Mould
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How can mould affect my health?
Mould exposure can cause symptoms that are also associated with many other exposures and diseases, including nose and eye irritation, wheezing, congestion, cough, and aggravated allergies, including asthma.
The symptoms experienced from mould exposure are usually not serious, life threatening or long-lasting effects. However, severe reactions may occur among workers who are exposed to large amounts of mould, such as farmers working near mouldy hay. In addition, people with chronic illness may develop a mould infection in their lungs.
The most common types of mould are generally not harmful to healthy individuals. However, there are some groups of people who are more likely to be affected by mould, such as those with asthma, hay fever, other allergies or a weak immune system due to other medical conditions.
Individuals with specific conditions such as diabetes or cancer are more susceptible than the general population to infections caused by certain types of mould.
How does mould affect people with asthma and allergies?
People with Allergies - Studies indicate that about 15 per cent of adults and 18 per cent of teenagers have allergies in Canada. When people who suffer from allergies are exposed to low levels of mould, both indoors and outdoors, they could develop respiratory symptoms. There is no threshold level below which these allergic effects do not occur. However, the symptoms will usually disappear when exposure to the substance causing the allergic reaction ceases.
People with Asthma - Many people with asthma are also allergic to mould. Exposure to mould, both indoors and outdoors, may bring on asthma attacks.
It is rare that mould will cause an infection. However, in people whose immune systems are weakened (e.g. a person being treated for cancer, persons with HIV infection, kidney failure or diabetes), exposure to moulds such as Aspergillus, which would not generally cause illness, can result in infection. The mould Stachybotrys atra does not cause infection.
Does mould cause other health effects?
Other health effects from exposure to moulds have been reported but are not well documented in the scientific literature.
The health effects that an individual may face from exposure to toxin-producing moulds such as Stachybotrys atra include toxic and/or irritating effects.
Symptoms which have been linked to water damage and mould include flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fever, eye and respiratory irritation. Skin irritation has also been reported.
There is also some question as to whether the toxins produced by certain moulds such as Stachybotrys may affect immune system function. This has not been well documented in humans.
What do studies show about the effects of mould?
Studies have shown a link between respiratory symptoms and other symptoms and home dampness and mould growth. However, a cause and effect relationship between airborne exposure to mould and health effects has not yet been established.
The Ministry of Health organized two expert panels on mould and fungal contamination. The Expert Panel Summary Report on Fungal Contamination Indoors looked at questions concerning the health effects associated with mould in indoor environments and made recommendations for public health practice around dealing with potential mould exposures.