Common health effects of indoor mould exposure

No, it depends on the sensitivity of each individual, the quantities of mould found, the species of mould, the time spent in an environment, etc. The people who are normally most at risk are the elderly, children, and people with respiratory disabilities or other disorders (atopic or immunocompromised people). Pregnant women should also exercise caution when dealing with mould.

Normally, yes. If corrective work (decontamination) has been carried out to eliminate indoor mold, things should usually return to normal after a few days. If not, consult your doctor. It is possible that there is something else causing your symptoms, that there is another source of mold, or that the problem has not been completely fixed. In some cases, however, the symptoms may be irreversible.

Several factors can influence the determination of whether a space can be inhabited in the presence of mould contamination. It is important as a first step to make a complete investigation of the building in order to determine the extent of the contaminated surfaces, and what corrective measures must be put in place.

On the other hand, always check the severity of your symptoms, if they are significant, you should preferably consult with your doctor and ask if you may need to leave the premises temporarily until the problem is resolved.

Generally, all moulds are irritants to varying degrees (eyes, throat, nose) and cause allergic reactions.

However, some moulds are more harmful than others. For example, mould families such as Penicillium or Aspergillus have several species that generate mycotoxins which can cause serious negative effects on health beyond irritation and allergies. This is the case with Aspergillus niger , Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus fumigatus , Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium citrinum , Penicillium cyclopium, Penicillium chrysogenum, etc. Other moulds like Alternaria alternata, Stachybotrys chartarum,  and Trichoderma harzianum can also have an impact on the health of the occupants. Cladosporium Cladosporoides is a common mould found in homes that can also cause symptoms. In fact, for some time now, we have noticed that it is found in the pollen forecasts (spore index) of weather media like other moulds.

This is not an exhaustive list, and many other moulds are found in homes that can generate mycotoxins and cause symptoms in occupants.

Yes. Mould contamination can affect the health of humans and animals. Basically, moulds generate mycotoxins to defend their territory against other organisms in their environment. It is therefore possible that animals are also affected by these substances. Several customers have already asked us to do air tests in their homes because their animals were sick and the vets did not understand exactly what was wrong with them. Removing contamination in these cases proved to be a successful solution for the pets. In fact, animals can be even more affected by mould contamination because they are closer to the ground and therefore closer to household dust, where there is a large concentration of moulds.