Risks of Mould and FAQ’s Is Mould a Health Hazard?
Please take some time to
read the reports below from respected worldwide organisations:
World Health Organisation Guidelines on Dampness and Mould 2009 National Health Service Centre of
Disease Control - Mould after flood damageEnvironmental Protection Agency - USAUS National
Library of Medicine/Institute of health BBC News -
National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris
How can I kill mould?
Dead mould is more of a
health hazard than live mould. DON’T KILL IT, REMOVE IT!.
The action of killing a
mould causes the relatively large spore to fragment into tiny pieces often less
than 5 microns which are inhaled deep into the lung or alveoli where blood
oxygen transfer occurs. This means in effect any allergenic or toxic effect of
the mould spore may be carried directly into the blood stream. These small
particles (less than 7.5micron) bypass all human defences to enter lower
respiratory system.
This is the advice of The World
Health Organisation and most international bodies. The WHO have stated the
greatest risk from mould is from inhalation and in particular the smaller
fragments of mycelia and fragments of dead or dormant mould and of course live
spores. If you kill mould by drying, fungicides, bleach and other methods you
will create a cloud of contaminates. One cubic inch of mould can contain 1
billion spores, generally counts of single genus over 500, are recognised as a
potential health hazard. Mould must be removed carefully and the air should
always be decontaminated. The NHS have now provided a link to best practice(see
more )
and a new mould decontamination process is now available to economically
remove the biggest health hazard from inhalation(see more ).
If you have had mould
removed or killed you may still have invisible sub-micron particulates in the
air which you are constantly exposed to. Check our
health symptoms page to assess your risk. Principal Consultant (Jeff
Charlton) is often called upon by news channels for his expertise on disaster
recovery.
Why do some organisations
offer to kill or destroy mould with ozone or "Fogging" process?
Basically because they don’t know it's ineffective
but it does make them money. You only have to read the Wilson paper in our
library to see that no single method can destroy mould.
Is black mould
dangerous or toxic?
The colour of a mould is no gauge of its toxicity.
You can have white, blue, green and red moulds and all are equally dangerous or
allergenic. Even toxic moulds such as Penicillium Aspergillus , and others may
be capable of producing toxins but usually only do so when under attack typically
from drying out, application of bleach or biocides and bacteria.
I have been
told to wash off the mould with bleach or fungicide and paint, is that safe?
NO. A cubic inch of mould can contain 1 billion
spores. Brushing off mould will likely release hundreds of thousands of spores
into the air you breathe.
I have a little
mould on my wall is it dangerous?
This is difficult to answer. Some toxic moulds that
are producing toxins can have devastating health effects from just a few square
inches while some toxic moulds can fill a wall but do not have serious health
effects. Much will depend on whether the mould is under attack or growing
actively. Bottom line is all mould is allergenic but some are extremely toxic.
I am going to
get a swab taken of mould how accurate is this?
Almost useless. If you can see mould get rid of it
don’t identify it. Swab results invariably overgrow and the most dominant spore
will cultivate the plate often obscuring the more difficult to grow toxic
moulds. The process of culture based sampling is complex and may require
several different agars to replicate the required growth conditions.
Are culture
petri dishes useful to assess mould levels?
The WHO answered this in their Guidelines of IAQ
Dampness and mould publication 2009 (available from our library)and state this
techniques has serious limitations International opinion recognises this
technique may underestimate the true count by a factor of 100.
What is the
difference between mould removal and decontamination?
Almost anyone suitably protected can remove mould
but the airborne release may cause contamination to spread widely and create a
serious inhalation risk. Decontamination is the actual removal of surface and
or the removal of airborne contamination.
What is the
main risk of mould?
According to the WHO the main risk of mould growth
is the inhalation of spores and their fragments together with associated
contaminates.
What is the
recommended procedure for mould removal/decontamination?
This will depend on your health and wealth. If you
have an area smaller than 10 square feet the NHS recommend YOU wear suitable
PPE and simply wash it off. (Take NHS info from the following https://www.mouldbusters.co.uk/ ) However if you
are debilitated and or have hidden mould you may need professional help.
Typically if mould is visible on one side of a plaster board wall it is
invariably present on the other side and may require removal by experts.
Wearing suitable PPE erect critical barriers to the
contaminated area. Install Negative air pressure to contain airborne
contamination. Carefully remove porous substrates and or clean hard surfaces with
HEPA vacuum systems. Wash down with soapy water and dry. Clean the air with a
suitable air scrubbing technique. Provide third party independent clearance
certification.
What is toxic
mould?
Toxic mould is a name coined by the Institute of Medicine
to describe the toxic effects known to be produced by moulds producing
cytotoxic and neurotoxic effects. The toxins originally thought to be ingested
are now known to be released into the air on inhalable fragments where they can
travel to the lower respiratory system.
Is mould the
main hazard?
No, bacteria grows before mould and they release
toxins too typically streptomycin which kills yeast (mould infections). The
mould will battle with bacteria and other moulds all releasing powerful toxins
and some will die. The dead bacteria, spores and spore casing will produce
allergens, may contain toxins and some are known to combine to create
significant challenges to the human immune system.
