammagenic agents in the environment.

The knowledge about health risks due to mold exposure is not widespread and health authorities in some countries may not be aware of the serious reactions mold exposure can provoke in some children. Individual physicians may have difficulty handling the patients because of the lack of recognition of the relationship between the often complex symptoms and the indoor environment

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