Mould is a type of fungi that are naturally occurring organisms playing a major role in the earths ecosystem.
Mould grows best in damp and poorly ventilated areas, and reproduces by making spores.
Moulds are present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors and can grow in and on materials such as food, furniture, fabrics, carpets, walls, paper, timber and plumbing.
Mould growth occurs when there is a water source (food source) or moisture present in an environment with limited or no sunlight.
Building materials such as gyprock, wood, carpet and other household or residential material that are exposed to moisture in an indoor environment provide an ideal place for mould growth to occur.
Common water source issues can be a lack of bathroom ventilation, roof leaks, rising damp, plumbing leaks and condensation.
When there is a water leak in a property there is likely visual signs of mould growth and water damage at the actual source of the water leak.
Sometimes there is there is no water leak where the mould is growing, often mould will grow along external walls and sometimes even patterns on the ceiling where temperature differences occur on the surface.
This is because elevated humidity levels will condensate on different thermal areas of a room.
A mould technician from Mould Cleaning Australia Pty Ltd can explain this further during a free onsite inspection.
Before your consider cleaning of the affected areas you must identify and remove the water source allowing the mould to grow.
Mould Cleaning Australia don’t only specialise in mould remediation but we have a complete tool set to identify the water affected areas and make recommendations to fix these issues.
You can also view our comprehensive guide to killing mould with natural home remedies.
If you have landed on this page its likely you are interested in learning more about mould and the possible / reported health effects it can have.
At Mould Cleaning Australia we try to take a educated and research based view.
Our aim is not to scare you, rather provide you with useful, factual based information.
We hope the following questions and answers assist you in your research.
Mould produces air born mould spores which can increase particles in an indoor environment.
Whenever particles are increased in an indoor environment such as smoke, pollen and dust, health affects can occur and you should seek advice from a medical professional.
Whilst mould may be a problem in a property you occupy you must also take in to considerations other contributors to poor air quality.
Studies on what mould can to do to a person have shown that mould can impact on asthma and allergies leading to itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing.
In extreme cases, people who suffer from immune deficiencies or weakened immune systems can have increased allergic or asthmatic reactions.
There are very few reports that toxigenic moulds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary haemorrhage or memory loss.
These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mould and these conditions has not been proven.”
Colouring does not give any person a true indication of the type or harmfulness or type of mould as there is millions of species over the world, with many sharing similar characteristics.
Whilst “black mould” is highly publicised on the internet and in the media unfortunately this term does more to scare people than actually provide any useful, beneficial information.
Many black moulds are common and no more dangerous than any other types of mould growth.
There are no proven or documented links between mould exposure and death.
The term “toxic mould” is not accurate.
While certain moulds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the moulds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous.
Mycotoxins are “low-molecular-weight chemicals” constructed by moulds, however only particular mould species produce specific mycotoxins under certain circumstances – Read more
For a toxic effect to happen to an individual, three circumstances need to be attained;
Mycotoxins are not progressive toxins, having half-lives, varying from hours to days, conditional to the mycotoxin – Further reading
Hazards presented by moulds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common moulds which can grow in your house.
Whilst there is a slight difference in the spelling both the words mean the same.
Mold (without the “u”) is the American spelling of the word referring to among other things –
any of various fungi that commonly grow on organic matter and are often associated with decay.
Mould as we commonly know of it in Australia is the British spelling of the same word.
The majority of Australians favour the British spelling.