How do I know
if I have toxic mould?
If you have a long term water or moisture issue
(weeks/months) this can include flooding, leaks and even condensation. While
moisture is necessary for mould growth it doesn’t always follow that toxic
mould will form. Your best gauge of toxic mould is if you suffer symptoms
associated with it. See our health check.
Why am I sick
but my partner isn't?
This depends on many issues including age, personal
health, exposure levels. So often we see a housewife sick and the partner who
goes to work unaffected. This is due to extended periods of exposure. But often
the main reason is Genetics and typically people with an HLA gene difference
are affected most.
Why do I feel
better when I leave the property?
This is a typical marker for toxic mould. Exposure
to any toxic substance may reflect symptoms, but beware. The human body can remove
toxins to some extent but there may be a tipping point where even going out
into the natural environment may not see health improvement. It has been found that those affected quickly
often return to health quickly whereas some who take longer to react may find
they develop chronic symptoms despite leaving the exposure.
I rent my
property and my landlord blames me for the mould, but I don't think it's me,
what should I do?
To blame a tenant when it’s a building fault
invariably leads to loss of tenant, rental income and decay of the property,
increased maintenance and reduced value. Increasingly mould and its perceived
health issues leads to litigation which is invariably settled before court
appearance when all the facts and evidence is made available.
Tenants can cause mould growth but in the majority
of cases they simply want to live in a healthy environment which they chose to
live in.
The issue here is that both tenant and landlord
should work together to resolve the issues in a timely manner and to the
benefit of both parties.
At Building Forensics we provide sole joint expert
witness appraisal where our investigation looks at the cause and effect of
moisture damage and possible contamination. We identify the cause with
repeatable scientific investigation and leave little or no doubt with regard to
causation and responsibility.
More importantly we can provide independent non
conflict solutions as we don't sell fans, paints or any other process.
This approach brings an end to conflict or threat
of litigation. Where a contamination issue exists we can measure the issues of
concern and provide risk and hazard assessments together with consultancy on
restoration and decontamination clearance.
In 2019 new legislation was introduced which allows
tenants to take landlords directly to court without the need for third parties
as long as they have reasonable evidence.
My rental property has mould what
should I do?
Landlords who rent out properties that have mould,
are at risk of being prosecuted and facing a large fine or even imprisonment.
Landlords of tenanted properties are legally obliged to treat mould. If they
fail to do so, they face being prosecuted under Section 11 of the Landlord
& Tenant Act 1988 or Sections 79, 80 and 82 of the Environmental Protection
Act 1990. These acts classify mould as a statutory nuisance.
What are the health risks of
flooding?
This depends on time. It is accepted that a clean
water escape of water from inside a home is a low hazard. Grey water from a
washing machine which contains some organic soiling is a slightly higher risk.
Black water from outside sources is grossly contaminated and is assumed to
carry 120 bacterial and 1200 viral infections. All of these categories escalate
over hours and within 48 hours even clean water could amplify the normally
present biological loading to unacceptable levels.
What’s the best way to sanitise my
flooded home?
Soap and water and jetting if a major flood.
Many promote sanitizers but all have to be applied
to clean surfaces to remove organic loading which effectively neutralises
almost all sanitising agents.
Is there a standard for flooded
home restoration?
Yes the British Standards Institute published PAS
64 which is a route to satisfactory and proven restoration. Building Forensics
were part of the technical committee that wrote the guidance.
How long before mould will grow
after a flood?
Mould will grow within 48 hours and at almost any
temperature including in a fridge.
The extent of mould growth will often depend on
environmental conditions with temperature over 20c and humidity over 75% key
triggers.
Do Building Forensics have
economic safe solutions?
Yes. As leaders in this industry we can provide a
variety of low cost options to assist the homeowner and business all of which
have proved to provide required results. Solutions are geared to requirements
and levels of hazard and risk and no one single answer exists.
What are the health issues of fire
damage?
Chlorides which are the result of burning PVC
(Plastic ) are chemicals which combine to form hydrochloric acid. These acid
residues can form on metal parts causing corrosion but are a significant health
hazard when inhaled.
Other hazards include the release of VOCs (volatile
organic compounds) which may include formaldehyde and other potential
carcinogens. Of equal importance are the particles of incomplete combustion
(soots) which are carbon rich particles which can be inhaled and cause lung
issues. Of course water from fire brigade and extinguishing are other
considerations as per water damage.
I have a complaint what do I do?
We always endeavour to provide the best service and
products for our customers. However, on rare occasions, we recognise that there
may be times where our customers may not be completely satisfied. To ensure we
are able to put things rights as soon as we can, please read our complaints
procedure below and we will respond promptly to ensure complete satisfaction.
As soon as possible after the completion of the works, please inspect the work
to ensure everything has been carried out to our usual high standards.
In the unlikely event there is anything you are not
completely satisfied with, please contact us as soon as you can in order that
we can rectify any problems as soon as possible. Either call us on 0800
0843 033 info@buildingforensics.co.uk .
