What the Effects of Mold On Your Health?
Posted in Mold, on July 14, 2021
When it comes to home repair, problems usually fall into two categories: things that need attention immediately and things that can wait. Do you know which category mold inspection in Toronto falls into? Most homeowners let mold testing wait — for a better time, better season, or when there’s an overt problem. But at SafeAir, we know that mold testing in Toronto may be all that’s standing between you and the serious long-term impacts that mold has on your health — making regular inspections more important than you think.
How Is Mold Dangerous?
First, let’s look at why indoor mold growth is dangerous. Mold can grow anywhere it can find:
- an organic material to eat
- a steady temperature
- moisture, humidity or water
At SafeAir, we often find mold growth in the bathroom, kitchen, attic, and basement, but we’ve seen it in every room of the house — including bedrooms and play spaces.
Mold reproduces by creating tiny airborne spores that float throughout your home or hitch a ride on clothes, shoes, pets, or other objects. New colonies of mold can begin to grow in as little as two days, which equals more spores and a more significant effect.
Mold is dangerous because it affects the health and safety of your home. Some molds produce toxins, but even the most common garden-variety household molds affect otherwise healthy people.
How Damaging Can Mold Be?
The impact of indoor mold growth will vary depending on the situation and type of mold present (which you can learn through mold testing in Toronto!). Some people may be more sensitive than others, and households with children, elders, people with compromised immune systems, cancer patients, or people with respiratory diseases may want to take enhanced caution. Some of the common health effects of mold growth include:
- Lung Infection: Spores are tiny enough to be breathed into the lungs and airways, where they can get stuck and irritate tissues. A stuffed or itchy nose, coughing or wheezing may be low-exposure symptoms, but more severe or recurring infections that require antibiotics are also possible.
- Asthma: Doctors have linked mold to the development of childhood asthma, and spores are known to cause more frequent or severe attacks.
- Allergic Reactions: Year-round allergies aren’t real — a mold infestation at home or work is more likely the cause. The most common allergic response to mold growth closely resembles hay fever or seasonal allergies, and it can be complicated to tell the two apart.
- Hidden Effects: Studies have shown that a reduction in indoor air quality has hidden effects, increasing absenteeism, concentration, quality of sleep, and cognitive abilities. These symptoms are even more complex to identify than allergic reactions but may have an outsized effect on your day-to-day
How to Reduce the Effects of Mold Growth
Once you’re aware of the dangers of mold growth, what can you do to minimize or eliminate its effects? At SafeAir, we’ve been helping families in Toronto improve their indoor air quality for well over a decade using the latest in science-based mold testing and remediation strategies. While none of us want to discover mold growth at home, there are several easy ways that you can prevent mold colonies from forming or spreading and reduce their effects on your health and wellness.
Mold inspection in Toronto is one of the best tools available to homeowners who have concerns about mold or want to improve their living environment. Using non-invasive techniques, our technicians will assess the exterior and interior of your house, looking for warning signs, symptoms, or visible mold colonies. Air samples are tested in a third-party laboratory to conclusively identify mold spores, and can help lead to a safer remediation.
Whether you’re welcoming a new baby or convalescing after an illness, a safe and comfortable home should be a given, and SafeAir can help you reduce any concerns you may have. Indoor air quality testing can detect mold growth, radon gas, lead, VOCs, and dozens of other common indoor irritants — to learn more about mold testing in Toronto and how we can help, get in touch with our team through our contact page.