Mould and Water Damage - Are You At Risk?
It’s not just ‘black mould’ you should worry about!
When it comes to water damage, water leaks and mould, there is so much more than meets the eye.
And it could be damaging your health without you even knowing.
Months in the making…
I had started writing this blog post through the Christmas period when much of the East side of Australia was being inundated with severe storms and torrential rain. My intention was to create a blog post that was helpful and succinct (I can harp on for hours about these topics!) about what to do if you have mould or water damage.
But in addition, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) have announced a La Niña “watch,” meaning we could fall back into similar wet weather patterns that much of the east of Australia saw in 2021 and 2022. We could have a wetter than average Winter and/or Spring. So I persisted in writing this, to hopefully arm you with information to help you if you find yourself with mould, water damage or leaks.
Though through writing this, as life would have it, my own health took a bit of a turn. And ironically, it was most likely triggered by mould (more on this below). As you may already be aware, my own personal health journey was a huge influence in the founding of The Paradigm Room – which is why I have persisted in writing this, despite how long it has taken me.
I kept my own experience to myself for so long. It was painful, both physically and emotionally. But, if I could use it for good, to help you, it was something I was very willing to do. And in conjunction with 15+ years design experience, The Paradigm Room was born - an interior design studio that specialises in healthier, low-toxin and sustainable interiors.
If you’ve missed it, you can catch a little introduction here in my first blog post.
Any form of leak, water damage or mould needs attention as soon as possible! Here’s why…
Why mould is so dangerous
Well, it isn’t just mould. So, if you can see mould, you probably have a much bigger problem.
Water damage leads to a toxic concoction that is harmful to your health, far beyond ‘black mould.’ There are often also a multitude of mould species, bacteria, microbacteria, inflammagens (including VOCs) and actinomycetes. Any one of these, or multiple, can become allergens to you. And your family!
Mould spores release mycotoxins, which can become airbourne and spread through your home. I’ll dive into this deeper shortly. But put into perspective, I had leaks originating from both of my bathrooms. Most of the damage was within the wall cavities. Yet, mould spores were detected on my kitchen bench.
1 in 4 people are most at risk
What most people aren’t aware of, is that about 25% of the population worldwide carry a particular type of HLA DR/DQ gene – which means they are much more susceptible to environmental or biotoxin illnesses (Lanthier-Veilleux et al., 2016). And in some populations, that proportion is much greater at 40 to 60%. This is why it is important to see the harm beyond ‘black mould.’
This 25% of people who carry the HLA-DR/DQ gene can have an impaired immune response to mycotoxins – that being, the human body has an compromised ability to eliminate the toxins in the same way that a non-susceptible person can (Saghir & Ansari, 2024). They are unable to naturally remove or detox the toxins from their body.
So, it is critical to address leaks and mould as soon as you become aware of them, and seek additional support if needed, to reduce the exposure to such toxins.
But bear in mind, that everyone can be impacted by mould and mycotoxins. The severity is determined by the extent of the water damage, the length of time of exposure, the condition of your immune system and your body’s ability to detox the toxins (and remember, about 1 in 4 people can have a significantly impaired ability to do so).
My personal mould exposure
I don’t typically share personal things. But I’m hoping my story may help you.
I remember the day I received my diagnosis of a biotoxin illness. I passed (or rather, failed) every ‘test’ required to be diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS):
1. I had known exposure - for 12 months at that point with an unresolved leak(s) in my home.
2. My symptoms were not being explained as result of any other illness (or rather again, multiple).
3. And I needed to exhibit a combination of 35 symptoms that were categorised into 13 clusters (for a CIRS diagnosis, you need 1 symptom in at least 8 of the 13 clusters). I had 34 of the total 35 symptoms. So every cluster was covered, with flying colours.
I found an integrative medical specialist who understood environmental illnesses. And while it wasn’t the fastest road to recovery, a few years later I felt a million times better and began to live my life again.
However, some of those symptoms returned late last year.
I’ve struggled to pinpoint a specific cause but I have so far been able to identify the following:
- Late last year I undertook a site visit of a really exciting project. Though the current state of the home was not good. There were visible signs of mould and water damage, and I felt like the ceiling could cave in from its condition. I feel this may have been the primary trigger for me.
- I found mould under my sink, from condensation from my pull-out bin (though I had always been so careful as to not put anything warm in the bin… the life of a former CIRS sufferer!).
- I found mould within my shower floor waste.
