Toxic Mould

Stachybotrys chartarum, which is also known as the toxic mold. This fungus may produce spores, which are poisonous by inhalation. ‘The common places for mould to grow in houses is wallpaper, flooring, behind wall tiles and on window frames,’ explains Professor Richardson. He adds: ‘It can form in any poorly ventilated house, no matter how grand or ordinary, but it’s especially likely where there is moisture leaking.’ A leaking radiator is often a mould hotspot - you may not even be able to see that a radiator is leaking, but even a small leak can be enough to wet the back wall and the carpet beneath. Professor Roy Watling, an authority on fungi and formerly head of mycology at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, says: 'When you walk around on the damp carpet, mould spores are released into the atmosphere, which you can then inhale. ‘Those most at risk of health problems caused by household moulds are children and babies, the elderly and those in poor health.’ Breathing in mould spores can have one of two effects - it can cause an infection, which usually strikes people with a weakened immune system. Mould can also cause allergic reactions, particularly asthma, as the immune system reacts to the spores when they make their way into the upper airways and sinuses. Symptoms of a mould problem include coughing, constant tiredness, eye and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation or nausea.

Important Issues About Mould and How It Effects Your Children.

Important Issues About Mould and How It Effects Your Children. By: Jim Corkern Whether it is asthma, the flu, bronchitis, or any other type of illness, all parents are concerned with the long term effects of these conditions and what causes or aggravates them. Mould has somewhat taken centre stage in the list of things in your home that can cause adverse health effects for not only children and the elderly, but anyone else living in your home at the time, as well. Not only can mould cause the aggravation of allergies and respiratory conditions such as asthma and emphysema, but it can also be toxic and cause long term medical conditions that can even end in death in some severe cases. Due to their underdeveloped nature compared to adults, children are much more at risk to face the health effects of mould exposure than their adult counterparts. If your child has allergies, you probably keep an eye on their exposure to them on a daily basis, as well you should, but have you had your home tested for mould? If you have not, then you probably should. Your child's immune system is in development in the early years of its life and you should do what you can to make sure that the natural maturing process is not disturbed. Educate yourself about the different symptoms that can be caused from mould exposure, since many doctors are not particularly aware of the complex symptoms that can come about from the exposure. If you believe that your home has mould and your child is sick, relate this to your child's pediatrician. Infants are the most at risk, obviously, and if you suspect there is mold in your home anywhere, you should remove the child from the environment immediately and have tests done to determine if the mould is cosmetic or not. Hemorrhagic pneumonia can be caused by mould exposure in an infant and deaths have been reported. If your home has been flooded and your child's toys were exposed to flood waters, anything porous needs to be thrown away. This includes stuffed animals, pillows, and other bedding. These are no longer safe for your child to play with. Even mattresses need to be thrown out and replaced, because of the recent link between mould, crib mattresses, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

How do moulds affect people?

How do molds affect people? Some people are sensitive to moulds. For these people, exposure to moulds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of moulds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mould with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mould exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies, but more research is needed in this regard.

Household mould may cause people with asthma to develop severe forms of the disease, a study suggests. Researchers in France have found a strong link between people who are sensitive to the type of mould that can sometimes be found on plants and paintwork in the home, and those who have life-threatening asthma attacks. They believe mould, more than any other allergens, including dust mites or cats, may be responsible for triggering severe asthma. Sensitive to allergens Each of the participants was tested to gauge whether their asthma symptoms got worse when exposed to a variety of allergens. These included household mould, dust mites, a type of grass and cats. The study found that three out of four people were sensitive to at least one allergen, with grass and dust mites topping the list. Two out of three people were sensitive to two or more allergens. Almost one in five was allergic to a plant fungus or mould that typically grows on dead plants, damp walls or paintwork and old food. Those who were sensitive to these moulds were much more likely to have a severe form of asthma. There was not a similar link with pollens or cats. Writing in the British Medical Journal, the authors suggested this may be because mould spores are much smaller and can reach the lower airways where they can cause most damage. In addition, these spores were present in the home where people generally spent most of their time. The authors called on doctors to tell patients about the risks. "Those people with asthma who are sensitised to airborne moulds should be educated to pay careful attention to symptoms and comply with treatment," they said. "Patients should be encouraged to decrease exposure by avoiding indoor conditions that facilitate the growth of moulds - for example, by better ventilation and by decreasing dampness." Intervention study Professor Martyn Partridge, chief medical adviser to the National Asthma Campaign, welcomed the study. "This report could be a very important study for people with asthma. What has been demonstrated is an 'association' between mould sensitisation and severe asthma. "We cannot be certain that this is a cause and effect relationship but it might be." "What is now needed is an intervention study and this would need to be in two parts; firstly looking to see if a reduced exposure to moulds prevented those with asthma moving into the severe category, and secondly seeing if reducing exposure to moulds by those with severe asthma improves control of the disease." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2209415.stm