If you've ever had a
water leak
...you could have mould!
Mould can grow inside your home behind walls and underneath
flooring without you even being aware of it. Even though mould
is a natural occurring fungi, it can have marked health effects
on many people in large concentrations and depending on the type of
mould.
New and older buildings can have indoor mould growth issues.
The age of the home or office has little bearing on whether
there could be a mould growth issue or even a mould infestation. If
there have been any water intrusion issues, excessive
condensation or elevated humidity levels inside the home or
office, there could be mould. Unfortunately, odor is not a
good indicator of the severity or potential of the indoor mould
growth problem. Buildings can have a strong musty odor and
a very small area of mould growth, or no odor at all and a very
significant mould problem.
There are many mould species that can cause a variety of symptoms
such as skin rashes, nose bleeds, itchy and watery eyes,
breathing difficulties, migraine headaches, just to name a few.
Some indoor moulds are extremely toxic and can cause long
lasting illnesses and disease.
(Please note that
mold is the
American spelling and mould
is the British/Canadian spelling)
How does mold grow?
Mold needs moisture in the form of a water leak, even high
relative humidity, together with a nutrient source (drywall,
carpeting, dust) to grow. If you have had a roof leak, basement
leak, condensation on windows, even an overflow of a sink that was not cleaned up
properly within 24 hours of its occurrence, you could have mold
growth.
Indoor mold can be detected through air samples, bulk
samples and swabs that are sent to a laboratory for culturing
and identification. Most importantly, a proper air quality
assessment using instrumentation is also required. This
will provide you with important information on the location and
potential for hidden mould growth issues as well as the cause of
the problem. An indoor mould investigation will often tell you
the species of mould, whether it's toxic and how much of it is
in your home. Most importantly it will be able to guide you in
getting rid of your mould problem.
A home or office does not have to have visible evidence of
mould growth for there to be a potential toxic mould issue. This
is why it is important to have a proper mould assessment done to
determine if you have a mould growth issue and where. |
