The Danger of Water Damage & Mould
The concern about mould
There is a misperception that ‘black mould’ is the only type of mould we should be concerned about.
However, water damage can create a much broader toxic concoction of sinister varieties that can all contribute to adverse health.
And what is worse, is that these pollutants are not always visible to the naked eye.
Here’s why you can’t ignore mould in your home:
There’s more mould than what you see
Whether there has been a water leak, poor maintenance, or just the breakdown over time of sealants, one thing is for sure: if you can see mould, you can be sure there is more than meets the eye.
Not only are there a pelthora of mould species, there is also bacteria, microbacteria, actinomycetes and inflammagens (including volatile organic compounds) that can all negatively impact your health and wellbeing.
Mould is a type of fungi. It feeds off porous elements, including plant and animal matter, plasterboard, carpet, timber, curtains, and other common building materials and furnishings. Mould spores develop in optimum conditions, typically in poorly ventilated and damp areas (like your bathroom or laundry).
Water damage can impact your health
Mould spores and fragments can contain mycotoxins – toxic compounds and allergens that also have the ability to become airborne. We are at risk of these allergens via exposure pathways such as inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption, leading to both chronic and acute adverse health issues.
Certain people can be more sensitive to the various toxic organisms produced by water damage, including:
Elderly people, children and infants,
People with weakened immune systems,
People with pre-existing respiratory or dermatological conditions.
In addition, a staggering 1 in 4 people possess a particular genetic composition (HLA-DR, or human leukocyte antigen gene) that makes them more susceptible to these toxins. Clearly, the potential for biotoxin illnesses should not be an afterthought, as though they won’t happen to you or don’t have serious implications.
Symptoms that can arise from exposure to water damage include, but are not limited to:
Nerve pain, numbness and weakness,
Respiratory complications and sinusitis,
Migraines and headaches,
Fatigue, weakness and vertigo,
Cognitive difficulties,
Digestive issues,
Dermatological ailments,
Arthritic symptoms, and other autoimmune conditions.
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a multi-system, multi-symptom and progressive condition that can arise as a result of exposure to water damage and can affect most bodily systems. The duration of exposure, the extent of water damage and an individual’s immune system influence the severity of health complications. Diagnosis is characterised by specialised tests to identify abnormal biomarkers, the identification of a genetic predisposition to biotoxin illnesses and chronic physical symptoms.
The term “CIRS” was coined by Dr Shoemaker and has been gaining recognition in recent years within medical fields. A parliamentary inquiry occurred in Australia in 2018 to assess biotoxin illnesses, with recommendations currently still in progression.
It was recommended that government bodies focused on increasing awareness and producing effective accreditations and standards, which applied to both the community and to various specific industries, including mould analysis and rectification, construction, and health fields.
My personal mould exposure
I lived in my water-damaged home for 13 months before walking away from it. A leak was quite evident from the first day I moved in. But investigations did begin, and within a couple of months it was believed to have been rectified. Yet, my health continued to deteriorate.
Within a month, I had swelling to my joints, rashes on my skin, headaches, nausea, dizziness, the list continued. Despite the leak appearing fixed, my health still worsened.
I was so weak and sore, and constantly ill. I struggled to drive my manual-transmission car with the pressure needed for the clutch and gear stick. The inflammation impacted most of my body, despite any medical intervention, so I started to question the true resolution of the leak – if an external factor was influencing my wellbeing.
I sought expert examination of my home by a building biologist, engineer, licensed builders, occupational environmental experts, thermographer, microbial remediator technicians, and the like. It was made apparent, that the waterproofing had failed within both bathrooms, water was tracking through the wall cavities, metal studwork was corroding, timber structural elements were rotting, mould was visually present under carpet, and airborne spores were confirmed. The images below are only part of what could be seen.
Almost 13 months on, I was diagnosed with CIRS. I presented with symptoms from all 13 of the diagnostic clusters – symptoms in only 8 of the clusters is required for a biotoxin illness diagnosis. We also uncovered my genetic predisposition, amongst the other criteria.
This period of time, had caused such an impact on my health that my recovery was estimated to take 1-3 years. It took closer to 3 years. And whilst I’m healthier now than I’ve ever been, I was diagnosed with coeliac disease during this time and can still have some autoimmune flare ups if I don’t take well enough care of myself (otherwise I’m ‘normally’ healthy).
Preventing Mould Exposure in your home
You don’t always have to physically see water damage, or mould, to suffer the consequences – it can be concealed. The old adage, “prevention is better than cure,” remains true in this case:
Minimise damp conditions, including condensation,
Maintain water sources and plumbing fixtures,
Indoor relative humidity is best kept below 55%.
In addition, in the unfortunate event of any leak, water damage should be dried out within 24 hours in order to reduce the risk of fungal growth and bacteria.
While this may sound extreme, or near impossible in instances of the widespread flooding through Australia this year (with the significant demand), it really is critical for the preservation of your own health. Remember, the longer that optimum conditions exist, the more pollutants may form and spread as a consequence of the water damage.
Ensuring that your home and workplace has appropriate space planning to suit the site/orientation, establishing adequate airtightness with complimentary ventilation, and, specifying quality materials and products are just some of the important considerations that should be factored into your design.
If you have experienced water damage, we highly recommend you seek urgent professional advice about your property. Contact The Paradigm Room today to see how we can assist.