- And one of my much-loved low-toxin moisturisers that I had used for years (even through my previous healing phase) had changed their formula to include wattle – a plant I had always got hayfever from as a child, though admittedly, had never applied it topically to my skin.
I deeply feel that my current health situation has been an accumulation of elements over the past few months.
But I am committed to healing, again. Autoimmune conditions that became evident from my original water damage experience, of which I had actually healed to the point where they were no longer detectable, have resurfaced. But I can heal them again and return to good health.
I have personally found that, since healing from my previous biotoxin illness chapter, I am much more sensitive to mould, chemicals, and other toxins.
And this recent ‘relapse’ of sorts, has lead me to want to share more with you. More personal elements, in the hopes it may give you some inspiration. More tips to better health & wellbeing. More advice for low tox living, starting in your home.
And in addition, I am sharing this with you is because water damage is dangerous. And that goes well beyond ‘black mould,’ with so much of the toxicity being invisible to the naked eye. Mould illness can present as so many different illnesses. While it is gaining a lot more recognition in the conventional medical field, it is still commonly overlooked and misunderstood.
My hope is that I can share what I have learnt to prevent you and your family from going through a similar debilitating experience.
Mould can hide in unexpected places.
Like here, under the carpet outside of a bathroom
So, what should you do if you suspect a leak, or worse, water damage?
If you suspect a leak or water damage, engage an expert immediately to determine the cause (whether that be a plumber if it is a plumbing issue, builder if it is a construction issue, etc.).
If you can already see mould (or, the expert from Point 1 above indicates you have mould or water damage), engage a mould remediation expert immediately. Look for an “IICRC” certified specialist. IICRC-certified specialists are trained to certain cleaning, remediation and restoration standards (I.e. they won’t claim that bleach will rectify it… because it won’t!).
Mould spores and mycotoxins can spread easily, they become airborne. So be mindful not to stir it up. While hard non-porous surfaces may be easy to remediate, spores can contaminate porous items and be very hard to rectify (especially if you have sensitivities) - this can include clothing, books, furniture, furnishings, bedding, curtains, etc.).
Here are a few quick tips to minimise water damage
Have any leaks rectified immediately - mould, and associated toxins, can become hazardous if left damp for more than 24 hours.
Maintain a healthy humidity level between 40-60% indoors. Above this, the humidity can encourage fungal growth. And below this, the air is too dry for us.
Dry condensation ASAP (and better yet, minimise condensation wherever you can).
Do not use bleach. Studies indicate that bleach can actually feed the fungus, while literally ‘bleaching’ its appearance in the short-term. Check out the more effective and low-toxin recipe below.
The below recipe is effective at killing spores, on hard surfaces.
Add 1/4 teaspoon clove oil to 1L of water in a spray bottle and gently shake to combine (note, do not use more clove oil than suggested as it may damage surfaces - though as always, feel free to test the mixture on a small discreet portion first).
Lightly spray on the impacted surface.
Leave for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, dip a cloth in a 4:1 vinegar and water solution, and gently wipe over the sprayed area.
Note: Be sure to use protective gear, including gloves and a mask, when undertaking this task. Also note, this recipe isn’t suitable for soft surfaces, as they are typically porous and spores can become absorbed or embedded in them. In instances such as that, consult an IICRC Specialist, as noted above.
Also note, clove oil is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. But with all essential oils, they are highly potent and caution must be taken.
Mould and water damage is so prevalent in Australia today. Nearly two-thirds of the Australian population have had a direct experience with water damage or know someone who has (or both!). While there are measures we can follow to minimise our risk to water damage and its associated toxins, at The Paradigm Room we strongly believe that government regulations fall short when it comes to construction. A well-built home does not rely on regular heating and cooling, nor should it be producing condensation.
This is a massive topic that we will be diving into in our next blog post. Stay Tuned!
We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Or, if you have any particular topics you would love to hear more about, let us know!
And in the meantime, if you are considering a low-toxin, sustainable and high-performing renovation or new build, contact The Paradigm Room today to see how we can assist.
REFERENCES
Lanthier-Veilleux, M., Généreux, M., & Baron, G. (2016). Prevalence of residential dampness and mold exposure in a university student population. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 13(2), 194–194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020194
Saghir, S. A., & Ansari, R. A. (2024). HLA gene variations and mycotoxin toxicity: Four case reports. Mycotoxin Res, 40(1), 159-173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-023-00517-y
All photos by The Paradigm Room.