Key points
- Mould is mainly caused by moisture
- It can grow on almost anything
- Asthma and other allergies can be worsened by mould exposure with serious consequences
- It is linked to fatigue and depression
- Removing it is harder than you think
Recent severe rainfall and floods that ravaged various parts of Australia’s eastern coast could be followed by an unprecedented spread of mould, which can cause dangerous health problems.
Most flood-affected areas in Queensland and Northern NSW, currently contending with post-flood clean-up, are highly vulnerable to mould growth and removing it could be risky, costly, and in most cases better left to the professionals, experts suggest.
Lismore locals help with the clean up in the Central Business District in Lismore, Northern NSW, Thursday, March 3, 2022. Source: AAP Image/Jason O'Brien.
What is mould?
Mould is a type of fungi that grows best in damp and poorly ventilated areas and reproduces by making tiny particles called spores. Spores are carried in the air and may cause health problems if inhaled by people who are sensitive or allergic to them.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that mould is present in up to fifty per cent of Australian homes and it can cause serious health problems to people exposed to it, even for a short period.
Although scientists are working on new materials and measures to prevent the accumulation of moisture in new buildings, governments have not yet agreed on common guidelines to control mould’s proliferation.
It can also damage fabrics, clothes and other personal items which, in many cases, must be destroyed.
The main concern for authorities is the effect on public health.
Mould spores. Source: Getty Images/Sinhyu.
Mould can affect your health and wellbeing
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice-president Dr Chris Moy says the most vulnerable are people suffering from allergies, an existing respiratory problem, or a weakened immune system.
“The commonest would be allergies. It is people who have asthma or have bad hay fever or eczema that are allergic to mould”, says Dr Moy.
“For others it may just be a direct irritation of the eyes, the nose and throat".
Sydney University researcher and Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Dr Arianna Brambilla, recently published a book on Moisture and Buildings.
She says that one in three homes, on average, suffers from excessive dampness and mould proliferation with consequent significant impact on human health and repair costs.
Dr Brambilla explains that our behaviour in enclosed spaces could encourage the formation of mould in all types of buildings, old and new.
It could also be the way we live indoors. So, it means ventilation of the spaces is necessary if you are doing workouts or if just leaving clothes drying indoors.
ImageFor For some, moving is the only solution
The effect of mould on people’s health can, in some cases, have dramatic consequences.
Melbourne-based Ameeta Piazzi started to develop symptoms after living in several rental properties over the years, all of which had probably been water-damage.
It took her years to realise that a variety of health issues she was suffering from were connected to mould exposure.
“There was a vast array of symptoms. Some of them were cognitive, some of them were behavioural, some of them were pretty health based”, she says.
“First of all, brain fog, I wasn’t understanding what I was doing, [and had] short term memory loss. I couldn’t find the words when I was speaking. Sometime in meetings at work I would be there and could not find the word and go completely blank”.
The worst symptom was chronic fatigue.
Ms Piazzi also noticed her symptoms worsening when she started working from home, which included slow healing of wounds such as cuts and bruises.
After finding out the causes of her issues was due to mould exposure, Ms Piazzi says the two things helped her overcome her symptoms were “knowledge” first, then “avoidance”.
She started learning about the impacts mould can have on your health and decided to move out of her water-damaged rental property.
“It was a big revelation. The very first step widely recognised is avoidance of mould”, she says.
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How to remove mould?
Once present in an enclosed environment, mould is very difficult to remove as it lies deep within the surface. Any attempt to remove it yourself may pose risks.
Depending on the severity and the affected area, Dr Brambilla says that the task of clearing mould is best left to professionals.
"It’s highly difficult and we always recommend to not do it yourself at home as some chemicals could be very toxic", say Dr Brambilla.
"The problem of mould is that it is inside the wall so, probably, if you just clean the surface, it does not remove it and it is only a temporary solution".
The best way in the short term is to ventilate the space, use a dehumidifier to remove the excessive humidity, and then call a professional that can look and assess the gravity of the situation.
Ameeta Piazzi underlines, moving out of a house may not be a measure that everyone can easily take, as it poses a significant financial stress.
"You don’t get any compensation", she explains.
"I think that the legalities in the Real Estate market prevents an easy process of compensation. You have to demonstrate that the landlords have previous knowledge that the place is not liveable".
Research and legislation
Meanwhile, researchers are developing new methods and strategies to control the formation of moisture in buildings and to encourage the use of more efficient materials to prevent the proliferation of mould. But no strict regulations are currently in place.
In March 2020 a Federal Government inquiry into Biotoxin-related illnesses in Australia recommended that the “‘States and Territories conduct further research into the adequacy of current building codes and standards relating to the prevention and remediation of dampness and mould in buildings”.
Associate architect Diana Yang, of Luigi Rosselli’s firm, says that although legislation does not regulate the prevention of moisture, there are codes and standards that need to be followed in new constructions.
Black mould on wall. Source: Getty Images/Ekspansio.
"With the Building Code of Australia there are some specific rules that are set out which relate specifically to a few topics: the building membrane, basically preventing water from coming inside the building; ventilation, so if there is any build-up of condensation, you need good ventilation to clear that…also focuses specifically on ventilation of the roof space,” she explains.
Dr Brambilla says research is ongoing to improve the construction quality and to adopt new strategies.
"We are looking at where materials are placed, for example outside or in high humidity zones, such as bathrooms", she says.
"But also, the type and permeability of membranes inside our walls so that they can allow walls to breath and to exhaust the excessive humidity that can be accumulated inside".
What to do if you are at risk?
With the recent wild weather in large areas of eastern Australia, the risk to residents’ health caused by moisture build-up has dramatically increased.
if you are experiencing the presence of mould Dr Moy has the following advice on how to protect yourself and reduce risk:
- Try and reduce your exposure.
- If you need to go into an area where there is a lot of mould wear a heavy-duty mask like the P2N95.
- Dry out as much as you can.
- Open the windows and remove things that have been soaked.
- Material such as carpets may need to be thrown out if it’s been soaked in water.
For more information on what to do if you have mould in your home click on the link to your State or Territory below: