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Could Mold Be Making Us Sick?

Question: I have a window that leaks and the hardwood floor under both windows is rotten. The property manager said she can’t fix the leak because “all the windows leak”. My boyfriend and I have been really sick and the doctor can’t explain why. Is there a high chance mold could be growing under the floor, that’s making us sick? And do you know what city service in Vancouver I could contact about this situation?

Answer: If there are leaks it’s very likely that there is mold growing on the water damaged materials. It’s difficult to say whether your sickness is due to mold. However, indoor mold and dampness have been associated with ill health. People who are sensitive to mold may experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. Individuals with a history of mold allergies may have more severe reactions. People with weak immune system may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to molds such as Aspergillus fumigatus. Such people are advised to stay away from areas that are likely to have mold.

I am not sure which city service in Vancouver you could contact about this situation but you may want to try their public health department.

Airborne Mould Spores: Could They Be Dangerous To Health?

Mould spores are tiny structures produced by moulds for reproduction purposes. They are so small that we can hardly see some of them even when magnified 400 times. One cubic meter of outdoor air may contain as many as 1,000,000 spores. The volume of air we inhale at rest is estimated at 10 litres per minute. Therefore, in an hour we inhale close to 600,000 spores. The air in some working environments including mouldy buildings may contain up to 1,000,000,000 spores per cubic meter of air.

In indoor environments moulds grow on moist surfaces such as the drywall, wallpaper, carpet, baseboards, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVACs). As these moulds grow, a stage is reached when they produce spores. The spores become airborne after drying out or if disturbed.

Could airborne spores be dangerous to our health?
About 20% of the population is allergic to mould spores. Apart from being allergenic, spores of some mould species such as Stachybotrys contain toxic compounds called mycotoxins. Symptoms associated with mould spores may include allergy, headache and fatigue, running nose, sneezing, coughing, pneumonia and Asthma among other non-specific symptoms. Young children, the elderly and people undergoing medical treatment are particularly susceptible to mould spores.

How can we control indoor mould spores?
It is extremely difficult to get rid of spores completely. We can, however, reduce their numbers by controlling mould growth in our houses or offices. Mould growth is associated with moisture problem as a result of flooding, leaks in roofs or plumbing and condensation in case of poor ventilation or inadequate insulation. The key to controlling mould growth is keeping our houses or offices dry by maintaining low relative humidity (below 70%) thus eliminating or slowing the growth of most mould species. Any water leakage should be repaired immediately and the water dried out within 48 hours. Constant monitoring for mould growth in the kitchen, bathrooms, window frames, carpets and baseboards is recommended. The earlier the mould is discovered the cheaper and easier it is to get rid of the problem.

What should you do if you notice mould growing in your house or office?
Do not panic! Seek professional advice. Not all moulds are dangerous to health, but no mould should be allowed to grow in our dwellings. Also the health effects of indoor moulds depend on the amount of mould one has been exposed to, length of time of exposure, the types of moulds present and individual’s resistance. Therefore, presence of mould does not necessarily mean the occupants have been affected.

Which are the most dangerous moulds?
People have come to believe that black moulds are the most dangerous.
The truth is, colour does not determine whether a mould is of health concern or not. To know whether a mould is dangerous or not requires the mould to be identified by a qualified mycologist.

Should you have a question concerning moulds, please send your question to us at My Question.

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The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]